Messe Cologne
Cologne, Germany
Messe Cologne (or Koelnmesse in German) is one of the most famous event locations within the trade fair industry, for all the right reasons. Its 284,000 sq m of hireable indoor space and 100,000 sq m of functional outdoor area make Messe Cologne the 5th largest exhibition complex worldwide.
True to its motto We energize your business, Koelnmesse facilitates communication between German and international companies, and contributes to their success. The statistics show that the venue attracts more than 1,500,000 visitors per year. A significant percent of them come from abroad; the number of international professionals attending trade shows, congresses and conferences there is only increasing with time.
Dating from 1924, Koelnmesse approaches its 100th anniversary. The first organised exhibition was a spring trade fair. More events followed soon and the expectations for larger exhibition area prompted a few expansions of the site. Severely damaged during World War II, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1947. During the 60s and 70s the fairgrounds saw massive reconstruction and expansion works. More major changes (for example 4 new trade halls, Congress Centre North, etc.) took place between 2004 and 2006, resulting in the current space and infrastructure - a modern and improved Messe Cologne.
The future of the venue holds further developments - the Koelnmesse 3.0 plan is already being implemented. It involves visionary concepts aimed towards digitalisation, connectivity, flexibility and new formats. The ambitions project will be fully completed by 2030.
Getting around
The convenient location of Messe Cologne guarantees easy access to and from the major cities in Germany and other countries. Professionals travelling to the fairgrounds from the area near the central station or the airports in Cologne, Dusseldorf or Frankfurt are encouraged to take advantage of the excellent railway network.
Koeln Messe/Deutz Station is opposite Entrance South. S-Bahn lines S6, S11, S12, S13 and S19 stop there, plus trains IC, ICE, RB and RE.
Deutz/Messe tram stop is close to the South Entrance as well. Tram lines 1 and 9 stop there.
Koeln Messe/Deutz tram stop is situated across the East Entrance. It is where tram lines 3 and 4 stop.
For people arriving by car, Messe Cologne has an advanced traffic guidance system and around 14,500 parking spaces.
Hotels nearby
| Name | Category | Address | Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Radisson SAS Koeln | ★★★★ | Messe-Kreisel, 50679 Köln, Cologne, Germany | 307 m | |
| Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne | ★★★★ | Messe Kreisel 3, Cologne, Germany | 328 m | |
| ibis Cologne Messe | ★★★ | Brugelmannstrasse 1, Cologne, Germany | 401 m | |
| ibis Budget Cologne Messe | ★★ | Bruegelmannstr. 7, Cologne, Germany | 414 m | |
| Dorint An der Messe Koeln | ★★★★ | Deutz-Muelheimer Str. 22-24, Cologne, Germany | 465 m | |
| the Deutz, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel | ★★★★ | Adam-Stegerwald-Strasse 9, Cologne, Germany | 628 m | |
| Adina Apartment Hotel Cologne | ★★★★ | Hans-Imhoff-Strasse 1, Cologne, Germany | 691 m |
Halls of Messe Cologne
The exhibition halls of Messe Cologne can be accessed through 4 entrances - Entrance North, Entrance East, Entrance South and Entrance West.
The venue has a total of 284,000 sq m of indoor exhibition area - 11 connected halls of different size: hall 1 (8524 sq m), hall 2 (2.1 - 9580 sq m and 2.2 - 9736 sq m), hall 3 (3.1 - 8249 sq m and 3.2 - 8574 sq m), hall 4 (4.1 - 14,123 sq m and 4.2 - 14,390 sq m), hall 5 (5.1 - 12,225 sq m and 5.2 - 11,949 sq m), hall 6 (20,846 sq m), hall 7 (16,831 sq m), hall 8 (16,830 sq m), hall 9 (13,470 sq m), hall 10 (10.1 and 10.2 - 22,415 sq m each), hall 11 (11.1 - 14.850 sq m, 11.2 and 11.3 - 16.597 sq m each).
Quick info
| Year Built: | 1924 |
| Total Area: | 384,000 m2 |
| Indoor Area: | 284,000 m2 |
| Outdoor Area: | 100,000 m2 |
| Number of Halls: | 11 |
| Parking Spaces: | 14,500 |
| Official Website: | Messe Cologne |
| Halls Map: | View map |
Important exhibitions
Several of the world-leading trade fairs in the portfolio of Koelnmesse GmbH as an organiser or co-organiser are:
- Anuga, the flagship event for food and beverages;
- dmexco, the number-one exhibition and conference for digital marketing;
- gamescom, the gathering point of the gaming industry;
- Kind + Jugend, a trade show demonstrating products for kids’ first years;
- IDS - the international dental show;
- imm cologne, the expo focused on ambitious interiors and furnishing concepts;
- ISM Cologne together with ProSweets Cologne - a trade fair duo dedicated to the sweets and snacks industry;
- photokina, the photography and cinematography platform.