Custom Trip Plan

Palermo

Sicily’s Naples.
A bustling, hustling port city with nothing to prove.

Video about Palermo

Palermo is the rough-around-the-edges capital city of Sicily, and its biggest. Despite the order of the busy main avenues, the twisting lanes of the Centro Storico provide plenty of opportunities to get lost. Cheek by jowl here you will find grand palazzos (much of Europe's royalty once had their vacation palaces here) and scruffy tenements. Turn a corner in a grungy alley and you’re faced with an ornate fountain or pompous statue.

All of this provides a rich backdrop to your time in Palermo. Many have come before. The city was founded nearly 3,000 years ago and has truly been a crossroads of the great civilizations. Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Germans, Spanish, Bourbon and finally Italian rulers have held dominion over the city and left their mark. Palermo's international airport and busy sea port make it a great start or end point for an exploration of Sicily.

Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Palermo

Spend some time in Palermo on a tour that takes in other cities in Italy and neighboring countries. Our vacation packages including Palermo and other destinations throughout Italy and Europe hassle-free. We take care of getting you from place to place, accommodation, excursions and activities.

Discover Sicily, White Lotus Style Custom Itinerary

Discover Sicily, White Lotus Style

Taormina, Ragusa, Palermo

from$2,900 pp^*

Southern Italy Sampler Custom Itinerary

Southern Italy Sampler

Sorrento, Lecce, Bari, Taormina, Palermo

from$4,500 pp^*

Italy on Film Custom Itinerary

Rome, Naples, Palermo, Taormina

from$4,375 pp^*

Best of Sicily Custom Itinerary

Palermo, Agrigento, Ragusa, Siracusa, Etna

from$3,425 pp^*

* Starting price is per person, based on double occupancy in 3 star accommodation, in the most affordable month an itinerary is offered. Airfare to Europe is not included.

Click on your choice of itinerary, select number of travelers in your party, month of travel, and desired star level of accommodation to get an approximate price. Submit the enquiry form with any additional details and we can start planning your customized trip.

What I love about Palermo

Local Teams Specialist & Senior Adriatic Destination Expert

Many places in Italy abound with rich history, beautiful architecture, delicious food, character... still, some of these have really blown me away with their atmosphere and individuality. Palermo is on top of the list.

Where to stay in Palermo

With accommodation options ranging from a boutique 3-star B&B and farm-stays, to a luxurious and grand 5-star hotel, whatever kind of accommodation you need, we've got it covered. Get in touch with us for a free travel consultation. Once we start preparing your customized itinerary we will present our recommended options for you to choose from.

Classic Luxury Hotel in Palermo

Classic Luxury Hotel

One of the most luxurious hotels in the city.

Elegant 3-star hotel in Palermo

Elegant 3-star hotel

A surprisingly elegant 3-star hotel located in the heart of Palermo.

Charming Design Hotel in Palermo

Charming Design Hotel

A charming design hotel with an excellent restaurant.

Things to do in Palermo

We've got a broad range of city tours, day trips and excursions to keep you busy in and around Palermo. with one of a number of walking or biking tours (some with a street food element), or delve into the countryside. When we send you your customized itinerary you will be able to choose additional excursions to include in your vacation package or consider adding later.

Palermo Market Tour & Cooking Class

Palermo Market Tour & Cooking Class

Palermo Street Food Group Walking Tour

Palermo Street Food Group Walking Tour

The Best of Palermo Private Tour

The Best of Palermo Private Tour

Glowing Reviews from Our Guests

4.8 / 5

Average of our Guest's Ratings of our trip packages including Palermo, based on 9 reviews

Review by Rosanne, Peter, William & Carolyn

Rosanne, Peter, William & Carolyn

Connecticut

Well planned, organized and wonderful. Can’t say enough about the support from our contact person, Dimitriy and the wonderful guides for each tour

Year : 2024
Visited : Italy
Itinerary : Palermo, Agrigento, Siracusa, Taormina
Rating :

4.75 / 5

Review by Ashley & Diane

Ashley & Diane

Pennsylvania

My mom and I so appreciated every aspect of JayWay's comprehensive model that includes pre-trip planning, arrangement of private transfers, coordination of just the right amount of excursions/activities, and a local, knowledgeable contact to make the trip the memory of a lifetime for us!

Year : 2024
Visited : Italy
Itinerary : Sorrento, Palermo, Taormina, Siracusa, Naples
Rating :

5 / 5

Review by Joan & Christopher

Joan & Christopher

Massachusetts

JayWay made it easy and enjoyable to travel independently and to customize our trip to what we wanted to do. All guides and drivers were on time and knowledgeable about the places we were seeing. One of the highlights was our trip to Noto. It is such a beautiful baroque city. All in all, a wonderful and memorable trip!

Year : 2024
Visited : Italy
Itinerary : Palermo, Cefalu, Ragusa, Siracusa, Taormina, Palermo
Rating :

4.75 / 5

Read more Guest Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Palermo

What are Palermo's prices like?

In the center, a quick lunch with a drink costs around 15-20 euros. Museums and landmarks generally cost 5-20 euros. For a full dinner, budget at least 25-30 euros.

How can I get around Palermo?

Palermo has a system of orange buses known as AMAT (the blue buses you'll see are part of a separate intercity system). AMAT can get you anywhere in Palermo. You can pick up bus tickets and maps from AMAT kiosks at Piazza Ruggero Séttimo and Stazione Centrale, as well as tobacco stores. Drivers will not check your tickets, but tickets must be validated either on the bus, or just before boarding with orange validation machines. Buses are occasionally boarded by inspectors, who will slap you with a hefty fine if your tickets haven't been validated. A ticket costs 1.40 EUR and is valid for 90 minutes. A day pass is 3.5 EUR.

Is Palermo safe?

Palermo is a safe city, but being a big city, petty crimes like pickpocketing are a possibility, especially in the suburbs.

What options does Palermo have for those with dietary restrictions?

Palermo has a diverse collection of restaurants, so we're sure you can find something good, despite your restrictions or intolerances, such as the excellent vegan restaurants Bioesserì and Verdechiaro. Sicily's cuisine is likewise diverse, which many meat/gluten/dairy-free options.

How long should I spend in Palermo?

We recommend at least two nights in Palermo, so you can fully enjoy the city and have some time on your own. Add more if you're planning on day tripping to the Ancient Greek temples at Segesta, or to Monreale to admire the duomo there.