Palermo might not blow you away at first glance, but if you stay in the city a little longer, you’re sure to fall in love with its characteristically narrow streets. Peeling façades, rubbish on the streets and crumbling houses are nothing out of the ordinary. Gradually, however, you’ll grow accustomed to the city and its unique atmosphere, and you’ll fall in love with its contrasts.

With a population of over 640,000, Palermo is Sicily’s largest and capital city, and as such serves as a base from which to explore the island. Its history dates back to the 8th century BC, and it is therefore full of historical monuments.

As well as exploring the city, make the most of the chance to take a dip at one of Sicily’s top 10 beaches, Mondello, located on the outskirts of Palermo.

Sights and attractions

In Palermo, you’ll come across many interesting sights, so all lovers of architecture and history are sure to find something to their liking.

• Palermo Cathedral – undoubtedlythe most significant landmark is the monumental 12th-century Palermo Cathedral, built in the Norman-Arabic style and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Norman Palace –this vast palace, which today houses the Sicilian regional government, dates back to the 8th century, when it was built as the seat of the Norman, and later Swabian, kings
• The Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti –a unique 12th-century church with five oriental domes, a mosque and a cloister
• The Quattro Canti roundabout –forms the centre of the old town; at its corners you can admire richly decorated Baroque town houses
• The Pretoria Fountain –just a short distance away, you’ll come across a large fountain adorned with a grand allegorical sculpture
• The Church of St Catherine (Santa Caterina) –this 16th-century church, built in the Rococo and Sicilian Baroque styles, is best known for the incredible frescoes adorning its interior

However, the city boasts dozens of other sights, which we’ll introduce to you in a separate guide to Palermo coming soon.

Accommodation in Palermo

Palermo offers perhaps the greatest number and variety of accommodation options in Sicily, ranging from really cheap hostels to luxurious, high-end hotels. Prices here are lower (from 41 eur per night for two in a standard hotel) than in tourist resorts, making Palermo an ideal base for exploring the island.

• Hotels and accommodation in Palermo
• Airbnb

Take a look at the specific hotels and accommodation we’ve selected for you:

• Well-reviewed budget hotels (up to 62 eur s per night for two): 55 Aira Hotel, Ariston Petit Hotel, Astoria Palace Hotel
• The best hotels in Palermo: Ibis Styles Palermo President, Artemisia Palace Hotel, NH Palermo, Mercure Palermo Centro

Transport

Palermo is one of Sicily’s main transport hubs. It is home to many car hire companies and is served by bus and train services from across the island. Take a look at which operators run services from Palermo to the main destinations:

• Catania – SAIS Autolinee buses, Trenitalia trains, fare around 14 eur
• Trapani – Segesta buses, Trenitalia trains, fare around 10 eur
• Messina – SAIS Autolineebuses, Trenitalia trains, fare around 14 eur
• Enna – SAIS Autolineebuses, Trenitalia trains, price around 10 eur
• Syracuse – Interbuscoaches, fare approx. 14 eur
• Agrigento – Camilleri Argentobuses, Trenitalia trains, price around 10 eur

Further information on travelling around Sicily can be found in the ‘Transport’ section.

Public transportin Palermo isprovidedbythe buses and trams operated by AMAT, which cover the entire city via a very extensive network of routes.

• Official information is available on the website amat.pa.it

A 90-minute (transfer) ticket purchased at a newsagent costs 1,40 eur ( 1,80 eur when bought from the driver), whilst a 24-hour ticket costs 3,50 eur.

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