From the outside The Insel is not clearly marked as a hotel as it is at the end of a street of traditional buildings.
The hotel is located on the East side of the Rhine river opposite Cologne Deutz train station. Here it enjoys excellent access to the Fair Site but is somewhat further from the Historic centre of Cologne, which can be easily reached by taxi and by public transport but it is quite a long walk. For the Fair the Insel hotel is perhaps one of the best hotels in the city, since it is a 5 minutes walking distance.