Palermo is the capital of Italy’s southern island, Sicily, and is not somewhere that makes it to most travelers’ itinerary of Italy. So, if you’re here and still wondering if a visit to Palermo is worth it, just keep reading.
Since this city is rich in history, culture, art, music, and food, you won’t get bored exploring its restaurants, churches, palaces, buildings, streets, beaches, bars, cafes, and nearby towns. Most of the attraction spots are free to enter and those which aren’t are very affordable.
If you’re still going to visit this beautiful city, this article has the best and most fun things you can do even if you only spend one day in Palermo.
16 Best & Fun Things To Do In Palermo, Italy
1. Visit the Capuchin Monastery and Catacombs
One of the unique things to do during your stay in Palermo is to visit the Capuchin Monastery and Catacombs. This may be the strangest place you’ve ever visited in your life cos it has over 8000 corpses and 1252 mummies lined up.
Some mummies have been so well-preserved that you can still see their hair and fingernails. And if you’re tempted to take pictures, you should know that photography is not allowed, though you can get fridge magnets and photographs of the mummies in the gift shop.
If you spend only one day in Palermo, you can visit the catacombs, which are open every day, even on holidays, and the admission fee is very affordable, or pay for a private guided tour, which also takes you to Monreale.
2. Watch Opera At Teatro Massimo
The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo opened on 16 May 1897, after a long time of plans to build a big new theater worthy of the second biggest city in southern Italy after Naples. Enlightened entrepreneurs like the Florios made generous donations to the building of this opera house.
Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy and the third-largest opera theatre in the whole of Europe, so watching opera here should be one of the fun things to do in Palermo. Not only were some scenes from The Godfather III filmed here, but Pavarotti has even performed here.
If you’re not interested in opera, then you will need to book a guided tour because you won’t be allowed to pay the entrance fee and just take a walk alone. The English language tours last for up to 30 minutes and are very affordable.
3. Take Pictures At Pretoria Fountain
The Pretoria Fountain, also known as the Piazza della Vergogna or the Fountain of Shame, was designed in the 16th century by Francesco Camilliani. It is an iconic landmark and one of the best examples of High Renaissance architecture in Palermo, Sicily.
The fountain has numerous statues and reliefs showing mythological creatures and scenes, as well as the four seasons and the twelve Olympian gods. It also has a basin that is decorated with some 50 marvelous statues of monsters, harpies, sirens, and tritons.
The Fountain of Shame occupies almost the whole of the Piazza Pretoria, close to the town Hall Palazzo Pretorio, Via Maqueda, the famous Quattro Canti, the Church of San Giuseppe dei Padri Teatini, and the Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria. It is an amazing place to take professional photos if you are a photographer or if you want a wedding photoshoot.
4. Marvel at Quattro Canti
Quattro Canti, officially known as Piazza Vigliena, is a Baroque square and is considered the center of the historic quarters of the city. It is the intersection of two major streets in Palermo, the Via Maqueda and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Each of the four sections represents one of the four seasons, one of the four Spanish Kings of Sicily, and one of the patronesses of Palermo. The piazza layout is octagonal; four sides comprise the streets, while the remaining four sides are nearly symmetric, each with four stories with three full-size statues in their centers.
Quattro Canti is the most famous intersection in Palermo, and chances are you will stumble upon it by mistake when wandering around the capital of Sicily.
5. Take A Stroll Down Via Maqueda
Via Maqueda, also known as Strada Nuova (New Street), is an important street of Palermo representing the main axis of the historic center and providing access to various attractions in the city.
The creation of the street addressed the need for more sliding traffic and the requests of the nobility, eager to have new spaces for its buildings. Via Maqueda is a fully pedestrianized street and one of the most important streets in Palermo with fancy restaurants, boutique stores, coffee shops, and smoothie joints.
You can buy some gelato or granita and walk slowly down the street, taking in the souvenir stalls and the atmosphere. The street is perfectly straight from Piazza Verdi, so you can walk to Teatro Massimo, Porta di Vicari, and the Palermo Centrale railway station.
6. Stop At Palermo Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral is a mix of architectural styles due to a long history of additions and alterations. It is one of those buildings that will make you stop just to be amazed at it during your stay in Palermo.
It is located in the oldest sacred area of Palermo, where the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs had previously built their own places of worship. The Cathedral of Palermo is part of the Arab-Norman Palermo route and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale are UNESCO World Heritage.
Palermo Cathedral is free to enter, but the outside of it is actually far more impressive than the interior. If you go inside, you’ll see marble statues, precious objects, goblets, and some embroideries that were found in royal and imperial tombs.
7. Visit San Giovanni degli Eremiti
San Giovanni degli Eremiti is a Benedictine monastery-turned mosque-turned church in the center of Palermo that was once inhabited by a wolf-taming hermit. It is part of the Arab-Norman Palermo route and the Cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale UNESCO World Heritage.
The most fascinating part of the building is the garden with its citrus trees, agaves, bougainvilleas, roses, pomegranates, and tall flowering bushes. The lush plants climb the walls, taking over the white columns of the small cloister and giving a nice fragrance.
It is one of the most characteristic monuments of Norman Palermo and stands as a symbol of the city. You can visit any day apart from Sundays, and if you’re into architectural styles, you can add this visit to the best things to do in Palermo.
8. Pray At The Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio
Also known as La Martorana, the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio sits on Piazza Bellini. The great admiral George of Antioch built the church in the mid-12th century in thanksgiving to the Mother of God for her protection during his long political and maritime activity.
The most impressive thing about the interior of the church is its gold mosaic decorations, made by Byzantine artists around 1151. The Church of St. Mary of the Admiral is the seat of the Parish of San Nicolò dei Greci.
The church is characterized by a multiplicity of styles and is enriched by various tastes in art, architecture, and culture. If you’re a religious person, you can visit this church during your stay in Palermo, pray, and take pictures before you continue your fun exploration of the city.
9. Take Instashots At The Cappella Palatina Chapel
The Cappella Palatina Chape is the royal chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily. This building is a mix of various architectural styles showing the tricultural state of the country and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can take instashots of the gigantic stage set in gold, malachite, and porphyry, or the paschal candelabrum, a true marble construction donated by Archbishop Ugo of Palermo on the occasion of the coronation of William, son of Roger II.
You’ll be amazed at the wooden ceiling which has stalactites and intricate decorations normally used in the largest and most elegant mosques. When you add this to your list of things to do in Palermo, don’t forget to pack up binoculars so you can be able to see the realistic scenes of dignitaries.
10. Go On the Streaty Street Food Tour
Palermo does in fact have the best street food in all of Europe, but some of their unusual dishes may not be for everyone. You can always go to the restaurants, but if you want to be really immersed, then you should go on the street food tour.
Streaty is a group of Italian tour guides who run cultural tours, art & history tours, and culinary tours. They do a good job by bringing your attention to traditional Italian cuisine prepared by small family-run businesses and street vendors.
From arancini, and fried rice balls with various fillings, to chickpea fritters, potato croquettes, and sweet treats like the legendary Sicilian cannoli, tubes filled with sweet ricotta and sprinkled with pistachio, and ice cream for breakfast, the street food tour will probably be the most delicious thing you can do in Palermo.
11. Explore Palermo’s Historic Street Markets
Ballarò market is the most authentic and entertaining of all Palermo’s street markets, but be sure to keep an eye on your valuables as Ballarò is known for pickpockets. When you visit in the morning, you’ll see various vendors shouting to attract customers to their stalls.
La Vucciria market is not a morning market because as soon as it becomes dark, the street vendors set up shops, bars open up, and you can eat steaming bowls of delicious spaghetti with your loved ones.
Capo Market dates back to Arabs ruled Palermo, and it was the place where pirates and slave merchants would congregate. Now, it is the best place to buy cheap local produce, which would be your favorite if you love bargaining.
12. Spend A Day At Mondello Beach
Mondello Beach is Palermo, Sicily’s most popular seascape, with picturesque clear waters and an unparalleled view of Monte Pellegrino. This beach is more lively than relaxing, and with a mostly Sicilian demographic, the town offers a vibrant glimpse of authentic Sicily.
Spending your day here is one of the fun things to do in Palermo because you can participate in various activities like swimming, floating, paddling, and boat riding. If relaxing on the beach is more your thing, lather up with sunscreen and open a Sicilian romance classic.
Mondello is not quiet, so you’ll surely hear beach vendors traversing the shoreline, calling out a range of products from beer to jewelry to towels and corn on the cob. If you’re into outdoor activities you can go for natural exploration or hiking at the Capo Gallo Nature Reserve.
13. Spend A Day At San Vito Lo Capo
San Vito Lo Capo is a 2 hours bus ride from Palermo, but it is a lovely seaside town with stunning white sands, small bars, gelaterias, and an abundance of cafes selling the regional specialty of couscous.
The beach has bright clear water, so clear that is nicknamed the Carribean beach of Europe. The only real workout you’ll manage here is the nightly food walk, because after eating, you’d waddle through town, do some people-watching, and waste cash on souvenirs before going to bed.
So, if you’re looking for a place where sea, food, wine, and maybe changing your underwear in the morning are the highlights of your day, then spending a day at San Vito Lo Capo should be one of your fun things to do in Palermo, Sicily.
14. Explore Cefalù
Just over an hour away from Palermo is the stunning coastal town of Cefalù, which has a stunning sandy beach and an old town that could have been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale.
If you’re into architecture, you’ll love Cefalù’s Baroque Architecture at the Monte della Pietà and the beautiful Chiesa del Purgatorio. You must also stop at the Museo Mandralisca to admire the extraordinary Ritratto d’Ignoto by Antonello da Messina.
To complete your exploration, you’ll need to find a good spot in front of the beautiful sea and order fresh fish while waiting for the sunset and the spectacle of the illuminated harbor that lights up the night. You can order local dishes like carne murata which is built in layers of meat, onions, and potatoes and topped with fresh basil, oregano, and pepper.
15. Take A Day Trip To Monte Pellegrino
Monte Pellegrino towers over the city of Palermo and is one of the most popular day trips from Palermo. The Santa Rosalia statue at the top of the mountain is worth it and even if you’re not religious, just go for the panoramic views of the city.
It is the sacred mountain of Palermo, where the Basilian monks chose to live as hermits in the caves. Today, there are about 134 marine and karstic caves. It is also part of the Oriented Nature Reserve and offers unique views of the Gulf of Mondello and the Gulf of Palermo.
One of those caves is home to the Sanctuary of the patron saint of Palermo and during the patron saint’s holidays, thousands of devotees perform the acchianata, a ritual where they climb the mountain to ask for help from the patron saint.
16. Visit Ancient Ruins At Agrigento
The Valley of Temples in Agrigento is one of the largest archaeological sites in Italy and if you’re a history buff, this should be one of the places you’ll love visiting during your stay in Palermo. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Agrigento’s most popular attraction.
After exploring the Valley of Temples, you can continue to the Turkish Steps, which is The site, which is a natural formation of sedimentary rock resembling steps that descend from the white cliffs to the sea. You won’t be allowed to walk through but you can take inst worthy pictures here.
This tour can seem exhausting but if you have the energy, visit the historic center in Agrigento and take pictures beside the modern sculpture of Domenico Modugno, a famous musician and actor.
Conclusion
Palermo is not like other Italian cities, it’s known for its art, history, opera house, food markets, and shopping areas. This city is not visited as often as other Italian cities, so if you need a quiet vacation spot, this might just be for you.
You can stroll through the city center and explore various attractions such as the Quattro Canti Square, Fontana Pretoria, and the Palermo Cathedral. Plus, you can visit any of Palermo’s markets and enjoy delicious Sicilian cuisine.
The best part is that this city is quite affordable compared to mainland Italy, so if you’re on a budget, you’ll have plenty of free attractions to explore. So, start planning your trip today and use this article as a guide for the fun things you can do during your stay.
