You bought your ticket for Motor Bike Expo and now you're looking for a place to sleep. You open the booking platforms and all you see is "unavailable". Welcome to Verona's most classic January problem. The same thing happens every year: the event sells out well in advance, and anyone who starts looking a few weeks late stares at empty screens. But the city isn't truly inaccessible — you just need to know where to look.
Why Motor Bike Expo fills up Verona in just a few days
Motor Bike Expo is no ordinary trade fair. Every January, Veronafiere officially kicks off the European motorcycling season and tens of thousands of riders from all over Italy and abroad converge on the city for three days of motorcycles, custom builds and live performances. The 2026 edition brought together over 700 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, 33 motorcycle manufacturers and around 170,000 visitors. One hundred and seventy thousand people in a January weekend: you can easily understand why the hotels around Veronafiere disappear within hours.
Motor Bike Expo 2027 takes place from Friday 22 to Sunday 24 January 2027 at Veronafiere. Anyone who books in November can still find something. Wait until December and you start to sweat. Arrive in January and there are only scraps left — or so it seems. In reality, the city has far more to offer than the mainstream platforms let on.
The areas of Verona that actually work (not just those near the fairground)
The automatic reflex is to search for hotels right next to Veronafiere, in the Borgo Roma area or along Viale del Lavoro. That zone fills up first. But Verona is a small city, and the historic centre is just 3 kilometres from the fairground. From Verona Porta Nuova station, the fairground is about 3 km away. The logic is straightforward: if you can reach the station on foot or within a few minutes, you're already well connected.
These are the areas to search for accommodation when the fairground district is saturated:
- Historic centre (Arena / Piazza Bra): apartments and B&Bs that motorcyclists tend to overlook because they seem "far from the fair". In reality, by shuttle or taxi it's 10–15 minutes away. The added bonus is a genuine Verona experience in the evenings, rather than an industrial hub.
- Station district / Corso Porta Nuova: a well-connected transit area with several accommodation options not always listed on the major platforms. Worth a direct search.
- Veronetta: the university neighbourhood on the eastern bank of the Adige. Less touristy, more authentic, and a 20-minute walk from the station.
- Surrounding towns within 15 km: Sommacampagna, Villafranca di Verona, Bussolengo. Ideal if you're arriving by motorbike and need secure parking included. From here, the Verona Sud motorway junction is just a few minutes away.
Getting to Veronafiere from the centre: shuttles, buses and bikes
This is the detail that changes everything. Staying in the historic centre doesn't mean being far from the fair — it means having a direct, free connection.
During Veronafiere events, shuttles run every 30 minutes from 10:30 to 19:00, with stops at Piazza Bra (bay C), Corso Porta Nuova (Giardini Pradaval), Stazione Porta Nuova (bay E) and Veronafiere (Via Belgio side). This service — verified for Veronafiere events — is typically also activated for Motor Bike Expo on the busiest days [⚠ TO BE VERIFIED for MBE 2027: check ATV / Veronafiere communications closer to the event].
Alternatively, you can use the regular bus lines (lines 21, 22 or 61) or the free shuttle service running during fair days. If you're arriving by motorbike, there is a dedicated route: the dedicated entrance is Gate C (via Silvestrini), where you will find parking reserved for motorcyclists, subject to availability.
From the historic centre by taxi: Veronafiere is about 3 km from the city centre and just a few minutes from Verona Porta Nuova railway station. The fairground is easily reachable by taxi. Radiotaxi dispatch: +39 045 532666, available 24/7 including public holidays.
How to still find availability: three concrete moves
If the mainstream platforms show everything as sold out, don't stop there. Here's what people who live in Verona and have been organising stays for years actually do:
- Search directly on the properties' own websites. Apartments and short-term rentals often don't update all their channels in real time. A phone call or a direct message can unlock availability that isn't visible online.
- Widen your search to 15–20 km. Towns on the southern shore of Lake Garda (Peschiera del Garda, Lazise) have accommodation that stays half-empty in winter and is just 20–25 minutes by motorway from Veronafiere. A genuinely solid option, especially for couples or groups.
- Consider Verona's historic centre. Short-term rental apartments near the Arena or Teatro Ristori stay available longer than the fairground districts, precisely because motorcyclists systematically overlook them. There's a certain irony in it: the most beautiful part of the city is the least contested during MBE.
Can I really stay in the historic centre and get to Veronafiere comfortably?
Yes. From the historic centre — Piazza Bra, Via Roma, the Arena district — the fairground shuttle departs directly from Piazza Bra and reaches Veronafiere in 10–15 minutes. By taxi, between 10 and 15 euros per journey. By bike or scooter (weather permitting in winter months), around 20 minutes along Corso Porta Nuova.
When is the right time to book for Motor Bike Expo 2027?
Motor Bike Expo 2027 in Verona is confirmed for 22 to 24 January 2027 at Veronafiere. Accommodation in the fairground districts starts filling up as early as September–October. If you're already running late, act now and focus your search on the historic centre or the Lake Garda towns.
Is the fairground served by public transport without a special shuttle?
Yes. ATV bus lines in Verona run regularly through the Veronafiere area. Line 22 connects Porta Nuova station to the fairground on an urban route. For up-to-date timetables, check atv.verona.it closer to the event.
For your stay during Motor Bike Expo 2027, The Verona Stay has apartments in the heart of Verona — close to the Arena and Teatro Ristori — with a direct connection to Veronafiere. Check availability on theveronastay.it before that runs out too.