8 Best Things to Do in Palermo

Start your Old Town tour at Quattro Conti, which is considered to be the exact centre of Palermo Old Town. Located right next to Piazza Pretoria, it’s an intersection framed by 4 buildings decorated with fountains. Teeming with splendid historical buildings, baroque palazzos, and ornamental sculptures, Palermo Old Town takes you for a journey back in time.

During your stroll, do not hesitate to walk down the narrow alleys that link the main streets as they offer excellent shortcuts. There are plenty of boutiques, bars and trattorias where you can take a break during your exploration.

Centrally located in Palermo Old Town, Piazza Pretoria is also known as the ‘Square of Shame’ because of the nude statues on the iconic Pretoria Fountain, one of the landmarks of Palermo. Surrounded by stylish palazzos, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Praetorian Palace (Palermo town hall), it’s the right place to start a tour of the Old Town.

To get into the atmosphere of the city, walk 100 metres south to the entrance of Via dell'Università and drink a genuine caffè stretto at the terrace of caffè Ateneo before roaming the historical district of Palermo.

Erected at the end of the 12th century, Cattedrale di Palermo (Palermo Cathedral) is a stunning religious building that blends many different architectural styles, including Byzantine, Gothic-Catalan and Neoclassical, to name a few. The cathedral is as spectacular inside as it is outside, it’s a true masterpiece ornamented with precious stones and filled with historical items. Go in the morning if you want to get to the roof of the cathedral and see a panoramic view of Palermo.

Head to Mondello Beach to get a beautiful suntan. Located 10 km north of the Old Town, Mondello is the closest beach to Palermo. Cliché warning! Here, you’ll find soft white sand lapped by the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Joking aside, Mondello is a great place to spend some time, not only for its beautiful beach, but also for the refreshing and relaxing getaway it offers. A good choice of beach bars and restaurants for all budgets are available.

The Palazzo dei Normanni e Cappella Palatina are 2 historical landmarks located a stroll away of Palermo Cathedral, at the highest point of the Old Town. Also known as the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace), the Norman Palace dates back to the 9th century while the chapel on the palace’s first floor was completed during the 12th century.

Walk through the rooms of this stunning building and you’ll be wowed by the paintings, sculptures and ornamentations that cover all spaces from floor to ceiling.

Located just north of Palermo, 5 km from the Old Town, Mount Pellegrino offers a pleasant breath of fresh air and a good opportunity to work your legs…or not, as there’s a bus stop at the top of the mountain.

A popular picnic place on weekends, the nature park that is Mount Pellegrino is famed for offering stunning panoramic views of the city, surrounding mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea. While you’re there, you can also visit the sanctuary of Saint Rosalia, the patron saint of Palermo.

Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, simply known as Teatro Massimo, is a beautiful 19th-century theatre in the Old Town, 800 metres of the Port of Palermo. Inspired by classical Sicilian architecture, it can be visited by day from 9.30am to 6pm, but it’s even better to attend one of the operas or dance ballets performed here most evenings. Note that Teatro Massimo is so popular that reservations are mandatory, even for a simple guided tour.

Locally known as Mercato di Capo, Palermo’s farmers market should be on your bucket list if you want to sample local delicacies. Starting at Porta Carini, 200 metres west of Massimo Theatre, it’s a street market at which you can find a large assortments of goods, from fresh fruits and vegetable to souvenirs and from fish and meat to street food.

Try Sfincione (spongy pizza topped with tomato sauce, onions and caciocavallo cheese) and Arancine (ball of saffron-scented rice filled with shrimp and pesto or spinach and smoked cheese), 2 of the favourite local delicacies. You can wash them down with a glass of Marsala wine at one of the many bars near the market.