With its mild winters and hot summers, the best things to do in Palermo – the sizzling capital of Southern Italy’s Sicily region – are more than a few and can be done all year round.
Palermo is one of Italy’s largest cities – ranking fifth – and also among the most underrated. Scores of attractions in Palermo will surprise you.
Whether you’re an art geek, a history buff, an architecture lover, a beach bum, a foodie, or all of the above, this city that’s steeped in culture and history has something for everyone.
Palermo is a beautiful city to explore, especially around the old town which is brimming with magnificent palaces and other historical buildings.
The Sicilian capital boasts the second-largest historical center in Europe after Genoa in northwest Italy. It is home to an impressive number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – a total of 8. Italy’s largest opera house is also found here.
Thanks to the region’s multicultural past that has established its unique cuisine and exciting street food culture, there is no running out of authentic Sicilian street food and restaurants in the capital.
A cultural melting pot with great food and gorgeous beaches that are just a stone’s throw away, an exciting visit to Palermo is always guaranteed!
Best Things To Do in Palermo, Italy
Let’s have a look at the 13 best things to do in Palermo, Italy – Sicily’s sizzling capital.
1. Watch a show at Teatro Massimo
Teatro Massimo is one of the largest theaters in Europe – after Paris and Vienna – and certainly the largest in Italy. The theater, renowned for its impressive acoustics, has been hosting opera, ballet, and music performances all year long since its opening in 1897.
Teatro Massimo’s neo-classical exteriors are already a sight to see, making it such an iconic structure in Palermo. Influences from Greek Sicilian temples are evident, which make it even more stunning. Inside, the Art Nouveau interiors will also impress you.
Watching a show at Teatro Massimo is certainly one of the best things to do in Palermo. It should be the highlight of your trip.
2. Visit the Palermo Cathedral
The Palermo Cathedral is an architectural jewel of the Sicilian capital. It is a complex of different styles, thanks to a lengthy history of additions, alterations, and restorations until the 18th century.
The cathedral was built on the site of an earlier Byzantine basilica in 1185 and converted into a mosque during the Saracens’ conquest of the city in the 9th century. It is arguably the city’s main tourist attraction, beautiful outside and in with its Arab-Norman architectural influence that makes its style so unique.
The Palermo Cathedral is part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. It offers incredible views from the rooftop, so make sure to climb up when visiting.
3. Explore the Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel
The Palazzo dei Normanni, or Norman Palace, is a well-preserved example of Arabic-Norman-Byzantine architecture. The adjacent royal chapel, Cappella Palatina (Palatine), is also one of the most popular attractions in Palermo, with its Norman architecture, Arabic arch and ceiling designs, Byzantine dome, and loads of incredible mosaics – which are among the best you’ll find in Italy.
The Norman Palace is the oldest royal dwelling in Europe. As part of the Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2015.
You could spend hours exploring the complex to savor this outstanding historic and artistic jewel – an absolute must-see in Palermo!
4. Visit the Palazzo Conte Federico
Located just a few steps from the Palermo Cathedral and the Norman Palace, the Palazzo Conte Federico is a stunning palace in various architectural styles. It features exquisite frescoes by notable painters and original furniture used by the family of Count Federico that has resided there for centuries.
Visiting this palazzo is one of the most highly-recommond activities in Palermo, offering a unique experience that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Visitors not only get to see a tower and the manor constructed around it – plus all the impressive art as well as the weaponry – but also great insights into the changes in Sicily’s capital over the centuries.
5. Visit the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum
Housing not just hordes of items related to Sicilian history but also one of Italy’s richest collections of Punic and Ancient Greek art, the museum took its name from a famous archaeologist and numismatist from Palermo. Antonino Salinas had been the museum’s director for over 40 years, leaving it his major private collection upon his death.
Apart from the vast collections, there is a beautiful inner courtyard garden – with a pool of turtles! – to take a break in and relax between exhibits.
Entrance fee to the museum is €6, plus €1.50 if you want breakfast of coffee and croissant included.
6. Spend an afternoon at La Cala and Foro Italico
La Cala is the picturesque port of Palermo that is popular among walkers and joggers. It is also a nice area for relaxing in the afternoon with a snack and a drink while looking out over the harbor and admiring the boats.
You can also walk on the promenade and head to the vast green space known as the Foro Italico. Here you can watch more ships of all sizes – from large ferries and yachts to racing sailboats and fishing boats – coming into the harbor.
Spending time at La Cala and Foro Italico will afford you with the feeling of being miles from the city center when it is literally just a few steps away. Come here for that little break you need after exploring all the best attractions in Palermo.
7. Shop and eat at Ballarò Market
Shopping at Ballarò Market is a must-do for anyone visiting Palermo. It’s an authentic and lively local market, so full of character. At Ballarò Market, you get a chance to “swim” in local sounds and colors – to really experience the traditions of the city and the island.
Ballarò is about 1,000 years old, one of the oldest open-air markets in Palermo. Here you can find a wide array of shops selling local trinkets and souvenirs. You can also go on a fun adventure and challenge yourself to eat some exotic street foods such as the infamous pani ca’ meusa (spleen and lungs sandwich) and polpo bollito (boiled octopus). Of course, you shouldn’t miss the famous arancini rice balls for that authentic Sicilian food trip.
Do not miss this ancient market. It’s truly one of the most unique things to do in Palermo!
8. See the Praetorian Fountain
The Praetorian Fountain, or Fontana Pretoria, is a must-see monumental fountain situated in the historic center of Palermo. It represents the Twelve Olympians and other mythological animals and figures, as well as the rivers of Palermo.
This gorgeous fountain has an interesting back story. It has Florentine origins, having been built in the Tuscan capital in 1554. In 1573, the original owner – a Florentine noble – went bankrupt and so he sold the fountain, which was then relocated and reassembled in Palermo.
This spectacular fountain serves as a proof of the greatness of the Italian masters of the late Renaissance period. Today, the Praetorian Fountain is one of the most popular attractions in Palermo – a nice place for drinking coffee, people-watching, and simply relaxing.
9. Travel underground to the Capuchin Catacombs
Palermo’s Capuchin Catacombs is one of the world’s most bizarre and morbid tourist destinations. Its famous eternal residents include the “Sleeping Beauty” – the little Sicilian girl by the name of Rosalia Lombardo, born in December of 1918 and died one week shy of her 2nd birthday. The Internet is littered with images of this child, eternally beautiful, touching the hearts of many.
Traveling underground into these catacombs provides a chance to see a macabre variety of burials and thousands of well-preserved – and well-dressed – bodies from various time periods.
Dating back to the 1500s, the Capuchin Catacombs were originally intended for burials of Capuchin friars only. However, in the centuries that followed, deceased local luminaries started to get buried there as well.
This is one of the most thrilling activities in Palermo, albeit not for the faint of heart.
10. Go on a short day trip to Monreale
A trip to Palermo is not complete without visiting the cathedral in Monreale, which is an exquisite example of Norman architecture that still exists today.
Ride the AMAT 389 bus from Piazza Indipendenza and you will be dropped directly in the Monreale Cathedral. The bus ride takes only a little over an hour and costs just a couple of euros.
A national monument of Italy, the Monreale Cathedral is one of the most important Sicilian attractions. It was built from 1172 to 1267, with an interesting legend surrounding it.
This legend says Sicily’s king, William the Good, fell asleep while hunting in the woods of Monreale. The Blessed Virgin appeared in his dream, telling him to erect a church there – right beneath the tree he was sleeping under. Golden coins were unearthed when the tree was removed and they were used to finance the construction of the Monreale Cathedral.
The Monreale Cathedral, along with the Norman Palace and the Palermo Cathedral, was given a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation in 2015.
11. Catch a bus to Mondello
From Politeama Theater in the city of Palermo, you can ride a bus headed to Mondello, a charming coastal town perched between Mount Gallo and Mount Pellegrino.
Mondello was originally a small fishing village on marshland, becoming a popular tourist destination in the late 19th century. It boasts numerous Liberty-style seafront villas, which are among the gems of Art Nouveau in the continent.
Mondello Beach is one of the most popular beaches and best places to visit in Palermo Province. You will love its clear waters, the unparalleled views of Monte Pellegrino, and the gourmet eateries lining the beach.
12. Take the train to Cefalù
A must-visit for lovers of romantic landscapes, Cefalù is one of Italy’s best non-touristy towns located on the northern part of the island of Sicily. It’s an enchanting old town with the harbor as its top romantic highlight.
While you can spend a whole day just relaxing in Cefalù, it can be explored easily in a few hours. However, quaint local shops, cafés, and retaurants abound so it’s easy to get carried away.
Cefalù’s most popular attraction, one you shouldn’t miss, is the 12th-century fortress-like Norman cathedral with its complex Byzantine mosaics and lofty twin towers. Cefalù is also an exciting destination for beach lovers, thanks to its clear waters and gorgeos sandy beaches.
The best way to reach Cefalù is to take the train at the Palermo Centrale Railway Station. The 50-minute ride provides an opportunity to see some really beautiful Sicilian landscapes as a bonus.
13. Ride a ferry to the island of Ustica
Populated by Phoenician peoples in historic times, the island was renamed “Ustica” by Romans. The name is Latin for “burnt,” which describes the black rocks found on the island. Locals call it the “black pearl.”
This tiny island lies in the Tyrrhenian Sea some 50 km. from the coast of Palermo. Ferries from Palermo Harbor leave regularly for Ustica Island, so it’s an easy side trip when you’re visiting the Sicilian capital. The hydrofoil will take you to Ustica in just 1.5 hours.
A few hours on the island is enough to explore it, hike the cliffs, and enjoy some delectable seafoods. But Ustica is a popular spot for snorkeling and scuba diving due to the deep waters surrounding it, so you might as well dive in!
A boat tour around the island will also allow you to enjoy the grotti (caverns) and swim in the crystal clear water. Squeeze in a whole day on this gorgeous island in your Palermo itinerary if you can.