Top places to visit in Palermo

• Palermo Cathedral

  Cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A remarkable architectural palimpsest: begun as an Arab mosque in 831, transformed into a Norman cathedral in 1185, extended by Aragonese kings — its exterior shows Arab-Norman arches, Gothic windows, and Baroque towers all in one…

• Teatro Massimo

  Opera House · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Italy's largest opera house (1897), the third-largest in Europe, designed by Giovan Battista Filippo Basile in Neo-classical style. Featured in the final scene of The Godfather Part III. Summer opera and ballet season runs June–July.

• Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina)

  Royal Chapel · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Roger II's royal chapel (1143) inside the Norman Palace is the supreme achievement of Arab-Norman-Byzantine art: gold mosaics covering every surface, a muqarnas honeycomb ceiling (the only such ceiling in a Christian building in Europe),…

• Ballarò Street Market

  Street Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Palermo's largest and oldest street market — a dizzying assault on the senses of grilled offal, blood oranges, fresh tuna, sfincione flatbread, and the calls of vendors in the Sicilian dialect that blends Arab and Spanish. One of Italy's…

• Cappella Palatina Mosaics Norman Palace

  byzantine-chapel · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · entry €19 (≈ ₹2,030)

  The Cappella Palatina inside the Norman Palace — one of the most spectacular Byzantine mosaic chapels in the world, with the 12th-century gold-ground mosaics, the unique Arab-Norman muqarnas ceiling, and the Cosmatesque marble floor.

• Monreale Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  The breathtaking Monreale Cathedral — one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture in the world, with 6,500 square metres of golden Byzantine mosaics (the largest mosaic cycle in Italy outside Ravenna), and the spectacular cloister.

• Palazzo dei Normanni & Palatine Chapel

  norman palace · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry €19 (≈ ₹2,030)

  The oldest royal residence in Europe (9th c. Arab, 11th c. Norman); the Palatine Chapel (1132–43) has the finest Byzantine-Islamic-Norman mosaics in the world — gold-ground and extraordinary.

• Palermo Cattedrale Maria Santissima

  cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The magnificent Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Maria Santissima Assunta) — the unique blend of Norman, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture, with the spectacular sundial floor and the panoramic rooftop terrace views.

• Palermo Massimo Theatre Mafia History

  opera-house · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The magnificent Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele — the largest opera house in Italy and the third-largest in Europe, where the climactic scene of The Godfather Part III was filmed on the iconic external grand staircase.

• Mondello Beach Belle Epoque

  belle-epoque-beach · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Mondello Beach with its Belle Époque history — the white-sand beach 12km from Palermo with the iconic Art Nouveau Antico Stabilimento Balneare bathing establishment, and the elegant Liberty-style villas of the early 20th century.

• Palermo Norman Palace Royal Apartments

  royal-palace · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry €19 (≈ ₹2,030)

  The Norman Royal Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) — the seat of the Sicilian Parliament since 1947, the oldest royal residence in Europe, with the spectacular Royal Apartments, the Sala di Re Ruggero with hunting mosaics, and the Renaissance…

• Cefalù Day Trip Beach Town

  medieval-beach-town · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A day trip from Palermo to Cefalù — the spectacular medieval seaside town with the 12th-century Norman cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage), the picturesque old town beneath the dramatic La Rocca cliff, and the beautiful beach.

Things to do

• Palermo Cathedral Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 20 per person
• Norman Palace Tour Museum · 1.5 h · from EUR 23 per person
• Cappella Palatina Visit Heritage · 1.3 h · from EUR 13 per person
• Monreale Cathedral Day Trip Day Trip · 3 h · from EUR 32 per person
• Palermo Walking Tour Walking Tour · 2 h · from EUR 16 per person
• Agrigento Day Trip Day Trip · 10 h · from EUR 68 per person
• Palermo Street Food Tour — Arancini Panelle & Pani ca Meusa Food Drink · 3 h · from EUR 25 per person
• Cefalu Day Trip Day Trip · 8 h · from EUR 50 per person

Day trips and tours

• Palermo Street Food & Ballarò Market Tour 3 h · from EUR 25
• Palermo Arab-Norman Architecture Tour 4 h · from EUR 20

Where to stay in Palermo

• Historic Centre / Ballarò about EUR 100 per night

  Central Palermo; walking distance to all UNESCO Arab-Norman sites and markets

Hotels

• Villa Igiea Rocco Forte 5-star · INR 30,000 to INR 110,000 per night
• Hotel Palazzo Mirto Palermo 4-star · INR 8,000 to INR 17,000 per night
• Hotel Quintocanto 4-star · INR 8,000 to INR 17,000 per night
• Hotel Principe di Villafranca 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 9,500 per night
• Hotel Palazzo Sitano 4-star · INR 9,000 to INR 20,000 per night
• Hotel Plaza Opéra 4-star · INR 8,000 to INR 17,000 per night

Where to eat

• Antica Focacceria San Francesco italian, sicilian, traditional · about EUR 15 per person
• Caffè Spinnato italian, sicilian, brasserie · about EUR 35 per person
• Ai Cuochini italian, sicilian, traditional · about EUR 8 per person
• Ferro di Cavallo italian, sicilian, traditional · about EUR 22 per person
• Pasticceria Cappello italian, sicilian, bakery · about EUR 12 per person
• Ke Palle italian, sicilian, traditional · about EUR 6 per person
• Antica Pasticceria Costa italian, sicilian, bakery · about EUR 8 per person
• I Cuochini italian, sicilian, traditional · about EUR 8 per person

Getting to Palermo

Airport: Palermo (PMO)

How visitors arrive in Palermo

• Fly into Falcone-Borsellino By air from Italian and European cities · common

  Airport at Punta Raisi west of the city, with shuttle buses, trains to Palermo Centrale and taxis. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry to Palermo port By ferry from Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Cagliari · common

  The port links to mainland Italy and Sardinia, and to Valletta and Tunis. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Overnight train to Palermo Centrale By train from Rome, Naples, Milan · possible

  Through trains cross the Strait of Messina by train ferry. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Prestia e Comande airport bus

  Airport shuttle buses run to the central railway station. Buy the airport-to-city ticket at the office beside the bus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Trenitalia train from Punta Raisi

  A station under the terminal at Punta Raisi connects to Palermo Centrale. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• Ferries to Palermo port unconfirmed

  Ferries arrive from Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Cagliari, Valletta and Tunis. Check current operators before you travel. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  City buses run along Via Roma, a Free Centro Storico bus serves the main tourist areas of the old town, and another line goes out to Mondello.

  AMAT Palermo bus

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Market Pickpockets

  Ballarò and Vucciria markets

  Crowded markets are prime pickpocket territory; slashed-bag technique used in crowds

  How to avoid it: Use front pockets or money belt; keep bag zipped and held in front

Best time to visit Palermo

• Jan 15°C
• Feb 15°C
• Mar 17°C
• Apr 20°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 28°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 20°C
• Dec 16°C

More in Italy

• Rome
• Venice
• Florence
• Milan
• Naples
• Cinque Terre

Frequently asked questions about Palermo

What are the top-rated places to visit in Palermo?

The highest-rated places in our Palermo guide are Cappella Palatina Mosaics Norman Palace, Monreale Cathedral, Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina), Palazzo dei Normanni & Palatine Chapel, Palermo Massimo Theatre Mafia History.

Where should I stay in Palermo?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Palermo: Historic Centre / Ballarò.

How do I get around Palermo?

Ways to get around Palermo covered in our guide: City bus, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Palermo?

Scams reported to us for Palermo include Market Pickpockets. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Palermo?

Average daytime highs in Palermo run from 15°C in Jan to 31°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Palermo?

The nearest airport to Palermo has the code PMO.