Transfers to/from Palermo

Palermo is a city as chaotic as it is charming, but 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 with its overwhelming personality. So, to make your trip as easy as possible, I'm going to tell you about all the options for getting from the airport to the city centre.

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

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

Furthermore, booking a private transfer is the fastest alternative, as unlike the train or bus, the journey is direct and you will not waste time making unnecessary stops.

This option is also recommended if you are travelling to Palermo with children, as you will inevitably have to carry more luggage and it will save your little ones from the tiredness and waiting time associated with 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 quickest 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 terminal and will drive you to your hotel in the shortest possible time. If any unforeseen circumstances arise, just 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 journey. In other words, you can hire this same service to make the journey from Palermo to the airport on the day of your departure.

All you have to do is provide your flight details and the address of your accommodation and the driver will pick you up at the door of your hotel.

Advantages of this option

• You won't 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 transport 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.
• It does not matter when your flight arrives, as there are services of this type that operate 24 hours a day.
• The journey will be faster than with the other options.

Details of interest

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

Another alternative for getting from the airport to Palermo is public transport. If you choose this option, you can choose between two different means of transport, 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 cheapest ways to get to your destination.

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

The traintimetable can be consulted on the official Trenitalia website and the frequency is a couple of trains per hour.

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

You can buy your ticket from the ticket office or ticket machine at the station, or online in advance and the price is around €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 first bus from the airport to Palermo is at around 5:00 am, while the last bus of the day leaves at around 00:30 am. For the return journey, the first bus from Palermo to the airport leaves at around 04:00 h and the last bus of the day usually at 10:30 h. The buses leave at a frequency of about 30 minutes. Buses leave every 30 minutes.

The entire route takes approximately 50 minutes and goes to Palermo Central Station, 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 desk inside the airport. However, the safest way to buy your ticket is online, as you will not run the risk of the bus being full when you arrive. Tickets cost around €6 one way or €11 if you buy a return ticket.

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

The approximate cost of a taxi from the airport to the centre of Palermo is around €50. However, there is a cheaper option, and that is to take a shared taxi with other travellers in the parking spaces to the right of the official taxi rank.

If you plan to visit other parts of the country during your holiday, hiring a car on arrival may be the perfect way to get around in comfort.

With this means of transport the journey from the airport to the city centre will only take 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 in the arrivals area, and you can find the cars of the different companies just a few metres away in the car park in front of the terminal.

However, it is advisable to research the different companies in advance to get the best prices, or even book online before you arrive.

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 crime has unfortunately always been a problem in charming Palermo. You can even take mafia tours of the city, where an expert guide will take you around the sights while telling stories and anecdotes of the dreaded Sicilian mafia.

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

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

Here are some tips to help you plan your visit to Palermo so that you can make the most of the experience.

When to travel to Palermo

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

With this in mind and from a climatic point of view, the best time to visit, especially if you want to enjoy the fantastic beaches of Sicily, would be the months of May, June and September, as you won't experience too high temperatures, but good weather is almost guaranteed.

If we take into account the influx of tourists, the low season in Palermo is the months of November to March, which also makes it the most economical time to travel. However, the weather will be somewhat cooler and you won't be able to enjoy the beaches. As for the high season, it is especially in July and August, making flights and accommodation inevitably more expensive.

Therefore, the best balance between climate and budget is in April, May, June and September, when temperatures will be pleasant and prices moderate. However, bear in mind 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 sights of the historic city centre are within walking distance, it is possible to visit the most emblematic places in Pal ermo in a single day. However, in such a short period of time you will not be able to get to know the city in depth and see all the sights that Palermo has to offer.

Considering its size and vast historical heritage, you should ideally spend at least three days in Palermo, so that 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 attractions will make getting around the city much quicker and more convenient. The best option is to stay in the historic centre, as it will be an ideal starting point both for sightseeing and for staying close to the restaurants, museums, nightclubs and shops.

However, Palermo's historic centre 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: this is one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in the centre 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 you will find, among many other attractions, numerous churches to visit.

Another of the advantages of staying in this picturesque neighbourhood 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 characterises this fascinating city.

• Castellammare: this neighbourhood 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 or the Church of Santo Domenico. There is also a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, shops and other places of interest.

• Albergheria: it is a university district, so it is less touristic than the previous ones and therefore cheaper. 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 on your destination it is time to organise your trip, as Palermo has a lot to offer. One of the best options to explore the city in depth and not miss anything is to book a tour of Palermo where, 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 charming Palermo:

• Best Palermo Tours
• Sightseeing buses in Palermo
• Best food tours in Palermo