Where to stay in Palermo
Palermo is loud, warm and layered, and where you sleep decides how much of that you hear at night. The streets around the Quattro Canti put the churches, the markets and the restaurants at your door, with the noise that comes with them. The Kalsa is older and a little calmer, Politeama is tidier and further out, and Mondello is a beach resort half an hour away. The streets by the central station are cheap and practical, and the ones to choose with care.
The short answer
- First trip
- The Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda for the old city on foot, or the Kalsa for something a little calmer.
- Couples
- The Kalsa for old palaces and evenings by Piazza Marina, or Politeama for wide streets and quiet.
- Families
- Politeama, with its wide pavements and park, or the Kalsa near the sea.
- Tight budget
- Ballarò or the station area, choosing the street with care.
- Arriving by train or bus
- The station area is the easiest for a late arrival or an early train, but it is not the best part of the city to stay in.
How we judge an area of Palermo: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Palermo's areas, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Palermo Cathedral | Teatro Massimo | Palermo Centrale station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda | First trip, on foot | Loud, late | 10 min | 10 min | 15 min | On foot; buses on Via Roma | €€ |
| Kalsa | Palaces, local feel | Moderate | 20 min | 20 min | 15 min | On foot; buses on Via Roma | €€ |
| Ballarò and Albergheria | Markets, low prices | Quiet, untidy | 10 min | 20 min | 10 min | On foot; buses | € |
| Capo and Teatro Massimo | Market, opera, value | Quiet | 10 min | 5 min | 25 min | On foot; buses on Via Roma | €€ |
| Vucciria and Castellammare | Nightlife | Loud, very late | 15 min | 10 min | 20 min | On foot; buses | €€ |
| Politeama and Libertà | Calm, shops, families | Quiet | 30 min | 20 min | 40 min | Buses; a short walk to Teatro Massimo | €€€ |
| Station and Via Roma | Trains, tight budgets | Busy, untidy | 15 min | 25 min | 5 min | Station; buses | € |
Walking times are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. Palermo's center is flat, but pavements are uneven and crossings are busy, so allow a little more. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the areas are
Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda, for the old city on foot
The crossroads of the old city, with churches, squares and restaurants all close, and the noise and crowds that go with them.
The Quattro Canti is the Baroque crossroads where Via Maqueda meets Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The Fontana Pretoria, La Martorana, San Cataldo and the cathedral are all within ten minutes' walk, and Via Maqueda runs north to the Teatro Massimo as a pedestrian street. The Ballarò and Capo markets are both a short walk away.
It is also busy. Scooters, street musicians and bars keep the streets alive late into the night, and the buildings are old palazzi with narrow stairs, some without a lift. Ask for a back room or an upper floor. Pickpockets work the crowds, so keep your bag in front of you.
Good for
- A first trip, with the main sights and the markets on foot
- Short stays of two or three nights
- Eating out within a few minutes of the door
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly and the room faces a main street
- You want quiet streets after dark
- You have heavy bags and the building has no lift
Staying in Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda: nearby sights, food and getting around
The Kalsa, for old palaces and quiet squares
The old quarter by the sea, with palaces, museums and small restaurants, a little calmer than the center.
The Kalsa lies between Via Roma and the sea, around Piazza Marina and Piazza Magione. Palazzo Abatellis, the Steri palace and the church of La Gancia are here, and so are many of the small trattorias and bars that locals use. Foro Italico, the seafront promenade, is a short walk east.
It is a mixed district. Some streets have been restored and are pleasant at any hour, while others are run down and poorly lit, with few people about late. Pick a hotel near Piazza Marina or Via Alloro, and read recent reviews for the exact street.
Good for
- Museums, palaces and the sea on foot
- A local feel with good restaurants
- A calmer base than the Quattro Canti
Think twice if
- You want to be next to the main shopping street
- You are nervous about dim side streets at night
- You want a tidy, polished district
Ballarò and Albergheria, for the market and low prices
The market district south of the cathedral, loud by day and quiet and untidy at night, with some of the cheapest rooms in the center.
Ballarò is a street market that runs through the Albergheria quarter, with stalls of fish, vegetables and fried food. The Norman Palace and the Palatine Chapel are at the western edge, and the cathedral and Quattro Canti are about ten minutes away. Cheap guesthouses and apartments fill the old buildings.
It is lively and authentic, and it is rough. The market stalls close in the afternoon, the streets empty in the evening and some are poorly lit, and there is more litter than elsewhere in the center. Many visitors enjoy it by day and prefer to sleep elsewhere.
Good for
- Eating from the market at the door
- The Palatine Chapel on foot
- Low prices
Think twice if
- You want tidy, quiet streets
- You will walk back late at night
- You are visiting for the first time and want a smooth start
Staying in Ballarò and Albergheria: nearby sights, food and getting around
Capo and Teatro Massimo, for the opera and the market
A neighborhood of narrow streets around the Capo market, with the Teatro Massimo on its edge and good value rooms.
The Capo is the northwest part of the old city, with a covered market that runs through its streets and trattorias behind it. The Teatro Massimo and the start of Via Maqueda are on its eastern edge, and the cathedral is about ten minutes away on foot.
It is less visited than the Quattro Canti, and has fewer hotels. The streets are narrow and the building quality varies, and the market stalls start early in the morning. It is quiet after the market closes, and a few streets are unlit, so ask for a hotel near the Teatro Massimo or on Via Volturno.
Good for
- Eating from the market and the trattorias behind it
- An evening at the opera house
- Value, close to the sights
Think twice if
- You want to be in the middle of the evening scene
- Market noise at dawn bothers you
- You want a polished area
Staying in Capo and Teatro Massimo: nearby sights, food and getting around
Vucciria and Castellammare, for nights out
The old market streets near the port, now a lively nightlife area, with a lot of late noise.
Castellammare is the quarter by the old port, and La Vucciria, once the city's biggest market, is its center. By day it is quiet and slightly worn, and in the evening the streets fill with bars and people. The Quattro Canti and the Kalsa are both about ten minutes away on foot.
Staying here means living with the noise: music and conversation continue until after midnight, and rooms above the bars suffer most. It suits people who want to be out until late, and it is a poor choice for light sleepers.
Good for
- Nights out on foot
- A central position near the port
- Walking to the Kalsa and the center
Think twice if
- You are a light sleeper
- You want a tidy, quiet street
- You want a family-friendly area at night
Staying in Vucciria and Castellammare: nearby sights, food and getting around
Politeama and Libertà, for wide avenues and quiet
A tidy 19th-century district north of the old center, with shops, a park and a more orderly feel.
Teatro Politeama is the center of the new city, with Via Libertà, the long shopping avenue, running north from it. The streets are wide, the pavements are better and the buildings are newer than in the old city. Many of the better hotels are here, and so are the Giardino Inglese and the best shops.
The price of the calm is distance. The Teatro Massimo is a ten-minute walk and the Quattro Canti about twenty, with less street life around you in the evening. There are fewer restaurants than in the old center, and the traffic on the main avenues is heavy.
Good for
- A tidy, quieter base
- Shopping and a park
- Families and visitors who want an orderly street
Think twice if
- You want to be among the markets and street food
- You want the old city on your doorstep
- You prefer atmosphere over order
Staying in Politeama and Libertà: nearby sights, food and getting around
The station and Via Roma, for trains and low prices
Practical, with the trains and the airport bus nearby, and the part of Palermo we would choose with the most care.
Palermo Centrale is at the southern end of Via Roma. Trains to Cefalù, Agrigento and Catania leave here, and so does the airport train; the airport bus stops outside. The Kalsa and the Quattro Canti are both about fifteen minutes away on foot, and there are budget hotels and guesthouses on the nearby streets.
It is not an attractive area. The streets around the station are busy, untidy and poorly lit in places, with a lot of through traffic, and many visitors do not like walking there late at night. If you stay here, pick a hotel on a main street, read recent reviews and take a taxi after dark.
Good for
- An early train, a late arrival or a day trip by train
- The airport bus and train at the door
- Low prices
Think twice if
- You will walk back late at night
- You want charm outside the door
- You are visiting for the first time and want a good first impression
Staying in Station and Via Roma: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Palermo, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Palermo. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- The side streets right around the station, if you will be out late
Cheap and practical, and the area where most visitors feel least comfortable after dark. Choose a hotel on a main road, or stay in the Quattro Canti area and take the bus or train to the station.
- A room above the bars in Vucciria or on a main street at the Quattro Canti
Music and voices run past midnight. Ask for a back room or an upper floor, and check there is a lift.
- A ground-floor room in the old palazzi
Many are damp, dark or noisy from the street. Pick a higher floor and read recent reviews.
- A hotel out by the airport, for a city break
The airport is about 35 km from the city, and the bus or train adds an hour each way. Stay in the city and take the bus or train in.
- Mondello, if you want to see the old city
A good beach base in summer, and half an hour from the sights by bus. Stay there for a beach trip, not a first city visit.
Which area suits you
First time in Palermo
The Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda for the old city on foot, or the Kalsa for a calmer start.
A tight budget
Ballarò or the station area, if you pick the street carefully.
Nightlife
Vucciria for bars, and the Quattro Canti for crowds and noise.
Peace and quiet
Politeama, away from the markets and bars.
Arriving by train or bus
The station area for a late arrival, or the Kalsa a short walk away.
Before you book a room in Palermo
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Palermo makes a good stay.
- The city taxPalermo's tourist tax has been reported at €5 per person per night at a five-star hotel, €4.50 at four stars, €4 at three stars, €3.50 at two stars and €3 at one star, and €4 at holiday rentals, B&Bs and hostels, for the first four consecutive nights. Minors and Palermo residents do not pay. It is paid at the property and often not included in the price the booking sites show. We checked these figures on secondary sites, not the city's own notice, so confirm the amount with your hotel.
- From the airport by busThe Prestia e Comandè bus runs from Falcone Borsellino airport to Palermo Centrale in about 50 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes. A ticket is about €6 if bought in advance and €6.50 on board. Services start in the early morning and run to the small hours.
- From the airport by trainThe Trinacria Express train leaves from the station inside the airport terminal and reaches Palermo Centrale in about an hour. A ticket is about €6.80.
- From the airport by taxiLicensed taxis charge fixed fares by zone, reported at about €50 to the central station. The airport is about 35 km from the city. Ask the driver for the fare before you set off, and use only licensed white taxis.
- Arriving by trainTrains from Cefalù, Catania and Agrigento arrive at Palermo Centrale, at the southern end of Via Roma. The Kalsa and the Quattro Canti are both about fifteen minutes away on foot.
- DrivingNarrow streets, scooters and limited traffic zones make driving in the center a bad idea. If you rent a car for the island, park it in a garage and walk, and take the bus or a taxi for longer trips.
- Stairs and liftsMany hotels are in old palazzi with small lifts or none. If stairs are hard for you, check the floor, the lift and the street before you book.
Where to stay in Palermo: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Palermo for a first visit?
The Quattro Canti and Via Maqueda area, if you want the churches, markets and restaurants on foot and can live with the noise. The Kalsa is the calmer alternative, with palaces and quiet squares.
Is Palermo safe to stay in?
Most visitors have no trouble, but it is a big, crowded city with pickpockets in the markets and on busy streets. Keep your bag in front of you, do not leave a phone on a cafe table, and take care in the streets around the station and the quieter lanes of Ballarò late at night.
Is it a good idea to stay near the train station?
For an early train or a late arrival, yes: it has the trains and the airport bus. As a place to spend your evenings, no. Pick a hotel on a main road, read recent reviews and take a taxi after dark.
Quattro Canti or Politeama: which is better?
The Quattro Canti for atmosphere and walking to the sights, with noise and crowds. Politeama for a tidier, quieter base, and a twenty-minute walk to the old city.
Is the Kalsa a good area to stay in?
Yes, for palaces, museums and good restaurants close to the sea. Some streets are dim at night, so choose a hotel near Piazza Marina or Via Alloro and read recent reviews.
Should I stay in Mondello or in the city?
In the city for sightseeing, in Mondello for a beach stay. The beach is about half an hour from the center by bus, and it is busy in summer.
Which area is the best base for day trips?
The station area for trains to Cefalù, Agrigento and Catania. The Quattro Canti area for buses to Monreale, which leave from the center.
How much is the city tax in Palermo?
Reported at €3 to €5 per person per night, depending on the hotel's star rating, and €4 for B&Bs and holiday rentals, for the first four nights. Minors do not pay. It is collected at the property, and the exact amount should be confirmed with your hotel.
