Palermo Getting Around

Getting Around Palermo - Explore the city on two wheels
Although the largest city in Sicily, getting around Palermo on foot is possible as many of its most interesting tourist attractions are sited close together. However it is a typically noisy and congested Italian city with aggressive motorists. For this reason alone driving in the city is not for the faint hearted. Car hire is available right across the city and a good option if venturing out into the Sicilian countryside. A far more stylish and cheaper option is to rent a vespa for a day. This is the most rewarding way of soaking up an intense city atmosphere. Bicycle hire is also a safe alternative within the historic core of the city as there are some dedicated cycle paths and traffic calming measures in place.

Palermo Getting Around - Efficient public buses
The citywide AMAT public bus network is a comprehensive one serving the entire city and outlying towns and villages. It is convenient for all noteworthy attractions and hotels and is relatively efficient with a good frequency. Single fares, day and weekend passes can be purchased from kiosks across the city and represent good value. In addition getting around Palermo by minibus is equally as convenient. Two main routes operate from the rail station and pass most of the city's popular sites such as the Palazzo Reale, cathedral and Teatro Massimo. However the frequencies are greatly reduced outside of daylight hours.

Getting Around Palermo - Take a free easy tour bus ride
Taxis seem to be everywhere in Palermo and the city centre is littered with taxi stands on almost every street corner. Fares however are expensive yet still offer the most hassle free way of getting around Palermo especially after dark. Palermo city breaks with limited time can get acquainted with the city during a open top hop on hop off tour bus ride. It follows two circular routes with multilingual informative commentary and tickets are valid for 24 hours. There is a compact metro system in Palermo which connects the historic quarter with the rail terminal. However stops are not particularly convenient for tourist attractions and sightseeing.