Useful information
Organisers
Koelnmesse and the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Dental-Industrie (GFDI), the commercial enterprise of the Association of the German Dental Industry (VDDI)
Venue
Koelnmesse, Messeplatz 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany
Exhibition opening hours
14–18 March 2023
Daily at 9:00–18:00 for visitors
Daily at 8:00–19:00 for exhibitors
Admission
Ticket for IDS can be purchsed from the IDS online shop from end of 2022.
Visitors who purchase tickets online are eligible for limited free travel to and from the exhibition venue.
Passport and visa
Schengen regulations mean EU nationals do not require a visa to enter the Federal Republic of Germany. Additionally, passport holders of 62 other nations may enter the country without a visa for business and travel purposes and remain for up to 90 days. All other foreign nationals must hold a valid visa to visit the country. Visit the website of the Federal Foreign Office for the most current information.
Getting to Cologne
Travelers from around Europe and further afield can get to Cologne by air, rail or car. Cologne Bonn Airport is served by most European and international airlines and is located just outside of the city. Düsseldorf Airport is 65 km from Koelnmesse and the European aviation hub of Frankfurt Airport is located around 180 km from the fairground.
Travelers arriving by air can take advantage of special prices being offered by the IDS official airline, the Lufthansa Group, and those traveling by rail can make use of discounted fares offered by the German train service, Deutsche Bahn. See the IDS website for comprehensive travel information.
Airport transfer
The IDS organisers recommend that visitors use rail services to reach Cologne and Koelnmesse from the Cologne Bonn, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt airports. Cologne Bonn Airport has its own train station, and Line 13 on the suburban railway or the Regional Express will bring visitors to the Köln Messe/Deutz train station in around 12 minutes. Taxis depart from the airport at Terminal 2, and a fare to the city costs between €25 and €30. A rail journey from Düsseldorf Airport to Cologne will take about an hour, and the Cologne main station (Köln Hauptbahnhof) can be reached from Frankfurt Airport in just over 50 minutes using Germany’s high-speed ICE trains.
Getting to and from the show
IDS ticket holders can use public transport within both the Rhein-Sieg and the Rhein-Ruhr transport areas free of charge. The Koelnmesse grounds are well connected to the city’s transport network. Suburban (S-Bahn) Lines 6, 11, 12 and 13 depart from the Köln Messe/Deutz train station (opposite the south entrance) and reach Cologne main station (Köln Hauptbahnhof) in just a few minutes. Underground Lines 1 and 9 stop at the Bahnhof Deutz station (3 minutes’ walk from the south entrance), and 3 and 4 stop at the Koelnmesse station (east entrance). Taxi ranks can be found at all four main entrances, but the Hohenzollern Bridge offers an open-air alternative if the weather’s fine. Follow the signs from Koelnmesse to cross the Rhein and reach the cathedral in about 15 minutes.
Internet
Wi-Fi is available free of charge via the WLAN network #hotspot.koelnmesse after registering on the portal site.
Money
ATMs are located at the north, south and east entrances. Germany uses the euro as legal tender. Credit card usage in Germany is not as prevalent as in other countries and is limited to larger department stores, hotels, petrol stations and some restaurants. Debit cards are more widely accepted, but some businesses and restaurants only accept cash. Ask at the counter before being seated. Banks are generally open during business hours on weekdays.
IDS app
With an exhibitor search function and a detailed hall and product directory, the IDS app can help visitors to make the most of their trip to the trade fair. The app also provides information about traveling to and from the event, and access to Matchmaking365, a service for sending enquiries to and making appointments with exhibitors before and during the show. The app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
Important numbers
Police, fire and ambulance: 112
Koelnmesse visitor hotline: +49 180 677 3577
Embassies and consulates
Foreign representation offices can provide help in emergency situations, such as in cases of lost passports. They can also assist with travel arrangements or provide legal advice.
- Consulate General of Australia
28th Floor Main Tower, Neue Mainzer Str. 52–58, 60311 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 905580 - Consulado-Geral do Brasil
Hansaallee 32A & B (corner of Vogtstr., Térreo), 60322 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 9207 4213 - Consulate of Canada
Benrather Str. 8, 40213 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 172170 - Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China
Stresemannallee 19–23, 60596 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 750 85543 - Consulate General of India
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 26, 60325 Frankfurt am Main
Phone: +49 69 153 0050 - Consulate General of Japan
Breite Str. 27, 40213 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 164820 - Embassy of the Republic of Korea (branch office)
Godesberger Allee 142–148, 53175 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 943790 - Consulate General of the Russian Federation
Waldstr. 42, 53177 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 386 7295 - Consulate General of the United States of America
Willi-Becker-Allee 10, 40227 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49 211 788 8927
Contact information and emergency numbers for embassies or consulates of other countries can be found at www.embassyworld.com.