Italy

Palermo

Chaotic, layered capital with Arab-Norman monuments and street food. Stay 3 days. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan Palermo with friends Browse 10 places

Places: 10
Curated routes: 1
Best season: Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Warmest month: August
Coolest month: January
Wettest month: January

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Palermo

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Palermo across Albergheria, Monreale and Kalsa.

Photo: LUCIANO LUMINARI · Google
See
Palatine Chapel
12th-century royal chapel in the Norman Palace, lined with gold mosaics.
Tip Weekday mornings are quietest.
- Albergheria
- $$
- 1.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
Monreale Cathedral
Hillside cathedral covered in 6,500 square meters of Byzantine mosaics.
Tip Visit the cloister and walk the roof for views over Palermo.
- Monreale
- $
- 1.5 hr
- Morning
Photo: Julian Lupyan · CC0
See
Palermo Cathedral
Cathedral mixing Norman, Gothic and Baroque styles, with royal tombs.
Tip Roof walk offers views over the old town.
- Kalsa
- $
- 60 min
- Late afternoon
Photo: Eleonora Migliore (Ele) · Google
See
Quattro Canti
Baroque crossroads where four ornate facades frame the old town's quarters.
- Centro
- Free
- 15 min
- Evening

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Palermo in Centro.

Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt · CC BY-SA 4.0
Do
Teatro Massimo
Italy's largest opera house; daily guided tours and seasonal performances.
- Centro
- $$
- 45 min
- Afternoon

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Palermo.

Photo: Rosaria Triolo · Google
Outdoors
Mondello Beach
Sandy bay with clear water and Art Nouveau bathing pavilion.
Tip Bus 806 runs from Piazza Sturzo.
- Mondello
- $
- 3 hr
- Afternoon

Eat

2 places to eat across Kalsa and Centro, picked for groups who care about the food.

Photo: Antica Focacceria S. Francesco dal 1834 · Google
Eat
Antica Focacceria San Francesco
Historic eatery since 1834 known for pane con la milza and arancine.
- Kalsa
- $
- 60 min
- Lunch
Photo: Daniel Wang · Google
Eat
I Segreti del Chiostro
Convent pastry shop in Santa Caterina selling recipes from Palermo's nuns.
Tip Cannoli are filled to order.
- Centro
- $
- 30 min
- Afternoon

Drink

1 bar or café in Vucciria for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

Photo: Taverna azzurra · Google
Drink
Taverna Azzurra
Old Vucciria tavern pouring cheap local wine to a crowd spilling into the street.
Tip Busy after 9 pm.
- Vucciria
- $
- 60 min
- Night

Shop

1 shop in Albergheria for browsing and souvenirs.

Photo: phil leonard · Google
Shop
Ballarò Market
Busy street market for produce, fish and fried snacks like panelle.
Tip Go before noon; closed Sunday afternoons.
- Albergheria
- $
- 60 min
- Morning

How to fit Palermo into a trip

Palermo is stop 1 of 3 on our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route. Follow it as-is or lift Palermo into your own plan.

Stop 1 of 3
Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse
Markets, Greek theaters and Baroque towns
Trip length
8 days
Best season
Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
Pace
moderate
- Next: Taormina
See the full itinerary

Getting here and onward

Palermo to TaorminaTaormina is about 171 km / 106 mi away in a straight line

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Palermo month by month

Average daily highs run from 14°C / 57°F in January to 32°C / 90°F in August. January is the wettest month, with about 97 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Palermo weather and the best time to visit →

Near Palermo

6 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Palermo questions, answered

How many days do you need in Palermo?

Our route notes suggest 3 days in Palermo. On our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Palermo best known for?

Chaotic, layered capital with Arab-Norman monuments and street food. Stay 3 days. Standouts on our list: Palatine Chapel (12th-century royal chapel in the Norman Palace, lined with gold mosaics); Monreale Cathedral (Hillside cathedral covered in 6,500 square meters of Byzantine mosaics); Palermo Cathedral (Cathedral mixing Norman, Gothic and Baroque styles, with royal tombs).

When is the best time to visit Palermo?

Our Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route is best Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (32°C / 90°F), the coolest in January (14°C / 57°F) and the most rain in January (about 97 mm).

What are the best things to do in Palermo?

Start with Palatine Chapel, Monreale Cathedral, Palermo Cathedral, Teatro Massimo and Quattro Canti. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Palermo?

Our picks: Antica Focacceria San Francesco (Kalsa); I Segreti del Chiostro (Centro). Cannoli are filled to order (I Segreti del Chiostro).

What is near Palermo?

The closest destinations in our guides are Taormina (about 171 km / 106 mi), Syracuse (about 205 km / 128 mi) and Sorrento (about 292 km / 182 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Palermo with your crew

Open the Sicily: Palermo to Syracuse route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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Palermo

Things to do in Palermo

See

Palatine Chapel

Monreale Cathedral

Palermo Cathedral

Quattro Canti

Do

Teatro Massimo

Outdoors

Mondello Beach

Eat

Antica Focacceria San Francesco

I Segreti del Chiostro