Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is a city of innumerable historical and naturalistic beauties. Fifth Italian municipality by population, overlooking the homonymous gulf and, together with the mountains behind it, forms the Conca d'Oro that extends for about one hundred square kilometers. From the central to the more peripheral areas, it is possible to come across monuments of inestimable artistic and historical value, which tell the story of the city in its different periods. For the sweet tooth, then, Palermo is one of the pupils of Sicilian cuisine, especially the street. Typical are: arancine, ca meusa bread, bread and panelle. In short, a city to visit with all five senses.

Teatro Massimo - Palermo (Source: Herbert Frank - CC BY 2.0)

How to reach Palermo

By plane

Landing at the Falcone e Borsellino international airport of Palermo-Punta Raisi, which is about 35km from the center. All the most important Italian and European cities are connected to Palermo airport by low cost airlines and flag carriers. From this, you can reach the city by public transport, or more comfortably and quickly, by booking a transfer service (NCC rental with driver link to BD) that will pick you up at the arrivals and leave you at the address you want. For more information on flights and airport services, please visit www.gesap.it .

For information on transfer prices, see our page Palermo Airport Transfers - Prices.

By train

All long-distance trains leaving from Milan or Rome arrive at the Palermo station. The train is a convenient solution because the station is located in the center and this allows, for those who want to visit the city, to turn safely on foot. For information on timetables and costs, please visit the Trenitalia site.

By car

The city of Palermo is reachable from the province of Catania along the highway A19 (Palermo-Catania), from the province of Messina along the A20 (Palermo-Messina) and from the province of Trapani along the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo. Remember that the historical center is limited to traffic and you must have a permit to transit. We advise you to park one of the many parking lots just outside the historic center and continue on foot.

How to move to Palermo

On foot

It is certainly the best choice for tourists who want to discover the historical center full of monuments. In recent years, public services have been strengthened and made much more efficient. The AMAT company bus lines reach all areas of the city and also the nearby towns of Monreale and Isola della Femmine. An ordinary ticket, which can be purchased in bars and tobacconists, costs € 1.30 and is valid for 90 minutes from the time of validation. For more information on routes and timetables, visit the company AMAT.

By tram

The tram, with its three lines, connects the historic center with residential areas and shopping centers. Line 1 - Forum-Central Station shopping center; Lines 2 and 3 - District San Giovanni Apostolo - Notarbartolo Station

By subway

In Palermo it is known as underground, but in reality it is a metropolitan railway transport service managed by Trenitalia. Starting from the central station, it crosses the whole city and leads to Punta Raisi airport. For more details, it is advisable to consult the page dedicated to the Palermo airport.