How many days · Palermo · Italy
How many days do you need in Palermo?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
_(7018988607).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
4 days is the sweet spot for Palermo, and 3 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Three days covers the Norman Palace, the cathedral, Monreale, the markets and a street-food crawl. Four or five days adds Mondello, the Capuchin Catacombs and day trips to Cefalù or to Segesta and Erice.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 4 days
- Minimum
- 3 days
- Day trips available
- 6
- Daylight
- 9.5 h (Dec) to 14.8 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel, Palermo Cathedral, Monreale Cathedral and Cloister and Quattro Canti |
| 2 days | Rushed | Quattro Canti, Teatro Massimo and Ballarò market |
| 3 days | Good | Mondello beach, Fontana Pretoria and La Martorana and San Cataldo |
| 5 days | Relaxed | The highlights plus a day trip to Cefalù |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Cefalù and Segesta |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Palermo add up to roughly 14–18 hours of visiting time — about 2–3 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Monreale Cathedral and Cloister (Half a day), Mondello beach (Half a day) and Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel (2 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel | 2 hours | Albergheria and Ballarò |
| Palermo Cathedral | 1–1.5 hours | Il Capo and the Cathedral |
| Monreale Cathedral and Cloister | Half a day | Monreale |
| Quattro Canti | 15 minutes | Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti |
| Teatro Massimo | 45 minutes | Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti |
| Ballarò market | 1–2 hours | Albergheria and Ballarò |
| Mondello beach | Half a day | Mondello |
| Fontana Pretoria | 20 minutes | Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti |
| La Martorana and San Cataldo | 45 minutes | Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti |
| Mercato del Capo | 1 hour | Il Capo and the Cathedral |
| Capuchin Catacombs | 45 minutes | Cappuccini |
| San Giovanni degli Eremiti | 30–45 minutes | Albergheria and Ballarò |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 4 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 3 days | Focus on Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel and Palermo Cathedral |
| With children | 5 days | Slower days and time for Mondello beach |
| With day trips | 6 days | Add Cefalù and Segesta |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 9.5 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.8 hours). In winter, allow an extra day or plan museum-heavy afternoons.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Palermo with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Amalfi Coast | About 300 km | 5 days |
| Naples | About 314 km | 4 days |
| Rome | About 427 km | 4 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 3 days enough in Palermo?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 4 days is more comfortable. Three days covers the Norman Palace, the cathedral, Monreale, the markets and a street-food crawl. Four or five days adds Mondello, the Capuchin Catacombs and day trips to Cefalù or to Segesta and Erice.
+Is a week too long in Palermo?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Cefalù and Segesta.