Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily packs a lot of activities for a weekend away. It’s a popular tourist destination but definitely not crowded. You can easily spend two days in the town just wandering around.
Palermo is one of those cities I loved as soon as I arrived- It’s a city of contrasts, a city that doesn’t take a while to reveal its charms.
It doesn’t have the elegance of Rome, Florence or Venice, yet, the typical Italian facades seem unchanged. Here as anywhere else in Italy, the clothes are hanged to dry in the sun, the small balconies are full of plants and flowers, and the sound of music escapes from the open windows, but Palermo boasts uniqueness, it has something special that isn’t found elsewhere in Europe.
click on a section in the list to jump down the page.
- How to get to downtown from the airport
- Best area to stay in Palermo
- Best way to get around in Palermo
- Things to do in Palermo
- Other places to visit in Palermo
How to get to downtown from the airport
I took the shuttle bus the Prestia e
I purchased my ticket at the airport. A single ticket costs 6€. You may want to consider getting a return ticket, which comes as cheap as 10€.
Tip: When coming from the airport by bus, try to get a seat on the right-hand side of the bus, as it will give you a beautiful view of the mountain scenery on the way to downtown.
Best Area to Stay in Palermo
Palermo’s historic center has vibes, it feels festive, it’s lively and busy, but the rhythm of life is somehow slower. I definitely recommend staying in one of the four districts of the historic center: Monte di Pieta, Kalsa, Castellammare or Albrgheria. From there, you will be close to everything from monuments and museums, bars and restaurants as well as shops and markets.
Best way to get around Palermo
The best way to explore the city center of Palermo is on foot. However, if you prefer to ride public transport, there is a free shuttle in the historical center of Palermo that passes every 11 minutes and stops at the most popular places. There are also buses, the ticket costs € 1.40. You can buy it from any newsagent’s (
Things to do in Palermo
Visit Palazzo dei Normanni and its Chapella Platina
The Palazzo
- Entry fee: the entrance to Palazzo dei Normanni is €8.50. It will cost you €7 if you visit the Palace on Tuesday or Thursday, as the Royal Apartments are closed due to Parliamentary meetings.
Climb the Palermo Cathedral
While wandering in Palermo, you will certainly stumble upon the Palermo Cathedral. Although it’s totally worth exploring the interior of the Cathedral, the best way to experience this historical monument is to climb to the roof and walk along the narrow catwalk.
- Entry to the roof costs €5
Take a stroll along via Vittoro Emanuele and via Maqueda
Taking a stroll through
Don’t forget to stop at one of the coffee shops along the way to crunch on a cannoli – The best-known Sicilian pastry.
Take a picture at the Piazza Pretoria
There are a few things that you simply must do in the Piazza Pretoria, one, of course, is to take a photo by its large central fountain. Decorated with 50 statues (more or less grotesque), Fontana Pretoria, also known as the fountain of shame is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Palermo. It’s located just a few meters away from Quattro Quanti intersection.
Just near the Piazza Pretoria, there is plenty more to see. Don’t miss The Piazza Bellini, this square offers a nice blend of eastern and western architecture. Three churches stand here: La Martorana, San Cataldo, and Santa Caterina.
Enjoy a meal on Via Principe di Belmonte
If you are looking for a nice place to eat away from the hustle and bustle of the historic center, Via Principe di Belmonte evokes a pleasant atmosphere. This small pedestrian street is packed with nice restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy good food at an affordable price.
Stroll around Vucciria open-air market
The popular Vucciria open-air market has been operating for about 700 years and is well worth a visit.
This hectic and colorful market is the perfect place to observe the day-to-day lifestyle of the locals. Fresh fruit and vegetables arrive here every day as well as herbs, spices, cheese, meats, seafood, and baked goods. There are also some stalls selling cheap Chines imports such as clothes, plastic toys, and sunglasses.
Escape the crowd at Foro Italico
This beautiful green space along the shore is perfect for those who want to take a walk away from the crowd of the historic
Other places to visit in Palermo
If you are a fast traveler or just have more time available, there are more places to add to your trip.
- Duomo di Monreale: an Arab-Norman cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It’s located 7 km from Palermo.
- The Capuchin Catacombs: home to the largest collection of mummies in the world.
- La Zisa: this building a great example of Arab-Norman architecture. Today, it’s home to the Museum of Islamic Art.
- Mondello: It’s an area of vast beaches and beautiful waters. In addition to this, you will find some clubs, shops, and restaurants.
And there you have it my 2- days Sicily travel guide. I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
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