Palazzo dei Normanni
Historic Site
Begin with the Norman Palace and its courtyards. The Palatine Chapel is the main draw inside, so the next card is part of this visit rather than a separate journey.
Palermo in 3 Days: Markets, Palaces and the Old Town
Palermo is a good choice for travellers who enjoy busy street markets and old buildings with stories to tell. Spend three days among Norman mosaics, baroque squares and the streets running down to the harbour.
3
Day 1 — Norman heritage
Day 1 — Norman heritage
Palatine Chapel
Historic Site
The palace chapel is lined with gold mosaics, with a painted wooden ceiling above the nave. Visit it as part of the Norman Palace ticket.
Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti
Place of Worship, History Landmark
The red domes make this former Norman church easy to recognise. Its cloister and garden offer a quieter stop just south of the palace.
Palermo Cathedral
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Walk round the exterior to see how Norman, Gothic and later additions sit together. The roof and royal tombs are ticketed extras to the main church.
Castello della Zisa
Historic Site
This Norman summer palace stands west of the old town. Go for its Arab-influenced architecture; it is the day's outlying stop, about a 20-minute walk from the cathedral.
Day 2 — Markets and squares
Day 2 — Markets and squares
Ballarò
Marketplace, Market Shopping
Start the market day here among fruit stalls, fish counters and street-food sellers. Come in the morning for trading, then walk north towards Piazza Bellini.
Piazza Bellini
Public Plaza
A small square with two very different Norman churches: the mosaic-filled Martorana and red-domed San Cataldo. It is a useful place to choose one interior visit.
Piazza Pretoria
Public Plaza
The tiered fountain and its marble figures fill most of this square beside the city hall. It is a short stop between Piazza Bellini and Quattro Canti.
Quattro Canti
Monument, History Landmark
Pause at the crossing of Via Maqueda and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The four curved façades mirror one another, with fountains and statues arranged above the street.
Il Capo
Neighbourhood, Core Attraction
Finish the old-town walk in the Capo district, where market stalls crowd the narrow streets around Via Porta Carini. Ballarò is the morning market stop; this is a different neighbourhood to explore.
Day 3 — Harbour and Kalsa walks
Day 3 — Harbour and Kalsa walks
Piazza Marina
Square, Core Attraction
Start the Kalsa day around this square and the large trees of Giardino Garibaldi. The surrounding streets lead towards the palaces of Via Alloro.
Palazzo Abatellis
Museum, Art Museum
This is the day's main art visit, in a Gothic palace on Via Alloro. Look for Antonello da Messina's Annunciation and the large Triumph of Death fresco.
Chiesa di Santa Maria dello Spasimo
Monument
Walk further into Kalsa to this unfinished church, whose roofless nave opens to the sky. Its setting makes a striking contrast with the decorated churches of the old centre.
Foro Italico
Park
End the day's walk on the broad lawn beside the sea. Follow the waterfront north towards the Cala harbour rather than doubling back through the old town.
Optional nearby extras
Optional nearby extras
Monreale Cathedral
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Choose Monreale for a half-day outside Palermo if you want more Norman mosaics. The cathedral and cloister justify the journey; substitute this for city visits rather than adding it to a full day.
Palermo Botanical Garden
Garden, Botanical Garden
A good alternative near the Kalsa route, with palms, tropical plants and historic glasshouses. The university garden has its own admission ticket and gives the day a slower pace.
Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele
Theatre, Performance Culture
Take the roughly 40-minute guided tour to see the auditorium and rooms inside the opera house. It is a more substantial alternative to another old-town walk.
Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum
Museum, Art Museum
Choose this museum for ancient Sicily, particularly the sculpture and finds from Selinunte. It is close to Teatro Massimo, so either fits the same part of town.