Palermo Airport Transfers

Palermo is a city as chaotic as it is charming, but if one thing is certain is that if you choose it as your next destination you won't be short of interesting things to see and do. Palermo captivates everyone who visits it with its overwhelming personality. Therefore, to make your trip as easy as possible, I will tell you all the options to get from the airport to the city center.

Palermo Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO) is located northwest of the island of Sicily, just over 30 km from Palermo. That is, about 35 minutes by car from its historic center. Below, I will show you all the options to make your arrival as fast and comfortable as possible.

If you consider that the most important thing when traveling is comfort, this is undoubtedly the most recommended option for you. If you decide to opt for this transportation, you will not have to worry about carrying heavy luggage, delays in your flight or finding your way to your hotel, since the private transfer service is the most complete and easy to use among the available options.

In addition, booking a private transfer is the fastest alternative, because unlike the train or bus, the route is direct and you will not waste time making unnecessary stops.

This option is also recommended if you are traveling to Palermo with children, as it is inevitable that in that case you will carry more luggage and it will save the little ones from the tiredness and waiting that comes with the option of public transport.

How it works

If you decide to hire a private transfer, the first thing to do is to book it in advance. The easiest and fastest way to do this is online. When booking, you will be asked to provide your flight and accommodation information so that the driver will have everything ready for your arrival.

Once you land, the chauffeur will be waiting for you at the corresponding terminal and will drive you to your hotel in the shortest time possible. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, you will only have to contact the company by phone, email or their website.

Private transfer back to the airport

Another advantage of this option is that you can also hire it for your return trip. That is, you can hire this same service to make the way from Palermo to the airport on the day of your departure.

You will only have to provide your flight details and the address of your accommodation for the driver to pick you up at the hotel door.

Advantages of this option

• You will not have to find your way around the airport, as the driver will be waiting for you at the exit.
• You will be taken to the door of your hotel, so you will not have to walk or take other transportation in Palermo.
• If your flight is delayed, the chauffeur will wait for you for a set time.
• All vehicles comply with the necessary hygiene and safety measures.
• No matter what time your flight arrives, there are services of this type that operate 24 hours a day.
• The trip will be faster than with other options.

Details of interest

• Duration of the trip: the duration of the trip will be about 30-40 minutes.
• Price: you can find this service from 50 € approximately.
• How to book this transport: the easiest way to book it is to do it online through the company's website.

Another alternative to get from the airport to Palermo is public transportation. If you choose this option, you can choose between two different means of transportation, the train and the bus. Both options are slower and somewhat less comfortable than a private transfer, however, you will save on costs, as these are the most economical ways to reach your destination.

The first option to get from the airport to Palermo by public transport is to do it on board the Trinacria Express, that is, the train that makes this route. In terms of price and duration it is quite similar to the bus. However, to take it you will not have to leave the airport, as the station has direct access from the terminal on Floor -1.

The train schedule can be found on the official website of Trenitalia and the frequency is a couple of trains per hour.

The approximateduration of the journey from the airport to the last stop, the Central Station of Palermo, is one hour. If your accommodation is in the northern area of Palermo, it is recommended that you get off at Notarbartolo Station, although it also makes other stops in the city center such as Lolli or Palazzo Reale-Orleans.

You can buy your ticket at the ticket office or the ticket machine at the station, or online in advance and the price is about 5.90 €.

Autolinee Prestia e Comandé is the company in charge of bus transfers between the airport and the city. The airport bus station is located next to the Palermo Airport terminal, as you exit on the right hand side.

The timetable for the first bus from the airport to Palermo is around 5:00 am, while the last bus of the day leaves around 00:30 am. For the return trip, the first bus from Palermo to the airport leaves at around 04:00 h and the last bus usually at 10:30 h. Buses depart with a frequency of 30 minutes.

The approximateduration of the entire route is 50 minutes and reaches the Central Station of Palermo, making several stops in other central areas of the city such as:

• Via Belgio
• Via Alcide de Gasperi 187
• Via Croce Rossa 125
• Via Libertà 203
• Via Libertà 171
• Via Libertà 95
• Teatro Politeama
• Via Emerico Amari 5 (Porto)

You can buy your ticket on the bus itself or at the transport counter inside the airport. However, the safest way to purchase your ticket is online, as you will not run the risk of the bus being full at the time of your arrival. The price of the ticket is about 6 € one way or 11 € if you buy round trip.

If your flight schedule does not coincide with the train or bus, you are carrying heavy luggage or you simply prefer to travel more comfortably and you have not booked a private transfer in advance, you will always have the option of taking a cab from the cab rank in front of the airport terminal.

The approximate price of a cab from the airport to the center of Palermo is about 50 €. However, there is a cheaper option, and that is to take a shared cab with other travelers in the parking spaces located to the right of the official cab rank.

If in the course of your vacation you plan to visit other areas of the country, renting a car at your arrival can be the perfect solution to move around with the greatest comfort.

In this means of transport the journey from the airport to the city center will take only about 30 minutes and you will have the advantage of being able to visit the rest of Sicily with total freedom.

You can rent a car at the airport itself, at the counters located in the arrivals area, and you can find the cars of the different companies a few meters away in the parking lot in front of the terminal.

However, it is recommended that you research the different companies in advance to get the best prices, or even book online before your arrival.

Some of the companies that offer car rental services are:

• Avis
• Sicily by car
• Maggiore
• Italy Car Rent
• Budget

Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO) is named after two famous Sicilian anti-mafia judges, as mafia crimes have unfortunately always been a problem in charming Palermo. You can even take mafia tours of the city, where an expert guide will escort you around the sights while telling you stories and anecdotes of the dreaded Sicilian mafia.

As for the size of the airport, it only has one terminal, so it is not difficult to find your way around. This terminal has four floors. On Floor -1 is the aforementioned train station, so to catch this means of transport you will not need to leave the airport. The first floor is used for arrivals.

On the second floor are the check-in counters and finally, on the second floor you will find the departures, as well as the commercial area, boarding gates and security control.

Below, I am going to share with you a series of tips to help you plan your visit to Palermo so that you can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

When to travel to Palermo

If you are planning a getaway, one of the first decisions you will need to make is when to travel. Palermo enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate, with fairly hot summers and mild winters.

Taking this into account and from a climatic point of view, the best time to enjoy the visit, especially if you want to enjoy the fantastic beaches of Sicily, would be the months of May, June and September, as you will not suffer too high temperatures, but the good weather is almost guaranteed.

If on the other hand we take into account the influx of tourists, the low season in Palermo are the months from November to March, which also makes it the most economical time to travel. However, the weather will be somewhat colder and you will not be able to enjoy the beaches. As for the high season, it takes place especially the months of July and August, causing flights and accommodations inevitably rise in price.

Therefore, we can say that the best balance between weather and budget is during the months of April, May, June and September, as temperatures will be pleasant and prices moderate. Keep in mind, however, that prices and tourist numbers will rise if you decide to travel during Easter.

How long does it take to visit Palermo?

Thanks to the fact that the main points of interest of the historic center of the city are within walking distance, it is possible to visit the most emblematic places of Palermo in a single day. However, in such a short period of time you won't be able to get to know the city in depth and take in all the sights that Palermo has to offer.

Considering its size and extensive historical heritage, it would be ideal to spend at least three days in Palermo, so you can discover the history of this magical place, taste its exquisite gastronomy and even if time permits, take a fantastic day trip to other parts of Sicily.

Where to stay in Palermo

Palermo is the largest city in Sicily, so staying close to the main points of interest will be much more convenient and faster when moving around the city. The best option is to stay in the historic center, as it will be an ideal starting point for your visits and to stay close to the restaurants, museums, nightclubs and stores.

However, the historic center of Palermo is somewhat different from other cities, as it is divided into several different areas. Some of the best areas to find accommodation are:

• La Kalsa: it is one of the best neighborhoods to stay in the center of Palermo both for its location and its charm. Besides being close to places of great tourist interest, it is also close to the port and in it you can find, among many other attractions, numerous churches to visit.

Another advantage of staying in this picturesque neighborhood is that there is a wide variety of hotels and its gastronomic offer is very varied, especially in Via Maqueda. It is the ideal place to appreciate the cultural mix that characterizes this fascinating city.

• Castellammare: this neighborhood is located next to Kalsa and is also close to the sea. This area of the city is striking for its lively life both during the day and at night.

Some of its main attractions are the Vucciria market, some of the most important museums and the Church of Santo Domenico. There is also a wide range of accommodation, as well as restaurants, stores and other places of interest.

• Albergheria: it is a university district, so it is less touristic than the previous ones and therefore more economical. It is located next to Palermo Central Station and in its southern part you can find interesting places such as the Norman Palace or the Ballarò Market.

Once you have decided the destination it is time to organize your trip, because Palermo has a lot to offer. One of the best options to explore the city in depth and not miss anything is to hire a tour of Palermo in which, with the help of an expert guide, you will get to know both the city and its interesting history.

Here are some articles to help you plan your visit to the charming Palermo:

• Best Palermo tours
• Sightseeing buses in Palermo
• Best gastronomic tours in Palermo