Palermo is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Palermo works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Palermo, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 5 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Palermo, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Palermo starts at around €71 per night, with a typical rate near €119 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Politeama, 4-star, guest rating 9.4 from 3155 reviews, from €165 per night; Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes, 5-star, guest rating 9.4 from 1581 reviews, from €331 per night; Casa Nostra Boutique Hotel & Spa, guest rating 9.2 from 1741 reviews, from €333 per night; Hotel Pontemare, 4-star, guest rating 9 from 1248 reviews, from €115 per night; Hotel Porta Felice & Spa, 4-star, guest rating 8.9 from 154 reviews, from €138 per night.
Day trips & routes: Cinisi — about 34 km, 35m drive; Santa Ninfa — about 97 km, 1h 10m drive; Trapani — about 95 km, 1h 12m drive; Taormina — about 263 km, 2h 55m drive; Messina — about 226 km, 2h 32m drive. Fastest option is Cinisi: 35m by car.
Palermo: what to know
Things to see: "Cooking class in a villa with Palermo view", rated 5 from 174 reviews, from €115; "Palermo Airport transfers to/from Palermo city center (One-way)", rated 5 from 69 reviews, from €90; "Sicilian Cooking Class : Homemade Pasta", rated 5 from 56 reviews, from €151; "Tour Palermo city", rated 5 from 44 reviews, from €190; "Guided tour of the historic center Palermo", rated 5 from 43 reviews, from €35.
Palermo has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 5 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Palermo is around €119, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Palermo you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 5 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Italy, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
