Where should I stay for the 2027 Handball World Championship in Germany?

The schedule: which round is where

The IHF's venue announcement and schedule:

• Preliminary round, 13/14 to 19 January: eight groups, two in each of Munich (SAP Garden, 11,000 seats), Stuttgart (Porsche-Arena, 6,200), Kiel (listed as Wunderino Arena, 10,250) and Magdeburg (GETEC Arena, 6,500). Magdeburg also hosts the President's Cup for teams that do not go through.

• Main round, 20 to 25 January: Cologne (Lanxess Arena, 19,250) and Hanover (ZAG Arena, 10,000).

• Final round, 26 to 31 January, all in Cologne: quarter-finals on 26 and 27 January, semi-finals on 29 January, placement matches on 29 and 31 January, and the medal matches on Sunday 31 January.

Tickets went on sale on 15 December 2025, after the women's world championship final. Germany's matches are the ones that sell out first; the final weekend is the scarcest ticket of the tournament, so secure tickets before you book non-refundable rooms.

Getting to the Lanxess Arena

The Lanxess Arena is in Deutz, on the east (right) bank of the Rhine opposite the cathedral and the old town. The nearest station is Köln Messe/Deutz, served by S-Bahn, regional and long-distance trains, and trams 1, 3, 4 and 9 stop at Bahnhof Deutz/Messe, Köln-Deutz and Deutz-Kalker Bad, all next to the arena, according to the arena's own transport notice. Buses 150, 153, 156, 250 and 260 also stop there.

From Köln Hauptbahnhof, trains to Messe/Deutz run about every five minutes and take about 2 minutes. Walking takes 15 to 20 minutes over the Hohenzollern Bridge, the railway bridge with the padlocks, which is a fine walk on a dry evening and a cold one in January.

The arena's notice also warns of bridge renovation works in Deutz and Mülheim causing traffic disruption, another reason not to drive. Cologne Bonn airport has S-Bahn and regional trains to the Hauptbahnhof and Messe/Deutz, and Düsseldorf airport is the other option for flights.

Cologne: where to stay, ranked by travel time to the arena

1. Deutz. Walking distance to the arena, with the trade-fair hotels around the Messe and the riverside promenade with the best view of the cathedral. Price level: mid to high, and the first rooms to sell for anything at the arena or the Messe. The catch: it is a trade-fair and office district, quieter in the evening; you will cross the river to eat in the old town.

2. Altstadt-Nord (Hauptbahnhof and the cathedral). The station, the cathedral and the most hotels in the city, from budget chains to big international names, two minutes from Messe/Deutz by train or a 15 to 20 minute walk over the bridge. Best for anyone arriving by train from the other host cities. Price level: mid-range. The catch: station-area streets are busy and not the prettiest.

3. Altstadt-Süd and the old town by the Rhine. The brewery taverns serving Kölsch, the narrow lanes towards the Heumarkt and the riverside. A tram ride across the Deutzer Brücke reaches Deutz. Price level: mid-range. The catch: some old-town hotels are small and older, with steep stairs and no lifts.

4. Belgisches Viertel. West of the ring, the city's independent-shop and café quarter, with apartments and boutique hotels. A tram ride and usually a change to reach Deutz. Price level: mid-range. The catch: longer journey after a late semi-final.

5. Ehrenfeld. Further west, with bars, street art and more reasonable prices, on the tram and S-Bahn. Price level: budget to mid-range. The catch: the longest ride of the five.

If Cologne fills, Düsseldorf and Bonn are both linked to Cologne by frequent regional and S-Bahn trains; check Deutsche Bahn for the last trains after an evening session.

The other host cities, briefly

Munich (preliminary round). The SAP Garden opened in 2024 inside the Olympiapark, served by U3 at Olympiazentrum and U1 at Gern. Stay in Maxvorstadt or Schwabing, both on or near the U3, or by the Hauptbahnhof for train connections; our where to stay in Munich has the areas, and the Munich guide the city.

Stuttgart (preliminary round). The Porsche-Arena is in the NeckarPark sports complex next to the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle and the MHPArena football stadium in Bad Cannstatt. Stay around the Hauptbahnhof or in Bad Cannstatt itself; check VVS for the event transport plan.

Kiel (preliminary round). The IHF lists the arena as the Wunderino Arena; it is THW Kiel's home, the Ostseehalle, which was renamed Merkur Ostseehalle in 2026. Kiel is a compact port city, so a hotel in the centre or near the Hauptbahnhof keeps everything walkable.

Magdeburg (preliminary round and President's Cup). The GETEC Arena is the city's main handball hall and home of SC Magdeburg. With 28 matches, it hosts more games than any other venue. Stay in the centre and use the tram; hotel stock is smaller than in the other host cities.

Hanover (main round). The ZAG Arena is on the Expo Plaza on the Expo 2000 grounds in southern Hanover. Stay in the centre near the Hauptbahnhof and take the Stadtbahn south, or at the Messe end of the city if you only want the matches.

When to book, and match-day logistics

We have no sourced figures on hotel prices for the championship, so this is general advice. Germany's group, and the knockout weekend in Cologne, will drive the demand. Hotels in Cologne also price around trade fairs at the Koelnmesse, which sits next to the arena; check its January calendar before booking. Book free-cancellation early and keep it until your tickets and Germany's route through the tournament are clear.

• January weather. It is midwinter: cold, dark by late afternoon, and often wet. See best time to visit Germany for what to expect and pack for queues outside the arena.

• Between cities. Deutsche Bahn's long-distance trains link all six host cities; book Sparpreis fares early, and allow buffer time, because delays are common.

• Practical. Carry some cash for bars and kiosks, check tipping in Germany, get a Germany eSIM for live train updates, and check the visa rules before you fly.

Frequently asked questions