A Solo Traveller's Guide To Palermo Sicily

Travelling alone? Fizzing with energy, Sicily’s capital captivates an intoxicating mix of ancient, modern and startling extremes – Byzantine mosaics juxtaposed with graffiti artwork, baroque palaces cheek by jowl with boisterous markets. It’s a banquet for history buffs – and its feisty soul will leave you hankering for the next trip. Here’s our solo traveller’s guide to Palermo, Sicily.

What’s the vibe?

It’s solo Sicily at its best, pulling you in with its flamboyant, friendly, unpolished character. Packed with historic masterpieces, it’s best explored on foot. Amble through the patchwork of neighbourhoods, pausing at the glittering Palatine Chapel and soaring Arab-Norman Cathedral. Along the way, you’ll find secret piazzas shaded by date palms, and souk-like markets piled with plump aubergines.

Where to stay in Palermo

1. Villa Igiea

Villa

Splash out on this Art Nouveau villa, recently restored by the Rocco Forte group. Just 10 minutes from the frenetic centre, it’s a haven for A-listers, with palmy terraces spilling down to the sparkling Med. Rooms ooze elegance – book a sea view for max wow factor – while the pool bar is the place for a Sicilian mojito.

3. A Casa di Amici Boutique Hostel

Boutique Hotel, Hostel

Double room at A Casa di Amici features Japanese wall art and black and white decor

Bold art and musical instruments on the walls hint at the creative vibe of this dead-central, friendly hostel. Choose from spacious, spotless dorms, or take a private room – each is themed, from Cuban to Japanese. Don’t miss the ‘social dinners’, with Sicilian dishes at a communal table – perfect for solos.

Eat and drink in Palermo

4. Aja Mola

Restaurant, Seafood

The nautical-chic décor reflects a menu that specialises in modern seafood dishes at Aja Mola. Near the seafront – in the up-and-coming Vucciria district, famous for its market – it draws well-heeled locals and visitors. Travelling solo? Sit at the bar and absorb the action over dishes such as grilled squid with basil and pepper sauce.

5. Ideal Café Stagnitta

Cafe, Coffee

Just off majestic Piazza Bellini, this iconic coffee roastery serves the best cappuccino in Palermo, say the locals. Providing Palmeritani with their daily caffeine hit since 1928, they feature decadent pastries. Grab one of the little tables outside and watch the world go by – before buying a bag of beans to take home.

6. Qvivi

Bar, Pub Grub

Always buzzing, this teeny bar on Piazza Rivoluzione is great if you’re on your own. Plastered in vintage posters, it starts to fill up early – thanks to the generous free aperitivi buffet. Settle in for a few drinks and stay for live music as night falls.

What to do in Palermo

Learn how to cook, Sicilian style

This Med island has a devoted foodie following, with flavour-packed dishes drawing on a rich culinary heritage and North African spices adding a kick to Italian fare. Learn to impress your pals with a cookery course in the capital – there are lots to choose from.

Enjoy a cookery class in Palermo, supervised by a Sicilian expert, as part of Culture Trip’s 10-day adventure around the island, La Dolce Vita: The Best of Sicily.

Day trip to Monreale

If you tick off one historic sight, make it Cattedrale di Monreale. This showstopper is on a hillside beyond the town, boasting sweeping views of the sea. It’s a masterpiece of Norman architecture, with exquisite medieval mosaics. Head for heights? Climb to the terrace for great photo ops.

Aerial view of the seaside resort town of Mondello in Palermo

Hit the beach

When the weather heats up, the Palmeritani make a beeline north for 12km (7.4mi) to Mondello – a sweep of golden sand. Hire a lounger and umbrella as the free public area can get crowded before ambling over to one of the seafood restaurants lining the bay for an Aperol and a plate of grilled shrimp.

Staying safe in Palermo

Despite its raffish feel, it’s simple to stay safe. The main risks are pickpocketing –be especially careful at Ballaro and Vucciria markets – and traffic. Cross the roads carefully and watch out for locals on whizzy scooters. Violent crime statistics are low and research conducted by the ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics) found that among the 12 largest cities in Italy, Palermo had the lowest overall crime.

Getting around Palermo

Only the brave (or foolish) choose to drive into central Palermo – far less stressful is to stick to public transport or taxis. AMAT runs a fleet of city buses and trams, even linking day-trip destinations such as Mondello and Monreale.

Rather share your adventures with a small group of like-minded travellers? Join Culture Trip’s La Dolce Vita: The Best of Sicily, a leisurely 10-day loop taking in everything from an authentic Sicilian cooking class in Palermo to driving a 4×4 up Mt Etna’s volcanic peak, with plenty of gelato pit stops along the way.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.