Month guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in October
What October is really like in Palermo: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Salvatore Ciambra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
October is one of the best months to visit Palermo. Expect average highs of 25°C (77°F), lows of 17°C (63°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 11.1 hours of daylight. Warm days, a swimmable sea and fewer visitors; one of the best months overall.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 25°C (77°F) / 17°C (63°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 23°C (73°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in October
October is the 5th-warmest month in Palermo: days average 25°C (77°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 17°C (63°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with September (28°C (82°F)), October is cooler; by November highs drop to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 October)
- About 07:15
- Sunset (15 October)
- About 18:29
- Daylight
- About 11.1 hours
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F)
Autumn (September–November). A warm sea into October, Le Vie dei Tesori openings and marzipan fruit for the Day of the Dead.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, October rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in October
- Le Vie dei Tesori (usually weekends into autumn)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in October
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Architecture · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
Teatro Massimo
Opened in 1897, Italy's largest opera house is a neoclassical temple with a grand stairway guarded by bronze lions; its steps appear in the final scene of The Godfather Part III.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- After dark
Market · Albergheria and Ballarò
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
Landmark · Via Maqueda and Quattro Canti
Fontana Pretoria
Carved in Florence in the 1550s for a private villa and later sold to Palermo, this huge marble fountain of nymphs, river gods and monsters fills Piazza Pretoria beside the town hall.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- History
- Photo spot
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
The sea averages 23°C (73°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Palermo.
What to pack
For highs near 25°C, lows near 17°C and 7 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is October a good time to visit Palermo?
One of the best months to visit Palermo, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April–June and September. Compare every month.
Palermo in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is October a good time to visit Palermo?
It is one of the best months to visit Palermo. Warm days, a swimmable sea and fewer visitors; one of the best months overall.
+How warm is Palermo in October?
Average highs are around 25°C (77°F) and lows around 17°C (63°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Palermo in October?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.