This Palermo travel tips and FAQ page covers airport transport, the AMAT bus system, visa rules, money, safety, SIM cards and practical answers for your trip. Prices are in euros.
How to Get from Palermo Airport to the City Centre
Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO), also called Punta Raisi, sits 35km west of Palermo. The Trinacria Express train runs from the airport’s underground station to Palermo Centrale station every 30 minutes from 05:30 to 22:00 (60 minutes, 5.90 EUR). Trains also stop at Palermo Notarbartolo, Palermo Francia and Palermo Imperatore stations, which may be closer to your hotel in the Liberta district. Buy tickets at the station machines or Trenitalia app. The Prestia e Comande airport bus runs every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 23:30 to the city centre (Piazza Politeama and Palermo Centrale, 50 minutes, 6.30 EUR one-way, 10 EUR return). Taxis from the airport to the centre cost 45-50 EUR flat rate (fixed by city regulation) and take 35-40 minutes. The taxi rank is outside arrivals; confirm the fixed rate before departing. Uber operates but only the premium Uber Black service at higher rates than regular taxis. If arriving late, confirm your hotel can receive you after 23:00.
Palermo and Italy Visa Requirements
Italy is in the Schengen Area. EU citizens can enter with a national ID card. UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese citizens can enter visa-free for 90 days within any 180-day period. Citizens of India, China and many African nations need a Schengen visa (apply at the Italian embassy in your country, processing takes 15-30 days, cost 80 EUR). Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Schengen. From mid-2025, non-EU visitors from visa-exempt countries will need ETIAS authorisation (€7, valid 3 years, apply online at etias.europa.eu).
Getting Around Palermo: Transport Costs
Palermo’s AMAT bus network covers the city and Mondello. Single tickets cost 1.40 EUR (valid 90 minutes), a day pass costs 3.50 EUR. Buy tickets at tabacchi (tobacco shops) with the T sign or via the AMAT Palermo app (which also provides real-time bus locations). Buses are notoriously unreliable: the 806 to Mondello can run 20 minutes late or skip runs entirely. The historic centre is best explored on foot: the Quattro Canti to the cathedral is a 5-minute walk, to Ballaro 7 minutes, to the Kalsa 10 minutes. Taxis cost 8-15 EUR for trips within the centre. Use the appTaxi Palermo app or call +39 091 513311. Uber operates their premium service only. For Monreale, take AMAT bus 389 from Piazza Indipendenza (20 minutes, 1.40 EUR). For Mondello, bus 806 from Piazza Sturzo (30 minutes). Palermo has no metro.
Money, Tipping and Costs in Palermo
Italy uses the euro. ATMs (bancomat) are widespread. In restaurants, a coperto (cover charge) of 1.50-3 EUR per person is added to the bill; this is not a tip and is mandatory. Tipping beyond the coperto is not expected but leaving 5-10% for good service is appreciated. At cafes, leave small change (0.50-1 EUR) if you sat at a table. Hotel porters: 1-2 EUR per bag. Taxi drivers: round up to the nearest euro. Daily budgets: backpacker 60-90 EUR, mid-range 120-180 EUR, luxury 250+ EUR. Palermo is significantly cheaper than Rome or Milan for food and accommodation: a pizza and beer costs 10-12 EUR, a full dinner with wine at a trattoria 25-35 EUR per person.
Is Palermo Safe?
Palermo is generally safe for tourists but requires more street awareness than northern Italian cities. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The main risks: pickpocketing and bag-snatching in the Ballaro market and on crowded buses (keep bags in front of you, phones hidden while walking), car break-ins (never leave visible luggage in a parked car), and motorbike-riding thieves grabbing phones from pedestrians’ hands (don’t hold your phone out while walking near the kerb). The centro storico streets, particularly in the Albergheria and Vucciria, feel intimidating after dark due to poor lighting and empty streets. Stick to the main thoroughfares (Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Maqueda, Via Roma) after 22:00. The Liberta and Politeama district is safer and well-lit at night. Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 118. The Polizia Municipale (local police) station is at Via Dogali 25. Tap water is drinkable but most locals and restaurants drink bottled water.
SIM Cards and Internet in Palermo
EU visitors can use their home data plans in Italy at no extra cost. Non-EU visitors can buy Italian SIMs at the airport (TIM, Vodafone or WindTre kiosks) or city-centre stores on Via Roma and Via Maqueda. Bring your passport. A tourist plan with 20-30 GB data valid 30 days costs 15-25 EUR. TIM has the best coverage in Sicily’s rural interior if Palermo is your base for day trips. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and most cafes. Public Wi-Fi is available in Piazza Verdi, Piazza Politeama and the Giardino Inglese (free, registration with email).
Suggested Hotels in Palermo
Palazzo Butera
A luxury boutique residence in a restored 18th-century palace in the Kalsa with 11 suites, a rooftop terrace and a private art collection. Best for luxury couples wanting Palermo’s most exclusive heritage stay. Check rates and availability
BB22
A mid-range B&B in a restored palazzo near the Vucciria with 5 design-conscious rooms and a terrace. Best for mid-range couples wanting the centro storico experience at a fair price. Check rates and availability
A Casa di Amici
A budget hostel near the Teatro Massimo with dorm beds from 20 EUR and private rooms from 60 EUR. Best for budget and solo travellers wanting the most central Palermo location at hostel prices. Check rates and availability
Common Questions About Palermo
Is Palermo dirty and dangerous as people say?
Palermo has areas of visible neglect: uncollected rubbish, crumbling buildings and graffiti are common in the Albergheria and parts of the Kalsa. The city has improved significantly since the 2000s. For safety, apply the same street-smarts you would in Naples or Barcelona: avoid empty alleys at night, secure valuables and don’t flash phones near kerbs. Most visitors find Palermo intense but not dangerous.
How many days do I need in Palermo?
Three full days covers the essentials: Day 1 for the Norman Palace, cathedral and Ballaro market, Day 2 for the Kalsa, Quattro Canti, Teatro Massimo and street food, Day 3 for Monreale and Mondello beach (summer) or the Capuchin Catacombs and Orto Botanico (winter). A fourth day allows a day trip to Cefalu (50 minutes by train, 12 EUR). See the things to do in Palermo guide for all attractions.
What is Palermo’s best street food?
Palermo’s street food culture is among Italy’s best. Essential items: arancine (fried rice balls stuffed with ragu or ham and cheese, 2 EUR), panelle (chickpea fritters in a roll, 1.50 EUR), pane con la milza (spleen sandwich, 3 EUR, the most divisive), sfincione (Sicilian pizza with tomato, onion, anchovy and breadcrumbs), and cannoli (fried pastry tubes filled with ricotta, 2.50 EUR). The best concentrations are at Ballaro market (morning), the stalls on Via Roma near the central station, and Antica Focacceria San Francesco on Via Alessandro Paternostro (sit-down, est. 1834). For a guided introduction, book a street food walking tour (35-50 EUR, 3 hours).
