You have half a day left to sort out logistics before the fair opens, and your list of "urgent things" still includes: finding somewhere to sleep that won't force you to wake up at six to reach the exhibition halls. It happens every time. SaMoTer is one of those trade fairs that seems to approach slowly — triennial, all the time in the world — and then hits you on a Tuesday in May with 40,000 professionals from 78 countries all looking for a taxi at the same moment.
The next edition is already set: SaMoTer 2029, 9–12 May, at Veronafiere, in Viale del Lavoro 8. The exhibition site is the most well-oiled trade fair machine in North-East Italy, with 13 pavilions and 350,000 square metres in total. You already know you'll be back. It's worth planning properly now.
Veronafiere is 3 km from the city centre: closer than you think
Here lies the secret that no hotel aggregator tells you clearly: Veronafiere is about 3 kilometres from the centre of Verona, just a few minutes on foot from Porta Nuova railway station. By taxi from the station, you're there in under ten minutes. On foot, with light luggage, it takes less than half an hour along Viale del Lavoro — a straight, wide road with no hills.
This means one concrete thing: staying in the historic centre isn't a luxury reserved for tourists. It's the smartest choice even for those who come to work. In the morning you grab a coffee in Piazza Bra — not at the fair's café — and arrive at the pavilions feeling fresh. In the evening you walk back or take a ten-euro taxi, and you're not trapped in an industrial-zone hotel ghetto where breakfast ends at 8:45.
Days at the fair are long and the pavilions are physically demanding. Those who sleep in the centre recover better, eat better, and — not a trivial detail — manage to take an evening stroll through Verona's streets, which in summer are wonderful well into the night. An evening at the Arena, an hour at Osteria al Duca behind via Arche Scaligere, and the next day you return to the pavilions with a clearer head.
How to reach Veronafiere from the centre without catching a bus at dawn
The real options — the ones Veronese locals use when accompanying colleagues to the fair — are three:
- Taxi: from the Arena/Piazza Bra area to Veronafiere, about 10–12 minutes, indicative cost 10–13 euros. Book via app (iTaxi or similar) the evening before if the fair opens at 9. On high-attendance days taxis run out fast outside the station.
- City bus: line 61 (Castelvecchio – Stazione Porta Nuova – Viale del Lavoro) stops directly in front of the gates. Frequency roughly every 20 minutes. It's cheap, but factor in timing: on fair days it can get crowded.
- On foot from the station: if your accommodation is near Porta Nuova, Veronafiere is literally walkable. About 25–30 minutes along Viale Piave and then Viale del Lavoro. Works perfectly in the morning, less so in May rain — keep a compact umbrella in your bag.
A note on the ZTL: Verona's historic centre has limited traffic zones active during the day as well. If you're driving to the fair, don't think about parking near the Arena. Veronafiere has dedicated parking with 15,000 spaces: drive straight to the fair, then use a taxi in the evening. Don't mix the two worlds.
Staying near the fair vs. staying in the centre: which is the right choice?
It depends on how much time you have. If you're in Verona solely for the fair and leaving the same evening, a hotel near Veronafiere is a neutral option. But if you have at least one night, the centre gives you access to proper restaurants, a few hours of the Scaligera city, and often comparable prices — especially in apartments. The quality-to-experience ratio is firmly in favour of the historic centre.
How much does a taxi from Piazza Bra to Veronafiere cost?
Around 10–13 euros [⚠ VERIFY updated 2026 fare], journey time 10–12 minutes. Outside peak hours, possibly less. Consider sharing it with a colleague: the logistics work very well in pairs.
How often does SaMoTer take place?
It is a triennial fair: it was held in 2023, then in May 2026, and the next edition is already confirmed for 9–12 May 2029. It's worth marking in your calendar and booking accommodation well in advance — apartments in the centre fill up during the weeks of major trade fair events.
For your next stay in Verona — whether for SaMoTer, Vinitaly, or simply to discover the city — the apartments at The Verona Stay are at Via Roma 21, a stone's throw from Piazza Bra and the Arena: genuine historic centre, not the outskirts. Take a look at theveronastay.it.