When Milan hosts a major trade fair — from the Salone del Mobile to fashion weeks, from HOMI to EICMA — finding a room in the city becomes hard and expensive. Hotel rates double and availability sells out months ahead. Piacenza, just over half an hour away by train, is the alternative many professionals have already discovered.
Why it’s worth it
During fair peaks, the price gap between a Milan hotel and an apartment in Piacenza is striking. Add to that the calm of a human-scale town, the option to cook instead of always eating out, and fast WiFi to finish your emails at the end of the day. You set off in the morning well rested, far from the chaos of the metropolis.
How to reach Rho Fiera from Piacenza
The Rho-Fiera Milano exhibition centre is well connected. From Piacenza station take a train to Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi (around 33-60 minutes depending on the service), then metro line M1 (red) to Rho Fiera, the end of the line. Some regional and suburban trains also stop directly at Rho.
Door to door, you reach the fair in about an hour and a half, avoiding traffic, impossible parking and restricted-traffic zones entirely.
Practical tips
Buy Frecciarossa tickets in advance, especially on the busiest fair days. Keep an eye on the first and last train times if you have evening appointments or networking events. And if you’re travelling as a group or for several days, an apartment with a kitchen and shared spaces makes the trip more comfortable — and cheaper — than separate hotel rooms.
Piacenza isn’t just a logistical fallback: it’s a city of art to discover in the evening, among historic squares and excellent Emilian cuisine. A business trip becomes a little journey too.