Palermo in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Palermo is the capital of the island of Sicily and within the Italian territory is the most populated city in the south of the country. For centuries it has been a cultural capital for the whole region and today it is a metropolis that combines tradition and history with a lot of tourism and modernity. Exactly for this reason the best things to do in Palermo have to do with touring the great urban and architectural treasures of the city.

Below, I have planned an itinerary that will keep you busy over two days in a short visit to the city of Palermo. This is enough time for you to get a sense of the beauty that characterizes this place and has made it one of the most interesting destinations to visit in all of Italy as well as the entire European Mediterranean.

For the first day of your visit I have organized a couple of activities that are a must for a tourist in Palermo. The city has several dozen historical buildings of great importance that can be compared to the monuments of Rome or the picturesque buildings of Venice.

The tour I propose is one that will allow you to keep you entertained while also having the opportunity to get to know these sites so important to Sicilian culture and history. These are undoubtedly unforgettable places that will mark some of the best memories of your visit to this beautiful island.

Take a short tour of the Norman Palace and its chapel after breakfast

Knowing the biggest attraction of the city is ideal to start the first day of your visit in Palermo and in this case it is the Norman Palace with its respective chapel. The building is a great construction that for many is the maximum representation of the Arab-Norman-Byzantine style that dominated the architecture of Sicily for several centuries.

It was once the private residence of the Kings of Sicily as well as the Sicilian parliament. In fact the building is considered the oldest royal residence in all of Europe and the chapel inside, known as the Palatine Chapel, is a true jewel of the city in its own right. In fact both sites are Unesco World Heritage Sites.

Especially because you will have the opportunity to experience the different types of breakfasts that the locals usually enjoy on a daily basis.

Keep in mind that this is one of the best things to do with kids in Palermo, as it is a quiet and entertaining activity. The best thing about it is that you can complement it with a street food tour in case you had breakfast at the hotel, but still have an appetite for the authentic Sicilian food that you missed in your hotel breakfast. This knowing that the surrounding area is part of this type of gastronomic tours that can be a good workout to calm mid-morning cravings.

Continue the day with a tour of the best markets in the city

When the street food tour is over you will still have the rest of the morning to continue participating in other of Palermo's best gastronomic tours. So if the samples and tastings you enjoyed in the previous activity were not enough, a tour of some of the best markets in the city is an excellent idea.

And you have to keep in mind that Palermo is a very important city for the fishing industry as well as for the production of some typical Italian foods such as olive oil.

Of these markets you have to know that many are located in the city center and among them stand out the Vucciria, the Capo and Ballarò. Exactly for that reason visiting them after the street food tour is a good decision, since you will stay in the same area that you will continue touring for the other activities of the day.

All these markets are characterized by a strong resemblance to the souks of Arab cities, which is logical because this is a city that received Byzantine influences for many centuries of history.

It is important that you also take this opportunity to do some shopping for Sicilian handicrafts and culinary products, as these places offer the best prices as well as the best quality items in the wide range of local offerings.

Be sure to visit the Co-cathedral and the Cathedral of Palermo.

The Cathedral of Pal ermo can be considered the most important architectural attraction of the whole city and understandably so, since it is an imposing building that stands out among the panorama of a city that by itself has quite an interesting identity.

At the same time, a couple of streets away is the Co-cathedral of Santa Maria dell'Almirante which is characterized by its vaulted structure, a baroque remodeling and is also well known for its Byzantine mosaics.

Both constructions are the most outstanding in a city that is full of impressive churches that deserve to be visited. However, in the short time you have available these two places cannot be missing in your tourist itinerary. The surroundings of both sites are full of restaurants and therefore can be an excellent choice for lunch.

Both places are always part of the best tours of Palermo for the historical and cultural importance they have for the city. You should also know that they are among the best things to do in Palermo at Christmas because both places have a very festive atmosphere during these special dates for Catholicism.

Continue through the center to visit Quattro Canti and the Pretoria Fountain

In the same street where the Co-cathedral of Palermo is located is Quattro Canti, one of the greatest treasures of this town. It is a public square with an octagonal shape with baroque style buildings and at the same time four fountains crowned with ornate statues that end up creating a totally iconic scene.

On each corner there is a statue of four kings of the kingdom of Sicily as well as four statues in honor of the four seasons and everything ends with other statues alluding to four saints of Catholicism. The area around this intersection of streets is lined with stores and commercial establishments and less than 100 meters away is the famous Pretoria fountain.

This is a picturesque construction that is known locally as the fountain of shame and may have to do with the fact that at the time the nude statues caused a stir within the Sicilian community. It may also be because it is a popular nickname that served as a constant attack to denounce the corruption of the city council.

Go to the Catacombs of the Capuchins

Just outside the historic center of Palermo there are also attractions just as important and worth visiting and one of these happens to be the Catacombs of the Capuchins. Basically, this is the cemetery that was created for the convent of the Capuchin friars and by visiting it you will have the opportunity to walk among tombs and perfectly preserved remains of the bodies of this Catholic congregation.

You have to know that it is quite an interesting experience and for some it can be a bit claustrophobic. It can also affect sensitivity depending on how people handle the prospect of touring a cemetery with exposed skeletons.

Anyway you have to know that this is one of the best museums in Palermo and at the same time it is a good opportunity to visit the Zisa district which is the epicenter of Byzantine culture within the Sicilian capital.

End the day by visiting the Teatro Massimo

By the time you have finished touring the Capuchin catacombs you will probably be close to sunset, but you will still have the rest of the evening to participate in other activities if you still have energy left. So my last recommendation for the first day of your visit to Palermo is to take a cab and head to the Teatro Massimo, which is one of the largest theaters in Europe

It is actually the temple of lyrical music in Sicily and is the most important building dedicated to culture in the whole city, while it also holds the title of the largest closed auditorium in Italy. You should know that in the surrounding area you will also find a significant variety of restaurants dedicated to both Sicilian and international cuisine and therefore you could have dinner after this visit.

This area of downtown Palermo is part of the route used by Palermo's Hop On Hop Off buses. They are an excellent transportation alternative for those who wish to have the possibility of an audio guide that tells the history of some of the most important streets of the city.

On the second day of your visit to Palermo there will still be a lot of places of interest to visit to have a farewell to this town in style.

Especially because it is one of the most interesting tourist destinations in Italy and, despite having only 48 hours at your disposal, you will make proper use of the time and get to know some corners that some Sicilians have not yet had the opportunity to know.

So I invite you to continue reading this compilation of plans that will allow you to affirm that you know Palermo in its greatest splendor.

Breakfast in the surroundings of the Giardino Garibaldi

The Giardino Garibaldi is a public park located a couple of meters from the port of Palermo. In turn, many locals define it as the best public park in the whole city. This is because it is presented as a green oasis in the middle of a metropolis full of large palaces and buildings that some would define as decadent.

The surroundings of this public garden are full of restaurants and therefore it is a good opportunity for you to sit down and enjoy a Sicilian breakfast accompanied by a good Italian espresso.

You should also know that this is one of the best things to do in Palermo in September due to the fact that the tourist crowds are low enough for you to enjoy the garden at your leisure and at your own pace.

Take the opportunity to walk around the Porto di Palermo

The fact that you are in the vicinity of the Giardino Garibaldi makes a tour of the Porto di Palermo an excellent idea. This is a commercial port that is set up for sailboats and yachts right in the historic center of the city. It has nothing to do with the cruise terminal of the city which is definitely not a tourist area and not worth visiting.

In this area you can take the opportunity to visit the Castello a Mare or visit the Porta Felice, which is an ornamental construction very close to the Palazzo Butera that offers one of the best views of the port and at the same time is a real architectural jewel of Palermo. The Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino is also located in this area of the city and is dedicated to telling the story of how puppets are made.

Take part in a Sicilian cooking class

After you have toured one of Italy's most beautiful ports you could participate in a Sicilian cooking class. This would be an excellent use of your time learning a skill that will last for the rest of your life and will help you remember this trip through your palate.

Most of these classes are organized by local chefs who seek to pass on their knowledge of Sicily' s culinary history to those who wish to participate in this type of event. They are intended for very limited groups of people and conveniently many of these establishments are located in the historic center of Palermo. Which means you won't have to walk far for the reservation you make after you've been to the city's port.

In turn, this is one of the best things to do in Palermo in January or February for the fact that only an entertaining activity that will help you escape a bit of the cold that can be felt in this city during the winter.

Continue the day with a short trip to Mondello

When you have finished your cooking class you will have the rest of the afternoon to explore Palermo and so one of the best things to do is to go to Mondello. This place is a famous seaside neighborhood located less than 20 minutes away from the center of Palermo and stands out for the tranquility of its streets, as well as for the excellent beaches that are located throughout the town.

The site also has the natural park Capo Gallo which is an excellent alternative for hiking tours for true lovers of hiking. I recommend you bet on this idea knowing that a visit to Mondello is one of the best excursions from Palermo and perfectly is something you can complete in less than five hours on the second day of your visit to the Sicilian capital.

Don't forget to arrange a safe transfer to the airport

Finally, there is the recommendation that you don't forget to plan a safe and timely transfer to Palermo airport, as it is located a couple of kilometers from the city. Therefore, transfers to Palermo airport from your accommodation can be the most comfortable and favorable option to keep you calm knowing that you will not miss your flight.

Clearly, a cab could be a good alternative, but it all depends on the area where you are staying to know how expensive this service can be. At least relative to a private transfer that you book in advance and that takes place in a first class vehicle.