Last Updated on March 14, 2026
Palermo often gets overshadowed by northern Italian destinations, which is a shame because it’s a beautiful place with incredible history, food, and culture.
Palermo was founded in the 8th century BC, so it goes without saying that the city has a long and vibrant history characterized by Arab and Norman rule, immigration, and Mafia presence.
My partner’s family has Sicilian roots, so we visit Sicily pretty often to see friends and family. Whenever we’re there, we make a point to spend time in Palermo. We keep returning to it, because there’s always some new to do there!
This 3-day Palermo itinerary brings together the places we return to again and again. Over a few days you can explore historic sites, eat amazing Sicilian food, and learn about the city’s complex history, including the impact of Cosa Nostra.
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Quick 3-Day Palermo Itinerary Overview
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of how to spend three days in Palermo. This itinerary focuses on the historic center, Sicilian food, and the city’s complex history, with a short day trip outside the city.
Day 1
- Breakfast and street food at Ballarò Market
- Walk through the old town to Quattro Canti
- Visit Piazza Pretoria and Fontana Pretoria
- Stop at the No Mafia Memorial to learn about Palermo’s anti-mafia movement
- End the day at Palermo Cathedral (climb the rooftop for views)
Day 2
- Join the No Mafia Walking Tour in the morning
- Lunch at Mercato del Capo (great for seafood and street food)
- Visit the Capuchin Catacombs in the afternoon
- Enjoy a relaxed Sicilian dinner in the evening
Day 3
- Take the bus to Monreale, a hilltop town just outside Palermo
- Visit Monreale Cathedral, famous for its gold mosaics
- Wander the piazza and surrounding streets
- Have lunch in town before returning to Palermo for your final evening
Day 1: Sightsee in Palermo’s Old Town, Politeama, and Libertà
It’s day 1 in Palermo! I usualy try to get an early start, because it means you can enjoy the city before the midday heat sets in. Head out the door around 9:00 AM, and stop in a cafe to have a coffee and cornetto (croissant).
I recommend Bar Del Corso. It’s a small standing cafe where you can have a quick espresso and grab a cornetto before a short walk to your first stop of the day, Ballaro Market.
Have Breakfast at Ballaro Market
This market is the largest and oldest in Palermo, and my favourite market in the city. It is loud and busy, and sells everything from fish and vegetables to clothing and cannoli.
My favourite time to go is in the morning, because this is when the market is most active. While all of Palermo’s markets are now pretty geared toward tourists, this one, from what I can see, is the most true to what it originally was. When you go in the morning, you’ll see locals shopping for groceries, for example.
Be sure to wander through all of Ballaro Market’s streets. If hunger strikes, sit down at one of the street stalls for arancini (yes, arancini can be eaten for breakfast, I eat it all the time in the morning!) or a fresh sandwich. Once you’ve had your morning fill, head to your next stop.
Visit Quattro Canti
Next, you’ll walk 10 minutes to Quattro Canti. On your way to this famous intersection, make a quick stop at Museo del Giocattolo, which is a small, privately owned toy museum. I randomly stumbled on this museum on my last trip to Palermo. It’s a fascinating, unique spot, worth checking out!
Quattro Canti is a Baroque square which was built in the early 1600s, and it’s an absolute must see in Palermo. No matter how many times I visit Palermo, I don’t get tired of it.
This piazza is octagonal, made up of four ornate facades with statues and small fountains. As the sun shifts position in the sky throughout the day, a different facade is lit up by the sunlight.
Stop By Piazza Pretoria
After admiring Quattro Canti, walk 1 minute south down Via Maqueda to Piazza Pretoria. Here, you can see Fontana Pretoria. This beautiful fountain was built in Florence, but transferred to Palermo in 1574.
Between the 18th and 19th century, the fountain was seen as a depiction of the corrupt municipality of Palermo, a depiction completed by its nude statues. Therefore, this fountain is known as the fountain of shame.
In the same square as the fountain, you can see Chiesa di Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. It’s possible to visit the inside and the roof of the church (for a small fee).
While you’re here, don’t skip getting a cannoli from I Segreti del Chiostro, which is across from Fontana Pretoria. This bakery is hidden just behind the square at Santa Caterina Monastery.
The nuns of the monastery run a pastry counter where you can buy freshly made cannoli and other Sicilian desserts. The cannoli here are famous in Palermo, and grabbing one after visiting the fountain is a local tradition, and something I never skip when I’m in Palermo.
Near Fontana Pretoria you’ll also find the Church of San Cataldo. It’s a 12th century catholic church known for its three-domed roof and Arab influence.
You might be starting to feel hungry. If so, head to Taverna Dei Canti. It’s a small restaurant that serves typical Sicilian food – I really enjoyed the pizza! Be warned that this area of Palermo is busy, and so this restaurant might be packed. If that’s the case, there’s many others nearby to choose from.
Visit the No Mafia Memorial
Head west down Via Vittorio Emanuele, one of the main streets that runs through Palermo’s historic center. It’s a lively stretch filled with small shops, cafés, and historic buildings.
After about a 5 to 10 minute walk, you’ll reach the No Mafia Memorial.
This small but powerful museum focuses on the human impact of the Sicilian mafia. Inside, you’ll find exhibits that explain how the mafia shaped everyday life in Sicily, particularly during the late 20th century when violence and intimidation were widespread.
The memorial highlights the stories of journalists, judges, police officers, and ordinary citizens who were killed because they opposed the mafia.
One thing I appreciated about the museum is that it centers the victims rather than sensationalizing the mafia itself. Photos, documents, and personal stories help explain what people in Palermo experienced during the height of mafia violence, and how civil resistance eventually began to push back against it.
A visit here is a great way to start building context for the rest of your time in Palermo. Later in your trip, you’ll likely notice signs of the anti-mafia movement around the city, including stickers in shop windows showing support for businesses that refuse to pay the mafia protection tax.
The No Mafia Memorial is free to visit, but I recommend leaving a small donation if you can. The museum relies on community support to continue its educational work and to preserve this important part of Palermo’s history.
Wrap up your day at Palermo Cathedral
A short walk further down Via Vittorio Emanuele will bring you to Palermo Cathedral, known in Italian as Cattedrale di Palermo. This cathedral dates back to 1185. It’s characterized by different architectural styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations.
Palermo Cathedral is free to admire from the outside, and it’s free to enter. For 7,00 euro (as of June 2024) you can climb to its roof terrace for incredible views of Palermo.
Enjoy Dinner on Via Maqueda
There are lots of great dinner options on Via Maqueda! But for your first night in Palermo, you should enjoy a very Sicilian dish… arancini! Head to Sfrigola and enjoy different types of arancini from their menu, which include vegetarian and vegan options.
Day 2: Learn Mafia History & Visit Catacombs
It’s day 2 in Palermo! You’ll be starting the day with a walking tour, which typically begins at 10:00 AM.
Head out the door around 9:00 AM so you can stop in a cafe for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I recommend Radici di Sicilia, a cafe that’s just a 4 minute walk from the starting point of the walking tour (which is Teatro Massimo).
Go on the No Mafia Walking Tour
The No Mafia walking tour is an absolute must while in Palermo. This unique tour teaches the history of the Mafia in Palermo, as well as the civil anti-mafia movement that has reshaped the city over the last few decades.
While walking through Palermo’s historic center, you learn how the Mafia impacted everyday life in the city. The guide explains how businesses were pressured to pay a protection tax to the Mafia, and how that system operated for years.
You also learn about the turning point in the early 2000s, when local activists began organizing resistance and encouraging businesses to refuse to pay.
One part of the tour that really stuck with me was when our guide, Laura, handed around a small green booklet (the one in the photo above). Inside were lists of businesses that had publicly committed to refusing the protection tax. These lists were originally circulated so that locals could choose to support shops and restaurants that were standing up to the Mafia.
Holding that booklet in my hands made the story feel much more real. It wasn’t just history being explained on a walking tour. It was a reminder that real people in the city made a conscious decision to push back against a system that had shaped Palermo for decades.
The No Mafia walking tour runs twice a day, once in the morning and once in the late afternoon, and lasts about three hours.
I recommend booking it in advance because it often fills up, especially in the busy travel months. When you go, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sunscreen since most of the tour takes place outside while walking through the city.
Have Lunch in Capo Market (Mercato del Capo)
This famous Palermo market is the perfect spot for a seafood lunch. It’s a small market located where Via Porta Carini and Via Volturno meet.
The market runs the length of one small street. Along its sides are vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, ceramics, and more. You can grab food from a counter, or sit at one of the tables off to the side of the market where you can have a fresh seafood lunch.
Visit the Palermo Catacombs (Capuchin Catacombs)
After lunch, you’ll head to the Capuchin Catacombs. These catacombs, which date back to 1599, are below the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini.
The Capuchin Catacombs are basically an open cemetery. They initially housed only the bodies of Friars, but from the 1700s on, those of esteem (i.e. the rich) could buy their place in the catacombs. Mummification alongside the Friars was a symbol of status and dignity reserved for the wealthy.
Visiting hours are 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, and 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM. So, you’ll be free to have a long lunch, and then you can head to the Catacombs for their afternoon opening time, 3:00 PM. Entry into the Catacombs is 5,00 euro (as of June 2024). You can pay by cash or card.
To get to the Palermo Capuchin Catacombs, go by taxi or driving, or by public transport. A taxi from the city center takes 15 – 20 minutes. Or, take bus N5 from Palermo Centrale. The trip is 30 minutes by bus and costs 1,40 euro each way.
When you visit the Capuchin Catacombs, please practice responsible tourism. The Capuchin Crypt is a holy place, and the resting place of many people. Follow the posted rules, do not take photos or videos, and be respectful of the space.
Enjoy a Sicilian Dinner
After visiting the Catacombs, take some downtime before heading out for dinner. I recommend Enosteria Sicula. It’s a short walk from the city center, and well worth it.
The menu is always changing, so I can’t share specific dishes to order, but rest assured I had one of the best pasta of my life there!
Day 3: Day Trip to Monreale
It’s day 3 in Palermo! On your last day in Palermo, you’ll venture just outside the city to see one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Sicily.
There’s no rush this morning. Take it slow, and enjoy a tasty breakfast before setting out. I recommend going to Sciampagna on Via Riccardo Wagner. They serve delicious baked goods and fantastic coffee.
The best way to visit Monreale is by bus. You can go by car, but parking can be tricky especially if you go in the summer when it is busy.
There are two buses that will take you there: Bus number 389 which departs from Piazza Indipendenza or another bus run by Azienda Siciliana Trasporti (AST) which leaves from the train station.
The trip is about 1 hour each way because of traffic. Be sure to bring change with you to pay the fare, which is 1,40 euro each way.
You also have the option of hiring a taxi to bring you to and from Monreale. This usually costs €20 to €30 per person.
Spend Most of the Day in Monreale
Monreale is a town just 7 kilometers away from the center of Palermo. It’s home to one of the greatest existing examples of Norman architecture: a cathedral, built beginning in 1174 by William II of Sicily.
Cattedrale di Monreale’s (Cathedral Monreale) detailed mosaics are super impressive, making a trip to the hill-side town of Monreale an essential day trip while in Palermo. You’ll spend at least an hour admiring the cathedral – both inside and outside.
After visiting the Monreale Cathedral, go for a wander through the adjoining piazza called Piazza Guglielmo II, and the surrounding streets.
Have lunch in Piazza Guglielmo II
When you start to get hungry, head back to the piazza to enjoy a late lunch with a view of the cathedral. I recommend having a pizza at Pizzeria Guglielmo di Milazzo.
With the rest of your day, do what you please! Take a rest, or do some shopping.
For a unique souvenir or gift, head to Cutiecuticchi, which is located at Via Calderai 47. It’s a locally owned ceramics shop that sells a selection of hand-made mosaics with stones, sculptures, ornamental plates, clocks, and paintings that narrate the history and traditions of Sicily.
Have Pizza For Dinner!
You can’t skip having pizza while in Italy, so on your final night in Palermo, be sure to pop into a pizzeria. Sorelle Mozza Pizzeria is a great, central option. If you’re okay to walk outside of the city centre, head to Apud Jatum Panormus.
Is Three Days in Palermo Worth It?
Spending three days in Palermo gives you enough time to get a real feel for Sicily’s largest city. You’ll have time to explore historic landmarks, try plenty of Sicilian food, learn about the city’s complex history with the Mafia, and even take a short day trip to nearby Monreale.
If you’re planning a broader trip around Sicily, there’s a good chance you’ll fly in or out of Palermo Airport, which makes the city an easy place to start or end your travels. Spending a few days here helps you ease into the rhythm of Sicily before heading elsewhere on the island.
If you’re planning to visit Palermo, here are some resources to help you visit in a way that focuses on the pros versus cons of tourism:
- Learn the main tips for being a responsible tourist.
- Use sustainable tourism tips to travel eco-consciously.
- Travel to places that aren’t facing overtourism to reduce your impact.
- Be aware of cultural appropriation and avoid it.
- Practice responsible wildlife tourism.
- Learn about how you can decenter yourself in travel.
- Shop for souvenirs responsibly.
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