The Best Hotels in Palermo

Palermo Hotels

Palermo is a sprawling cultural wonderland set on the shimmering northwestern coast of Sicily. This huge, buzzing city boasts a rich and inspirational artistic and historic legacy, and is flooded with a wide range of heritage sites and museums. Byzantine relics line-up beside Gothic churches, and stately fine-art galleries offset opulent palaces. Combine this with a mouthwatering cuisine scene, a balmy Mediterranean climate, and an abundance of nearby beaches, and you’ve got an endlessly exciting city paradise.

Things to see

There’s so much to see in Palermo that it can seem overwhelming - but here’s a few key places to start. Begin your bright Palermo day by ambling through the scintillating city streets and marvelling at the diverse range of architecture on display. First, stop by the Martorana. This immense church blends a head-spinning number of styles, from it’s ornate Baroque facade to the Romanesque bell-tower. Inside, gaze at intricate, old-world Byzantine mosaics and the faded frescos washed over the stone walls. Next, head to the Palazzo dei Normanni, a copper-coloured Norman palace built in a Renaissance style. The palace is also home to the Palatine Chapel - a 12th century sanctuary blanketed with glimmering gold mosaics. Finally, art-fiends can cap off their day at the peaceful Regional Museum, while those after some fresh air should explore the Palermo Botanical Gardens, a tranquil waterfront oasis covered in flourishing trees and flowers.

Hotels in Palermo

There’s a huge number of hotels squeezed into central Palermo, so you’re bound to find one that suits you. Urban explorers and energetic backpackers looking for hassle-free no-frills comfort should stay in a cheap 2-star hotel, and enjoy cosy air-conditioned rooms with free breakfasts. For something more midrange, stay in one of the 3-star hotels in Palermo, which offer stylish in-house bars and spacious air-conditioned rooms with adjoining balconies. Those that want a slice of city paradise, meanwhile, can stay in a sublime 4-star hotel. Relax and unwind with steam rooms, spa tubs, and fine restaurants.

Where to stay

There’s one big choice to make when deciding where to stay in Palermo - Old City or New City. The magnificent Teatro Massimo opera house roughly marks the dividing line between these areas, with the old to the south and modern to the north. Splurging shoppers will go wild for the ritzy stores in New City, and nightlife lovers will find plenty of bouncing bars and clubs. But for the quintessential Palermo experience of historic honey-coloured buildings and winding streets, stay in rustic Old City. Alternatively, stay somewhere in the middle and enjoy the best of both worlds.

How to get to Palermo

Palermo’s Falcone-Borsellino Airport is based 35 kilometres northwest of Palermo, a mid-sized seafront airport that serves dozens of flights from top European destinations like London, Paris, and Barcelona. Most of the airport’s flights are seasonal, but there are a few year-round ones too. From the airport, inexpensive shuttle buses depart on the half hour to central Palermo. Alternatively, hire a car, or take a taxi - the drive should only take around 35 minutes. Once there, you can explore much of Old City on foot, but bicycle rentals are fun too. Rental cars are also convenient, but keep an eye out for traffic jams.