Things to Do in Palermo: Our Top 10 Highlights

Cathedral Maria Santissima Assunta

The Cathedral of Palermo sits right in the heart of the historic center and is seriously impressive from the outside. The interior is a bit sparse, but it’s still worth stepping inside.

Admission is free, though you’ll only get access to a fairly small area and won’t get a great view of the cathedral itself.

For 7 euros, you can also visit the tombs of the Norman kings, along with their treasury and crypt — and that is definitely worth it.

For 12 euros, you can add a trip up to the cathedral roof, where you’ll have a great view over the city.

Our tip: If you want to go up to the roof, visit early in the morning or late afternoon when it’s not as hot.

Cappella Palatina

The Cappella Palatina is an absolute must-see when it comes to things to do in Palermo. It’s a small chapel inside the Norman Palace, which also serves as the seat of Sicily’s regional government. The palace itself doesn’t have much to see — most of the rooms are simply offices.

The chapel, however, is a true feast for the eyes, completely covered in colorful and golden mosaics. Even though the 10-euro admission is a bit steep for a relatively small space, the visit is absolutely worth it — the chapel is simply breathtaking!

Small consolation: with the same ticket, you can also visit the temporary exhibition on the ground floor.

Monreale Cathedral

Monreale is a small town just outside Palermo, best known for its Norman cathedral. It’s considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world and is covered inside with hundreds of thousands of gold mosaics.

The admission is totally worth it, even if you’re not a big church fan — the sheer abundance of detail and color is genuinely overwhelming. Outside, there’s a lovely cloister with palm trees and a fountain.

You can visit part of the cathedral for free, but for 4 euros per person you can also see the cloister, which we’d highly recommend. Bus line 389P runs hourly from Piazza Indipendenza in Palermo to Monreale, and the ride takes about half an hour.

Our tip: Visit the cathedral on a weekday morning if you can. You’ll get the best light for photos, and the cathedral is open until 1:00 PM. In the afternoon it’s open from 2:00 PM until around 5:15 PM.

From Palermo, you can book a half-day tour to Monreale and the beautiful fishing village of Cefalù.

Book the Monreale and Cefalù half-day tour

More Churches in Palermo

After visiting the cathedral and Monreale, you might start to feel a little churched-out when the next attraction turns out to be yet another religious building.

But the truth is, most of Palermo’s top attractions are religious sites — that’s just the nature of the city.

There’s practically a church or chapel on almost every street in the old quarter. If that doesn’t put you off, several more are genuinely worth your time.

For example, there’s the Admiral’s Church, also known as La Martorana. Along with the cathedral and the Cappella Palatina, it’s one of the most beautiful churches in Palermo.

Inside, it’s completely adorned with golden mosaics and frescoes; outside, it has a baroque façade, and you can take a wonderfully shady break on the church’s stone steps.

Right next door stands the San Cataldo church, which doesn’t look anything like a church from the outside.

It’s cube-shaped with three bright red domes on the roof. The interior is fairly bare, so you don’t necessarily need to go in.

Last but not least: the Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti. It’s located near the Cappella Palatina and is particularly worth seeing from the outside.

The Arabic influences are unmistakable here, and there’s a beautiful cloister with a well-kept garden.

The entry fee isn’t cheap, though: 6 euros to visit the church and garden. It’s worth it if you’re especially interested in culture and looking for a very quiet, relaxed spot right in the middle of Palermo.

Fontana Pretoria

Right in the middle of the old town stands this enormous fountain — 35 meters wide — the Fontana Pretoria. It consists of several basins adorned with white marble figures and statues.

Because these figures are nude and some strike rather provocative poses, the fountain was nicknamed the “Fountain of Shame” by the prudish Palermitans of the 17th century, and it was damaged on multiple occasions.

Today it’s one of the most popular things to do in Palermo, a great photo spot, and the locals have long since taken it to heart.

Our tip: The best time to visit is in the evening, when the fountain is beautifully lit and makes for a stunning photo.

Quattro Canti

The Quattro Canti is a historic intersection you’ll inevitably pass through sooner or later.

The name is Italian for “Four Corners” — it’s where two historic streets meet: Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele, each corner framed by an identical baroque building façade.

The intersection is traffic-free, so you can stand right in the middle and snap photos to your heart’s content. Many of Palermo’s top attractions are located along these two streets, including the cathedral.

Both streets are also popular shopping strips.

Teatro Massimo

The Teatro Massimo is Palermo’s opera house and the largest in Italy. It stands at the very beginning of Via Maqueda. From the outside it’s stunning, and the piazza surrounding it is lined with bars and restaurants with views of the opera house.

If you’ve seen “The Godfather Part III,” you’ll recognize the building right away — the famous final scene with Andy Garcia, Sofia Coppola, and Al Pacino was filmed here.

Fun fact: During filming, the Teatro Massimo had been closed for years, and the staircase and stage hall were specially restored just for the movie.

Going inside is worth it if you’re an opera lover or have always wanted to learn about stage technology and the history of opera.

Admission is only possible as part of a guided tour and costs 10 euros per person, or 20 euros if you also want access to the rooftop terrace.

The Kalsa Quarter

The Kalsa quarter is one of Palermo’s oldest neighborhoods and borders directly on the sea. It’s technically still part of the old town, but its narrow, winding alleyways are much tidier and home to many small restaurants and boutiques.

Things are quiet here in the afternoon, since most shops close for lunch, but from around 6 PM everything comes alive. There are literary cafés, small art shops, and plenty of bars — making it, along with Vucciria, Palermo’s ultimate nightlife neighborhood.

Beyond eating, drinking, shopping, and entertainment, Kalsa also has a solid amount of sightseeing to offer. Here are the spots you shouldn’t miss:

Santa Maria dello Spasimo

OK, another church — but this one is special. The Santa Maria dello Spasimo is a large church without a roof — or more precisely, a former church.

It never got a roof due to budget constraints and construction that dragged on and on.

It only served as a church for about 70 years; after that it became a military hospital, then a grain storehouse, a poorhouse, and finally a hospital.

The church fell into disrepair for over 50 years due to floods and earthquakes, until it was restored in the 1980s.

Today the church houses a jazz school and occasionally hosts open-air events. Admission to the Santa Maria dello Spasimo is free, and despite its unique character it’s not particularly well known.

That means no lines, no people in your photos, and you can fully soak up the magical atmosphere of this abandoned church.

Our tip: Visit in the late afternoon, when the sun is lower in the sky. The interplay of shadows on the brown stone walls makes for stunning photos.

La Cala

“Cala” means a small beach in Italian. La Cala in Palermo isn’t a beach, but rather a small fishing bay with a promenade at the edge of the Kalsa quarter.

The area was recently restored and modernized, and there are several bars — unfortunately a bit pricey — where you can enjoy an aperitivo at sunset. You can also simply stroll along the bay and watch the small sailboats come in to dock.

Our tip: If you’re visiting in winter, things tend to be quiet here in the evening, so a visit is better in the afternoon. In summer, it’s the other way around.

Botanical Garden

Palermo’s botanical garden is located on the edge of the Kalsa quarter and is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. It features enormous aerial root trees, an orange tree avenue, various species of cacti, historic greenhouses, and several ponds.

It’s a lovely spot for a leisurely stroll and a break from the hustle of Palermo — though it’s best visited in spring.

In the hot Sicilian summer, the garden is less green and nothing is in bloom, making the 6-euro admission less worthwhile.

Our tip: Thanks to all the ponds, the garden is full of mosquitoes. Bring insect repellent — you’ll really want it here.

Mondello Beach

City beaches usually aren’t anything special, but Palermo’s beach is a real exception.

It’s located in the Mondello neighborhood, about a half-hour bus ride from the center, and it’s truly beautiful.

The water is crystal clear, and you can enjoy a wonderful walk along the beachfront promenade while admiring Mondello’s Art Nouveau houses.

The only downside: apart from tiny sections of free beach, the rest is pay-to-access. A beach umbrella with two lounge chairs costs 15–20 euros for the full day, or around 10 euros for a half day.

Our tip #1: The beach isn’t very wide, so arrive early in the morning to get a good spot.

Our tip #2: In August it gets absolutely packed, since all of Palermo comes out to cool off in the waters of Mondello. If you’re looking for a beach at that time, you’re better off heading to San Vito lo Capo, about a half-hour drive away.

Capuchin Crypt

The Capuchin Crypt is certainly not a sight for everyone — but it’s a must for fans of the macabre!

It’s a system of several underground corridors and one of the creepiest places in the world.

People from the past 400 years were buried here in a rather unusual way: they don’t lie in coffins but instead lean or hang mummified against the walls, dressed in their personal clothing. The oldest corpse dates from 1599, and the most recent from the early 20th century.

Among them are people of all ages and social classes — including young children.

You essentially walk through a corridor lined on both sides with hundreds of mummies.

The crypt is certainly a standout attraction, but it remains a burial site and should be treated with respect. Photos and videos are therefore prohibited. Admission costs 3 euros.

The Capuchin Catacombs are located a bit outside the center but can easily be reached by bus in just a few minutes.

You can explore the crypt on your own. Alternatively, you can book a private combo tour through Monreale Cathedral and the Capuchin Crypt.

Book the Monreale Cathedral and Capuchin Crypt combo tour

Markets in Palermo

If you want to experience what Palermo locals are really like, you have to visit one of the city’s markets. There’s shouting, frying, and bargaining going on at full throttle.

Because Palermo has long had Arab influences, you’ll also find Arabic stalls selling spices or Arabic street food throughout the markets.

Our tip: If you want to save some money, pick up lunch at the market. There are lots of little street food stalls with folding chairs and tables where you can eat really well for just a few euros.

On GetYourGuide you can book a three-hour tour through Palermo’s most famous markets. It includes two drinks, five tastings, and plenty of advice for eating your way around the city.

Book the 3-hour street food tour through Palermo’s markets

Here’s a quick introduction to the most impressive and well-known markets:

Ballarò

This is the most famous and oldest market in Palermo, with a reputation that stretches across all of Italy. Ballarò is loud, colorful, chaotic, a little dirty, and strongly reminiscent of a market in Southeast Asia.

You’ll find freshly caught fish, regional fruits and vegetables, spices, and steaming street food stalls.

Add to that several stalls selling clothes, household goods, or just plain junk. Ballarò is open every day of the week, though on Sundays you’ll find less food and more odds and ends.

Vucciria

This market is a bit smaller than Ballarò, but it’s also one of Palermo’s oldest. Here too, the air is thick with smells, shouts, colors, and textures — Palermo at its most authentic.

The food stalls are only open in the morning; in the afternoon and evening, the alleyways fill up with street food vendors.

The evenings are especially lively — to the sounds of reggae, you can grab a spot in the packed piazza and eat grilled fish with your hands.

The Vucciria market is open daily, except on Sundays.

Mercato delle Pulci

The name says it all: “Mercato delle Pulci” simply means flea market. The most well-known one is at Piazza del Papireto, near the cathedral. If you’re into antiques, this market is worth a visit — even though it’s fairly small, you can find some real bargains in the tin-roofed stalls.

Antique chairs, old magazines, ceramic lamps — you’ll find just about anything your heart desires. Even if you can’t actually take most of it on the plane with you, a browse is definitely worthwhile.

The flea market is open all day on weekdays and until 1:00 PM on weekends.

General Tips for Palermo's Sights

Clothing for Churches

Many of the best things to do in Palermo involve Christian religious sites that you absolutely should see from the inside. However, entry is only permitted with covered shoulders and knees.

Especially in summer, make sure you’re not wearing shorts that are too short or tops with spaghetti straps — otherwise you may be denied entry.

Alternatively, just bring a light scarf to throw over your shoulders when entering these sites.

Guided Tours of Palermo

Palermo has so many quirks and lesser-known spots that a guided tour is definitely worth considering. You’ll pick up a lot of background information that you’d otherwise miss.

These sightseeing tours in Palermo come recommended:
Private tour with a local: A Palermo resident takes you to the city’s highlights and shares all kinds of insider tips — for restaurants and shopping, among other things.

24-hour hop-on/hop-off bus ticket: Travel two routes to Palermo’s most famous points of interest, with unlimited hop-on/hop-off access within 24 hours.

3-hour history and street food tour: This tour combines the two things Palermo is most famous for: history and street food. You’ll walk to the most well-known must-sees and visit the Vucciria and Capo markets, where you can sample five typical Palermo snacks.