Us in front of Palermo Cathedral framed by palm trees and festival flower arches in Sicily

Italy · Sicily

Sicily

Palermo's old town · Mondello beach · Sicilian street food

The trip

Palermo stole our hearts.

We spent a few sun-soaked days in Sicily in May 2024, based in Palermo, and it was just incredible — the weather was perfect, the city was gorgeous, and every corner had something beautiful going on. Palermo is a wonderful, layered mix of Arab, Norman and Baroque history, some of the best street food we've ever eaten, and then a short ride away, the crystal-clear water of Mondello. Two tips before you go: order an arancino (the fried rice ball is a must) and try the frothy lemon foam juice from a street cart — trust us on both.

Area one

Palermo

Sicily's capital is chaotic in the best way — grand cathedrals and Baroque squares, faded palazzos with laundry strung across the balconies, vintage Fiat 500s parked on every street, and markets that come alive at mealtimes. We could have wandered here for a week.

Us in front of the dome of Palermo Cathedral in Sicily Melody in white in front of the full facade of Palermo Cathedral The pointed stone arch linking the towers of Palermo Cathedral over a quiet street
The icon01

Palermo Cathedral

📍 Cattedrale di Palermo, Via Vittorio Emanuele

The Cattedrale di Palermo is the city's showstopper and a perfect snapshot of Sicily's mixed-up history — Norman arches, Arab detailing, a Catalan-Gothic porch and a big Baroque dome, all in warm honey-coloured stone. It's genuinely huge, so the whole square is one long photo op. Go early for softer light and empty gardens, and pay the little extra to climb up to the rooftops for a view over the old town.

Arab-Norman architectureBest in morning light
Us in front of the marble statues of the Pretoria Fountain in Palermo
The old town02

Piazza Pretoria & the Quattro Canti

📍 Piazza Pretoria, central Palermo

The heart of old Palermo is a joy to walk. Piazza Pretoria is wrapped around a wedding-cake marble fountain crowded with statues (locals nicknamed it the "Fountain of Shame"), and it's a two-minute stroll from the Quattro Canti, the beautiful Baroque crossroads where the four corners of the historic centre meet. To really understand the city — its history, its stories and the real truth behind the "mafia" clichés — we'd point you toward a walking tour with a local.

Baroque squaresWalkable centre
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Palermo: No Mafia Walking Tour

Check availability →
Us between the grand columns of the Teatro Politeama with a bronze statue behind, Palermo
Grand Palermo03

Teatro Politeama & the grand boulevards

📍 Piazza Ruggero Settimo, Palermo

North of the tangled old town, Palermo opens up into wide 19th-century boulevards and grand piazzas. The neoclassical Teatro Politeama, with its Pompeian-red colonnade and bronze chariot on top, is the landmark here — and a lovely spot to frame a photo between those enormous columns. It's an easy walk that shows you a completely different, more elegant side of the city.

Neoclassical grandeurGreat columns for photos
Melody leaning by a vintage black Fiat 500 on a Palermo street A hand-painted Sicilian Trinacria ceramic reading Sicilia on a Palermo wall
Street details04

Old streets, vintage Fiats & Sicilian ceramics

📍 All over central Palermo

Honestly, some of our favourite moments were just wandering. Palermo's back streets are full of character — sun-bleached buildings, laundry flapping overhead, and gorgeous old Fiat 500s that look like they've been parked in the same spot for decades. Keep an eye out for the colourful hand-painted ceramics too: the three-legged Trinacria, Sicily's ancient symbol, is everywhere and makes for the perfect souvenir (and photo).

Most photogenic streetsSicilian ceramics
Andrew holding a frothy green lemon foam juice at a Palermo street food market Melody holding a golden Sicilian arancino at a Palermo cafe Close-up of a golden fried Sicilian arancino rice ball held in hand
The must-eat05

The street food — arancini & lemon foam

📍 Ballarò, Vucciria & Capo markets, Palermo

Palermo is one of the great street-food cities of the world, and this was the part we came back for. Top of the list: the arancino, a crisp golden ball of saffron rice stuffed with ragù (or cheese) — order one and you'll immediately order a second. Then hunt down the frothy lemon foam juice from a market cart; it's tart, sweet and so refreshing in the heat. Add panelle, sfincione and a cannolo and you've basically won the day. A food tour or a hands-on cooking class is the best way to taste it all with someone who knows exactly where to go.

Best food in SicilyArancini & lemon foam
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Palermo: Sicilian Street Food Tour (Small Group with a Local)

Check availability →
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Palermo: Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class

Check availability →

Area two

Mondello

Just a short ride from the city centre, Mondello is Palermo's beach — a wide crescent of pale sand and unbelievably clear turquoise water, framed by the green cliffs of Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo. After a few days pounding the city streets, this was the perfect way to cool off.

Selfie of us in the turquoise sea at Mondello beach with the mountain behind Melody walking the shoreline of Mondello beach in the clear water Andrew standing in the crystal-clear water at Mondello with boats behind
Sea & sand06

Playa Mondello & the crystal-clear bay

📍 Mondello, ~11 km from central Palermo

Mondello was such a treat — the water is warm, shallow and so clear you can see straight to your feet, with soft pale sand and a proper holiday buzz. It gets busy in summer, so come earlier in the day for space, and it's an easy bus or taxi ride from the centre. For a different angle on the bay, take to the water: a half-day boat trip along the coast is a gorgeous way to see it.

Crystal-clear waterEasy from Palermo
GetYourGuide We'd recommend

Mondello: Palermo Half-Day Tour on Boat

Check availability →
Crystal-clear water lapping the shore at Mondello with a rocky green headland The Mondello bay and green cliffs seen across glassy clear water
The view07

The bay & Monte Pellegrino views

📍 Along the Mondello seafront

Even if you're not a beach person, the setting alone is worth the trip. The bay curves between two dramatic green headlands, and the water shifts from pale jade in the shallows to deep blue further out. Walk the seafront, grab a granita, and just take in one of the prettiest views in Sicily.

Prettiest bayGranita with a view

Save these

The most Instagram-worthy shots

If you only chase a handful of frames in Sicily, chase these. Tap through to see them on our feed.

Palermo Cathedral with palms and festival arches Mondello beach selfie in turquoise water Pretoria Fountain statues in Palermo Vintage black Fiat 500 on a Palermo street Sicilian Trinacria ceramic reading Sicilia Melody on the shoreline at Mondello beach

The full roll

More from Sicily

Couple at Palermo Cathedral dome Mondello beach selfie Piazza Pretoria fountain, Palermo Vintage Fiat 500 in Palermo Melody at Mondello beach Teatro Politeama columns, Palermo Andrew in the clear Mondello water Melody at Palermo Cathedral facade Lemon foam juice at a Palermo market Palermo Cathedral seen through an iron gate Melody with a Sicilian arancino Clear water and headland at Mondello Arch between the towers of Palermo Cathedral Sicilian Trinacria ceramic Mondello bay and green cliffs Close-up of a Sicilian arancino Palermo Cathedral with palms and festival arches