imm cologne in short

When

18 to 23 January 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)

Where

Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany

Free time

The show floor takes the day, so the evenings, a companion day and the day after are free.

Best base

Altstadt: Near the cathedral and beer halls.

Getting there

Cologne Bonn airport (CGN) is 15 minutes by S-Bahn; Düsseldorf (DUS) is 40 minutes by train.

Weather

In January, Cologne temperatures average about 2°C, with roughly 74 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 8 h 30 min of daylight.

Top things to do

Cologne Cathedral tour and tower climb; Rhine Valley day trip; Chocolate Museum

Weather during imm cologne

In January, Cologne temperatures average about 2°C, with roughly 74 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 8 h 30 min of daylight.

What to pack

• A warm coat, hat and gloves: nights can drop close to freezing.
• A light rain jacket, just in case.
• Comfortable shoes: a day on the show floor easily means 15,000 steps.

Monthly averages for 2001 to 2025 from NASA POWER. Check the forecast a few days before you travel.

Airport to Koelnmesse

Cologne Bonn airport (CGN) is 15 minutes by S-Bahn; Düsseldorf (DUS) is 40 minutes by train.

Trains to Köln Messe/Deutz.

Public transport directions to Koelnmesse · Everything on at Koelnmesse

Where to stay by budget

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Motel One Köln-Messe
• Mid-range: Hotel Mondial am Dom
• Splurge: Excelsior Hotel Ernst

Links search the nights from 17 January to 24 January. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual show week schedule for 18 to 23 January 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Family-friendly picks

• Cologne Zoo.
• Odysseum.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

• Zülpicher Strasse and the Belgian Quarter.

6 tours worth booking for imm cologne

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

• Früh am Dom Kölsch hall by the cathedral
• Päffgen Old brewery tavern
• Belgian Quarter cafés Brunch

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

• Museum Ludwig.
• Romano-Germanic Museum.

Getting around on event days

• KVB trams and S-Bahn; Messe/Deutz station serves the fair.
• Deutsche Bahn ICE trains link the big cities; the Deutschlandticket covers all local and regional transport for a monthly fee.
• Trade fair and event tickets often include free local transport: check yours.

Day trips from Cologne

• Bonn: 20 minutes
• Düsseldorf: 25 minutes

Organiser of imm cologne? Add this guide to your website.

Questions people ask

How we put this guide together: dates come from the organiser's published calendar or, when not yet announced, from the event's usual pattern; weather from NASA POWER monthly averages 2001 to 2025; venue access and city tips from our own research. Last checked 2 November 2026. How we research.

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