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 Palazzo dei Normanni and also the best of Sicilian gastronomy, but also a lot of plans that are activated during the Christmas eve.

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

Palermo is famous not only for its architecture and its contribution to the artistic developments of Sicily, but also for its flea markets, especially the four main ones, which are located in the four most famous quarters 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 activity for locals all year round, but on Christmas Eve they go there to fulfil the Italian folklore of buying a souvenir to decorate the tree or to give as a gift before Christmas Eve, so the main stalls at these markets are for decorations and Christmas gifts.

In these markets you can also buy Christmas sweets, typical food, the famous panettone and also some of the products offered all year round, ranging from fruit and vegetables to antiques.

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

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

Some of the city's most distinguished restaurants can be found along Vittorio Emanuele Avenue and many of them are often included in the best food tours of Palermo, but some of the most recommended are Cagliostro, MEC and Asmundo Bistro, which stands out for its menu of typically Sicilian dishes.

Keep in mind that in many cases restaurants are by reservation only on Christmas Eve, so it is advisable to contact each restaurant in advance to secure your place for 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 theatre 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 to the left of the stairs, where locals often take pictures and use it to leave their Christmas letters. Access to the theatre decorations is free and visiting the theatre 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.

Interesting details

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

The Sicilian Symphony Orchestra gives concerts throughout the year at the Politeama Theatre in the centre of Palermo, and during Christmas it offers special themed shows featuring the best Sicilian musicians and choristers, which are available at a discounted ticket price.

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 in 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 things to do in Palermo in winter and it is also one of the most interesting for visitors, as you will get to see the inside of the Politeama Theatre, which is one of the most traditional in a city that is very involved in artistic movements.

Interesting details

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

Among the best excursions from Palermo, one of the best is to visit the medieval village of Erice, which is located one hour away from the Sicilian capital and during Christmas time it 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 you can also enjoy gospel concerts, experience the Christmas spirit with the nativity scenes at the entrance of the market and also the carol street shows that take place in every corner of the city, as Erice is completely transformed during Christmas Eve.

The main spectacle of the Christmas market takes place on the 24th of December each year but you can enjoy the Christmas spirit of Erice all month long 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 kilometres from the centre of Palermo, is one of the main tourist sites of the Sicilian capital and also one of the epicentres of 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 24th and last through the early hours of the morning. There is music, food and drink stalls and a street party that lights up the sky with fire works. Some people also choose to celebrate by taking a bath, despite the often chilly weather conditions, although this is a more typical New Year's Eve custom.

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

Interesting details

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

Palermo Cathedral, with its combination of Norman and Romanesque architectural styles, is one of the most visited and most famous buildings in the city, and every December 24th it opens its doors for Christmas Eve mass, which is one of the most popular masses 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 experience it locally, 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 little shorter than the traditional ceremonies, but it is a typical activity for Sicilians in the run-up to the Christmas celebrations.

Interesting details

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

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

At this festival you can try different interpretations of panettone, which originates from Milan but varies according to each region of Italy. The fair also includes Christmas sweets stalls, so it is also an ideal alternative if you are planning 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 tours, so you can make the most of your visit to the town from Palermo.

Interesting details

• Price... Entrance to the festival has an initial cost of approximately 8 euros.
• Location... Cefalù, Sicily.
• How to get there... By car or private shuttle bus.

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

These cribs are considered to be one of the largest living nativity scenes in the world, sometimes consisting of more than 160 people, in a unique spectacle typical of this Sicilian town. If you visit Custonaci on the 24th of December, 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 site of 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 usually includes concerts and games for children at each performance.

Interesting details

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

Taormina, at the foot of the Etna volcano, is one of Sicily's historic cities and at Christmas time it is a highlight of the island 's Christmas lights and decorations of its buildings and public spaces, making it one of the island's main attractions on 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 flavours 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 your visit.

Since the Christmas light shows are only really at their best at night, if you decide to visit Taormina during the Christmas daytime you can visit the Greek Theatre, the Palazzo Corvaja and Villa Mons Pons, a neighbourhood built on high ground that is also characterised by lights and decorations, including a giant Christmas tree, and colourful 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 bus.