Are you thinking of travelling to Palermo, Sicily? Do you want to know the best things to do in Palermo? Perhaps you’re worried about all you’ve heard about the Mafia and organised crime in the city. Maybe you’re wondering if Palermo is safe to visit?
We visited Palermo in January 2025 and what we found was a vibrant city with plenty to do. We loved the beautiful architecture, friendly locals and delicious street food! We loved it so much that we spent another couple of days there in April 2026 on our return from Tunisia.
In this post we will show you that Palermo is so much more than just the Mafia – although we’ll highlight a couple of mafia-related attractions too!
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Best time to visit Palermo
Palermo is a year-round destination! While summer (June to August) is peak season, we believe the best time to visit Palermo is in the winter. We visited in early January 2025 as part of our three week Sicily Road Trip.
The weather is mild, not too hot for walking around the city all day. All the attractions are open, and there are less crowds! The only drawback might be that there are less daylight hours – the sun sets around 5pm in January.
Having returned to Palermo in April 2026 when it was much more crowded, we stand by Palermo being a great winter destination.
How many days do you need in Palermo?
We visited Palermo as part of our three week Sicily Road Trip. We originally only planned to spend one full day sight-seeing in the city, but half way through the day we looked at each other and said “We’re going to need to stay another day”.
Spending two full days in the city allowed us to see all the sights (and do an organised walking tour) as well as spend time wandering through the markets and pedestrian streets soaking up the atmosphere and eating all the food.
We did, however miss seeing a couple of places on that first visit, which we ticked off when we returned. 2-3 days in the city will allow you to really see everything and get a good feel for what is one of our favourite cities in all of Europe.
Best things to do in Palermo, Sicily
Palermo is a small, compact and fairly flat city, so it’s super easy to get around on foot.
We do recommend wearing closed shoes though, as many of the streets are cobbled and rough.
1 Visit the Palermo Cathedral
The Cathedral of Palermo was built in 1185 on the site of an earlier Byzantine Church. You’ll see many different architectural styles that reflect the long history of additions and renovations to the cathedral.
In a chapel at the right of the alter lie the remains of Saint Rosalie, the patron saint of Palermo. You can also see the tomb of Blessed Father Puglisi who was killed by the Mafia (on his 56th birthday!)
Entry to the cathedral is free however during Mass you won’t be able to walk around or take photos.
We recommend you visit the rooftop for great views over the city. Tickets to the rooftop (and royal tombs) cost €7 for adults. You can buy tickets just inside the front door, on the left.
2 Marvel at the Teatro Massimo
Built from 1875-1897, this is the largest Opera House in Italy and the third largest in the world (after the Paris Opera and Vienna Opera). The opera house is renowned for it’s acoustics. You can tour the interior or attend a performance during the season.
Sadly there were no performances being held when we were in town. Check out the schedule on the official Teatro Massimo website.
3 Hang out in Quattro Canti
The Quattro Canti Square is considered to be the centre of the historic quarter of Palermo. This square (Piazza Vigliena) is lined with 4 Baroque buildings. It is a popular meeting point in the city, and a great place to catch buskers and other street artists.
Most recently we were treated to some beautiful opera performances in the square, check out our Return to Sicily video to see more.
4 Check out the Pretorian Fountain
Just a few steps away from Quattro Canti you’ll find the Piazza Pretoria – with it’s famous fountain. This fountain was actually built in Florence in the 16th century. When the owner fell into debt, he sold the fountain to the city of Palermo. The fountain was broken up into 644 pieces and shipped to Palermo where it was re-assembled.
Because of the nudity of the statues (and the fact that there is a convent looking out onto the fountain) the square has earned the name Piazza della Vergogna – or the Square of Shame.
5 Visit the Norman Palace & Palatine Chapel
The Royal Palace of the Kings of Sicily was constructed in the 12th century. This Palace also contains the Palatine Chapel which has been called one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
The Palace is located a short walk from the historic city centre – from Quattro Canti walk down past the Cathedral and keep going.
We missed the Palace on our first visit – big mistake! The Palatine Chapel really is that amazing. The interior is decorated with beautiful golden mosaics, and the ceiling is very different to anything we’ve seen in a Christian church. It is carved wood in an Islamic style.
Tickets to the Norman Palace cost €19 and include entry to the Palatine Chapel, the Royal Apartments, Royal Gardens and any special exhibitions that are on at the time of your visit.
6 Stroll the Villa Bonnano Gardens
On the way to the Norman Palace you will pass the gardens of the Villa Bonnano. These gardens have palms and citrus trees, and offer a great respite from the hustle bustle of the city.
7 Walk through the Porta Nuova
Right next to the Norman palace is the Porta Nuova, or New Gate, which was built in the 16th century to commemorate Charles V victory in Tunis, and his visit to Palermo. The original gate was completed in 1584, but it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1669.
8 Wall of Legality
The Wall of Legality is a long mural depicting the faces of some of the law-makers who lost their lives fighting against the mafia – including judges Falcone and Borsellino. There are inscriptions (in Italian) for each person, usually quotes that person had said about the mafia. Google Translate camera mode comes in useful here!
9 Visit the No Mafia Memorial
This free museum aims to tell the story of the development of the Mafia in Palermo and Sicily, and the impact the organisation had on the lives of people here. The Mafia permeated all aspects of life in Palermo, political, social, cultural, economic and of course, criminal.
The museum also focusses on the struggle against the mafia, both from the judicial-institutional level and on a more grass-roots level.
You’ll find a variety of changing exhibitions here, with media including photographic and video. We found this a very sobering experience, even though a lot of the documentation was only in Italian.
10 Join a “No Mafia” Walking Tour
If you are interested in the Mafia at all, then we can highly recommend the No Mafia Walking Tour run by AdioPizzo Travel. Our guide Francesco was a wealth of information. He’s been fascinated (obsessed?) with the Mafia since he was a teenager.
The three hour walking tour takes you to some of the major sights in the city and tells mafia stories related to them. At the Cathedral we learned about the priest Puglisi who was killed by the Mafia for speaking out against them.
11 Visit the Catacombs
I’ve gotta say, this is one of the CREEPIEST places we’ve ever visited! We had seen the Church of the Capuchin Monks in Rome, where there are several bodies and lots of bones arranged into “art”, but the Catacombs in Palermo are next level.
Originally, only Capuchin friars were entombed in the catacombs, but during the 17th & 18th centuries it became a way for people to show their wealth and importance. There are supposedly over 2000 bodies in the catacombs now, dating from the 16th century to the early 20th century.
People were embalmed and put on display in their clothes. It’s really remarkable to see how well the clothing and the bodies were preserved. Some have intact hair and skin. It’s really quite macabre.
Entry to the catacombs is €5. Photography is strictly forbidden here, but there are a couple of stalls outside selling souvenirs and post cards.
12 Try the local food
Palermo is a foodies heaven! Known for it’s street food, there are several specialties you must try while you are here in Palermo.
- Panelle – deep fried chick pea flour
- Arancini – deep fried rice balls with cheese, meat or other fillings. These are not the golf-ball sized arancini you might get served up in Australia but GIANT arancini – usually shaped like an upside down cone.
- Cannoli – deep fried pastry rolls filled with sweetened ricotta cheese
- Granita – an ice-desert flavoured with natural fruit juices. Kind of like a slushie, but 100 times better!
If you want to know where to eat in Palermo, check out some of the local markets which sell street food, or walk along via Maqueda.
13 Eat at an outside cafe along via Maqueda
Throughout Sicily we found a lot of restaurants would have food displays outside, and Palermo was no exception.   There are plenty of cafés and restaurants along via Maqueda, a pedestrian street that runs between Quattro Canti and the Teatro Massimo.Â
This street is worth wandering along several times and you can pick a different place to eat each time! There’s also a good craft beer tap room here called Ballarak Craft Beers.
14 Ballaro Market
The Ballaro Market is the one of the oldest street markets in Italy and the largest market in Palermo. Here you will find a wide range of fresh food, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables; along with plenty of street food stalls too.
Its loud and crowded, and a real attack on the senses. The stall holders can be quite vocal advertising their produce (especially when a tourist with a camera comes by!) and the atmosphere in here is lively and fun.
Do make sure to check the prices before you buy – Nigel had a plate of whitebait (small fish) one day for €2 and when he went back the next day he was charged €5 for the same dish!!
We also had delicious fresh squeezed orange juice here, and (in the afternoon) we had an Aperol Spritz which was served in a plastic takeaway cup. Wandering the streets drinking an Aperol? Oh we love you Palermo!!
15 il Capo Market
The Capo Market is smaller and quieter than Ballaro, but still worth a visit. This is primarily a fish market and it also has plenty of street food stalls.
The best time to visit the markets is in the morning. A lot of the stalls tend to close down just after lunch.
16 la Vucciria Market square
Apparently in Sicilian Vucciria means “noise and chaos” which is certainly a fitting description for this small square, lined with fish restaurants and food trucks.
We had lunch here on a Saturday and it was madness – in the best possible way. Nigel got a large plate of seafood for around €15 and Sue had an arancini with Aperol Spritz for €5,
Best things to see in Palermo – the Ultimate Travel Guide
How to get to Palermo
Palermo is located on the north coast of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
By Air
You can fly into Falcone-Borsellino Airport from several European cities, and if you’re coming from further afield you may need to get a connecting flight through Rome. Check out Skyscanner for flight availability and the best pricing from your home city.
By Car
If you’re driving to Sicily by campervan or car, vehicle ferries make the journey from a number of different ports. We caught the ferry from Villa San Giovanni (near Reggio Calabria) to Messina. This ferry takes around 20 minutes and leaves hourly throughout the day.Â
There is no need to book, you can just arrive at the port and buy your ticket there. We were able to buy an open return ticket that was valid for 90 days. The price for our 6.4m long campervan was €92.10
By Train
There is a train that runs from Naples to Sicily that drives onto the ferry – this train runs during the day and also as an overnight sleeper train.
Palermo City Guide – Where to stay in Palermo, Sicily
If you’ve flown into Sicily and don’t have a car, staying in the old town will be easy. Even if you’ve picked up a car at the airport, a lot of the hotels will have a parking lot. You can check availability and pricing for Palermo hotels on booking.com
If you’re driving around Sicily with a campervan, we can recommend the Green Car Camper Sosta. This secure parking lot accepts cars and campers. The lot is manned during the day and there is a gate that is closed at night.
There are toilets and one shower (€1 for 5 minutes). You can dispose of your grey water and empty your chemical toilet here. You will find water available but we were told it was non-potable. 24 hours parking with electricity cost €25 per night.
When we returned to Palermo in April 2026, the Camper Sosta was full, and we were told there was no way to make a reservation. We found an alternative carpark just nearby, which had plenty of room, and it was FREE. There are no facilities here though.
FAQs
Is Palermo safe?
We spent two days walking around the city, including walking back to the Camper Sosta at night, and we didn’t feel unsafe at any times. Obviously keep your wits about you, as you would in any city!
Our No Mafia tour guide did recommend avoiding the Ballaro Market area at night.
Is Palermo worth visiting?
While we would much prefer to be out in nature than visiting a city, usually you get the best history and culture in a city. That is certainly the case in Palermo – especially when it came to learning about the Mafia in Sicily.
Palermo has beautiful architecture, a vibrant culture and a food scene as good as anywhere we’ve been.
Can you visit Palermo in a day?
While visiting Palermo on a day trip is definitely doable we recommend spending two or three days here if you have time. It’s worth it to really soak up the atmosphere of the city.
Do they speak English in Palermo?
While Italian is the official language, many people speak the Sicilian dialect. We found that English was quite widely spoken in Palermo, and often people would address us in English first (which was kind of frustrating for Nigel as he’s trying to learn Italian!)
Watch our “Best Things to do in Palermo, Sicily” travel film.
Each week we produce travel films on our YouTube channel. If you’re still wondering what to do in Palermo and want some visual inspiration, watch our Palermo Travel Film. Why not check out our full Sicily Playlist?
Where to next?
We really loved our time in Palermo, it was a great stop on our Sicily Road Trip. Check out the beach town of Cefalù – just an hour away from Palermo. Or visit Taormina – a beautiful historic town on Sicily’s east coast.
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