See Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral
Via Vittorio Emanuele · about 1 mile from the terminal
Open Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to 7 PM. The nave is free; the treasury, crypt and roofs need a ticket.
Cathedral Hours and Tickets (opens a new tab)
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Sicily · Italy
Palermo
Norman palaces, gold mosaics and street markets, a walk from the ship.
The Palatine Chapel, Palermo Cathedral and Ballarò, the city’s oldest market, are all a walk from the cruise terminal. Monreale’s cathedral and cloister are 5 miles away.
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Four Ways to Spend a Day in Palermo
Unwind Garden
Orto Botanico
Via Lincoln · about 1.2 miles from the terminal
The botanical garden opens at 9 AM (10 AM on Sunday) and costs €8. It closes at 6 PM in October and March, and at 5 PM from November to February.
Orto Botanico Hours and Tickets (opens a new tab)
Taste Market
Ballarò Market
Ballarò · about 1.1 miles from the terminal
Palermo’s oldest and largest market sells fruit, vegetables, fish and meat from Piazza Casa Professa to Corso Tukory. Stalls open Monday to Saturday, 7:30 AM to 8 PM, and mostly on Sunday mornings.
Read About Ballarò Market (opens a new tab)
Explore Cloister
Monreale Cloister
Monreale · about 5 miles from the terminal
The cloister costs €8 and is open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday until 1:30 PM. The cathedral next door is free.
Monreale Cloister Hours and Tickets (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Tours & Tickets in Palermo
Getting Around Palermo
Ships berth at the Palermo Cruise Terminal, close to the old centre, so most visitors walk.
Getting to Palermo’s Cruise Port
Palermo airport (Falcone Borsellino, at Punta Raisi) is about 15 miles from the port.
If you do one thing here
See the Palatine Chapel
The chapel is inside the Palazzo dei Normanni, about 1.3 miles from the terminal in a straight line. From Thursday to Monday, one €14.50 ticket covers the chapel, the Royal Apartments and the Royal Gardens; on Tuesday and Wednesday, €10 covers the chapel and the gardens.
Last entry is 4:30 PM Monday to Saturday and 12:30 PM on Sunday. On Sunday the chapel also closes to visitors from 9:30 to 11 AM.
Safety and Weather
Crime figures cover the province of Palermo, which includes the city.
- CrimeIn 2024 the province recorded 1,807 thefts per 100,000 residents, 19% above the Italian rate of 1,524. Robbery was 6% lower and recorded assault 26% lower.
- PickpocketsThe UK Foreign Office says bag-snatching and pickpocketing are higher in city centers and at major tourist sights, and on public transport.
- Walking to townYes. The old centre starts about 0.8 mile from the terminal in a straight line. Monreale (5 miles) and Mondello beach (5.6 miles) are too far to walk.
- WeatherJuly and August highs average 86°F and 87°F, and July has about one rainy day. December is the wettest month, with about 5 inches of rain and highs near 60°F.
Crime figures: Eurostat, police-recorded offences, province of Palermo and Italy, 2024, per 100,000 residents. Weather: WMO, Italian Air Force Meteorological Service, 1971–2000 averages.
Make it part of your voyage
Cruises From Palermo
Mediterranean cruises start, end and call here.
Palermo FAQ
Where do cruise ships dock in Palermo?
At the Palermo Cruise Terminal, built inside the 1950 Stazione Marittima and opened on 4 May 2022. The port does not publish which berth each ship uses.
How far is Palermo cruise port from the city center?
Quattro Canti, at the heart of the old city, is about 0.8 mile from the terminal in a straight line. Palermo Centrale station is about 1.2 miles.
Can you walk from Palermo cruise port to the city center?
Yes. Quattro Canti, the old city’s central crossing, is about 0.8 mile away and the cathedral about 1 mile, both in a straight line. The real walk is about a quarter longer.
How much is a city bus ticket in Palermo?
A single AMAT ticket costs €1.40 and is valid for 90 minutes from first use. A day pass costs €3.50.
How do I get from Palermo airport to the cruise terminal?
The airport is about 15 miles from the port. Take the Prestia e Comandè bus or the Trenitalia regional train into the city; neither stops at the port.
How much is the airport bus in Palermo?
An adult single ticket costs €6 online or €6.50 on board, and a return costs €10 online. Buses run every 30 minutes and take 50 minutes to Palermo Centrale.
Is there a train from Palermo airport to the city?
Yes. A Trenitalia regional train runs from the station under the airport terminal to Palermo Centrale for €6.80, up to twice an hour.
How far is Mondello beach from Palermo cruise port?
About 5.6 miles in a straight line, too far to walk from the ship.
How far is Monreale from Palermo?
Monreale Cathedral is about 5 miles from the cruise terminal in a straight line. City bus 389 runs there from Piazza Indipendenza, beside the Palazzo dei Normanni.
Is Palermo safe for tourists?
In 2024 the province of Palermo recorded theft 19% above Italy’s rate, while robbery was 6% lower and assault 26% lower. The UK Foreign Office warns of pickpockets in city centers and at major sights.
What is the weather like in Palermo?
July and August highs average 86°F and 87°F. December is the wettest month, and winter highs run from 58°F to 60°F.
What can you do in Palermo in a day?
See the Palatine Chapel and Palermo Cathedral and walk Ballarò market, all within about 1.3 miles of the terminal in a straight line. Or take the bus to Monreale’s cloister, 5 miles away.
Photos: Palermo: Maria Izzo from Stockholm, Sweden (CC BY 2.0) · Palermo Cathedral: Julian Lupyan (CC0) · Orto Botanico: Maria Izzo from Stockholm, Sweden (CC BY 2.0) · Ballarò Market: Benjamín Núñez González (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Monreale Cloister: Macieklew (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Palatine Chapel: Liilia Moroz (CC BY-SA 4.0). Cropped for display.