Photo: Koelnmesse GmbH / Google MapsHotels for EISENWARENMESSE 2028 in Cologne
EISENWARENMESSE 2028 runs 7 to 10 March at Koelnmesse, Cologne. 33,000 trade visitors (2026)
- Free-cancellation rooms
- Lock today's hotel rate
- Company invoice
- Book rooms for your team
Where to stay
Where to stay for EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) 2028: the closest hotels to Koelnmesse are in Deutz and Altstadt (Old Town), with Cologne Hauptbahnhof area a short ride away. Rooms near the venue sell out first, so book a free-cancellation rate early. Add your company name and tax number at checkout for an itemised company invoice.
Popular areas for attendees: Deutz · Altstadt (Old Town) · Cologne Hauptbahnhof area · Neustadt-Nord.
About EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)
EISENWARENMESSE, the International Hardware Fair, returns to Koelnmesse from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 March 2028.
Koelnmesse holds it every two years for tools, industrial supplies, fasteners and fixings, building and furniture fittings and home improvement, and it is for trade visitors only: hardware and tool dealers, DIY and home centres, builders' merchants, importers, buying groups, industrial buyers and tradespeople.
The 2026 edition drew around 33,000 trade visitors from 125 countries and around 2,500 exhibitors from 53 countries, spread over Halls 2, 4, 5, 10 and 11. The fair opens to visitors from 9:00 to 18:00, closing at 16:00 on the last day, and the South Entrance sits right at Köln Messe/Deutz station, just across the Rhine from the Old Town and the Hauptbahnhof.
This page shows live Cologne hotel rates for your dates; your trade ticket is bought separately from Koelnmesse.
Who attends
Trade visitors only: tool, hardware and security dealers, DIY and home centres, builders' merchants, department and discount stores, importers, buying groups, industrial buyers and tradespeople.
Why book with Event Escapes
- Cologne hotels for EISENWARENMESSE sorted by distance to Koelnmesse, from Deutz beside the halls to the Old Town and the Hauptbahnhof across the Rhine
- Live rates for any nights around 7 to 10 March 2028, with dates you can change if you arrive the evening before or leave on the shorter final day
- Free cancellation rates shown where the hotel offers them, useful while your appointments with suppliers are still being set
- Rooms for single buyers and for whole exhibitor teams, with an itemised invoice emailed at booking and a group quote within 24 hours through our enquiry form
Event at a glance
- Dates
- 7 Mar to 10 Mar 2028
- Length
- 4 days, Tue to Fri
- Venue
- Koelnmesse
- City
- Cologne, Germany
- Airport
- CGN
- Organiser
- Koelnmesse GmbH
- How often
- Every two years
- Sector
- Manufacturing
Key facts (2026 edition)
- trade visitors
- 33,000
- visitor countries
- 125
- exhibitors
- 2,500
- exhibiting countries
- 53
- exhibition and event space
- 147,000 m²
Figures published by the organiser.
Event Escapes is independent of the organiser. We book your hotel; badges, tickets and stands are handled by the organiser.
Hotels near Koelnmesse for EISENWARENMESSE 2028
Hotel bookings for EISENWARENMESSE 2028 open about a year ahead. These are the closest hotels to Koelnmesse, with the distance and the walk or ride time. We show live prices as soon as rooms open.
Cheap and 3 star hotels near Koelnmesse
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride |
|---|---|---|
| ibis Hotel Köln Messe★★★ | 0.5 km | Approx. 7 min walk |
| Messehotel Köln-Deutz★★★ | 1.4 km | Approx. 6 min ride |
More hotels close to Koelnmesse
| Hotel | Distance to venue | Walk or ride |
|---|---|---|
| Radisson Blu Hotel, Cologne★★★★ | 0.4 km | Approx. 6 min walk |
| Dorint An der Messe Koln★★★★ | 0.5 km | Approx. 7 min walk |
| Hyatt Regency Cologne★★★★★ | 1.2 km | Approx. 6 min ride |
| Excelsior Hotel Ernst am Dom★★★★★ | 1.9 km | Approx. 8 min ride |
On the map
The venue and the closest hotels, all in one view. Prices appear once rooms open. Tap the map to explore it full screen.
Booking hotels for a team or company?
Book several rooms near Koelnmesse, keep every stay on a free-cancellation rate, and add your company name and tax number at checkout to receive an itemised invoice for your accounts, emailed the moment you book.
- Itemised company invoice, emailed instantly
- Bills to your company name and ABN / VAT / tax number
- Free-cancellation rates prioritised for changing plans
- Book multiple rooms for the team in one place
Send this page to colleagues so everyone books their own room near the venue, all at today's rate.
Exhibiting or sending a team? Tell us how many rooms you need and we will send a personalised quote within 24 hours, with the distance from every hotel to Koelnmesse. If the closest hotels are nearly full, we split your team across neighbouring hotels a few minutes apart. Corporate accommodation for EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)
Where should you eat during EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)?
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.
Photo: Ox&Klee / Google MapsOx & 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
Photo: Sahila - The Restaurant / Google MapsSahila
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
Photo: Sebastian Koch / Google MapsLommerzheim
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
Photo: Brauerei Päffgen / Google MapsPäffgen 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
Photo: katie laswell / Google MapsBei 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
Photo: THE COFFICE DEUTZ / Google MapsKaffeesapiens
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 EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair): 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.
How do you get to EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)?
From Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN)
- Cologne Bonn Airport has its own railway station beside both terminals, served around the clock by S-Bahn and regional trains from Cologne, the airport says
- Check the go.Rheinland timetable for a train to Köln Messe/Deutz, the station at the fair's South Entrance
- For a taxi, Koelnmesse lists TAXI-RUF Köln on +49 221 2882, and taxis wait at the fair entrances for the journey back
- Koelnmesse also mentions trade fair fares with Lufthansa Group airlines, with the booking link published before the event
By rail and road
- Köln Messe/Deutz station is served by S-Bahn lines S6, S11, S12 and S19, and Koelnmesse offers DB Event Tickets for long distance trains across Germany
- Trams and U-Bahn lines 1 and 9 stop at Köln Bf Messe/Deutz (U) by the South Entrance, and lines 3 and 4 at Koelnmesse (U) by the East Entrance
- Drivers follow the signs to the visitor car parks; for this fair Koelnmesse names parking decks 2, 4, 5 and 10 and the Zoobrücke car park
- Koelnmesse recommends the NUNAV navigation app for the drive to the grounds
How do you get around during EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)?
Getting to the halls each day
- Only the South and East entrances are open for EISENWARENMESSE, so head for Köln Messe/Deutz station (South) or the Koelnmesse tram stop (East)
- Your admission ticket comes with a free VRS public transport ticket by separate email, valid in second class to and from the fair with photo ID; IC, EC and ICE trains are excluded
- Visitor hours are 9:00 to 18:00, and 9:00 to 16:00 on the last day; check the hall plan in the EISENWARENMESSE app before you go
- With five halls of tools, fittings, fixings and DIY products, sort your meetings by hall to save walking
Deutz, Old Town or the Hauptbahnhof?
- Deutz, on the right bank around the exhibition grounds, lets you walk to the South Entrance
- The Altstadt (Old Town) and the Hauptbahnhof area are across the Rhine, a short S-Bahn ride from Köln Messe/Deutz, with the widest choice of hotels and restaurants
- Neustadt-Nord, north of the centre, is a short tram or U-Bahn ride from the fair when the Old Town is busy
- Koelnmesse notes that Cologne's accommodation tax (cultural promotion tax) is not included in the prices on its own booking portal and is paid at local rates
Do you need a visa for EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)?
Visa-free / visa on arrival
- Check the current visa and entry rules for your passport before you travel; the German Federal Foreign Office publishes the list of who needs a visa for Germany
- Germany is in the Schengen Area, so EU, EEA and Swiss citizens travel with a valid passport or national ID card
- Many other passport holders can visit Germany for a short stay without a visa, but the conditions depend on your nationality, so confirm them on the Federal Foreign Office list
- The EU's Entry/Exit System now registers non EU short stay visitors at the Schengen border, and the ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet in operation; check the EU's official pages shortly before you fly
eVisa / visa required
- If your passport is not on the visa free list, apply for a Schengen short stay visa at the German embassy or consulate responsible for where you live
- The EU says to apply no earlier than six months and at least 15 days before your trip
- Koelnmesse says its visa service form opens six months before the fair, so trade visitors and exhibitors who need visa support can apply from about September 2027
Documents to carry
- A passport or, for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, a national ID card, valid for your whole stay; you need photo ID for the free public transport ticket too
- Your EISENWARENMESSE trade ticket and the VRS travel ticket, printed or on your phone, plus proof of your trade status
- Hotel booking and return travel details, plus travel insurance and copies of any visa supporting documents
Entry and visa rules change; check current requirements with the German embassy or consulate, or official EU sources, before you book.
First time at EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair)?
- EISENWARENMESSE is a trade fair: visitors must be able to prove their trade status when buying a ticket, and Koelnmesse may check on site
- The ticket shop opens in December 2027 and ticket prices were still to be announced when we checked; you pay by PayPal or credit card
- Children under 12 with their parents get in free, but dogs and other pets are not allowed on the grounds
- The last day closes at 16:00, so plan meetings and your journey home around the shorter Friday
- Look out for the EISENaward, presented live at the fair with the ZHH hardware trade association, and the EISENworkshop, where creators demonstrate DIY projects
Insider tips from repeat attendees
- Koelnmesse lists its visitor groups from tool and security specialist dealers to DIY stores, department and discount stores, importers, mail order firms and procurement offices, so the fair suits buyers from every retail channel
- The DIY Boulevard and the EISENforum talks on AI, procurement and market strategy are worth fitting between stand visits
- Koelnmesse says its hotel/travel service is its only official accommodation broker and advises checking that agencies are reputable; Event Escapes is independent and not affiliated with EISENWARENMESSE or Koelnmesse, and you book a named hotel directly with us at the rate shown
EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) travel FAQs
When is EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) 2028?
EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) takes place 7 Mar to 10 Mar 2028 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
Where is EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) held?
EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) is held at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. The nearest airport is CGN.
When and where is EISENWARENMESSE 2028?
EISENWARENMESSE 2028 runs from Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 March 2028 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, in Halls 2, 4, 5, 10 and 11. Visitors are admitted from 9:00 to 18:00, and until 16:00 on the last day.
Is EISENWARENMESSE held every year?
No. Koelnmesse gives the event frequency as every two years. The last edition was in March 2026 and the next is March 2028.
Can anyone visit EISENWARENMESSE?
No. Koelnmesse admits trade visitors only, and you must be able to prove your trade status when buying your ticket. Children under 12 accompanying their parents go in free.
How do I get to EISENWARENMESSE by public transport?
Take the S-Bahn (S6, S11, S12 or S19) or trams 1 and 9 to Köln Messe/Deutz for the South Entrance, or trams 3 and 4 to Koelnmesse for the East Entrance. Your ticket includes free VRS public transport to and from the fair.
Where should I stay for EISENWARENMESSE?
Deutz puts you within walking distance of the South Entrance. The Old Town and Hauptbahnhof area across the Rhine have the most hotels and restaurants and are a short S-Bahn ride away.
Does booking a hotel include an EISENWARENMESSE ticket?
No. Hotel bookings and fair tickets are separate. Event Escapes is independent and not affiliated with EISENWARENMESSE or Koelnmesse.
Register for your attendee badge
Your entry badge is separate from your hotel. Get it from the official EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair) portal before you travel. We handle the travel; the event handles the badge.
Related trade fairs
Other fairs where we cover the hotels, by the same venue, city or industry.
Also in Cologne
More to plan and book around Cologne, all on Event Escapes.
Event Escapes is a privately owned, independent company that provides accommodation and travel for trade fair visitors. We are not associated with, endorsed by or acting for EISENWARENMESSE (International Hardware Fair), its organisers or its promoters. Dates and venues can change. Verify with the official event site before booking travel.