Visiting Reggio Emilia for a Game?

The main gateway for Reggio Emilia is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), approximately 42 miles away. The best transit option is the Marconi Express monorail from the terminal to Bologna Centrale station, then a Trenitalia or Italo high-speed or regional train onward to Reggio Emilia; the full journey including the transfer takes roughly 45–60 minutes and costs around €8–35 depending on train type. Pre-booked shuttle services such as GoOpti run door-to-door from BLQ to Reggio Emilia in about 55 minutes for €28–95, and a private taxi or transfer takes approximately 45 minutes for €45–65.

Reggio Emilia's city centre is compact and highly walkable, with a pedestrian-friendly historic core and an extensive 267-kilometre cycling network; the city also operates a free 'minibù' shuttle connecting key points and a reservation-based night bus called 'Aladino.' The SETA bus network covers the wider city with frequencies of 10–30 minutes and a flat single-ride fare of €1.50, valid for 75 minutes and purchasable at tobacconists or vending machines. Rideshare apps and taxis (available at the main train station) are easy fallback options; a car is unnecessary for a stadium-focused trip since bus line 05 from the central station area connects directly to Mapei Stadium.

The Centro Storico (historic centre) around Piazza Prampolini is the best base for traveling fans: it puts you within roughly a 20-minute walk or a short bus ride on line 05 to Mapei Stadium, with the highest concentration of bars, restaurants, and pre-match atmosphere. Budget hotels and B&Bs in this area start around €50–70 per night, while mid-range options run €80–130. For fans arriving by high-speed train, the area near the Reggio Emilia AV Mediopadana station also has solid hotel options and the Minibus M route provides a direct link to both the city centre and the stadium at Piazzale Lari. Book early for Serie A match weekends, as the city is small and quality rooms sell out quickly.

Mapei Stadium is one of Italy's most distinctive football venues: built in 1995 as the country's first modern club-owned stadium, it features a water-filled moat between the pitch and the stands — fans have reportedly been seen fishing in it during matches. The ground is shared by two clubs at different levels, Sassuolo (Serie A) and AC Reggiana (Serie B), which means visiting fans can often catch top-flight and second-tier Italian football in the same city on alternate weekends. The shared-stadium arrangement carries genuine local tension: Sassuolo's owner purchased the ground from a bankrupt Reggiana, and a vocal 'Via il Sassuolo da Reggio Emilia' protest movement among Reggiana ultras makes for a charged atmosphere. Rugby fans should also note that Valorugby Emilia play in Italy's top domestic league at Stadio Mirabello, just 500 metres south of the main railway station.