Travel tips · Palermo · Italy
Palermo travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Lasterketak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Palermo's character comes from layers of conquest — Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman and Spanish — visible in its buildings, dialect and food. It is loud, warm and chaotic, with strong civic pride, a Catholic calendar centred on Santa Rosalia and a long tradition of eating in the street.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and generally drinkable, but supply can be irregular and…
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'buongiorno' or 'buonasera' and expect lively, expressive conversation.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches and at the Palatine Chapel.
- Ask before photographing market stallholders and their goods.
- Traffic rarely stops for pedestrians; cross decisively at crossings and make eye contact with drivers.
- Shops displaying the 'Addiopizzo' sign belong to a network that refuses to pay protection money; supporting them is a small, practical choice.
- Book Palazzo dei Normanni and the Palatine Chapel ahead: Queues can be long in high season; buy a timed ticket online before you go.
- Eat lunch on street food at Ballarò or the Capo; a filling meal can cost under €10.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected; rounding up or leaving a few euros in restaurants for good service is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Grazie | Thank you |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Un'arancina accarne | A meat-filled arancina |
| Quanto costa? | How much is it? |
| Amunì | Let's go! (Palermo dialect) |
What to wear
Light clothing for the summer heat, with covered shoulders and knees for churches, and comfortable shoes for uneven old-town paving.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated and generally drinkable, but supply can be irregular and many residents drink bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- EU roaming applies to European SIM cards; Italian prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are easy to set up, and mobile coverage is good in the city.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in the markets, on crowded buses and around the station, so keep bags zipped and phones out of reach. Traffic is chaotic and crossing roads needs care, and summer sirocco heat can be intense.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Palermo?
Tipping is not expected; rounding up or leaving a few euros in restaurants for good service is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Palermo?
Tap water is treated and generally drinkable, but supply can be irregular and many residents drink bottled water.
+What plugs are used in Palermo?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Palermo?
Italian.