Anuga: Hotels & Where to Stay
9 Oct – 13 Oct 2027 Koelnmesse 145,000 attendees
- Lock today's hotel rate
- Pay over up to 16 weeks
- Business invoices
- Free cancellation rooms
Anuga is the world's largest food and beverage trade fair, and its 2027 edition runs 9–13 October at Koelnmesse in Cologne. Roughly 145,000 trade visitors from close to 200 countries attend — retail and food-service buyers, importers, distributors and product developers working through ten specialised trade shows under one roof, from fine food and meat to organics and drinks. Anuga's biennial cadence and genuinely global buyer base mean Cologne's hotels absorb a two-year demand cycle in five days: Deutz, the district that literally adjoins the fairground, sells through first, then the Altstadt across the river, then the wider city, pushing late bookers towards Bonn and Düsseldorf. The saving grace is Koelnmesse's location next to Köln Messe/Deutz station, one of the best transit-connected fairgrounds in Europe. This page covers arrival routes, daily transit, Schengen visa guidance for 2027 and live bookable rates around the Messe.
Popular areas for attendees: Deutz · Altstadt (Old Town) · Neustadt-Nord.
- Hotels ranked by real walking and rail distance to Koelnmesse's Deutz entrances
- Live 4–5 star rates for Anuga's five-day window across Deutz, the Altstadt and beyond
- Free-cancellation priority, because buying-trip schedules shift with supplier confirmations
- Instant tax invoice for every reservation — clean paperwork for food-trade expense processes
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 9 Oct – 13 Oct 2027
- Venue
- Koelnmesse
- City
- Cologne, Germany
- Airport
- CGN
- Attendance
- 145,000
Recommended Hotels for Business Travellers
Lock today's hotel rate
Reserve early and spread payments over up to 16 weeks.
Business invoices
Add company details during checkout.
Stay close to the venue
Hotels ranked by walking distance.
Flexible bookings
Pay Weekly available on free cancellation rooms.
Rates shown for the event window, Fri, Oct 8 → Thu, Oct 14 (arrive the day before, leave the day after) — or choose your own dates above.
Hotel rates near major event venues rise as the dates approach and the closest hotels sell out first. Booking a free-cancellation rate early locks the price with no downside.
On the map
The venue, your hotel options and where to eat — all in one view. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
Free Anuga Insider Guide
Do Anuga the easy way. Get our curated guide — plus first access to near-venue rooms before they sell out.
- The best hotels within walking distance of the venue
- Where to host clients for dinner near the halls
- How to beat the sold-out fair-week rooms
We'll email your guide and occasional Anuga hotel deals. Unsubscribe anytime.
Need to expense this trip? Business invoices available at checkout.
Where to eat during Anuga
gamescom and Anuga swamp Deutz — Lommerzheim fills within an hour of the halls closing. Reserve the crane-house dinner early and learn the Kölsch coaster rules before you go.
Ox & Klee
Creative tasting menus
Rheinauhafen — 12 min taxi across the Rhine from Koelnmesse
Daniel Gottschlich's two-star flagship inside one of the iconic crane houses on the Rhine — Cologne's top room for impressing key accounts.
Tip: Tasting only, 3+ hours — reserve before gamescom or Anuga sell it out.
Open in Google Maps
Sahila
Globally inspired fine dining
Altstadt-Süd — 10 min taxi from Koelnmesse
Julia Komp — once Germany's youngest starred chef — runs this one-star culinary world tour. Relaxed and conversation-friendly for client dinners.
Tip: Evenings only; the adjoining mezze bar Yu*lia is a good walk-in plan B.
Open in Google Maps
Lommerzheim
Kölsch tavern · legendary
Deutz — 15 min walk from the Koelnmesse south entrance
The legendary 'Lommi' — a deliberately unpolished corner pub pouring Päffgen Kölsch with its famous massive pork chop. The closest genuine Cologne institution to the fairgrounds.
Tip: No small-group reservations; closes mid-afternoon — arrive at opening during gamescom. Cash.
Open in Google Maps
Päffgen Brauhaus
Brauhaus · brewed on site
Friesenviertel — KVB from Bf Deutz
Unfiltered Päffgen Kölsch brewed on site and carried out in wreaths by brusque Köbes waiters — the full Cologne initiation for visiting colleagues.
Tip: Coaster on top of the glass to stop the refills. Cash.
Open in Google Maps
Bei Oma Kleinmann
Schnitzel house · 70+ years
Kwartier Latäng — tram 9 from Bf Deutz
Plate-sized schnitzels and a lively Kölsch-fueled room serving into the late evening — the unfussy team dinner after tear-down.
Tip: A few tables held for walk-ins — try early or late during fairs.
Open in Google Maps
Kaffeesapiens
Specialty coffee
Deutz — at Köln Messe/Deutz station, 10 min walk to the halls
Third-wave espresso bar right beside the trade-fair complex — rotating single-origin filters and the best pre-badge-scan coffee upgrade over hall catering.
Tip: Weekdays ~08:00-17:30 — on the way in, not after the reception.
Open in Google MapsAfter the halls close: Cologne
Client dinner, team night out or a free day after Anuga — bookable experiences in Cologne, same account, same checkout.
While you're in Cologne
Cologne pairs its huge Koelnmesse trade-fair calendar with passionate Bundesliga football, one of Europe's busiest arenas and the legendary Carnival.
1. FC Köln (Bundesliga)
Back in the Bundesliga, FC Köln's RheinEnergieStadion delivers one of Germany's most passionate football atmospheres.
Find ticketsCologne Carnival
The 'fifth season' climaxes with the Rose Monday parade, when the whole city becomes one giant street party.
Find ticketsLanxess Arena concerts
One of Europe's highest-attendance arenas, Lanxess Arena hosts major world tours, shows and sport almost every week.
Find ticketsKölner Haie (DEL ice hockey)
The Cologne Sharks regularly draw some of Europe's biggest ice hockey crowds to Lanxess Arena on winter evenings.
Find ticketsFixtures recur each season; exact dates for your fair week are confirmed at ticket search.
Getting there
From Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
- The S19 S-Bahn runs from the airport station to Köln Messe/Deutz — directly beside the fairground — in around 12–15 minutes for a few euros
- A taxi covers the 15 km in 15–20 minutes outside peaks, typically in the €30–40 range
- CGN's network is strongest on European and low-cost routes; long-haul visitors usually connect via Frankfurt or a European hub
- Trains run frequently enough that transit beats the taxi rank on busy fair mornings
By rail, including from Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Köln Messe/Deutz station adjoins the halls, and Köln Hauptbahnhof is one stop or a 15-minute walk across the Hohenzollern bridge — Cologne is one of Europe's easiest fair cities to reach by train
- ICE trains from Frankfurt Airport's long-distance station reach Cologne in about an hour, making FRA a fully practical intercontinental gateway for Anuga
- Düsseldorf is around 25 minutes away by frequent trains, which is why many Anuga visitors base there when Cologne fills
- Some ICE and regional services stop directly at Messe/Deutz — check your connection, as it can remove the last transfer entirely
Getting around during Anuga
Getting to Koelnmesse daily
- If you stay in Deutz you simply walk in; from the Altstadt it is one S-Bahn stop or a 20-minute walk over the Rhine
- S-Bahn and regional lines feed Köln Messe/Deutz from across the region, and Stadtbahn trams stop at Bf Deutz/Messe and Koelnmesse on the fairground's flanks
- Anuga admission tickets have historically included free VRS local transport — confirm on your ticket before buying passes
- The 09:00 opening crush at Messe/Deutz station clears quickly; arriving 20 minutes earlier or later avoids it
Around Cologne
- The KVB Stadtbahn and bus network covers the compact city; mobile tickets via the KVB or DB apps beat station queues
- Taxis are easy at the Hauptbahnhof, Deutz and hotel ranks, though fair evenings stretch waiting times
- Cross-Rhine road traffic slows badly during fair peaks — rail over the Hohenzollern bridge is the dependable route
- The Altstadt brewery houses around Heumarkt are the default Anuga evening venue; larger groups should reserve, as the fair takes over the whole quarter
Visa & entry
Visa-free / visa on arrival
- Nationals of about 60 countries — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the UAE, Brazil and most of Latin America — enter Germany visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day window, which fully covers Anuga
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enter freely
- From late 2026 onwards, visa-exempt travellers are expected to need ETIAS online travel authorisation, so 2027 attendees should budget for that small extra step, plus biometric EES registration at the border
eVisa / visa required
- Buyers and exhibitors from India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, most of Africa and the Middle East need a Schengen short-stay business visa from German embassies or visa application centres
- Anuga's global South buyer base makes pre-fair consulate demand heavy — apply as early as possible within the six-month application window
- Registration confirmations and invitations from Koelnmesse or exhibiting partners are the standard supporting evidence for a business-visa file
Documents to carry
- Passport valid at least three months beyond your planned Schengen departure
- Anuga ticket or registration confirmation plus any invitation letter from the organiser or an exhibitor
- Hotel bookings, return ticket and proof of sufficient funds or a company letter for the trip
Visa and border rules evolve — confirm current requirements with the German embassy in your country or official EU sources before finalising your Anuga travel.
First time at Anuga?
- Buy your ticket online before travelling; Anuga entrances scan e-tickets straight through while box-office lines crawl on the opening morning
- Anuga is really ten trade shows in one — pick the two or three segments that match your buying brief and plan halls accordingly rather than trying to see everything
- The fair includes a weekend, and Saturday and Sunday are the heaviest footfall days; schedule focused supplier meetings for the weekday sessions
- Book Deutz or Altstadt hotels as soon as your attendance is confirmed — the closest properties sell out many months ahead
- Bring a system for samples and catalogues; a light backpack and ruthless same-evening triage beat hauling bags between halls
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- The final day is markedly quieter and exhibitors are more generous with time and samples as stands wind down
- Real supplier relationships get built at the Altstadt brewery tables after closing — accept the dinner invitations, that is where Anuga actually happens
- The tasting opportunities in the halls mean you rarely need a proper lunch — target the fine-food and regional pavilions late morning before the crowds
- If Cologne is full, Bonn is around 25 minutes from Messe/Deutz by frequent trains and consistently cheaper than fair-week Cologne
Anuga travel FAQs
Where should I stay for Anuga 2027?
Deutz is the winning district — you walk to the halls — and it sells out first. The Altstadt and Neustadt-Nord across the Rhine offer Cologne's best evening scene one S-Bahn stop away, while Bonn and Düsseldorf are the established rail-commute overflow options.
How much do hotels cost during Anuga?
Cologne rates during Anuga typically run two to three times normal levels, with Deutz commanding the steepest premiums and minimum-stay requirements appearing on peak nights. Prices climb rather than fall as the fair approaches, so early booking is the saving.
How early should I book hotels for Anuga?
Six to twelve months ahead for Deutz and central Cologne is realistic — many regulars book for the next edition when the dates publish. Free-cancellation rates make committing early sensible even before your final schedule exists.
Which airport do I fly into for Anuga?
Cologne Bonn (CGN) is closest, 12–15 minutes from the fairground by S-Bahn. Frankfurt (FRA) with its hour-long ICE connection is the better intercontinental gateway, and Düsseldorf (DUS) adds another option roughly 45–60 minutes away by train.
Can visitors taste products at Anuga?
Yes — sampling is central to how Anuga works, and exhibitors across the fine-food, drinks, dairy and meat shows actively offer tastings to trade visitors. Note that Anuga is a trade-only event, so entry requires proof of industry affiliation rather than a consumer ticket.
Register for your attendee badge
Your entry badge is separate from your hotel — get it from the official Anuga portal before you travel. We handle the travel; the event handles the badge.
EventEscapes is an independent travel platform and is not affiliated with Anuga or its organizers. Dates and venues can change — verify with the official event site before booking travel.