10 Things to do in Palermo at Christmas

Palermo has to offer its different architectural styles, excursions around the city to see the emblematic buildings such as the Cathedral and the Norman Palace and also the best of Sicilian gastronomy, but also a lot of plans that are activated during the Christmas eve.

Among the best things to see and do in Palermo at Christmas are discovering the decorations of the Teatro Massimo, which is one of the main buildings of the city, enjoying a symphonic show at the Teatro Politeama, experiencing the Christmas Eve festivities at Mondello Beach or attending the Christmas events in Erice, Custonaci or Cefalù, on the outskirts of the city.

Palermo is famous, besides for its architecture and its contribution to the artistic developments of Sicily, for the flea markets, especially for the four main ones, which are located in the four most famous neighborhoods of the island's capital. The markets of Capo, Vucciria, Ballaro and the flea market are traditional areas of the city that become themed at Christmas.

Visiting these markets is a common and ordinary activity for locals throughout the year, but on Christmas eve they come to them to comply with Italian folklore which is to buy a souvenir to decorate the tree or to give as a gift before Christmas Eve, so the main stalls of these markets are for decorations and Christmas gifts.

In these markets you can also buy Christmas sweets, typical foods, the famous panettone and also some of the products they offer all year round, ranging from fruits and vegetables to antiques.

The best tours of Palermo include a stroll through the markets as it is there, especially during the night, that the city's festivities take place and at Christmas time you can also attend street concerts of Christmas carols and performances by local artists.

Via Vittorio Emanuele is one of Palermo's main thoroughfares and during Christmas Eve it lights up to welcome, with its decorations and lights, diners to the restaurants along the avenue, which serve special menus of delicious Sicilian cuisine. This is one of the city's traditional Christmas activities and is ideal for visitors.

On Vittorio Emanuele Avenue are some of the most distinguished restaurants in the city and many of them are often included in the best gastronomic tours of Palermo, but some of the most recommended are Cagliostro, MEC and Asmundo Bistro, which stands out for its menu of typical Sicilian dishes.

Keep in mind that in many cases the restaurants only operate by reservation during Christmas Eve, so I advise you to contact each venue in advance to ensure your place during Christmas dinner.

The Teatro Massimo, located in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, which is the main square of Palermo, is the largest opera house in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, and also one of the main buildings of the city, especially since the final scenes of The Godfather trilogy were filmed on its steps. During Christmas, the front of the theater is decorated with Christmas lights, making it one of Palermo's spectacles.

In addition, every year a giant Christmas tree is installed in the gardens located to the left of the stairs, where locals often take pictures and use it to leave their Christmas letters. You can access the theater decorations for free and visiting the theater is an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Palermo with children.

Christmas decorations are usually installed at the Teatro Massimo from the first days of December until Epiphany and the light show takes place every night.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to see the Christmas decorations is free.
• Location... Piazza Giuseppe Verdi, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines N1, N2 and N5 and the hop on-hop off tourist bus of the city.

The Sicilian Symphony Orchestra gives its concerts throughout the year at the Politeama Theater in downtown Palermo, and during Christmas it offers special themed shows featuring the best Sicilian musicians and choristers, which you can access with discounted tickets.

These shows take place during December and the week before Christmas Eve usually includes an extended schedule. In addition, during Christmas Eve the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra also often performs at the Cathedral of Monreale, just outside Palermo, and in other Sicilian cities.

Attending the concerts of the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra is one of the best activities you can do in Palermo in winter and it is also one of the most interesting for visitors, as you will be able to see inside the Politeama Theater, which is one of the most traditional in a city very involved in artistic movements.

Interesting details

• Price... Tickets for the Christmas performances of the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra have an initial cost of approximately 25 euros per person.
• Location... Via Filippo Turati 2, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines N2, N5 and N7 and the hop on-hop off tourist bus of the city.

Among the best excursions from Palermo, one of the main ones is to visit the medieval village of Erice, which is located an hour away from the Sicilian capital and that during Christmas becomes the protagonist with its themed market, which is open from the first days of December until the first days of January.

In this market you can buy souvenirs and Christmas sweets, but also enjoy gospel concerts, live the spirit of Christmas with the cribs that are located at the entrance of the market and also the carol street performances that take place in every corner of the city, as Erice is completely transformed during the Christmas Eve.

The main spectacle of the Christmas market takes place during December 24 each year although you can enjoy the Christmas spirit of Erice throughout the month in a place that is ideal for trips with family or children.

Interesting details

• Price... Admission to the market is free.
• Location... Erice, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private transport buses.

Mondello Beach, located 10 kilometers from the center of Palermo, is one of the main tourist sites of the Sicilian capital and also one of the epicenters of the local festivities. This paradisiacal beach of white sands and crystalline waters becomes the protagonist in December, because it is the place where Palermitans celebrate Christmas and also welcome the New Year.

At Modello, the festivities begin at midnight every December 24 and last through the early hours of the morning. There is music, food and drink stands and a street party that lights up the sky with fire works. Some people also choose to celebrate by taking a bath, despite the weather conditions, which are usually cold, although that is a more typical New Year's Eve custom.

Keep in mind that Mondello is located on the outskirts of the city and that during Christmas Eve public transport services andPalermo's hop-on-hop-off tourist buses are usually interrupted, so if your accommodation is not located in the beach area you will have to use private transport.

Details of interest

• Price... Entrance to the beach is free.
• Location... Mondello, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines N1, N2 and N5.

The Cathedral of Pal ermo, with its combination of Norman and Romanesque architectural styles, is one of the most visited and most famous buildings in the city, and during every December 24 it opens its doors for the Christmas Eve mass, which is one of the most popular of the year, as the Sicilian capital has a large number of Catholic believers.

If you are interested in being part of an event that is typical of Palermitans and want to live a local experience, you can attend the celebration of the mass in the Cathedral, which is usually full and keeps its doors open so that also those who ran out of space inside can attend the ceremony.

The Christmas Eve mass in Palermo is usually a bit shorter than the traditional ceremonies, but it is a typical activity for Sicilians in the run-up to the Christmas celebrations.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the Cathedral is free.
• Location... Via Vittorio Emanuele, Palermo.
• How to get there... By bus lines N5 and N7 and the hop on-hop off tourist bus of the city.

Cefalù, located a 30-minute drive from Palermo, is another traditional town you can tour outside the Sicilian capital and in December there is a pastry festival dedicated to panettone, which is a type of Italian-style sweet bread and fruit cake, which is also the typical local sweet.

At this festival you will be able to taste different interpretations of panettone, which is originally from Milan but varies according to each region of Italy. The fair also includes Christmas candy stands, so it is also an ideal alternative if you plan to visit Palermo with children.

At the festival you can do tastings, buy local food, learn the secrets of the confectioners and also learn about the history of one of Italy's typical products, which is most often consumed on Christmas Eve but is available all year round.

In Cefalù you can also take one of the best mafia excursions, so you can make the most of your visit to the town from Palermo.

Details of interest

• Price... The entrance to the festival has an approximate initial cost of 8 euros.
• Location... Cefalù, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private shuttle buses.

If you plan to visit Palermo during Christmas or winter you cannot miss a visit to the small village of Custonaci, which is located at the foot of the Monte Cofano Natural Reserve, one of the largest in Sicily, and which stands out for its living nativity scenes, which are held on various dates in December in the area of the natural grottoes.

These nativity scenes are considered one of the largest living nativity scenes in the world, as they sometimes consist of more than 160 people, in a unique and typical spectacle of this Sicilian town. If you visit Custonaci on December 24, you can also attend the most famous living nativity scene, which is usually and traditionally attended by the mayor of Palermo.

Although it is one of the most popular Christmas events in Sicily, it is not necessary to book in advance, as the Mangiapane Grottoes, where the living nativity scene takes place, is very large and the stage can be seen from different sectors. In addition, the event also usually includes concerts and games for children in each of the presentations of the show.

Details of interest

• Price... Admission to the shows has an initial cost of approximately 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for children under 12 years old.
• Location... Custonaci, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private shuttle buses.

Taormina, at the foot of the Etna volcano, is one of the historic cities of Sicily and during Christmas time it stands out for the Christmas lights and for the decorations of its buildings and public spaces, making it one of the great attractions of the island during Christmas Eve. You can reach Taormina from Palermo on a day trip.

In Taormina, you can also have lunch or dinner in a traditional Sicilian restaurant that during Christmas time will offer you a Christmas menu, with typical flavors of the east coast of Sicily, which has landscapes and customs very different from those of Palermo, so you can make the most of your visit by living very interesting experiences during the visit.

Since the Christmas light shows are highlighted only at night, if you decide to visit Taormina during Christmas in the day you can visit the Greek Theater, the Palazzo Corvaja and Villa Mons Pons, a neighborhood built in height that is also characterized by lights and decorations, including a giant Christmas tree, and colorful houses.

Interesting details

• Price... You can see the Christmas decorations and lights for free.
• Location... Taormina, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private shuttle buses.