On Sicily, the biggest island in the Mediterranean, you'll find Palermo, a tourist hotspot known for its rich culture, fascinating history, and amazing architecture. And let's not forget the fantastic food and excellent wines that are enjoyed all around the world. The city was founded in the 8th century BC when the area was taken over by Phoenician traders. Later, it became a Carthaginian settlement until the Romans came along and took control in the 3rd century BC.
Today, the touristic Palermo attracts travellers with its historic old town, lively streets, markets and attractive beaches in the very centre and its area. Some of the most beautiful beaches in and outside the city are the beaches of Lido Valdesi, Mondello and San Vito lo Capo. So, pack your bags and backpack for an adventure on the Tyrrhenian coast, where you can enjoy great food, music, and art while exploring the cultural sights of Palermo with some of our best travel tips.
The Italian city of Palermo, once called Panormus in Latin or Panormos in Greek, has a name derived from two words: "pan" which means all, and "hormos" meaning harbour. This can be interpreted as a wide bay as well as a well-protected bay. The Mediterranean environment in the late 8th century BC attracted Greek settlers to establish their colonies along the island's shores, naming it Sikelia, which is the ancient Greek name for the island of Sicily.
Over the centuries since Palermo's founding, the blending of various cultures—Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian, Roman, and Islamic—has created the cultural diversity we see today, along with its special tourist attractions and economic traits. This makes Palermo the main industrial and trading hub of Sicily, with important economic sectors like agriculture, trade, and tourism. The tourism sector, using smart service strategies, brings in many visitors every year.
Sicily with the capital Palermo is best explored on your own, but any useful information or travel tips are always helpful. For this purpose, we have selected a guide to Sicily that can help you best explore the island. We'll guide you through the island's best destinations, with practical tips on local life and insights on people, music, history, politics, scenery, and wildlife. You can read about the personal experience of our journalist Mateja Mazgan, who visited the island, in her travel article Travelling to Sicily. You'll find plenty of tips and impressions from your journey through this silent, mysterious place, as she described it herself. We also wanted to include some cultural highlights to help you better understand Sicily. So, we've chosen two museums where you can see ancient artefacts from Pompeii and Torre del Greco, along with a large collection of Greek and Carthaginian art, plus some nature exploration, including:
The most important and oldest museum in Sicily is the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas, along with a nature museum called RADICI – Piccolo Museo della Natura, which combines science, art, and ecology. Together, they give you a glimpse into the history and nature of the Italian island and beyond, with different exhibition spaces. You can explore the exhibits and cultures connected to Sicily at both museums.
Each city has its own characteristics and tourist attractions that are worth visiting. The same goes for Palermo, so we've picked some of the best tours to show you some of the most famous landmarks in the capital. A 40-minute guided tour of the Teatro Massimo opera house will take you through the foyer, auditorium, and other rooms, where you can see the stunning gold decorations, wooden features, and other elements made of velvet and glass. You can admire sculptures and candelabra decorated with bronze.
The other two must-see attractions are the Palazzo dei Normanni and the Cappella Palatina. The 9th-century palace was built during Islamic rule and was renovated in the 11th century by the North Germanic Normans. The chapel was built in 1140. Plan your quick getaway from Palermo with a tour of the nearby towns and visit the Norman cathedral in Montreal as well as the basilica in Cefalù. Enter the Mandralisco Museum and learn about the elements of Greek and Arabic ceramics.
A walking tour around the city will take you to the ancient Palermo Cathedral, the largest opera house in Italy, and the baroque Quattro Canti square, as well as to the bustling local markets like the Capo market. On the streets of Palermo, you'll see many tourist attractions and taste traditional street food. Travel from Palermo to Agrigento and visit the archaeological site of the Valley of the Temples, where you can see seven stunning Doric-style temples. With a guide, you'll go on a journey through "Ancient Greece" to the present day on the island, where you'll discover fascinating information about Sicily's culture and history.
You can also visit Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, and stop in the smaller, picturesque town of Taormina. Before heading to Palermo, explore the Greek-Roman theatre and the popular natural landmark of the Silvestri Craters on your own. Take your time to enjoy the unique views of the volcano and the bay in Taormina.
The sightseeing list with tours includes a trip to the medieval historic city of Erica and the most populous city of the Marsala region. On the tour to the two towns, don't miss out on the refreshing Sicilian dessert, granita, and a delicious lunch paired with tasting some local sweet wine. Make sure to book a bus to the protected natural area of Riserva dello Zingaro, where you can swim in the crystal-clear waters and enjoy the stunning paradise of one of Sicily's most beautiful spots.
Head over to the Egadi Islands, especially Favignana and Levanzo, where you can relax on the deck, take in the coastal views, and grab a delicious Italian meal. Use your time to swim in the sea as well. For your last activity, choose a paragliding flight with an instructor and soar over Palermo, San Vito lo Capo beach, and the Zingaro Nature Reserve. Experience the Sicilian sun and try to reach out and touch the deep blue sky.
Sicily has over 80 nature reserves. This includes six marine reserves with caves, like the Olio, Regina, Faro, Addaura, and Ficarella caves, which you can find underwater in the Zingaro Nature Reserve. The area around Palermo has great spots for outdoor activities. You can cycle, hike, and swim, and there are plenty of other ways to have fun on the water or up in the air.
The nature reserves near Palermo that make for great day trips are Capo Gallo, Monte Pellegrino, and Isola delle Femmine. The Mediterranean is really diverse, with its unique plants and animals, and the nature reserves and caves give you a fascinating look into the geological past, featuring fossil remains of both animals and plants. You can also observe birds and learn how they live in their natural environment, and learn different details about their habits and needs. Learn more about hawks, falcons, and owls while you're out on your trip, too.
Isola delle Femmine is a fantastic spot for birdwatching and enjoying natural sights, and it also has great waves for surfing. This nature reserve is one of the spots in Sicily that attracts recreational athletes and beginner surfers. Before visiting the island, make sure you check the weather forecast for twelve days or an hour in advance, including tides, sea waves and water temperature.
Beginner surfers have several different surf schools available where they can learn the basics of surfing and catch the island's waves. If you would like to explore other surfing beaches in Sicily along the Isola delle Femmine Nature Reserve, you can head to Le Capannine, Magaggiari, Playa Catania, Porto Empedocle, San Leone and Syracuse. The best time for surfing is from March to May and from September to December.
Still wondering why you should visit the capital of Sicily? There are so many great reasons, thanks to the vibrant and unique southern Italian culture on offer. Once an area where various groups formed criminal organisations in the 19th century, like the infamous secret society of "Cosa Nostra" or the Sicilian Mafia, it has now become a popular tourist destination for holidays. The nightlife scene is alive in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. For the party animals, we recommend checking out two nightclubs: Fabric Rise Up and I Candelai Club, where the music will get you dancing and ready to hit the dance floor!
A good party eventually comes to an end, but after a night of fun, the day is just getting started. It's best to refuel and kick off your day with a traditional Sicilian orange salad, so you can taste the culinary delights of Sicily. Stay true to your style and keep exploring the flavours of Palermo!
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