Summer, Sun, Sea – this and more you will find in the heart of Sicily: Palermo!
Wherever you are visiting Palermo just as a stop on your trip around Sicily or as your main destination. This post is perfect for you because it features the top things you need to do when visiting Palermo in Sicily.
I personally think that you don´t really need to spend many days in Palermo. If you must chance to see more from the island of Sicily then definitely do that and spend one or two days in Palermo. Especially if you enjoy staying at the beach and not being around too many tourists, Palermo can be a bit Palermo overwhelming sometimes. Palermo is the heart of Sicily, and that is why it is a hot spot for many tourists. And not to mention that Sicily especially in August is very very hot and humid. So, my recommendation would be to visit this charming place rather in Spring or the End of Summer to experience its full potential! At least make sure that your room has a working air conditioning…
With the scent of fresh lemons in the air, let’s start with the 10 top things you must do when going to Palermo:
1. Palermo Cathedral
Of course, you must visit the famous Palermo Cathedral in the city centre. You cannot go to Palermo and don´t see it. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in Palermo and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is as impressive in real life as it is in pictures!
And I even have a little tip for you: If you want to see stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, then definitely check out the Rooftop Terrace of the Cathedral. It is around 7-10 Euros which also includes the Tombs and the Treasury also located in the Cathedral.
2. Try Sicilian Food
A well-deserved Number 2! Fram Arancini’s to Cannelloni and the know Granita. There is so much Sicilian Food you HAVE to try in Palermo! And not even to mention the Italian Food in general that is just mind-blowingly good all-around Sicily. But now you are wondering where to try all of those amazing, delicious foods… Don´t worry a more detailed guide on Food spots in Palermo will follow. Where to it the best Sicilian food and more!
3. No Mafia Museum
This free museum gives you a good background of the history of the mafia in Sicily. You may have heard that Sicily is still in the hands of the mafia and there you will learn so much interesting about the whole history. The museum is independent and free which is really great, and we were even very interested so much in the whole mafia story that we even informed ourselves so much more about it before going home. You can also donate some money of your free will to the organization to ensure the good cause of informing the people of Sicily’s dark history and because the mafia is still a problem in Sicily. For example,I think it is interesting to know that still so many companies are paying taxes to the mafia and only a handful are not paying.
4. Get an Aperol to go
This is one of my absolute favourite things you can do in Palermo. Grabbing a good ice-cold Aperol to go from a little stall at the side of the main road. Especially in this hot Palermo there is nothing better than an ice-cold Aperol is just the best chilly drink to have while enjoying the beautiful environment.
5. Mercato del Capo & Ballaro
There are a few markets in Palermo which offer a glimpse into the street food culture in Palermo but especially those two markets are really good for a stroll in the evening and to try Sicilian food like arancini from one of the stalls and the most famous as well.
- Mercato di Capo: This market is in my opinion a bit more organized, and calmer compared to Ballaro and a great spot to try arancini. It is in the historic district near Porta Carini.
- Mercato di Ballaro: This is Palermo’s oldest and also most chaotic market full of life and Italian culture. You will hear vendors shouting in Italian offering the best deals and so forth. So the real experience of how you imagine a market. This place is the best for cheap and fresh produce!
In general watch out for your staff, especially in those tiny little areas where it is easy for pickpockets to steal something in those crowds.
6. Norman Palace & Palatine Chapel
Both attractions are also two of the most important in Palermo. The Norman Palace is one of the oldest royal residences in Europe and became the sear of the Norman kings later in Sicilians history. Perfect for taking beautiful photos!
The Palatine Chapel is located inside the Norman Palace, and it includes the famous Mosaics, a golden Christ Pantocrator. In my opinion this mosaic is a masterpiece and worth a visit with the beautiful Norman palace!
The entrance tickets depend on what parts of the palace you want to visit, but the Palatine Chapel is mostly included in the ticket.
7. Teatro Massimo
This Teatro is famous for being a location for the Godfather 3, but it is more than that for sure. It even is the biggest opera in Italy and has a stunning design indoors. And even if you haven´t watched the film you still can visit this beautiful location and be stunned by its charming architecture. If you can then definitely try to watch a show but there is also a 30-minute guided tour which is about 10 Euros per person to get to know more about the theatre.
8. Quattro Canti
This is practically just a place in the middle of Palermo with four facades surrounding a plaza and every one of them represents the four seasons. Very hard to take a picture from because sunlight always hits at least one of the facades and you can never get a picture with all of them. So maybe try to visit earlier in the morning for better lighting. this place and it still looks good, but worth a short visit when walking around the city. But you will not miss it.
9. Trip to Cefalú
You have seen this probably on TikTok somewhere. If you don´t have the chance to rent a car or take a whole trip around Sicily then you probably also want to see the outsides and small villages of Sicily at least once. To do so you can easily take a day trip to Cefalu just by train from the main train station in Palermo which is just around 5 to 13 Euros per person per one way. There it is just a short one-hour ride to this charming little village. There you can experience the ultimate small-town Italy charm. Enjoy some seafood while looking at the sea and take a swim on the beach. Also explore the Historic Centre with colourful houses and local boutiques perfect for shopping. Also, make sure to stop for an authentic Sicilian Granita while exploring and shopping. The Cefalu Cathedral is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage so make sure to also check that one out if you do not have enough cathedrals yet.
10. Mondello Beach
If you don´t have time to go further away from Sicily but you still need a splash in the for Sicily cold water, then take a trip to Mondello Beach. This beach as crystal clear water but also a lot of people are coming here because it is the closest and most beautiful beach near Palermo. So be prepared for many people.
I hope you enjoyed this guide about the top 10 things to do in Palermo Italy. If you have any other recommendations let me know and write them in the comments.
For the end, I want to highlight, again, that Sicily can be very very hot so basically, you cannot really leave the good climate hotel room in the afternoon and can only then go into the city when it is getting darker outside. So, I would highly recommend visiting Sicily when it is not peak summer. Just learn from my mistakes. But nevertheless, Sicily is such a beautiful place and the summer vibes there are unmatched. Also of course Italian food and especially Sicilian food are amazing. Just because of that,t I must go back soon to Sicily! We had mixed experiences with the people living in Sicily. Some of them were very friendly and helped us with everything but others just basically refused to let us order food etc. because we were tourists, and they got that. But we even speak Italian, so they had no reason not to get our order… I mean I get it. There are so many tourists in town that they probably hate them, but it is still not very friendly of them.
Enjoy your time in Palermo and live a life to remember!
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ - the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
Emma
About the Author:
If Emma were a word, she would be „daydreaming“ – the kind of daydreaming that feels more active than dreamy. No matter where she is, you’ll catch her thinking about the artsy city of Melbourne, wishing to take a walk through Central Park, dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights, and so on. The list is long. What’s adorable and also very impressive is that Emma doesn’t stay lost in the haze of her dreams; it won’t be long before the first opportunity appears, and she’ll be on her way to fulfill them.
