Month guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in January
What January is really like in Palermo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: dalbera from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 9.8 hours of daylight. Mild and often sunny between storms; a good month for museums and markets without crowds.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Palermo: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (16°C (61°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 15°C (59°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:21
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:10
- Daylight
- About 9.8 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild with occasional storms, low prices and quiet monuments; arancine day on 13 December.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Palermo, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
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
In the hill town of Monreale, about 8 km southwest of Palermo, William II's 12th-century cathedral is lined with some 6,400 square metres of gold-ground mosaics, culminating in a giant Christ Pantocrator in the apse.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Beach · Mondello
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
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Nature · Monte Pellegrino
Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
The 606-metre headland that Goethe praised as the most beautiful promontory in the world rises between the city and Mondello.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Free
- Active
- History
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 9°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Palermo?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Palermo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Palermo?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild and often sunny between storms; a good month for museums and markets without crowds.
+How warm is Palermo in January?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palermo in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.