Search flights to Palermo

About Palermo

Palermo is a seaside and port city in the Sicily Island of Italy. It is the capital of the Sicily Island and the fifth largest city in Italy. The city is situated on the banks of the namesake Palermo Gulf on the northwestern side of the island. It is known that the Mafia spread from this city to the world, especially after the Second World War. The city, founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, was captured and administered by numerous civilizations and countries due to its convenient geographical and commercial location. Palermo was also the capital city of most of the states the ruled these territories. Following the Phoenicians, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Arabian Aglebi Dynasty, the Normandy Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sicily, and the Kingdom of Naples were the civilizations that left their mark on the history of the city. The most brilliant period of Palermo had been during the time of the Arabian Aglebi Dynasty and the Normandy Kingdom. The city's name is derived from the word 'Panormus' which means "the big port" in Latin.

In addition to tourism, shipbuilding, chemistry, pharmacy, textile, cement, furniture, beer, canning, and tobacco processing industries are developed sectors in Palermo. Shaped by a unique synthesis and mosaic of all the civilizations and cultures lived on it, Palermo is among the most popular cities of history, culture, and tourism in Europe and the world today. The city with such a great cultural heritage hosts the cultural festival ‘Kals’art’ held every year. Among the main sights in Palermo are the Palermo Cathedra, Palazzo dei Normanni, Monreal Cathedral, Theater Massimo, Santa Rosalia Church, Skeleton Museum, Garibaldi Theater, Fountain of Shame, Capuchin Monastery, Corso Vittorio Emanuele Street and the Four Seasons (Quattro Canti) Square. The temperate climate is effective in Palermo. Palermo Falcone-Borsellino International Airport is 35 kilometers away from the city center.

Transportation to Palermo City Center from Airport

Falcone Borsellino - Palermo - Punta Raisi  Airport

Palermo Airport, also known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport, is located 35 kilometers from the center of Palermo. Falcone-Borsellino Airport, which serves its passengers in Palermo, in Sicily, Italy's most popular island, is known as the busiest airport in the south of Italy at the same time.

It is possible to fly with a number of airlines such as Ryaniar, Air Italy, Air Berlin and easyJet from the airport which has four departments. At Palermo Airport, one of the busiest airports in Italy, you can find restaurants and cafés as well as ATMs where you can withdraw money. The airport also has two VIP passenger lounges, one belonging to Alitalia Airlines and the other belonging to other airline companies.

Elevators, toilets and other common areas are suitable for disabled people at the disabled friendly airport. Buses, taxis, rental cars and airport shuttles are available to reach the center of Palermo from the airport. Among these options, taxis are the most frequently preferred vehicle by tourists. The bus is waiting for its passengers as a more economical choice compared to the taxi in the city.

Another option in the city is car rental, which is a very handy way to evaluate for access to Palermo and its surroundings as well as other cities in Sicily. In the center of the city you can easily reach many places on foot or by bicycle.

Bus

Buses that serve between the airport and the city center are also known as The Prestia e Comande and are waiting for their passengers just outside the terminal building. For more detailed information about buses, you can also contact +39 0 915 804 57.

Buses departing from the center of Palermo, Piazza Castelnuovo and Central Station, continue to take their passengers from there to the airport. The first bus departing every half an hour from the airport is at 06:30. The first bus from the city center to the airport on the other hand is at 05:00. You need to pay an average of 7-8 euros for each passenger to the buses that would take you to the airport in an average of 40-50 minutes.

Buses are also available from the airport to destinations such as Agrigento and Trapani. However, the intervals for these routes are lower. You can make your payment in cash in the bus, but remember that you must have the euro for this. Payments with different currencies are generally not accepted in transport vehicles operating in the city.

Taxi

You can easily arrive in Palermo by taking a taxi from the Falcone-Borsellino Airport. Although the fare of the taxis that meet the passengers at the exit of the airport terminal is not very low, you may consider paying a little more due to the convenient transportation facilities the taxi offers. Moreover, the taxi drivers have a lot of knowledge about city center and the hotels. This is why you can easily find your hotel and other places to visit.

The journey from the airport to the center of Palermo by taxi takes an average of 45 minutes and at the end of this time the amount you need to pay is around 35 Euro. If you are traveling with your relatives, or if you share your taxi with other passengers coming from the airport to the city center, there is also a chance to decrease the amount you pay a bit more.

Car Rental

Palermo is also a great city to rent cars. As soon as you arrive at the airport, you can rent your car from companies that you will see at the terminal building such as AVIS, Europcar, Hertz and Autoeuropa. Renting a car in the city is also ideal for traveling around Palermo and other parts of Sicily. By booking online you can make use of advantageous prices and see your options easily.

Airport Shuttle

You can also use the airport shuttles, one of the most preferred options, to get to the center of Palermo from the airport. Airport shuttles are generally a bit more expensive compared to busses and even taxis, you can use these vehicles at lower fares in low seasons.  

Some hotels in Palermo can also arrange airport shuttle services for their guests free of charge. However, you must first obtain information and make a reservation if necessary. When you are ready for your trip, you can contact your hotel and, if they offer the service, you can reach the center of Palermo in about 40 minutes using these services provided by your hotel.

Luxurious Vehicles

Although not a preferred option in Palermo, you can also prefer luxurious vehicles to get to the city center from Palermo airport.  Please note that the cost of this service offered by some Palermo hostels and private companies is much more expensive than other options, although it varies according to the vehicle and the season.

If you would like to take advantage of luxury vehicles, which meet their passengers with a special driver usually, mostly preferred by couples coming for honeymoon, you can do a short search on the internet to get information about these vehicles.

Weather in Palermo

DayMin - Max
FridayMin 10ºC - Max 16ºC
SaturdayMin 11ºC - Max 15ºC
SundayMin 9ºC - Max 15ºC
MondayMin 9ºC - Max 15ºC
TuesdayMin 8ºC - Max 11ºC

Frequently Asked Questions

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