Free things to do · Palermo · Italy
6 free things to do in Palermo
Palermo without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Palermo without paying an entry fee: Quattro Canti, Ballarò market, Mondello beach and Fontana Pretoria are all free. Eat lunch on street food at Ballarò or the Capo; a filling meal can cost under €10.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 6
- Low-cost extras
- 12
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February and November
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
1.Quattro Canti
Pass by early in the morning and again after dark, when the facades are lit and the traffic eases.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- After dark
Market · Albergheria and Ballarò
2.Ballarò market
Go mid-morning, keep bags zipped and eat as you go: a paper cone of panelle or a grilled octopus tentacle costs a few euros.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Shopping
Beach · Mondello
3.Mondello beach
Go on a weekday morning; on summer weekends half of Palermo heads to the beach and traffic jams build on the road from the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
- Iconic
Landmark · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
4.Fontana Pretoria
Combine it with La Martorana and San Cataldo, which face the neighbouring Piazza Bellini.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Photo spot
Market · Il Capo and the Cathedral
5.Mercato del Capo
Combine it with the Teatro Massimo and the cathedral, both a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- Photo spot
.jpg){kind=link}
Nature · Monte Pellegrino
6.Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
Take a bus or taxi up and walk down the old pilgrim path for changing views over the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Free
- Active
- History
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti | Quattro Canti and Fontana Pretoria | 15 minutes + 20 minutes |
| Albergheria and Ballarò | Ballarò market | 1–2 hours |
| Mondello | Mondello beach | Half a day |
| Il Capo and the Cathedral | Mercato del Capo | 1 hour |
| Monte Pellegrino | Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia | Half a day |
Worth a small ticket
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
Religious site · Monreale
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
Allow half a day including the bus ride from Piazza Indipendenza, and buy the tickets for the cloister and the roof as well as the nave.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Architecture · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
Teatro Massimo
Take the guided tour if you cannot catch a performance; the steps outside are a classic evening meeting point.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- After dark
Religious site · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
La Martorana and San Cataldo
Visit San Cataldo first; its bare stone interior makes the Martorana's gold all the more striking.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Historic site · Cappuccini
Capuchin Catacombs
It is macabre and not suitable for young children or the squeamish; photography is not allowed.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
_(7018988607).jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · Albergheria and Ballarò
San Giovanni degli Eremiti
Visit straight after the Norman Palace; it is a few minutes' walk away and rarely crowded.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Kalsa
Palazzo Abatellis (Galleria Regionale della Sicilia)
Combine it with a walk through the Kalsa to Piazza Magione and the Foro Italico seafront.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Olivella
Antonio Salinas Archaeological Museum
Head to the Selinunte rooms first; the metopes are the highlight of the collection.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Palace · Zisa
Castello della Zisa
Take a bus or taxi from the centre, about 2 km away, and pair it with the Capuchin Catacombs nearby.
- 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
Garden · Kalsa
Orto Botanico
Pair it with Villa Giulia, the 18th-century public garden next door, for a shady afternoon with children.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Experience · Old town
Opera dei Pupi puppet theatre
Shows last about an hour and are easy to follow without Italian; children love the battle scenes.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- After dark
- Art
- History
More ways to save
- Eat lunch on street food at Ballarò or the Capo; a filling meal can cost under €10.
- Many highlights are free, including the Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria, the cathedral nave and the markets.
- Regional museums often take part in free-entry days, typically the first Sunday of the month; check before you go.
- Stay in an old-town B&B or apartment rather than a large hotel for better value.
- Use regional trains for Cefalù and Bagheria instead of organised tours; tickets cost a few euros.
- Visit in October or spring for lower prices than July and August and more comfortable temperatures.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Palermo expensive to visit?
Palermo is affordable for most visitors, but 6 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Palermo?
Quattro Canti: Pass by early in the morning and again after dark, when the facades are lit and the traffic eases.