Walking these streets feels less like tourism and more like stumbling into a living, breathing argument between ancient tradition and chaotic modernity, where street vendors shout over church bells in a symphony of sensory overload. You are not just visiting a museum piece but navigating a vibrant, gritty metropolis that demands you slow down, savor the arancini, and let its unpredictable rhythm guide your steps through sun-drenched piazzas.
Do Palermo the way locals do: start slow at Riserva Naturale di Capo Gallo, eat where the regulars do at Taverna Dei Canti, let the evening run long at Bar Liberty.
Top things to do in Palermo Ranked by rating and review volume. These earn their hype. Booking links may earn Roam a commission, at no cost to you.
1
Palermo Cathedral
Church · ★ 4.7 (50,840 reviews)
4 bell towers top this architecturally diverse church dating from the 1100s & housing royal tombs.
Check tours & tickets 2
Cattedrale di Monreale
Church · ★ 4.8 (29,546 reviews)
Landmark Norman cathedral known for its ornate cloisters & bright gold mosaics of biblical stories.
Check tours & tickets 3
Quattro Canti
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.7 (30,827 reviews)
Baroque, octagonal public plaza featuring 4 fountains topped by ornate statues in niches.
Check tours & tickets 4
Palazzo dei Normanni
Historical Landmark · ★ 4.5 (28,144 reviews)
Grand 9th century palace with a neo-classical facade, historic chapel & ornate royal apartments.
Check tours & tickets 5
Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel
Church · ★ 4.7 (12,102 reviews)
Ancient chapel in the Palazzo dei Normanni known for its elaborate Byzantine mosaics & paintings.
Check tours & tickets 6
Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
Church · ★ 4.7 (8,444 reviews)
Iconic 17th-century church carved into a rocky mountainside & dedicated to a medieval saint.
Check tours & tickets 7
Catacombe dei Cappuccini di Palermo
Museum · ★ 4.3 (15,980 reviews)
Home to 8000 corpses dating from the 16th century to 1920, dressed & divided into categories.
Check tours & tickets 8
Church of Jesus of Casa Professa
Church · ★ 4.8 (5,710 reviews)
Prominent baroque-style church completed in the 1630s with frescoes & many bas-relief sculptures.
Check tours & tickets 9
Foro Italico
Tourist Attraction · ★ 4.4 (11,257 reviews)
Picturesque waterfront promenade with a wide lawn, sculptures & colorful benches.
Check tours & tickets 10
Palermo Free Walking Tour - Kairos Sicily Tours
Tour Agency · ★ 5 (3,399 reviews)
Check tours & tickets Where to eat Local favorites, not tourist traps.
11
Taverna Dei Canti
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.5 (14,595 reviews)
Intimate eatery with sidewalk tables presenting seafood, meat & pasta dishes, plus wine.
Website 12
Timilia
Pizza Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (4,547 reviews)
Website 13
Osteria La Tara - Pizza e Cucina
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (4,361 reviews)
Website 14
Ciurma Palermo Maqueda
Seafood Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (6,118 reviews)
Website 15
Villena
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (3,125 reviews)
Website 16
FUD
Hamburger Restaurant · ★ 4.4 (5,104 reviews)
Website 17
La Galleria
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,294 reviews)
Sicilian seafood pasta & meats in a rustic trattoria with tables in a narrow alley.
Website 18
OSTERIA NORMA
Italian Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (3,193 reviews)
Website Hungry for more? Book a food tour or tasting in Palermo
Tours worth booking ahead These sell out, so lock them in early.
19
Palermo Free Walking Tour - Kairos Sicily Tours
Tour Agency · ★ 5 (3,399 reviews)
Check tours & tickets 23
Freely Tours - Palermo Free Walking Tours
point_of_interest, establishment · ★ 5 (398 reviews)
Check tours & tickets Get outside 25
Riserva Naturale di Capo Gallo
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.6 (4,760 reviews)
Rugged coastal nature reserve with steep cliffs & caves & a habitat for falcons, buzzards & owls.
Website 26
Parco Piersanti Mattarella (Giardino Inglese)
City Park · ★ 4.2 (6,670 reviews)
City garden designed in English style dating from 1851, with water features, sculpture & monuments.
27
Parco Uditore
Park · ★ 4.3 (3,634 reviews)
Public green space with a playground, dedicated dog area, outdoor workout equipment & pathways.
Website 28
Riserva Naturale Orientata dello Zingaro
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.7 (1,356 reviews)
Website 29
il Parco della Salute
Park · ★ 4.4 (2,000 reviews)
Website After dark 30
Bar Liberty
Bar · ★ 4.6 (1,753 reviews)
Website 31
Malox Cult
Pub · ★ 4.4 (1,722 reviews)
Cocktails & bar bites in an unpretentious place with a leafy terrace & late-night hours.
32
Mak Mixology
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.4 (1,699 reviews)
Website 33
Botteghe Colletti
Bar · ★ 4.6 (1,173 reviews)
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