Comparison · Naples vs Palermo · Italy
Naples vs Palermo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Naples for Pizza and Pompeii; choose Palermo for Arab-Norman architecture and Street food. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 314 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 314 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Naples
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Palermo
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Naples | Palermo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Pizza, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius | Arab-Norman architecture, Street food and Ballarò market |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $110–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 13°C (55°F) | January, 15°C (59°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Beaches | Gaiola Underwater Park | Mondello |
| Airports | NAP | PMO, TPS |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Naples for…
Pizza and Pompeii. Naples spreads around its bay beneath Mount Vesuvius, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre laid out on the grid of the Greek city of Neapolis. Spaccanapoli cuts straight through it past churches, street shrines and pizzerias, while the National…
Choose Palermo for…
Arab-Norman architecture and Street food. Palermo, Sicily's capital, has been ruled by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans and Spanish viceroys, and its centre shows every layer: the gold mosaics of the Palatine Chapel, Baroque squares such as the Quattro Canti and the Arab-era markets of Ballarò…
Top sights compared
| # | Naples | Palermo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Archaeological Museum | Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel |
| 2 | Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ | Palermo Cathedral |
| 3 | Spaccanapoli and the decumani | Monreale Cathedral and Cloister |
| 4 | Via San Gregorio Armeno | Quattro Canti |
| 5 | Naples Underground | Fontana Pretoria |
Food compared
| Naples | Palermo |
|---|---|
| Neapolitan pizza | Arancine |
| Fried pizza | Pane e panelle |
| Sfogliatella | Pani ca' meusa |
| Babà | Sfincione |
Which is cheaper?
Naples and Palermo cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$220 in Naples and $110–$200 in Palermo (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Palermo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Naples and Palermo are about 314 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Naples and 4 in Palermo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Naples or Palermo cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$220 in Naples and $110–$200 in Palermo (estimates).
+Is Naples or Palermo better for a first trip?
Pick Naples for Pizza and Pompeii, or Palermo for Arab-Norman architecture and Street food.
+How far is Naples from Palermo?
About 314 km in a straight line.