Palermo

It's the capital city of the autonomous region of Sicily and of its own province. The city's economy is based on local government institutions, port, shipbuilding industry and the mechanical industry. It is also seat to some important Sicilian wine-making companies (like Tasca d'Almerita, Duca di Salaparuta, Corvo, and Planeta) whose popularity in the world is growing.

Palermo
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       98     15 9       110     15 9       78     16 10       65     19 11       36     23 15       18     27 19       6.7     30 22       32     31 23       65     28 20       106     24 17       118     19 13       124     16 10 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Palermo Climate Averages
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       3.8     58 48       4.3     58 47       3.1     62 49       2.6     66 53       1.4     74 60       0.7     81 67       0.3     86 71       1.3     87 73       2.6     82 68       4.2     74 62       4.6     66 55       4.9     60 50 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Capital of Sicily, founded by Phoenicians under the name of Ziz (= Flower, but the meaning is still doubtful), later renamed by Greeks Panormos, which means "all port". It reached its golden age during the Arab domination (from 9th to 11th centuries AD) when it became one of the most prosperous cities in the Mediterranean and Europe, known as "city of delights" for its marvellous and lavish gardens, as well as for magnificent mosques and palaces.

After being conquered by the Normans (1060-1080 AD), most of palaces and mosques were destroyed, but the new rulers exploited the cosmopolitan environment of Palermo and the artists, architects and masters from different cultural roots giving the birth to a unique architectural style, the so-called "Arab-Norman Style of Sicily", which is an original mixture of arabesque decorations, Romanesque architecture and Byzantine mosaics. After being home to one of the most famous Emperors of the Middle Ages, Frederick II of Swabia, named "Stupor Mundi" by contemporaries, Palermo began its decadence under the influence of several dominations (French, Aragonese, Spanish and Bourbons from Naples.

In the middle of 19th century, during the so-called "Italian Risorgimento" Palermo was one of the leading revolutionary cities in Italy, strongly contributing to the success of the Thousand patriots' expedition led by the famous Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi, which ended with the reunification of Italy under the Savoy dynasty from Turin (1860).

Nowadays Palermo faces several problems affecting its economic development, mainly because of the presence of the very powerful criminal organization known worldwide as "Mafia" or "Cosa Nostra".

• Palermo Tourism website

• 1 Palermo Airport (PMO  ^IATA Falcone–Borsellino Airport) (32 km west of the city at Punta Raisi), ☏ . Has flights incoming from other Italian centres and major European cities on a regular basis. Half hourly shuttle buses, on the :00 and :30, (operated by Prestia e Comandè) provide inexpensive transport into the city centre train station (€6.30, as of 2018). Purchase bus ticket from the ticket office next to the bus at the airport. From city centre to the airport, purchase ticket from the driver. There are 1-2 buses per hour, 50 minutes, €6.30 one way (€10 return if bought online). The usual taxi and car rental services are also available at the airport. Trenitalia also offers regular service at the airport at the Punta Raisi station located in the basement of the terminal. Cost to take the train to Palermo Centrale is €6.50 (March 2023). A trip to Palermo Centrale takes just under an hour, whether by bus or by train.  (updated Aug 2018)

Ferries steam between the port of Palermo and the following several Italian ports on a regular basis: Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Cagliari (Sardinia). International routes are available from Valletta (Malta) and Tunis (Tunisia). You can view and compare schedules and prices for ferries to Palermo on Ferryhopper.

There are overnight through trains from Rome, Naples and even Milan via the train ferry across the Strait of Messina. The main railway station, 2 Palermo Centrale, is located at Piazza Giulio Cesare.

Although Palermo is a fair-sized city, most of the interesting sites around the centre can easily be reached on foot.

There are a large number of bicycles and e-scooters for hire across the city. These include Lime, RideMovi and others. Prices vary.

Get a 24-hour ticket for €4. Many buses run on Via Roma. You can take the "Free Centro Storico" bus to move around the old town; it covers all the main touristic areas. To go to Piazzale Indipendenza, take bus 109 from the station. If you want to go to Mondello, take the bus 806. You can also use the mobile app Moovit to browse all the urban lines and plan your trips around the city.

Because of its variety of monuments, attesting to its long and rich history, and the number of other cultural and naturalistic attractions, Palermo can offer a very interesting experience to the visitor interested in exploring it. The Cathedral of Monreale, the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel, the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, the Church of San Cataldo, the Palermo Cathedral, the Zisa Palace and the Admiral’s Bridge, comprise together with the cathedral in Cefalù the world heritage site “Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale”.

• 1 Palermo Cathedral, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, ☏ . Honey-coloured and Catalan influenced. Frederick II, Barbarossa's grandson, died in 1250 and is buried here, far from his ancestral home above Hohenstaufen, Germany. Frederick's sarcophagus is of porphyry dyed with imperial purple.  

• 2 Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina), Piazza Indipendenza, ☏ . Mon-Fri 09:00-11:45, 15:00-16:45; Sat 09:00-11:45; Sun 09:00-09:45, 12:00-12:45. It's one of the artistic gems of Palermo: a chapel with magnificent mosaics and Arabian-style decorations, among the most beautiful in the world. It is inside of Palazzo dei Normanni. included in the Normans palace tickets.  
• 3 Palazzo dei Normanni (Palace of the Normans), Piazza del Parlamento, 1. The oldest royal residence in Europe, the home of the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily and imperial seat of the Emperor Frederick II. The palace contains the Cappella Palatina, the best example of the Arab-Norman style of Sicily. Nowadays it is the seat of the Sicilian Parliament. €15.50.  (updated Feb 2022)

• 4 San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Via dei Bernadetti, ☏ . Mon-Sat 09:00-19:00. Church notable for its brilliant red domes, which show the persistence of the Arab influences in the 12th century, with its typical Arab-Norman style. The €6 admission ensures that the lovely garden is quiet and peaceful.  
• 5 Museo Archeologico.  
• 6 Catacombe dei Cappuccini, Piazza Cappuccini (just west of the city centre). 09:00-12:30 and 15:00-17:30. The catacombs of the Capuchin convent contain over 8,000 mummified ex-residents from Palermo and its surrounding villages, some merely clothed skeletons, other remarkably well-preserved and lifelike. Well worth a visit, interesting, if slightly morbid. Children may either find it exciting or terrifying, and it must be the responsibility of their parents to think carefully before taking them. You can arrive via the tram line and a 10- to 15-minute walk. Your visit will not take longer than one hour. No photography allowed €3.  (updated Feb 2023)

• 7 Church of the Gesù. The Gesu Church is one of the most architecturally important in Palermo. Constructed between 1564–1633, its late date of completion resulted in an abundant use of polychrome marbles on both floors and walls. This form of decoration, which gradually evolved in Sicily from the beginning of the 17th century, was a mark of the beginning of the Sicilian Baroque period, which was to give Sicily almost an architectural national identity. The church has a modest facade and it's hidden in back street in central Palermo, unlike the great cathedral this one you have to look for.  (updated Jul 2026)
• Quattro Canti - the symbolic crossroads at the old centre of the city and the nearby small, but pretty La Martorana church with Byzantine mosaics inside.
• Piazza Garraffello near Vucciria on Friday nights a DJ is playing open air if the weather is good. Huge crowd dancing. There are also lots of bars right next to the square.
• 8 Piazza Pretoria and the Fontana Pretoria (also known as square of Shame). In 1573 the Senate of Palermo bought a fountain intended for the Palace of San Clemente in Florence, with the intention of placing it in the square. The large central fountain is the focal point for 16 nude statues of nymphs, humans, mermaids and satyrs. In 1860, the fountain was considered the representation of corrupt municipalities, and Palermo nicknamed the square with the nudity of the statues, the Square of Shame (Piazza della vergogna). This may have also been reflecting the prevailing influence of the Spanish Inquisition during that time.  (updated Feb 2021)
• 9 Praetorian Palace or Palace of the Eagles (Palazzo Pretorio or Palazzo delle Aquile), Piazza Pretoria. The building has an important role in the political life of the city, since it houses the mayor and the offices of the municipality of Palermo. Construction began in 1463. It is open for visits to see the sumptuous meeting rooms, the "Sala Rossa" (seat of the mayor), the "Sala Gialla" (seat of the municipal government), the "Sala delle Lapidi" (seat of the city council), and the "Sala Garibaldi".  (updated Feb 2021)
• The Zisa and the Cuba, Arabic-Norman royal palaces. The Zisa is in Piazza Zisa; the Cuba in Corso Calatafimi.
• 10 Monreale. A village 8 km west of Palermo, sitting on the hill with a great view back towards the city and the sea. It is home to a historical Norman-Byzantine cathedral, which has been designated as one of several buildings named in a UNESCO World Heritage Site  (updated Feb 2021)

• 11 Monreale Cathedral (Duomo). The cathedral of Monreale is one of the greatest extant examples of Norman architecture. It was begun in 1174 by William II and completed four years later. The church is a national monument of Italy and one of the most important attractions of Sicily. The cloister has 228 small columns, each with different decorations influenced by Provençal, Burgundian, Arab and Salerno medieval art.  (updated Feb 2021)
• 12 Palermo Botanical Garden, Via Lincoln, 2. Opens at 09:00, closes at different times based on the season (e.g. 17:00 in winter, 20:00 in summer). Historical city botanical gardens featuring many collections of plants, trees, and aquaculture. The garden is associated with the neighbouring university and contains a number of experimental gardens to test acclimation of plant species to Sicily. €6. 
• 13 Museo delle Maioliche (Museum of Maiolica Tile), Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 11. Appointment only.. Beautiful private museum of historical tiles produced both locally and in Naples. Guided tours available in English or Italian will take you through the techniques and historical considerations of tile making and its importance across Italy. €9. 

• Football: Palermo FC play soccer in Serie B, the second tier. Their home ground Stadio Renzo Barbera (capacity 36,300) is 5 km north of city centre.

Try specialties of Palermo like panino con la milza or panelle, in one of the many sandwich stands in the old city centre.

• 1 Stuzzicandoci, Via Vittorio Emanuele, 251. Best place to eat a delicious arancina in Palermo downtown. The owner is really kind and friendly. Quality ingredients and courteous staff. (updated May 2022)
• 2 Timilia, Via Maqueda, 221. Very good pizzeria, a real delight. Also Vegan options. For those intolerant to gluten and lactose, the pizzas are gluten-free and the mozzarella is lactose-free. (updated May 2022)
• 3 Maqueda Bistrot, Via Maqueda, 253. Great place, very delicious pasta and the bruschetta with the mozarella is tasty. They serve both pasta and great burgers. (updated May 2022)
• 4 Vecchia Trattoria da Totò, Via Coltellieri, 6. The real Palermo cuisine. Informal trattoria with tables also outdoors. Good mixed fried food, excellent mussels. No English menu. (updated May 2022)
• 5 Bisso Bistrot, Via Maqueda, 172A. Bistro in the centre of Palermo with a wide choice of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Beautiful restaurant, with retro air, very unique old bookstore. Smiling waitress, very good food, decent waiting time. (updated May 2022)
• 6 Il Proverbio, ☏ . Discesa dei Giudici, 24. Close to station and Quattro Canti. Great Sicilian food, most dishes are €4-6. 
• Bangla Fast Food, Via Maqueda, 142, ☏ . 11:30-01:00. Delicious Indian/Bangladeshi food. Great veg curry, daal and rice for €4. A good selection of samosas and pakoras. Excellent chai for €1. 

• 7 100 Montaditos, Piazza Tarzanà. Many types of sandwiches, all very good. You have to fill in the order sheet and go to the cashier to pay, then the dishes ordered on the sheet arrive. Each sandwich is €1. (updated May 2022)
• 8 Cala Pollo & Co., Via Cala, 128. In this deli you will find one of the best chicken that the city can offer. Yummy food. Best Italian style BBQ chicken. (updated May 2022)
• 9 Pani câ Meusa – Porta Carbone, Via Cala, 62. The best sandwiches. Excellent typical Palermo food. A dining experience to try these local Street food delicacies. (updated May 2022)
• 10 Le Tabarin, Via Chiavettieri, 7. Magical Palermo atmosphere with a background of 1990s/2000s music. One of the best apericena: tasty limoncello Spritz, tasty fresh food, big amount per person. (updated May 2022)
• 11 Voglia Di Pizza, Via Chiavettieri, 28. Very tasty and juicy pizza, the dough is just amazing. Inexpensive, plentiful and well stocked with quality ingredients, fast servers. (updated May 2022)

• 12 Osteria dei Vespri, Piazza Croce dei Vespri 6, ☏ . Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00, 18:00-24:00. This location has a certain charm, with a quite rare calm in Palermo. The service is impeccable. The vegetarian menu was really good. Delicious wines and fantastic food! (updated May 2022)
• 13 Il Cambusone, Sant'Andrea, Piazza Sant'Andrea, 4. Great fish and very kind, attentive staff. Cozy environment, excellent for tasting the flavors of Sicily. (updated Aug 2022)

• 14 MEC Restaurant, Via Vittorio Emanuele, 452.  (updated Aug 2022)

• Pasticceria Capello, Via Nicolo Garzili 10, ☏ . Thu-Tue 07:00-22:00, Wed closed.  (updated May 2022)
• Pasticceria Capello, Via Colonna Rotta 58, ☏ . Thu-Tue 07:00-22:00, Wed closed.  (updated May 2022)
• 15 Antico Caffé Spinnato, Via Principe di Belmonte 107/115, ☏ .  (updated May 2022)

• Enoteca Picone, Via Marconi 36, ☏ .  
• The Bar Brothers, Via Vittorio Emanuele 118, ☏ . Wed-Sun 18:00-00:00. Great little bar for beers and cocktails. A small number of seats out on the street. Beers from €2.50 to 3.50. 
• dal Barone, Via Alessandro Paternostro 87, ☏ . Mon-Sat 18:00-00:00. Nice wine bar with a good selection of wines. Good cheeseboards. 

The "Pizzo free" shops^{[dead link]} are a group of shopkeepers that refuse to pay the racket to the Mafia. The Palermitan consumers sustain them by going shopping in their stores. These shops are easily recognisable by a sticker in the shop/restaurant window.

• Isola Saporita, ☏ . Corso Vittorio Emanuele 504 (opposite the cathedral). Good selection of wine, oil, marmalade, sauces, etc. 
• Mercato di Ballarò, Via Ballarò, Piazze de Carmine. Mon Tue Thu-Sat 07:00-20:00, Wed 07:00-13:00. Busy food market in Albergheria. 
• La Coppola Storta, Via Bara all'Olivella 74, ☏ . This cap, first worn by Sicilian peasants and later by the Mafia, has become a stylish accessory. 

• 1 B&B Novecento, Via Roma, 62, ☏ , info@bed-breakfast-palermo.com. Original liberty style building in the historical centre, three-star B&B with rooms with AC, WiFi, private bathroom (external or also ensuite), central heating, LCD tv, mini bar, frigo, original furnishings of early 1900s. 
• Villa Addaura, Lungomare C. Colombo 1931, ☏ , info@villa-addaura.com. Villa Addaura, a bed and breakfast in Mondello, is in a beautiful location 10 metres from the sea. 
• 2 B&B Teatro Massimo, Via Orologio 31, ☏ , bbteatromassimo@alice.it. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Bed and breakfast Teatro Massimo is an elegant residence in the heart of Palermo, 50 m from the Teatro Massimo, in the pedestrian area of the historical centre. The historic building is completely restored and has an elevator. The B&B offers accommodation in rooms and elegantly furnished apartments. They are air-conditioned, equipped with TV and WiFi. (updated Mar 2016)

• B&B Palermo A Casa di Amici, Via Dante 57 - Palermo (on the Via Alloro 1 block from Piazza San Francesco), ☏ , , info@acasadiamici.com. In the historic centre of Palermo near Al Teatro Massimo. €35-45 per person. 
• Al Giardino Dell'Alloro, Vicolo San Carlo 8 (on the Via Alloro 1 block from Piazza San Francesco), ☏ , giardinodellalloro@katamail.com. On a quiet street. €35-45 per person. 
• 3 B&B Il Giardino di Ballarò, Street: Via Porta di Castro 75/77 (centre, near Mercato Ballarò), ☏ , ilgiardinodiballaropalermo@gmail.com. Check-in: after 12:00, check-out: until 10:00. €70 a day for a couple. 
• Hotel Casa Giuditta, Via Savona 10 - Piazza Kalsa (in the historical city centre, opposite the sea). Offers rooms and self-catering apartments with 17th-century style decorations. Fully furnished with all mod cons: a/c, washing machines, kitchen with oven, freezer, dishwasher, satellite TV. Children welcome. 
• Palermo Sea Holidays, Via Torretta 7, Sferracavallo, near Mondello (30 m from the sea and 2 km (1.24 miles) from Mondello), ☏ . A group of 1- and 2-bedroom self-catering apartments, on Sferracavallo's seafront close to Palermo. Simple but comfortable studios have an outdoor yard, for relaxing during the day and romantic dinners by night. Sferracavallo has good public transport connections to Palermo, and is close to the Capo Gallo nature reserve. 
• Florio Park Hotel, Contrada Magaggiari. First category hotel complex by the sea on a beautiful golden and sandy beach. Inside a 4-hectare park, the hotel has 17 pavilions (1 or 2 floors), surrounded by luxuriant vegetation, that comprise 204 rooms and 6 suites. In the central building you'll find the reception desk and the wide and elegant hall, the restaurant, the excursions office, the American bar, the bazaar and the TV room. 
• Saint Thorn Guest Club, Via Spina Santa 210, Capo Gallo, near Mondello. It's inside the 'Capo Gallo' nature reserve in the hills outside Palermo, offering stunning views across Mondello's beach. Free parking in the nearby private street, or inside the villa for €5; swimming pool; free internet. All rooms have en suite baths, TV, hair dryer, a/c, fridge, own outside access. Two rooms have kitchenette, with minimum stay of 5 days. Downtown Palermo is about 15 min by bus/car, Mondello 10 min, airport 20 min. 
• Hotel Artemisia Palace Palermo, Via Roma, 499, ☏ , fax: +39 091 6055766. Elegant four-star hotel which has 18 double rooms and suite. All with private bar, satellite TV with Sky channels, internet connection. Also available a free public parking. 
• Hotel Italy, Via Roma 62, 4th floor (100 m from the train station), ☏ , hotelitalia62@hotmail.com. Good clean rooms with new bathrooms, AC, TV, and balcony with clotheslines. €60, no breakfast. 
• Hotel Joli, Via Michele Amari, 11, ☏ , fax: +39 091 6111766. Rooms adorned with frescoes and fine decor. Fine service, too. (updated Apr 2018)
• Villa D'Amato, Via Messina Marine 180, ☏ , fax: +39 091 6213057, info@hotelvilladamato.it.  
• NH Palermo, Foro Italico. 237, ☏ . Spacious rooms and a congress centre with 2 meeting rooms, all equipped with natural light, on the picturesque gulf of the city and enjoys breathtaking views across the sea. 
• B&B Porta di Castro, ☏ , fax: +39 091 8771577, bebportadicastro@gmail.com. It is an old building restored and well furnished. 
• B&B Lincoln Suite Palermo, Via Lincoln 161 (Centre), ☏ , info@bedandbreakfastpalermoart.com. Refined, cheap and central, close to the station. €30. 
• 4 In Itinera B&B (near the Giardino Inglese and the Notarbartolo Station), via della Libertà 58, ☏ . Bed and breakfast art and design in the heart of Palermo. Rooms with free wifi, minibar, bathroom with shower or bath and Chromotherapy, air conditioning 

• 5 Excelsior Palace Hotel, Via Marchese Ugo, 3, ☏ , fax: +39 091 342139. One of the oldest and most renowned luxury hotels in Palermo. 4 star, near the harbour and the English Garden. 
• 6 Grand Hotel et Des Palmes Palermo, Via Roma 398, ☏ , fax: +39 091 331545. Large and luxurious 4-star in the centre, with exquisite interior design and high quality service. Also one of the oldest and best known in the city. Richard Wagner stayed here from November 1881 until 20 March 1882. It was at this hotel that he completed Parsifal on 13 January 1882.  
• 7 Quintocanto Hotel e Spa, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 310, ☏ , fax: +39 091-7302738, info@quintocantohotel.com.  
• Hotel Residenza D’Aragona, Via Ottavio D'Aragona, 25, ☏ , fax: +39 091 6622273. Elegant and filled with modern comforts and impeccable service. In the historical centre, near the Politeama and Massimo theaters. Single from €80, double from €120. 
• Hotel Ucciardhome Palermo, Via Enrico Albanese, 34/36, ☏ , fax: +39 091-7302738, info@hotelucciardhome.com.  
• 8 Hotel Villa Igiea Palermo, Salita Belmonte 43, ☏ , fax: +39 091 547 654. 5-star villa and hotel complex in the hills overlooking Palermo and the bay. Offering health spa, tennis courts and a fantastic Greek swimming pool that overlooks the sea from on high. 
• 9 Mondello Palace Hotel, Viale Principe di Scalea (in Mondello, 7 km from Palermo city centre), ☏ , toll-free: . It rises a few meters from the soft and golden sandy beach and is surrounded by a lush Mediterranean park. It is an elegant building with wide, classic halls. There are an open-air swimming pool, free WiFi internet connection and a parking lot inside the hotel (unguarded). The restaurant is the feather in its cap. It is located in a wide and bright hall, opening up on the garden. Here you can taste Sicilian and international dishes, together with very nice local wines. 
• 10 NH Collection Palermo Palazzo Sitano, Via Vittorio Emanuele 114, Palermo, ☏ . Stylish 4‑star hotel centrally located on Via Vittorio Emanuele, steps from Palermo Cathedral and Teatro Massimo. Housed in a beautifully restored Baroque palace, with modern amenities including spa, rooftop terrace, fitness centre, and fine buffet breakfast. Excellent staff, clean rooms, and a popular option for both business and leisure travellers. Some street‑facing rooms may be noisy at weekends. €150–€300. 

Palermo is a quite safe city during the day but it can be an intimidating city at night, especially on week days in the winter, when there are not many students, visitors and locals around. Even if crimes against visitors are quite rare, just remember that:

• Use common sense all day but especially after dark, especially outside the main streets and if you are a woman
• You should book a hotel/B&B in the city centre (the areas around Piazza Ruggero Settimo, Fontana della Ninfa and Piazza Giuseppe Verdi are fine), both for security reasons and also because public transportation between the city centre and suburbs is not reliable at night. Accommodation in Palermo is quite cheap compared to Italian and European standards, even in the best areas.

During the day just remember to be aware of pickpockets on the streets and city buses as well as motorcycle-riding snatch thieves targeting handbags, wallets and mobile phones.

In summer the city centre of Palermo is safe even during the night, as there are hundreds of bars and pubs open all night and many people around. However don't forget to use common sense.

Driving and crossing the streets in Palermo is quite dangerous as the rules of the road are not followed. Also remember that vehicle theft is a major problem in Italy, but, as evinced by latest figures made available by Italian Police, Palermo is safer than Rome, Naples, Milan, Bari, Catania and Turin, but if you want avoid any risk so the use of private, secure car parks is to be preferred. If you've rented a car, your insurance may not be valid if you do not park in a secure car park.

As of Sept 2021, Palermo has 4G from Iliad, TIM and Wind Tre, and 5G from Vodafone.