Venue
Every year the AMICAL Conference is held at the campus of a different member institution. For 2017, the Conference will be hosted by the American College of Thessaloniki in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Table of contents
Venue and location
The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) is the post-secondary division of Anatolia College, a non-profit educational institution with a long history dating back to 1886. ACT is accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), recognized by the US Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education Accreditation, and holds an EU accreditation of its programs.
The ACT campus hosts the faculty and staff offices, computer labs, classrooms, and the majestic building of the Bissell Library which was inaugurated in October 2002. The three level, 4500 square meter building houses within its two floors the library and the Stavros Niarchos Technology center. The Stavros Niarchos Technology center hosts teaching laboratories, a multi media center, two viewing rooms, a teleconference center, a Lego Mindstorm EV3 robotics and Arduino microcontroller lab, and the Systems Administration headquarters.
ACT is located within the Anatolia College campus in Pylea, in a “wooded area” from where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Address
American College of Thessaloniki (ACT)
Bissell Library
17 Sevenidi Street
555 35 Pylea, Thessaloniki, Greece
Tel: +30 2310 398390
Campus maps
Travel and transport
Thessaloniki has one airport, Makedonia International Airport, which is located 14 km southeast from the center of Thessaloniki. Makedonia airport is small, so it will be extremely easy to find your way around. The airport’s information desk is located on the ground floor, very close to the international arrivals area. (+30 2310 473-212)
Transportation from the airport to the hotel
On arrival, a complimentary pick-up from the airport will be provided by ACT to those who sign up by May 10. All attendees are welcome to sign up for this pick-up, whether you’re staying at the Met Hotel or another Thessaloniki hotel, but attendees not staying at the Met will be dropped off at a single, central location. Sign up information has already been emailed to attendees.
On departure, attendees will have to arrange for their own transportation from their hotel to the airport (Google Maps).
Taxi
If you don’t use the complimentary pick-up service, note that there is a line of taxis in front of the international and national arrivals area.
The Met Hotel is situated at the western entrance of Thessaloniki. The fare from the airport to the Met Hotel is approximately 30-40 euros and takes around 30 minutes to get there.
If you need to call a local taxi please use the following service phone numbers:
- Direct Line: +30 2310 517 170
- Mercedes: +30 2310 525 000
Bus
Buses numbered 78 (day time) and 78N (night time) operate between the airport and the railway station in the center of Thessaloniki where the Met Hotel is located. The duration of the bus trip is around 45-50 minutes. The bus service runs every half hour. The cost of the single fare is 2 euros. The bus terminus is the railway station; from there you will have to take another bus or taxi to get to the Met. (Google Map)
Visa information
Greece is a member state of the European Union and adheres to the Schengen Agreement.
Visas are is not required for citizens of the member states of the Schengen Area and for citizens of some non-EU countries for a short period of up to (3) three months. Citizens of most of the countries that are not member states of the Schengen Area need to have a valid visa in order to travel to Greece and other countries of the European Union.
Consult the list of countries requiring or not requiring a visa to find out if you need a visa to visit Greece for the AMICAL Conference. If you require a visa, you should request more details from the Greek Embassy or Consulate in your country and start on the visa request process as early as possible.
More information is available from the Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Letter of invitation
Should you require a formal invitation letter from the organizers so that you are eligible for a visa to attend the conference, indicate this (by ticking the appropriate box) when filling out the registration form.
Practical information about Thessaloniki
Language
Greek is the official language, but the majority of Greeks speak English as a second language.
Currency
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). There is a currency exchange office located in the terminal building at the Makedonia International Airport . ATMs are located at the arrivals hall and are also available throughout the city. Major credit cards are accepted in almost all hotel, shops, bars and restaurants.
Electricity
The electric voltage is 230V, 50Hz. The power sockets are of type C and F. (See Greece: power plug adapter needed for more info.)
Time
The time zone in Thessaloniki, Greece is UTC/GMT +2 hours. As the conference takes place in May, during Daylight Saving Time, the time zone will actually be UTC/GMT +3 hours.
Weather
Spring, and especially the month of May, is considered the busiest and most popular for tourism in the city. May is when the weather becomes warmer in Thessaloniki so you should not forget to bring your sunglasses. Average temperatures for Thessaloniki in May range from 12℃ to 24℃ degrees Celsius with an average of 18℃ degrees, giving a great opportunity to the citizens and the visitors for fun under the sun.
The temperature is lower early in the morning and after sunset, so a jacket and sweater will be needed. We also recommend that you bring an umbrella in case of rain.
Sightseeing tours
Wednesday (17 May): “Welcome to Thessaloniki”
Cost: Free
Two free tours are available on Wednesday that will guide participants through the most interesting spots in the city. One will start from the ACT campus at 17:10, catering to attendees of Wednesday’s program. The other will start from the Met Hotel at 18:00 and is open to all attendees. Both tours will take about two hours.
Sunday (21 May): “Vergina and Mount Olympus”
Cost: €80/person
A day-long excursion will combine culture, nature and Greek gastronomy. A minimum of 12 people must sign up for this tour to take place. The tour will start from the conference hotel on Sunday at 9:00. Attendees will return to the hotel by 18:00.
Info & sign up for Sunday excursion
Things to do
There are a lot of attractions to visit in Thessaloniki, such as archaeological sites and museums to visit: Archaeological Museum, Museum of Byzantine Culture, State Museum Of Contemporary Art etc.
Thessaloniki is famous for the delicious local Greek food, meals, snacks and delicacies, and also offers a vibrant nightlife.
Anatolia College Libraries and Archives staff has created a custom Google Map with restaurants and points of interest.
Sightseeing
- Official travel guide of Thessaloniki
- Thessaloniki Guide [20 ΜΒ PDF]. This is a fantastic concise guide to read: including the history of Thessaloniki, 7 walks, museums, day excursions, shopping, nightlife, gastronomy, wines, etc.
- Lonely Planet
- Top 19 Things to Do in Thessaloniki
- 15 Unesco World Heritage sites
- Even more things to do in Thessaloniki
Shopping
- Trip Advisor shopping in Thessaloniki
- One Salonica Outlet Mall. You can visit the mall either by walking, since it’s only 3 minutes walk from the conference hotel, or use the free shuttle bus.
- The two most popular streets in the city center for shopping are I. Tsimiski street and Mitropoleos street.