Top places to visit in Palermo

• Palermo Cathedral

  Church · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry EUR 3

  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

  Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry EUR 9

  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)

  Church · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · entry EUR 15

  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

  Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h

  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

  Church · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · entry EUR 19

  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

  Church · 4.9 rating · about 4 h

  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

  Church · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · entry EUR 19

  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

  Church · 4.7 rating · about 2 h

  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

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 2 h

  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

  Beach · 4.6 rating · about 4 h

  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

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · entry EUR 19

  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

  Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 8 h

  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 around

• Bus main way to get around

  Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.

• Walking

  Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.

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

More in Italy

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