12 Best Things to do in Palermo, Sicily: From History to Food

Palermo is Sicily’s capital and largest city which for some reason people usually love or hate. I personally loved my visit to Palermo because it’s the best example of Sicily’s rich history that was shaped by Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards and Italians. All of this is deeply rooted today in Palermo’s culture and cuisine. Therefore, in this blog post I am sharing with you my 12 best things to do in Palermo, Sicily.

This list consists of historical sites and Palermo’s main attractions, to food tours, street food markets and day trips, so that no matter what your travel style is, you’d be able to find things to do in Palermo that suit your interest.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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📖 Read my Palermo in One Day Itinerary: How to Spend 24h in Palermo blog post.

Visit Norman Palace & Palatine Chapel

If you ask me, you can’t come to Palermo and not visit the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel, especially the latter.

The Norman Palace was built in 1072 after Normans conquered Sicily. It is built in the Byzantine-Norman-Arab style. The palace is the oldest royal residence in Europe and was the private residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Sicily and the imperial seat of Frederick II and Conrad IV.

While I did find the palace interesting, the main reason I personally visited the complex was so that I could see the Palatine Chapel. And it didn’t disappoint. If there’s one church you have to see in Palermo, let it be this one. Even though it’s the only church you need to pay the entrance for (it’s a combo ticket with the palace), but trust me, it’s totally worth it.

The Palatine Chapel is not only designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is also listed among the most beautiful churches in the world.

Inside you can really see how all these 3 styles influenced the chapel, which is why you will notice Byzantine, Norman and Arab elements.

✅ Even though you can explore this on your own, if you’d love to learn more from a local guide, then I recommend this Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour.

Sightsee Palermo’s Most Beautiful Churches

Besides Palatine Chapel, I was blown away by two more churches in Palermo: Santa Caterina Church & Church of the Gesu.

They are a short walk from one another, so it’s easy to combine to see both. I think I’ve never spent so much time just sitting in a church and admiring the interior. Out of all of Sicily, Palermo surely had the most beautiful churches.

Both churches are free to visit.

Take a Street Food Walking Tour

One of the best ways to get familiar with Palermo’s history and culture is through food. And as always, locals know the best food spots, so taking a street food walking tour is a great way to experience Palermo’s cuisine.

✅ I recommend taking this small group Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour for a more personalised experience.

Do the No Mafia Walking Tour

We all know about the Mafia in Sicily from Godfather movies. However, if you’d love to learn about the history of the Mafia and its role within Sicilian society, as well as the past, present and future anti-mafia movement, then I definitely encourage you to go on a guided tour.

✅ My recommendation is this best rated NO Mafia Walking Tour in Palermo.

📖 Check my Savoca, Sicily: A Godfather Filming Locations Guide blog post.

Spend a Day at the Beach

If you’re visiting Palermo in the summer season, then don’t miss relaxing at the beaches nearby.

The most popular and closest one to Palermo is Mondello Beach. But my favourite in all of Sicily is San Vito Lo Capo. If you rented a car (which is my recommendation for exploring Sicily), then definitely drive to San Vito Lo Capo.

📖 Read my 8 Best Beaches in Sicily You Have to Visit blog post.

Go on a Day Trip to Monreale and Cefalu

Palermo is great, but it’s also close to many other small cute towns, so definitely reserve at least one day for a day trip.

Monreale is the closest, and is actually the metropolitan area of Palermo, so it’s very easy to get there. There, you’ll find Monreale Cathedral with beautiful mosaics, similar to those to Palatine Chapel. The visit to the cathedral is free, unless you want to explore the cloister too, then you need to buy the ticket, which is easy to do on the spot.

Another great town close to Palermo is Cefalu, which has a beautiful old town and sandy beach, so if you’re visiting in summer, you can also relax on the beach.

✅ To visit both Monreale and Cefalu the best is to rent a car, or you can go on this best rated guided tour.

📖 Read my Sicily 10 Days Road Trip: Ultimate Sicily Itinerary blog post.

Shop at Ballaro Street Market

Ballaro Street Market is the best and most popular in Palermo, and the heartbeat of the city.

I don’t know about you, but I love visiting local markets on my travels because they’re the best glimpse into the local life and food.

At Ballaro Street Market you will find fresh food, street food vendors, souvenirs and clothes. so it’s a great shopping place too.

📖 Read my Best Farm Stays in Sicily Perfect for Agritourism blog post.

Stop by the Quattro Canti Square

Quattro Canti is a Baroque Square in Palermo and the heart of the city. The site is the intersection of two major streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

On each corner there’s a 4-storey building, totalling 4 buildings. Each floor represents something: district, season represented by the fountain, king of Spain and patron saint.

Because of the way it’s structured, the sun will always be on one of the buildings during the day, so cool!

Visit Palermo Cathedral

Palermo Cathedral was also initially built by the Byzantines, then conquered by Arabs in the 9th century who turned it into a mosque. After Normans took it back in 1184, they re-converted it into a church again and built on top of the initial church.

While it looks nice and interesting from the outside, I was quite disappointed with the interior.

Apparently the Palermo Cathedral was built to surpass the beauty of Monreale Cathedral. While the exterior is surely more beautiful, it does not have mosaics like the Monreale one. Which is why I preferred Monreale Cathedral over Palermo Cathedral.

However, it is free to visit (unless you want to check the tombs and rooftop), so I recommend checking it out regardless. Culturally the cathedral is surely an interesting and important site in Palermo.

Admire Fontana Pretoria

Fontana Pretoria is a beautiful 16th century baroque fountain, initially built for Florence, but then sold and transferred to Palermo.

For some reason the fountain was closed by gates during our time in Palermo, but we could still admire it.

Eat Pasta at Taverna del Pavone

If you’re looking for delicious pasta in Palermo, then check out Taverna del Pavone.

Sadly, I don’t have any photos from the restaurant because the food was really good, and I was very, very hungry…

Take a Cooking Class

If you’d love to eat Sicilian food even when you get back home, then I recommend taking a cooking class to learn a few recipes.

✅ Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Flowing Wine is a great choice because you will learn how to make pasta and tiramisu from scratch while sipping unlimited wine – can’t get better than that!

Where to Stay in Palermo

The best is to stay in or near the city centre, so that everything is within a walking distance.

📖 Read my 11 Best Hotels in Palermo City Centre Ideal for Sightseeing for more.

✅ If you’re looking for a custom travel plan, find out more about my personalised itinerary service here.

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