General Information

Marseille

The Marseille Faculty of Medicine and Paramedical Sciences is located 30 km from Marseille Provence airport, a 30-minute drive. There is a regular bus service from the airport to Sant-Charles train station from approximately 4am to 1am.

For more information, please visit the airport website.

Taxi

A taxi service is available at the airport, located in front of Terminal 1.

Fares are set by prefectural decree and can be found on the airport website.

You can book your taxi in advance, here are the contact details of the companies:

Train

Saint-Charles station is the best place to get to the centre of Marseille by train.

You can check routes, timetables and fares on the SNCF website.

Time

France has an offset of +01:00 GMT.

From April to October the time difference is +02:00 GMT.

Climate

The Symposium will take place during the summer season in France. The weather will be warm and sunny. The average temperature is 29°C during the day and 19°C at night.

Bank

 Banks are generally open from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 17:00.

Post offices are open from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00.

ATMs are available 24 hours a day at banks and post offices.

Shopping

 Shops are open from 10:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday or Sunday in some major shopping centres.

Currency

The official currency in France is the Euro (€). Banknotes are available in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200. Coins are available in denominations of 1ct, 2cts, 5cts, 10cts, 20cts, 1€ and 2€.

Currency exchange is available at Marseille airport and at exchange offices in Marseille. Credit cards are accepted in most restaurants, hotels and shops, the most common being Mastercard and Visa.

Eating Out and Tipping

Local specialties

Marseille and its region offer many local specialities such as bouillabaisse, aïoli, panisses, tapenade, navettes and, of course, Pastis.

Tips

 In France, prices include tax and service (around 15% of the total price). If the service was particularly good, you can leave a tip to show your satisfaction. The amount is usually 5 to 10% of the total price.

Electricity

The electrical voltage is 230 volts. The two most common socket formats in France are

  • Format C: two round plugs
  • Format E: two round plugs with an earthed prong

We recommend that you bring an adapter to use your electrical appliances.

Insurance

Insurance is not included in the registration fee. We recommend that you take out insurance when you book your trip.

Passeport & VISA

If you are a European citizen (Schengen area), you can stay in France freely. You will need a valid passport or identity card.

If you are not a European citizen (Schengen area), you will need a valid passport and a short-stay Schengen visa (type C).

This visa allows you to stay in France and the other countries of the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days.

Depending on the purpose of your stay, you may need to present additional documents:

  • Proof of means of subsistence (cash, traveller’s cheques, international bank cards, etc.)
  • Proof of repatriation guarantees (return ticket, etc.)
  • Insurance covering medical and hospital expenses, including social security, for any care you may need in France (minimum cover required is €30,000).
  • Accommodation certificate or proof of accommodation in a hotel or guest house, if your stay is a private or family visit
  • Documents relating to the purpose and conditions of your stay in France, if your visit is for tourism, business, hospitalisation or research purposes.

You should apply for your visa at least 3 months before your departure via the France Visas website.

Depending on your nationality and the type of passport you hold, you may be exempt from the visa requirement.

We recommend that you use the Visa Assistant service to check whether you require a visa.