Month guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in August
What August is really like in Palermo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
August is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 23°C (73°F), about 1 rainy days and roughly 13.6 hours of daylight. Peak heat; Palermitans head to Mondello and the coast, and some businesses close around Ferragosto.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days
- About 1
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Palermo: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 23°C (73°F). Rain falls on roughly 1 of its 31 days. Compared with July (31°C (88°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 28°C (82°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:22
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:01
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
- Sea
- 27°C (81°F)
Summer (June–August). Hot, sunny and humid, with sirocco heatwaves, beach life at Mondello and the Festino in July.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Ferragosto public holiday (15 August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Palace · Zisa
Castello della Zisa
A 12th-century summer palace built for the Norman kings in Arab style, the Zisa was designed to stay cool, with a fountain hall of mosaics and muqarnas where water once ran along a channel into the gardens.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Religious site · La Loggia and the Vucciria
Oratorio del Rosario di Santa Cita
Ask about combined tickets with the nearby Serpotta oratories of San Domenico and San Lorenzo.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- History
Experience · Old town
Opera dei Pupi puppet theatre
Sicilian puppet theatre, recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage, tells tales of Charlemagne's paladins with armour-clad marionettes up to a metre tall, clashing swords to live narration.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Art
- History
Religious site · Il Capo and the Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral
Walk the roof terraces late in the afternoon for views over the domes towards Monte Pellegrino.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
The sea averages 27°C (81°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Palermo.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 23°C and 1 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Palermo?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Palermo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Palermo?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Peak heat; Palermitans head to Mondello and the coast, and some businesses close around Ferragosto.
+How warm is Palermo in August?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palermo in August?
Expect rain on about 1 days of the month, so it is usually dry.