Practical Information

Calling to and from Germany
The international dialing code for Germany is 49, and the code for  Darmstadt city is 6151. National calls: 0 + city code + telephone number. International calls: 00 + country code + city code + telephone number. 

Climate
Most of Germany has a temperate seasonal climate in which humid westerly winds predominate. The climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Drift, which is the northern extension of the Gulf Stream. This warmer water affects the areas bordering the North Sea including the area along the Rhine, which flows into the North Sea. Consequently in the north-west and the north, the climate is oceanic; rainfall occurs year round with a maximum during summer. Summers tend to be cool, though temperatures can exceed 30 °C (86 °F) for prolonged periods.

Coordinates of Darmstadt
49°52′0″N 8°39′0″E

Currency
The currency unit is the Euro (€). The Euro is convertible with all foreign currencies. You may exchange your money at the airport and banks at the daily announced current exchange rates. Traveler’s checks can be cashed in banks.  

Credit Cards
Major credit cards (Mastercard, Visa and American Express) are widely used in almost all the hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and every kind of stores.  

Electricity
The electric current in Germany is 220V AC. You have the chance to find and buy different types of current and plug converters at the airport and in the electronic stores. 

Health Care
In all cities in Germany, there are public hospitals or university hospitals. Emergency ambulances of the hospitals operate 24 hours and 7 days. In most of the hospitals major health insurances are accepted. 

Insurance
The registration or accommodation fees do not include any kind of insurance. The meeting organizers can not accept liability for personal injuries sustained or for loss of or damage to property belonging to the meeting participants (or their accompanying persons) either during or as a result of the meeting. All participants are invited to arrange for their own insurance. Health and accident insurance or travel insurance is recommended and has to be purchased in your country of origin. 

Language
Official language of the meeting is English. German is the official language in Germany. English is spoken in most of the hotels, restaurants and touristic areas. 

Letter of Invitation
A letter of invitation will be sent to any individual requesting; after completion of registration and acceptance of application by the Organizing Committee.  

Time Zone
Time is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1) in Germany.  

Visa
EU nationals do not require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany.
Generally speaking, all other foreigners require a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not required for semi-annual visits of up to three months for nationals of those countries for which the European Community has abolished the visa requirement. (Visa requirements – list of countries)

Under German law (section 71 (2) of the Residence Act, responsibility for issuing visas lies with the missions of the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. its embassies and consulates-general. In principle, the Federal Foreign Office is not involved in decisions on individual visa applications, nor does it have any knowledge of the status of individual applications being processed by the missions.Visas are issued by the mission responsible for the area in which the applicant has his/her ordinary residence or domicile.

source: Auswärtiges Amt Germany, Wikipedia