Royal Palace & Palatine Chapel
The Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel was one of our first stops in Palermo Sicily – and for good reason! Construction of this chapel began around 792 and is one of the only remaining components left of Charlemagne’s Palace of Aachen. It’s most notable for the millions of small tiles to depict the artwork in Byzantine and classical style. You could truly spend hours alone admiring the tile-work in here.
It’s recommended to pre-book your tickets online, though we were easily able to purchase ours at the kiosk outside. There are other components to see while here, but we found the Chapel to be the best part of our visit.
- Cost: 19€
- More Information: Palatine Chapel
- Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Teatro Massimo
While we didn’t have time to go inside, we walked passed Palermo’s Opera Theater many times during our stay here. The outside is lovely, but the inside is even more beautiful so if you have the ability to visit – do it! You have two options – a 30 minute guided tour or by booking tickets to the Opera. Be sure to check the website as sometimes the theater is closed for tours due to set work for an upcoming show.
- Cost: 10€
- More Information: Teatro Massimo Guided Tour
- Time Needed: 30 minutes
Piazza Pretoria
Piazza Pretoria is at the heart of downtown Palermo and difficult to miss while exploring the city. It’s a great place to admire the architecture or sit on the steps and enjoy a snack. To give context on how beautiful it is, we saw multiple weddings taking photos in this area in the 3 days we were in Palermo.
- Cost: Free
- Time Needed: 15 minutes
Cooking Class
One of the highlights of our stay in Palermo Sicily was doing a Cooking Class with the Sicilian Pantry. The owner, Michael, is a professionally trained chef who guides a small group on a market tour where we gather ingredients before going back to his kitchen to prepare a 4-course Sicilian meal. The class lasts about 4 hours and the menu changes depending on the season and what’s fresh at the market. The best part about the class is sitting down to enjoy all the delicious things you prepared over a glass of wine! To read our review of this cooking class, check out our previous post: Cooking Class in Palermo, Sicily.
- Cost: 79€
- Book Class: Sicilian Pantry Cooking Class
- Time Needed: 4 hours
Palermo Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral is an iconic landmark in the city. It’s free to go inside, but you can pay to visit the terraces, crypts & treasury if you want to enhance your experience. There is no need to book those tickets in advance, as it’s quite easy to purchase on-site and determine what you’d like to do/see while there.
We highly recommend purchasing tickets to visit the terraces for amazing views of Palermo. As someone who is afraid of heights, I didn’t find this to be challenging since I felt very secure while walking across the roof.
- Cost: 7-12€ (depending on ticket type)
- Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Secret of the Cloisters
One of the best kept secrets in Palermo Sicily (that I’m here to eagerly reveal to you) is Secret of the Cloisters. You’ve probably heard of a Cannoli before – but did you know that Palermo is home to the first cannoli? This hidden bakery is working to enhance the ancient traditions of the convent that was said to invent the cannoli. While it’s no longer run by nuns, they follow the same recipes for various pastries to make it feel like what it would have been in the past, when the monastery sold them. Once you make the incredibly difficult decision on what to order, you can enjoy your sweets in a quiet courtyard.
- Cost: €2-€5 (depending on pastry purchased)
- More Information: Secrets of the Cloisters
- Time Needed: 30 minutes
Day trip to Cefalù
Cefalù is a charming village along Sicily’s Northern coast and is the perfect day trip from Palermo. There is a lovely beach, beautiful Cathedral and plenty of options to grab a bite to eat and sit outside! You can easily get there by train in an hour and the trains run frequently. If you’re not comfortable using public transportation, you can also book a guided tour* there that includes transportation from Palermo. To learn more about what you can do and see in Cefalú, check out our post: A day in Cefalù, Sicily
- Cost: €15-€20 (R/T train) / $65 for tour
- Book Tour: Cefalú Half Day Trip*
- Time Needed: Half Day
Day trip to Valley of the Temples
Accessible via train or tour, Valley of the Temples is a great day trip alternative for anyone who won’t be visiting Southern Sicily but doesn’t want to miss out on these incredible ruins. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of the most well preserved Greek ruins in the world, and gives us a glimpse into what life was like in Ancient Sicily. For more information about why you will want to add this incredible place to your Sicily travel list, check out our previous post: A Day in Valley of the Temples Sicily.
- Cost: ~$80 (Tour) / €20-€30 (Train) + €12 entrance fee
- Book Tour: Valley of the Temples Day Trip from Palermo*
- Time Needed: All Day
Palermo’s proximity to an International airport made it the perfect jumping off point to kickstart our Summer adventure in Sicily. It was almost 100 degrees every day we were there, but despite the heat we found ways to enjoy all Palermo, Sicily had to offer!
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