Palermo deserves at least two or three days, but it is also a great base for exploring the surroundings. In under an hour and a half you can reach Norman cathedrals, white-sand beaches, baroque villas, a Greek temple and the wine hills. Here are the day trips we recommend, from the closest to the furthest.
Monreale: mosaics above the city
A few kilometres from Palermo, on the hill overlooking the Conca d’Oro, Monreale holds one of the masterpieces of Norman art: the cathedral, its walls entirely covered in golden mosaics, and the cloister with its columns, each decorated differently. Together with the Arab-Norman monuments of Palermo and Cefalù Cathedral, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Half a day is enough; you can get there by car or by bus from Palermo.
Mondello and Capo Gallo: Palermo’s sea
Mondello is the beach of the people of Palermo: a bay of light sand and clear water between Monte Pellegrino and Capo Gallo, with the Art Nouveau bathing pavilion on the sea. In summer it is crowded; in spring and autumn it is perfect for a walk and a seafood lunch. Keen walkers can continue into the Capo Gallo reserve, along the rocky coast.
Bagheria: the 18th-century villas
Just east of Palermo, Bagheria was where the Palermo aristocracy spent their holidays. The most famous villa is Villa Palagonia, the “villa of monsters”, with its grotesque statues on the boundary wall. Villa Cattolica houses the museum dedicated to the painter Renato Guttuso, who was born in Bagheria.
Cefalù: old town, cathedral and beach
About an hour east, by train or car, Cefalù combines within a few steps a medieval old town, the Norman cathedral with its great mosaic of Christ Pantocrator and a long beach right below the houses. If you have good legs, climb the Rocca, the headland above the town, for a view along the whole coast.
Segesta and the wine of Alcamo
Heading west, in about an hour on the motorway, you reach Segesta, with its Doric temple and the ancient theatre overlooking the valley. Twenty minutes away are the hills of Alcamo, home of Catarratto: the perfect trip to combine archaeology and a winery tasting, perhaps at lunchtime.
Scopello and the Zingaro reserve
A little further, in about an hour and a quarter, the village of Scopello with its tuna fishery and sea stacks, and right after it the southern entrance of the Zingaro reserve, with paths above the sea and small coves. Along the way, Castellammare del Golfo is worth a stop.
Ustica, the island opposite
Hydrofoils and ferries leave Palermo harbour for Ustica, a small volcanic island with one of the most beautiful marine reserves in the Mediterranean. By hydrofoil the crossing takes about an hour and a half: you can do it as a day trip, but to really enjoy it, it is better to stay a night.
Practical tips
- Car or public transport? Monreale, Mondello, Bagheria and Cefalù are easy to reach by bus and train; for Segesta, Alcamo, Scopello and the Zingaro a car is far more convenient.
- Leave early: always a good idea, especially in summer and at open-air sites like Segesta.
- Combine trips: Monreale and Mondello fit well into one day, as do Segesta, Alcamo and Castellammare.
- If you have more time, continue west with our 3 days between Palermo and Trapani or the guide to western Sicily.
A trip among the vineyards of Alcamo
For the trip west we recommend a stop at Quattrocieli winery, in the hills of Alcamo, about an hour from Palermo: tastings, visits through the vineyard and cellar and, on Saturdays from March to October, lunch among the vines. Discover the experiences.
Cover photo: Joefromthebay, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons