Cologne – the business destination for congresses, trade fairs, conferences and events

As a destination, Cologne is prized by business travellers and tourists alike. But it stands out in particular for the benefits it offers as a venue for congresses, conferences and events. Discover why for yourself...

A cosmopolitan and dynamic urban centre on the Rhine, Cologne is a popular location for national and international congresses in the heart of Europe. It also has an excellent infrastructure – airport close to the city, railway and motorway intersection in western Europe, modern hotels and restaurants, plus an extensive selection of venues. The cathedral city delights visitors with its fascinating mix of Roman history and state-of-the-art conferencing. Cologne enjoys a central location in Europe and offers excellent connections to the main German and European transport links. And most of its venues are centrally located as well, close to the cathedral and main train station. The old quarter, the many museums and theatres, the opera house, the Philharmonic, Rhine Park, MediaPark and shopping streets are all within easy walking distance.

Recording 2.6 million visitors and 4.57 million overnight stays a year, Cologne is the foremost city destination in North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to the fifth-largest exhibition centre in the world, the city also offers a number of attractive venues ranging from the congress centre to conference hotels and a huge variety of event locations with something for everyone. There are a total of 159 locations with around 1,000 rooms for events of any size.

Cologne Convention Bureau is happy to help event planners with finding venues, hotels and service partners.

Cologne at a glance:

Nearest international airports:

• Cologne/Bonn airport: 18km
• Düsseldorf airport: 40km
• Frankfurt airport: 150km
• Distance from the ICE station to the cathedral: 150m