15 Best Things to do in Palermo, Sicily

Things to do in Palermo

1. Norman Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni)

This stunning palace is one of our must-sees in the Sicilian capital. We didn’t think it looked much from the outside, but wow, were we surprised when we saw the interior, especially the gold mosaic detailing of the Palatine Chapel. There are some pretty botanical gardens, too! (Book a guided tour here)

No time to read now?

No worries! Save on Pinterest to read it later.

Save to Pinterest

Villa Bonanno Garden

Nestled between the Norman Palace and the Cathedral, we found this peaceful area amongst the buzz: the Villa Bonnano Garden. Relax on the benches in the shade and watch the local street artists at work.

2. Palermo Cathedral

From the outside, this is not a typical-looking cathedral. Instead, it’s made up of stunning arches that face a luscious plaza filled with green shrubs and palm trees. (Book your guided tour here)

Our favorite hotels in Palermo 😴

View all

Sui Tetti di Balarm Boutique Rooms

Palermo

Family Affair

Palermo

Canceddi B&B

Palermo

See available hotels in Palermo

Check available hotels

Check available hostels

We grabbed a coffee at one of the many cafes overlooking the cathedral and spent 30 minutes just taking in all the details. There’s also the option to climb to the rooftop for amazing views of the city (locals say that at sunset, it’s one of the top things to do in Palermo!). 

3. Duomo of Monreale

Just outside Palermo is the stunning and grand Monreale Cathedral, built with 1,800 kg of pure gold! It only took us 30 minutes by car to drive there, and it was well worth it (reminded us of the Alhambra in Granada). We parked at this location, which was just a 7-minute walk from the Duomo.

Tip: You can also climb the stairs to the Duomo’s attic for the most beautiful views. Other than the cathedral, we didn’t find much else to do in the town of Monreale. Simply relax with a coffee outside in the sunshine after your visit.

4. Orto Botanico di Palermo, Sicily

We loved these Botanical Gardens in Palermo! This peaceful spot, uniquely located on the coastline, is home to 12,000 plant species, neoclassical buildings, and lovely water features. The gardens are open every day, and our tickets cost 7 EUR pp.

5. Visit the Bustling Food Markets

Exploring the incredible open-air markets in Palermo was one of our favorite things to do. These Arab-style street markets, influenced by Sicily’s proximity to North Africa and the Middle East, are a lively, vibrant display of colors, noise, and smells.

We did find it quite intense when crowded, particularly in the mornings, but you just have to embrace the vibe!

There are three main markets:

• Mercato di Ballaro: Our favorite! It’s the oldest and biggest market in Palermo, with the widest variety of food, the most to taste, and an incredible vibe if you like a little chaos ;)
• Mercato del Capo: a little less chaotic and very picturesque. For both Capo and Ballaro, we recommend visiting between 09:30 and 13:00. After these hours, most “real” market stalls are gone.
• Mercato di Vucciria: This is the best market for evening street food. There’s no set schedule for times that we could see, but go after 18:00 if you want the nighttime atmosphere and live music.

6. Sip an Aperitivo

Aperitivo is a way of life in Italy, and Palermo is no exception! Enjoying a refreshing drink before dinner is said to help you work up an appetite, so we had to try it for ourselves ;) Here are some of our favorites:

7. Church of the Gesú, Palermo

Although this seemed like any other church from the outside, once we stepped inside, the Church of the Gesú took our breath away with its extensive Baroque detailing, marble statues, and beautiful frescoes.

We visited right after the Ballarò market, as it’s located close by, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re already in this area.

Opening Times & Entrance Fee: Open from 7:45 AM – 4:30 PM daily (Sunday hours may vary due to mass). No entrance fee, but donations are welcome.

8. Fontana Pretoria

In the center of Palermo is the Piazza Pretoria. This bustling square is the place to go for street musicians and locals. The centerpiece is the unique Pretoria Fountain, surrounded by stone stairs, which you can walk up from all sides. This was definitely our favorite people-watching spot in the evening, especially when the fountain is all lit up.

We also visited during the day, so we could have lunch at nearby Caffè del Kassaro, a great pizza place. 

9. Santa Caterina Church

Visiting this beautiful tucked-away spot is one of our favorite things to do in Palermo. Santa Caterina Church is a former monastery that still functions as a church. It’s incredibly pretty inside, but the real surprise was the on-site pastry shop, I Segreti del Chiostro, packed with sweet treats made by the nuns.

We found this hidden spot via social media, and we have to say, it really lives up to the hype. Honestly, it was the best cannoli we had in Italy! The shell was perfectly crunchy, and the ricotta filling was rich, creamy, and full of flavor. We paid just around €4, and since they’re quite big and filling, we shared one.

Unfortunately, there is no seating in the shop, but we just ordered takeaway and sat in the beautiful church courtyard outside.

10. Bunker Di San Cataldo

Bunker Di San Cataldo was one of our favorite spots on the island; we really couldn’t believe how picturesque it was, and there was no one there! This ancient, abandoned bunker was built atop the cliff during WWII and was used primarily as a lookout. It’s pretty hidden and quite difficult to reach, but we thought it was worth it for the spectacular ocean views.

The color of the water was totally mesmerizing (it changes from emerald green to bright turquoise over the course of the day). We even saw a volcanic cave (Grotta delle colombe) from this spot!

Note: There are stairs from here that lead down to the water, but swimming isn’t safe due to high levels of pollution from industrial spills.

Getting to Bunker Di San Cataldo

You can find the bunker at Cala Muletti, close to the more well-known San Cataldo Bay. The exact location is here. It took us around 40-minutes to reach the bunker from Palermo; you’ll need a car, as there are no public transport options.

11. Temple of Segesta

This stunning temple looks like it could be straight out of Greece — an Acropolis-style structure crafted by an architect from Athens in 420 BC. It’s located on a small hill surrounded by meadows and wildflowers; truly beautiful!

How to Visit the Temple of Segesta

Tickets cost 6 EUR to visit the Temple of Segesta. You can walk to the top, but it’s very hilly, so we took the round-trip shuttle bus from the entrance for 2 EUR.

Getting there: It took us 1 hour to drive from Palermo to the Temple of Segesta, and we combined it with our visit to the Bunker Di San Cataldo. You could also add it as a stop-off on the journey between Palermo and Trapani as part of your Sicily road trip.

If you don’t have a car, you can join a tour from Palermo that includes return transportation and entry.

12. Catacombe dei Cappuchini

Catacombe dei Cappuchini was definitely one of the more unusual things we did in Palermo! The eerie catacombs are located underneath the Capuchin Monastery, full of dark corridors filled with the mummified remains of thousands of corpses. While interesting to see, it’s quite morbid, so it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Entry fee and opening times: 3 EUR (cash only when we visited). Open 9 AM – 12:30 PM, 3 PM – 5:30 PM. No pictures are allowed inside, as this is an important spiritual site.

13. Trip to Cefalú

If you’ve got time on your trip to Palermo, Sicily, we recommend visiting the idyllic beach town of Cefalú — one of the most picturesque places on the island! We visited in March, but it would be most spectacular in summer when you can enjoy the beaches.

• Take a stroll through the medieval old town with its sandy-colored houses
• Order a cappuccino in the Piazza del Duomo
• Visit the Old Harbor, and its tiny beach
• From the pier, spot La Rocca di Cefalù 

14. Beaches in Palermo

There are some stunning beaches around Palermo, Sicily! We got pretty lucky with the weather when we visited in the spring, but in the hot summer months, these beaches would be the perfect spot to cool down.

• Mondello Beach. Most popular with locals! Soft white sand and clear blue water. It only took us 20 minutes to drive from the city center, so it’s easy to visit.
• Sant’Elia. Further down the coast (40 minutes by car), we loved this charming fishing village with colorful houses and rocky coves. Great swimming spot!

• Ombelico di Venere. Only a 40-minute drive away from Palermo is the rugged shoreline of Ombelico di Venere. This stretch of beach is pebbly, so it has extra-clear water, which is great for snorkeling.
• Cefalù. This medieval fishing town is home to several dreamy beaches, both pebbled and sandy, to enjoy. We stayed overnight, but it’s only an hour from Palermo, so you could visit for the day.

15. Teatro Massimo

The Massimo Theater is Palermo’s opera house and the largest theater in Italy. It was even used as a filming location for famous films and TV shows like The Godfather Part III and The White Lotus. We only saw the outside, but you can also go inside on a guided tour or check their website for upcoming events and see a live performance!

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Palermo, Italy

The food in Palermo was definitely the yummiest we had on the island. We also found the food very cheap here, with two pizzas and drinks costing us as little as 15 EUR. 

Local food that you should try in Palermo includes arancini, crispy chickpea fritters, Sicilian pizza, spleen and ricotta sandwiches (!), and of course, cannoli. Here are our favorite food spots in Palermo:

Tip: Even though it’s the capital of Sicily, the restaurants won’t open until after 7 PM, and most locals don’t eat until after 9 PM. We recommend always booking beforehand and checking the opening hours (as the ones on Google Maps were incorrect quite a few times!).

Where to Stay in Palermo, Sicily

We stayed at Canceddi B&B in this historic center, so we could be close to the top things to do in Palermo, like the Cathedral and the Norman Palace.

Our favorite hotels in Palermo 😴

View all

Sui Tetti di Balarm Boutique Rooms

Palermo

Family Affair

Palermo

Canceddi B&B

Palermo

See available hotels in Palermo

Check available hotels

Check available hostels

We did find accommodation more expensive than in other places in Sicily, but you can find reasonably priced hotels and B&Bs, particularly in the Kalsa neighborhood.

How Many Days in Palermo?

We stayed for 3 days but you could easily stay for up to 5 days to cover all the main things to do in Palermo. This is also a good amount of time to take a day trip or two outside the city. 

Is Palermo Safe?

The Sicilian mafia, Cosa Nostra, has a long and bloody history on the island. However, these days, their influence is low, and organized crime operations don’t pose a threat to tourists.

If you want to learn more, there are a few anti-mafia walking tours that tell you about the violent history of Palermo and point out the businesses that are opposed to the mafia. We recommend supporting these if you can.

Tip: As with any other big city, be aware of your belongings and use your common sense at night. 

How to Visit Palermo, Sicily

By Plane

The Palermo international airport is about 30 km away from the city center. Please note that although Palermo is the capital, the bigger airport in Sicily is Catania, which is approximately a 3-hour drive away.

There are frequent buses and trains to the center, which take between 45 minutes to an hour and cost 5-10 EUR. The quickest option is a taxi, but this will cost significantly more.

By Car

If you are on a Sicily road trip, you can easily reach Palermo by car (like we did), but we wouldn’t recommend driving around once you’re in the city. There are many car rental companies in the center if you plan to start your trip from here.

We found parking an issue, so double-check with your hotel before you arrive where is the best place to park.

By Ferry

Palermo is a port city, so plenty of ferries are arriving daily from many destinations in mainland Italy and around Europe. You can also take a ferry from Salerno to Messina (the narrowest stretch of water) and take the train from there to Palermo.

By Train

There are trains available all over the island that connect the main tourist spots, and there are lovely scenic routes through the Sicilian countryside and along the coast. Train timetables can sometimes be unreliable, so be prepared to be flexible. You can also take the train from mainland Italy, which crosses the Strait of Messina by boat!

How Much Does Palermo Cost?

Palermo is a reasonably cheap travel destination compared to other more touristy destinations in Italy. It’s walkable, the food is very cheap (you can get two pizzas and water for as cheap as 15 euros!), and museums and tourist attractions aren’t expensive to visit. 

Best Time to Visit Palermo, Italy

We visited Palermo in March, and we got so lucky with the weather! It was sunny and cool enough for exploring, but we could still enjoy the beaches. Plus it was much quieter and prices lower.

The summer months can get very busy, with September being the island’s busiest month for tourism, so prices can increase during this time.