One Day in Palermo: Best Itinerary, Map, Tips & Guide

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How to spend a perfect day in Palermo

A complex city caught between West and East for millennia, Palermo is a deliciously intense experience. Full of dazzling buildings, hidden corners, and chaotic markets, the Palermo tourism experience is unique. Even one day in Palermo will leave you with strong impressions and memories.  

In this Palermo travel guide, you’ll find a complete itinerary of all the most important must-see attractions, with an interactive map organized to make the best use of your time. We also share recommendations for central places to stay, ideas about where to eat local food, and tips about how to make the most of your day in Palermo.

Things to See & Do in Palermo

Interactive Map

ROUTE: Quattro Canti – Fontana Pretoria – Santa Caterina d’Alessandria – Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio – San Cataldo – Mercto di Ballaro – San Giovanni degli Eremiti – Palace of the Normans – Palermo Cathedral – Teatro Massimo

How to use this map – Use your fingers (or computer mouse) to zoom in and out. Click or touch the icons to get more info about a place, and click the arrow in the box top left to open the index. To add to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the title of the map.

Palermo Itinerary Notes

Morning

Wander Quattro Canti

One of Europe’s most famous intersections, the ‘four corners of Palermo’, was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Quattro Canti is also one of the finest examples of grand city planning in Europe and a glorious place to start your Palermo one-day itinerary.

This Baroque plaza, officially called Piazza Vigliena, is where the Palermo streets of Via Maqueda and Via Vittorio Emanuele intersect. It has eight sides – four are the streets, and the other four are the magnificent curved Baroque facades, complete with fountains that embrace the plaza. This is the perfect place for endless cups of espresso as you watch Palermo come to life.

Although nearly identical, each facade depicts different themes at different levels – the four seasons for the fountains, the four Spanish rulers of Sicily, and the four female patron saints of Palermo. This is a must-photograph spot and a very lively introduction to the grandeur of the city. 

TOP TIP: Literally on the corner of Quatti Canti and Via Vittorio Emanuele is the beautifully frescoed Sicilian Baroque Catholic Church of Saint Joseph of the Theatine Fathers or Chiesa di San Giuseppe dei Padri Teatini. We preferred it to the cathedral, and it’s free to enter.

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See Fontana Pretoria

The 16th-century Praetorian Fountain depicts the twelve Gods of Olympus, plus the animals and rivers of Palermo. It’s gigantic and fabulous and totally dominates Piazza Pretoria. 

The fountain was once in the garden of a nobleman in Florence, but he fell on hard times and sold it to the city of Palermo. In the 18th century, on account of its nudity, the square, which is called Piazza Pretoria, became known as Piazza della Vergogna – the Square of Shame.

Admire the Church and Monastery of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria

On the east side of Piazza Pretoria is the Chiesa e Monastero di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, a former Dominican monastery and church.

The exterior is plain and simple, but this is just a facade for what hides inside! The magnificent interior of the church is a masterpiece of 16th-century Sicilian Baroque, which will take your breath away as you enter.

You can also access the roof terrace of the buildings for fantastic views of Fontana Pretoria and the surrounding city center.

Step Inside Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio

Saint Mary of the Admiral, also more popularly called La Martorana, is a 12th-century church that combines Islamic architecture details, such as elaborate niches and geometric motifs, with stunning Byzantine-style mosaics. 

Sicily was under the rule of the Arab Emirate of Sicily from the early 9th century through 1061, and the resulting Arab-Norman Palermo architecture is like nothing you have ever seen. Or rather, it’s like many things you’ve seen, but all mashed together in an overload of stylistic impressions. 

This Arab and North African influence is evident in many churches throughout old Palermo, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

When the Normans came, they built churches and palaces in a style that drew on Western, Islamic, and Byzantine styles. Skilled Arab craftsmen contributed the intricate geometric patterns, muqarnas ceilings, and other distinctive details. It is astonishing to see them in the same space as the glittering, golden Byzantine mosaics.

When you buy your ticket to visit Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, you can pay one price or a slightly higher one – the slightly higher price gives you a greatly discounted entry to many other churches in Palermo.

Visit the Church of San Cataldo

Also on the stunning square of Piazza Bellini is the Arabian-Norman Catholic church of San Cataldo, constructed in 1154 but not fully completed.

Simple and elegant inside, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can walk through its atmospheric halls and chapels.

Join the Locals at a Public Market

Mercto di Ballaro, a must-see in Palermo, is a lively, messy, and delightful outdoor public market near the Stazione Centrale. It sells fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables alongside housewares.

Morning is the best time to check out the displays of fresh produce and spices and maybe buy some edible souvenirs. Mercato del Capo and Mercato Vucciria are also well-known markets in the city, but they will take longer to walk to than Mercato di Ballaro, which is an easy stop between churches!

A wonderful way to experience Palermo’s markets and enjoy the local cuisine is to book this highly rated market tour and Sicilian cooking class with lunch. We loved learning about the flavors of Sicily, being guided by our personal chef, and then getting to eat the fruits of our labor for lunch!

Visit San Giovanni degli Eremiti

Originally of the 6th century but reconstructed in the 12th century, this glorious church is topped with distinctive Arab-looking domes. 

The dramatic interior of raw stone has a wonderful sense of space, while elaborate floors display motifs of Islamic origin.

Afternoon

Explore the Palace of the Normans and Cappella Palatina

Next to the old city gate of Porta Nuova, and one of the top things to do in Palermo according to Lonely Planet, the spectacular Palazzo dei Normanni was home to the Kings of Sicily throughout the rule of the Normans and for all rulers thereafter. 

This magnificent complex comprises the palace rooms, which have fantastic frescoes of mythology and other scenes, such as an Asian room. 

But the highlight of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Palatine Chapel, considered the finest of the Arab-Norman chapels. It has stunning Byzantine mosaics and rich Arab-inspired details in the inlaid stone floor and the Muqarnas ceiling. 

Discover the Cathedral of Palermo

Basically, whatever architectural style you like – Norman, Moorish, Gothic, Baroque – you’ll get it in the sacred yet sumptuous beauty of the Cattedrale di Palermo. 

Look for the Meridiana – a bronze line running north to south on the cathedral floor. There’s a small hole in one of the domes, so the sun crosses the meridian at solar noon at different spots along the line, according to the time of year. The ends of the Meridiana mark the summer and winter solstices, while marble inlays along the meridian represent the signs of the zodiac throughout the year. 

TOP TOP: To enter Palermo Cathedral, you must cover your shoulders and legs above the knee. Make sure to carry a light scarf for your shoulders and don’t wear shorts or hot pants. You should follow this rule for all the churches in Palermo (and Italy, for that matter!). 

Teatro Massimo

When it opened in 1897, the Massimo Theatre, meaning maximum, was the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest in Europe, surpassed only by the opera houses of Paris and Vienna. 

Cinephiles know it as the grand staircase, where the ‘Godfather’ trilogy reaches its climax. Note the gorgeous Stile Liberty (Italian Art Nouveau) kiosks outside.

Evening

End the Day at a Local Wine Bar

The perfect way to end a day in Palermo, check out our favorite wine bars…

Enoteca Picone

Enoteca Picone has been around since 1946 and is one of Palermo’s most popular wine bars. With a wide selection of international and local wines, you’ll find something to enjoy alongside a great range of small plates. End your Palermo day in style!

La Nicchia Enoteca

The chic wine bar La Nicchia Enoteca is a popular choice and a great spot for an evening glass of cool prosecco, Italy’s (excellent) answer to champagne.

Bottiglieria del Massimo Champagneria

Opened the Bottiglieria del Massimo in 1968, this family-run bar is one of Palermo’s best-known and claims to serve the best fizz in the city. It can get busy, so reserve a table in high season.

Explore the Palermo Street Food Scene

Pani ca Meusa is an extremely popular and authentic taste of Palermo. We won’t mince words – it’s a spleen sandwich. Fans of nose-to-tail dining will love these tender, thin slices of spleen and lung in a savory sauce on a bun. 

For everyone else, there’s panini, pizza, and other fast food classics at Ninu u Ballerino, a popular Palermo fast food place. Line up in the bright neon light, get your snacks, and join the crowds of happy locals standing up around barrels in the street. Don’t overdo it, though, because gelato or cannoli (a tube of fried pastry dough filled with a sweet filling containing ricotta cheese) for dessert is essential!

If you’re worried about accidentally eating a spleen sandwich, this excellent Palermo street food tour with a local guide includes tasting at local markets as you stroll among the stalls and learn about Sicily’s culinary traditions.

Italian Travel Ideas

Where to Eat in Palermo

Antico Caffe Spinnato

There are so many delicious things to eat in Palermo you need to get started right away so you don’t miss anything. 

One of the most popular cafes in Palermo, located on a cheerful pedestrian street, is the historic Caffe Spinnato, open since 1860. You can enjoy a cannolo (that’s a cannoli but in the singular) and a coffee at a table inside or out, but it’s cheaper and more fun to have it standing. 

TOP TIP: For self-service, order from the cashier and pay, and then give your ticket to the guys behind the counter.

Trattoria Ai Normanni

Lunch is a serious meal in the Mediterranean. Join the locals at a neighbourhood trattoria like Trattoria Ai Normanni, very close to the Norman Palace. 

Note that the menu has primi and second. By all means, follow the local custom and order two courses; no one’s in a hurry here. 

Antipasti is a classic primi first course and offers a selection of vibrant tastes including the Sicilian classic caponata, full of eggplant, tomatoes, capers and olive oil. For the secondi main course, you can pick a meat dish, fish, or pasta. Pasta con le sarde is a local specialty, sauced with sardines, saffron, and fennel and is absolutely delicious.

Ke Palle

The lively Via Maqueda is perfect for an evening passagiato and sampling some of Palermo’s famous street food.

The arancini is one of the most approachable of Palermo’s street food classics. These deep-fried balls of rice coated in breadcrumbs and stuffed with various fillings resemble the orange for which they’re named. 

At Ke Palle, you can try arancini d’autore (homemade and home-fried) in a great variety of flavors until you’re too full to eat anymore!

Top Five Palermo Travel Tips

More Than One Day in Palermo?

If you can stretch to 36 hours in Palermo or have another day to spare, add these must-see in Palermo places to your itinerary:

Capuchin Catacombs

A 20-minute walk from the old town will take you to one of the most extraordinary Palermo sights: the Capuchin Catacombs. These burial places contain over 8,000 mummified corpses, providing a detailed historical record. This has to be one of the most unusual things to do in Palermo.

Regional Archaeological Museum

If you find the ancient history and architecture interesting, the Regional Archaeological Museum Antonio Salinas, which houses a large collection of Ancient Greek art and artifacts from Sicilian history, is well worth a visit.

Hit the Beach

If you’re visiting between May and September and want to slow the pace, head for the sandy stretch of Mondello Beach, one of the best Palermo beaches and just a 15-minute drive away, or visit the Botanical Garden for a spot of peace with added shade! 

Take a Day Trip

Why not take a day trip? Popular day trips from Palermo will take you to some of the best places to visit in Sicily, including the mighty live volcano of Mount Etna and the historical sites of Taormina, the Temple of Segesta, and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. 

Our favorite day trip from Palermo was to Monreale and Cefalù. We got to explore the magnificent Norman cathedral of Monreale on the slopes of Sicily’s Monte Caputo and the historic town of Cefalù. Our guide was amazing and offered plenty of insights and tips for the rest of our trip.

Palermo Practicalities

When to Visit Palermo

The best time to visit Palermo (and Sicily) is between May and June or September and October.

The late spring and early fall months offer balmy temperatures in the mid-70s, ideal for city visits and the best time to score bargain flights and hotel deals. 

If you plan on visiting Palermo in July or August, you’ll find lots of crowds and queues for the top Palermo attractions, higher prices, and the hottest temperatures of the year, which can be unpleasant in the city. 

Winter sees temperatures in the low 60s, but you’ll find greatly reduced hotel rates and fewer people, although flip-flops and shorts are firmly off the packing list.

Getting to Palermo

If you are flying to Palermo, you will land at Falcone Borsellino International Airport, 27km from the city center. You have several options to get into downtown Palermo:

Where to Stay in Palermo

Luxury: Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel is a luxurious hotel set in a historic 18th-century building, blending rich history with modern comfort and elegance. The hotel is in the heart of Palermo’s old town, close to major attractions such as the Palermo Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, and the Royal Palace.

Mid-Range: Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel is a charming hotel known for its elegant design and attention to detail. It offers guests a cozy yet luxurious experience. It’s situated in the heart of Palermo, within walking distance of many historical sites, restaurants, and shops.

Budget: Hotel Posta is a historic hotel located in central Palermo. With a long-standing tradition of hospitality, it offers guests a comfortable and elegant stay while being ideally situated for exploring the city’s cultural and historical landmarks.

Hostel: A Casa di Amici is a unique hostel and guesthouse known for its artsy vibe and musical theme. It offers an inviting and creative environment for travelers, attracting guests who appreciate culture, music, and a social atmosphere. This accommodation combines a friendly, communal experience with modern comforts, making it a popular spot for backpackers, solo travelers, and small groups.

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