Logistics

The Open Access Encounters meeting will take place at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Observatory, Cape Town. The Observatory was founded in 1820, and over its more than 200 year history has measured countless star positions, given time signals, built and operated telescopes in Sutherland for 50 years, and conducted world-class science.

The SAAO is a few kilometres away from the centre of Cape Town and an easily be reached by car. Parking on site is available. The meeting venue is the SAAO’s Auditorium. The security guards at the gate will be happy give you directions if necessary.

While there are the usual car rental services at the airport, you might not need them. E-hailing services like Uber are a good and generally affordable alternative in Cape Town.

If you prefer a more traditional taxi to get from the airport to your hotel or the SAAO, you can find the official taxi counter in the arrivals hall. We recommend not to use any offer by people touting transport.

Unfortunately, public transport in Cape Town is limited.

No accommodation is provided as part of the Open Access Encounters meeting, and you have to book any on your own.

Cape Town has lots of accommodation for any budget, and you should use your favourite search engine or booking app to find an option that suits your needs.

The nearest accommodation to the SAAO is the Protea Hotel Cape Town Mowbray.