£37+ Cheap flights to Palermo

Getting around Palermo

The best way to see Palermo’s medieval centre is on foot. All the sights are close enough that you won’t need more than your own two feet. The rest of the city is another story, and you’ll need to travel via bus or taxi. Buy bus tickets at tobacco shops before you board, and the bus will take you anywhere you need to go, including as far out as Monreale or Mondello. Trips made within a set time period cost a flat fare, or you can buy an all-day pass. For major sights and attractions, you may want to take the Giro Citta tourist bus. The bus travels in a loop, so you’ll get on and get off at Teatro Politeama. Buy your tickets on board. Buses are very convenient, but they can be slow. For a faster trip, call for a taxi or pick one up at a stand. You can also rent a taxi for an entire day.

Airports

The main airport which services Palermo is Palermo Airport (PMO) (website: www.gesap.it), which is also known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport and Punta Raisi Airport. It is situated in Punta Raisi, which is 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Palermo.

What is good to know if travelling to Palermo?

• The Teatro Massimo is one of Europe’s largest theatres. Dating from the 19th century, it was restored recently and stages opera and ballet.
• Quattro Canti, the square, is the centre of the old city, between Via Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda. There are four 17th-century palaces on the square with facades illustrating different themes such as Spanish kings and the four seasons. 
• Kalsa is Palermo’s Arabic quarter. The Porta dei Greci is also known as Porta d’Africa. It is possible to spot the sea from the gateway.
• The Palermo Cathedral, Saint Mary of the Assumption, is built on the site of a pagan temple and, later, mosque, and was worked upon until relatively recently so it has a mix of architectural styles. The chapel is known for its royal tombs and the Cathedral Treasury houses the 12th-century Crown of Constance, which has Byzantine, Arabic and Western elements.
• Visit Monreale about 5 miles (7 km) south of Palermo’s centre. Monreale overlooks the “Conca d’Oro,” the beautiful valley beyond Palermo. The mosaics in Monreale Cathedral are said to be one of the world’s largest displays of this art.