Best time to visit · Palermo · Italy
The best time to visit Palermo
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Salvatore Ciambra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best months for Palermo are April, May, June, September and October: warm enough for Mondello, comfortable for walking and less crowded and humid than midsummer. July and August are very hot but bring the Festino di Santa Rosalia; winter is mild and quiet, ideal for museums and markets.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–June and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, July and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 31°C (88°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 15°C (59°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~10 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Seasons
Palermo has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate: mild, fairly wet winters around 15 °C by day and long, hot, dry summers above 30 °C, sometimes intensified by the sirocco wind from Africa. The sea is warm enough to swim from June to October.
March–May
Spring
Mild to warm days, Easter processions and wildflowers; the sea stays cool until late May.
June–August
Summer
Hot, sunny and humid, with sirocco heatwaves, beach life at Mondello and the Festino in July.
September–November
Autumn
A warm sea into October, Le Vie dei Tesori openings and marzipan fruit for the Day of the Dead.
December–February
Winter
Mild with occasional storms, low prices and quiet monuments; arancine day on 13 December.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C | 9°C | 9 | 15°C | 9.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 15°C | 9°C | 8 | 15°C | 10.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 17°C | 10°C | 7 | 15°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C | 12°C | 6 | 16°C | 13.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C | 15°C | 3 | 19°C | 14.2 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 28°C | 19°C | 1 | 23°C | 14.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 31°C | 22°C | 1 | 26°C | 14.6 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 31°C | 23°C | 1 | 27°C | 13.6 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 28°C | 20°C | 4 | 25°C | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 25°C | 17°C | 7 | 23°C | 11.1 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 20°C | 13°C | 8 | 20°C | 10 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 16°C | 10°C | 10 | 17°C | 9.5 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Carnival events in Palermo and nearby towns (February or early March) |
| April | Holy Week processions in Palermo and Monreale (March or April) |
| July | Festino di Santa Rosalia — the saint's triumphal cart is pulled along the Cassaro, with fireworks (14–15 July) |
| August | Ferragosto public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Acchianata — night pilgrimage up Monte Pellegrino to Santa Rosalia's sanctuary (night of 3–4 September); Le Vie dei Tesori — openings of normally closed buildings (usually weekends from September) |
| October | Le Vie dei Tesori (usually weekends into autumn) |
| November | Festa dei Morti — Day of the Dead, with gifts and marzipan fruit for children (2 November) |
| December | Santa Lucia — a day of arancine and cuccìa instead of bread and pasta (13 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February and November, and the sights are quietest in November–February.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Palermo?
The best months for Palermo are April, May, June, September and October: warm enough for Mondello, comfortable for walking and less crowded and humid than midsummer. July and August are very hot but bring the Festino di Santa Rosalia; winter is mild and quiet, ideal for museums and markets.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Palermo?
Usually in January–February and November. Mild and often sunny between storms; a good month for museums and markets without crowds.
+What is the rainiest month in Palermo?
December, with about 10 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Palermo get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 31°C (88°F) and lows of 22°C (72°F).