The 11 best things to do in Palermo
When it comes to the best things to do in Palermo, there is quite a lot to cover. Palermo is the capital city of Sicily and the largest city on the island. It has been around for a very, very long time, founded by the Phoenicians in 734 BC. It has also been ruled by quite a lot of other civilisations like the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, and the Greeks.
And it is just so easy to get to Palermo as it has an international airport, and you can read more about that in my Palermo travel guide. When I was going to Palermo, I took a lot of recommendations from friends and family who live in Italy. So here are my recommendations for the best things to do in Palermo.
Here are the top things to do in Palermo:
1. Church of San Domenico
I will start off with the Church of San Domenico. The picture I got was actually taken from a rooftop. I did not actually go to the church that day as it was the afternoon. So I decided to head up to a bar on top of the Rinascente department store to catch the sunset and get a great view. That gave a really good view of the outside.
I went the next day to the Church of San Domenico. Inside, it is absolutely massive. It has a baroque facade, and inside there are lots of paintings and decorations. They call it the Pantheon of Palermo. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 1 PM, so you cannot go in the afternoon.
2. Take a walk through the Piazza Vigliena
One of my favourite things to do in Palermo was walking through the Piazza Vigliena, also called the Quattro Canti. It is a really cool baroque square in the centre of Palermo and sits at the intersection of four of the ancient quarters.
If you look up, each side of the square has a four storey building with statues representing the kings of Spain and the patron saints. If you are there for a while, you will actually see a lot of people setting up music there. So you can take in a 360 view, check out all the artwork, and enjoy some good music.
3. Fontana Pretoria
Very close by, if you are looking for what to do in Palermo, go over to the Fontana Pretoria. This fountain was actually commissioned in 1544 for Don Luigi. There is a real history to it. Don Luigi actually fell into debt in 1573 and then sold it to the city of Palermo.
What is interesting is that it was actually made in Florence for Don Luigi. So they had to deconstruct 644 pieces and then reconstruct them in Palermo in 1581, so it took a little bit of a while. It is a great thing to see in Palermo. I tried to get a better shot, and it is a lot better in person. Try to get to a higher vantage point, but you can still walk around and check out all the sculptures.
4. Palermo Cathedral
One of the best things to do in Palermo is check out the Palermo Cathedral. In terms of architectural style, it has a lot of baroque influence, Gothic, and also Norman. It is actually part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The cathedral is open every single day, but with slightly different timings. Inside it is absolutely massive and has just got amazing artwork. Last time I checked, it was free to get in; there was a huge line when I went. So try to go in the morning before everyone else does.
If you want to get to the Treasury, you do have to pay. But what I would recommend is going up to the terrace. It costs a little bit more, but you get a 360-degree view of Palermo. It really is amazing, especially on a summer's day with blue skies. The roof ticket is between four and seven euros.
5. Palazzo dei Normanni
A little bit further away, but not too far, is the Palazzo dei Normanni, which is the Royal Palace of Palermo. It is actually the oldest residence in Europe and dates back to about 1072. Inside it has really cool mosaics and a lot of architectural styles, and it is very well lit up. Take your time and enjoy the gardens when you go here.
This is a must-see in Palermo if you do have the time. In terms of the ticket price, it is about 15 euros. I would pay extra and take a tour so you can really learn about the history of the Royal Palace.
6. Palazzo Conte Federico
If you cannot quite get to the Palazzo dei Normanni in time, there is also the Palazzo Conte Federico. This is a much older palace that is open to the public. They have a lot of 17th and 18th century paintings and furniture that you can look at.
They also have really nice Arab & Norman windows and the inner courtyard is very nice with baroque stone. I really liked the look of that. If you are in the area, definitely book a tour here.
They are closed on Wednesdays and the tours run between 11 AM and 2 PM. What is great is that the tour bookings are actually run by family members, so it has been in the family for many centuries. The palace itself was the last defensive tower from the city walls. It was one of my highlights when I went to Palermo.
7. Catacombs of the Capuchins
Now onto one of the best things to do in Palermo, if you are into history, and that is the Catacombs of the Capuchins. The catacombs came about when the monastery outgrew a cemetery in the 16th century and the monks began to make crypts. The last burials actually stopped in the 1930s.
So far the catacombs contain 8,000 corpses with just over 1,200 mummies. When you take a tour through here you will learn all about the famous people. It is not for everyone and maybe you would not want to bring your kids here. But if you are into history it is really interesting. I did not want to take photos inside.
They are a little bit further to get to, so prep some time before going to the Catacombs. I would probably go in the morning myself. They are open Monday to Sunday and last time I checked the cost was 5 euros to get in, so very reasonable.
8. Mondello beach in Palermo
If you are looking for what to do in Palermo and want something a little bit lighter, go to the beach. One of the best beaches in Sicily, around Palermo, is Mondello Beach. It is about 20 minutes away from the city centre, and you can either drive there and pay for parking or take a bus.
It has really pristine sand and really nice turquoise waters. A tip on this one: you can book sun loungers for the day, or if you go in the afternoon, the price gets a little bit less as there are only a few hours left.
You will be near some restaurants in Palermo or cafes to get a snack. My advice is probably to get to the beach before 9 AM because most of the loungers right by the front will be taken. It is such a nice beach and I myself love being in the front or at least the two rows back.
9. The 1000 year old Mercato Ballaro
Heading back over to Palermo centre, one of the best things to do in Palermo if you are into food is going to the Ballarò market. It is quite a long walk through the market and you can buy all kinds of things such as fruits, fish, spices, and cheeses. Even if you do not buy anything, it is just worth visiting because you can really feel the culture of Palermo.
What is great is that the Ballarò market is over a thousand years old, so there is a lot of history inside. It is open every single day from 7:30 AM except on Sunday, which has reduced hours from 8 AM to 2 PM. It will take you a good half an hour to an hour to walk through, and you can get food there too. Some of the vendors have little stands so you can pick up some Palermo street food.
10. Orto Botanico di Palermo
I spent three days in total in Palermo, and on the last day, we took a really nice walk over to the Botanical Gardens, called the Orto Botanico di Palermo. You can probably spend a couple of hours here.
They have got lots and lots of plants from all over the world and they also have greenhouses. One of the greenhouses was actually a gift from the Queen of Austria. We went there, sat down, and relaxed. It was just a more relaxing thing to do in Palermo on the last day.
The cost was inexpensive at 8 euros, and you can spend a few hours there if you like. It is open every single day; the hours differ with the seasons. From May to August, they are open from 9 AM to 8 PM, whereas hours are reduced between November, February, and some of the other months. Make sure to check the website before you go.
11. The food in Palermo
That brings me to my last thing to do in Palermo, and that is to check out the food. Food is a big thing here and that is because there are a lot of influences, from the international airport but also the massive port, so you get a lot of cultures in Palermo.
They are known for a lot of seafood. After the Botanical Gardens, I actually went to one of the best restaurants in Palermo, called Mec, which is a Michelin restaurant. I did get dressed up before though!
I would say check out the street food at the Ballaro market, but also just enjoy the food and go to all the trattorias. If you are a foodie, that is one of the best things to do in Palermo.
I hope you liked my best things to do in Palermo guide. If you have been to Palermo and done anything else that really wowed you, feel free to put a comment in the box below. I would love to check it out and share it with my readers.
The best things to do in Palermo FAQs
What to do in Palermo in 3 days
I actually went to Palermo for three days and did everything in this guide. Day one I checked out the Piazza Vigliena, went to the Fontana Pretoria, visited the Palermo Cathedral, and the Palazzo Conte Federico.
Day two was a little bit more relaxed. I went over to the Church of San Domenico and then headed a bit further west to the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Palazzo Conte Federico, and towards the end of the day the Catacombs of the Capuchins.
On the third day it was very relaxed. I went to Mondello Beach in the morning, finished up midday at the Botanical Gardens, and then went Michelin dining in Palermo.
Things to do in Palermo with kids
For things to do in Palermo with kids, I would recommend going to the Orto Botanico di Palermo and going to Mondello Beach. The market is also really fun for kids. I would not go to all the cathedrals as they might get bored, but the number one you have to go to is the Palermo Cathedral.
However, last time I checked you cannot actually bring kids up to the terrace, so just something to note. I am not sure if that has changed recently.
Free things to do in Palermo
In terms of free things to do in Palermo, a lot of the sites do charge because they are massive sites that need to be staffed and renovated. But what I would say is go to the Piazza Vigliena, which is obviously free, though I like to tip some of the musical artists there.
Checking out the Fontana Pretoria is also free. And going over to Mondello Beach, as long as you do not hire any loungers, is a free thing to do in Palermo.