Things to do in Palermo

Why go to Palermo

• Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina)

  Breathtaking 12th-century Byzantine mosaics covering every inch of a royal chapel inside the Norman Palace, genuinely jaw-dropping.

• Palermo Cathedral

  A spectacular architectural mashup of Norman, Gothic, Arab, and Baroque styles rising over the city's main corso, climb the rooftop for sweeping views.

• Ballarò Market

  The oldest and most electric street market in Palermo, overflowing with swordfish, blood oranges, spleen sandwiches, and centuries of mercantile energy.

• Capuchin Catacombs (Catacombe dei Cappuccini)

  Over 8,000 mummified bodies line the underground corridors of this eerie and unforgettable monastic crypt.

• Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas

  One of Italy's finest archaeology museums, housing stunning Phoenician, Greek, and Roman artifacts from across Sicily.

Good to know in Palermo

• Transit: AMAT city buses cost about $1.50 per ride; buy a day pass for ~$4 at tabacchi shops, taxis are cheap but always agree on a fare before entering.
• Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Palermo; rounding up to the nearest euro or leaving small change at a bar is appreciated but never expected.
• Tap water: Tap water is technically safe in Palermo but locals often prefer bottled, carry a bottle and refill at public 'fontanelle' drinking fountains scattered around the city.
• Free-entry days: Italian state museums including the Salinas Archaeological Museum offer free entry on the first Sunday of every month, plan key museum visits accordingly.

Trip essentials