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Palermo Walking tours

Our most recommended Palermo Walking tours

Palermo: NO Mafia Walking Tour

1. Palermo: NO Mafia Walking Tour

Discover the top sights in Palermo from a unique angle on a guided walking tour. Every stop is a chance to pause for reflection on the realities of the Mafia and consider the civic movement against Mafioso power. Meet your guide and begin your mafia-themed adventure through the streets of Palermo. Explore Teatro Massimo, the open-air market Il Capo, and Piazza Della Memoria (a memorial dedicated to prosecutors and judges killed by the mafia). Along the Cassaro, come across places with orange stickers on their windows, representing owners that have said no to paying the extortion racket and have subscribed to the ethical consumer campaign pago chi non paga (I pay who does not pay).  After strolling by sights like Piazza Beati Paoli, Palermo Cathedral, and the city hall, finish the tour in the heart of Palermo's old town center. Get tips from your guide on how to continue your visit and where to taste the best Sicilian specialties.

Palermo: Street Food and History Walking Tour

2. Palermo: Street Food and History Walking Tour

Embark on a walking tour through the center of Palermo and feel like you are visiting an open-air museum. Marvel at a range of different architectural styles and see the Capo street markets that are a true mix of culture, customs, and food traditions. Taste five local food specialties and a drink to wash them down tastefully. Blend a historical and foodie walking tour into one. See and learn about historical landmarks, including Opera dei Pupi (traditional puppet theater), Piazza Beati Paoli, the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, and the Pretoria fountain en route. Walk through the bustling Capo Street Market, offering a wide selection of local meats, seafood, produce & Sicilian bites. Then, taste some local specialties from Palermo. Tuck into some sfincione (dough topped with onion, bread crumbs, tomato, and oregano), panelle (fried chickpea flour), crocché (potato croquettes), arancine (rice croquettes stuffed with meat or butter), and cannolo (crunchy shell with sweet-cheese). Refresh yourself with a drink, to close off your tour in style.

Palermo: Markets and Monuments City Center Walking Tour

3. Palermo: Markets and Monuments City Center Walking Tour

Get a feel for the rich history, culture, and architecture of central Palermo on a 3-hour guided walking tour. Your guide will take you to Norman Sicily churches and beautiful palaces, through bustling city squares and famous old street markets. Head first to the Teatro Massimo and learn about Italy’s largest opera house, known for its perfect acoustics. Then visit the beautiful Palermo Cathedral, dating from the 12th century and part of Unesco ’s list of World Heritage sites. See the Church of the Gesù, one of the most important Baroque churches in Palermo, as well as the Praetorian Palace, an outstanding palace of the 15th century.   Continue to Pretoria Square, referred to by locals as the “square of shame” for the nudity of its fountain statues. You’ll also visit the nearby Bellini Square where you’ll see the Church of San Cataldo and Martorana Church, two more Norman Sicily–era churches and Unesco World Heritage sites.   Along the way, your guide will lead you through the famous Capo street markets. Observe the lively scenes and multitude of smells, textiles, and colorful foods as you weave among the stalls. You can also buy and taste some of the city’s popular street food, including: panelle, crocché, sfincione and arancina The tour ends in the exact center of historic Palermo, the Baroque Villena Square, also known as Quattro Canti (Four Corners). It was built in the early 1600s at the crossing of the two most prominent streets in Palermo: Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda.

Palermo: 2-Hour Sicilian Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour

4. Palermo: 2-Hour Sicilian Cheese and Wine Tasting Tour

Don’t miss out on this wonderful tasting tour of the best typical Sicilian wines and cheeses inside a charming 16th century private home, just a few steps from the famous Arab market Vucciria. This 2-hour tour is ideal for those who do not have enough time to travel to one of the wineries, many of them far from the city of Palermo. Inside a peaceful and relaxing home environment you can enjoy tasting original Sicilian wines, including Frappato, Nero d'Avola, Catarratto, Grillo, Anzonica (Insolia), and Grecanico. All wines will be happily combined with the best Sicilian cheeses, including Primo Sale, Caciocavallo fresco, Ricotta infornata, Canestrato, Vastedda del Belice, and Tuma persa. Enjoy sampling the wines and cheese, served with good black bread from Castelvetrano or Monreale and a rich mixed salad. To finish off the cheese and wine tastings, you will be served original cassatelle (fried sweets) of San Vito lo Capo and the classical sweet wine Zibibbo.

Palermo: Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour with Tickets

5. Palermo: Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel Tour with Tickets

With more than 800 years of history, it’s perfect for culture vultures! Of all the incredible attractions in Palermo, the Palazzo dei Normanni is one that you can’t miss off your itinerary. Once the seat of the King of Sicily, it is the oldest royal residence in Europe and you can learn the history of all the dynasties who had their thrones here - as well as visiting a stunning and sublime channel. Palermo is decorated in history and there are few buildings that offer a window into the past quite as clear as the Palazzo dei Normanni. The Palazzo dei Normanni (or the Norman Palace to English speakers). Construction on the palace started in the 9th century when Sicily was under Islamic rule, though it was renovated by the Normans in 1072 when their empire spread across Europe. Now, it’s the home of the Sicilian Regional assembly. You’ll get exclusive entrance into the palace and its gardens Though not as well known as Rome’s Sistine Chapel or Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, the Cappella Palatina (or Palatine Chapel) is one of the most spectacular in all of Italy. The chapel, on the second-floor of the palace, was built in 1140 and gives an insight into the arts, science and philosophy of the dominant Western and Middle Eastern cultures at that time. See traditional Islamic designs, Byzantine mosaics, and golden decorations in one of the best examples of the Arab - Norman - Byzantine style. Not only do your tickets allow you entrance to the palace and chapel, but you can explore the gardens too with your expert guide. And as the tour is 1.5 hours long, there’s enough time for you to appreciate the stunning historic building and then spend the rest of the day wandering through Palermo’s historic centre.

Palermo: Guided City Walking Tour w/Customizable Itinerary

6. Palermo: Guided City Walking Tour w/Customizable Itinerary

Transform the way you travel and make it as much about the people you meet as the places you see. Get a welcome to Palermo from a local guide eager to share all the tips to help you make the most of your stay. Meet at your hotel or accommodation and get familiar with the neighborhood. Learn insider tips, such as the best places to eat, buy groceries and the easiest ways to get around. Alternatively, arrange to meet at a central landmark or intersection to start your walking tour. Hear about the top things to do, customized to your interests. By the end, you will feel more comfortable navigating the city with all the information you need.

Palermo: Art and Architecture Walking Tour

7. Palermo: Art and Architecture Walking Tour

Discover the historical monuments of Palermo on a small group half-day tour, and learn the fascinating history of the city, from its birth under the Phoenicians through the Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire to the modern day. Wander the winding streets of the Politeama sestiere (district) to see iconic buildings such as the Teatro Politeama and Teatro Massimo, one of the largest opera houses in Europe. Learn about the Arab-Norman era and religious rites at sites such as the 12th-century Cappella Palatina (Palatine Chapel) in the Palazzo Reale. Look in wonder at the splendid façade of Palermo Cathedral, characterized by different architectural styles, from the Gothic through the early Renaissance and Baroque. Learn more about the hidden treasures of the historical center and hear amazing stories that take you on a journey through time.

Palermo: Small Group Night Street Food Tour

8. Palermo: Small Group Night Street Food Tour

Meet your local guide at the main opera house and get to know the other travelers. You'll then walk through the streets before having a welcome toast. Enjoy a glass of fresh Sicilian wine and some interesting bites that you won't normally find in touristy places. On this tour, you'll get to know the real Palermo, its food, its people, and its secrets. Learn about the Sicilian lifestyle as you stroll towards the old port of Palermo. Stop at street food stalls in the heart of Vucciria and sample the best bites selected by your guide. You will get to try the famous spleen sandwich and hear some interesting facts about its origins. The small group allows for easy interaction with your guide and the rest of the group. Your guide will then show you hidden spots and discuss several topics during the walk, from history to art to social issues. Feel free to ask your guide whatever you want. The walk ends at the old port of Palermo for one last sweet treat, a Brioche with ice cream. This will be the memorable end to the tour and your last chance to get some tips to help you enjoy the rest of your stay as much as possible.

Palermo: Walking Tour of Historic Markets and Monuments

9. Palermo: Walking Tour of Historic Markets and Monuments

Explore Palermo's historic center led by a seasoned guide. Hear about the history of the capital of Sicily while admiring notable monuments such as the Teatro Massimo, the Cathedral, and the Quattro Canti, before wandering through markets for local wares and traditional street food. Start the tour by entering the Palermo Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed site dating from the early 12th century. Admire its iconic bell towers and learn about its architectural evolution through time. Then, stop by the Massimo Theater and hear about the ghostly legends surrounding it. You'll visit other must-see landmarks like the baroque Quattro Canti plaza, and the imposing Fontana Pretoria in the Piazza of the same name. Along the way, discover the myths and legends of Siciliy like the mysterious Beati Paoli sect, and the city's patron saint Santa Rosalia, or La Santuzza. Finally, walk through the Capo street market and take the opportunity to try some of Palermo's delicacies like Sicilian street food and pastries.

Palermo di sera: tour alla scoperta del centro storico

10. Palermo di sera: tour alla scoperta del centro storico

At the indicated time, we will meet in Piazza Verdi in front of the Teatro Massimo, in the center of Palermo, to start an evening tour of the Sicilian capital. Ready to immerse yourself in a unique and timeless atmosphere? We will start by admiring the famous Teatro Massimo, the largest opera house in Italy. In front of its imposing facade, (often a set of famous films) we will talk about the history of the Florio family, promoters of the cultural and artistic transformation of Palermo during the Belle Époque as well as the construction of the theater itself. We will pass in front of the Opera dei Pupi theater, where the most famous performances of the Sicilian puppet tradition are staged. Did you know that this art has been declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco? We will head towards Piazza Olivella, where the Regional Archaeological Museum and the church of Sant'Ignazio are located, one of the most sumptuous Baroque temples in the city. Not far away is the birthplace of Santa Rosalia, proclaimed patron saint of the city by popular acclaim for having freed it from the plague. We will cross via Roma, a monumental and busy nineteenth-century street full of theaters and shops to arrive at piazza San Domenico dominated by the imposing mass of the church of the same name, the Pantheon of the city. Inside you can admire many tombs and funeral monuments of illustrious Sicilians including that of Giovanni Falcone. We will enter the Vucciria, the city's celebrated ancient market immortalized in a famous painting by Renato Guttuso. We will then head to the Quattro Canti, a scenic Baroque square, the center of the ancient city. Next to it is Piazza Pretoria with its renowned Renaissance fountain and Palazzo delle Aquile, the center of civil power in the city since '400. We will arrive in Piazza Bellini, entirely surrounded by ancient monuments including the characteristic church of San Cataldo with the three red Arab-style domes, symbol of the city and the church and monastery of Santa Caterina where typical Sicilian sweets are still produced according to the ancient recipes of the nuns. We will be able to stop for a coffee in the historic Torrefazione Stagnitta before reaching Piazza Croce dei Vespri, famous for the famous Sicilian revolution of 1200. We will admire Palazzo Ganci famous for being the famous set of the film The Leopard and Palazzo Bonnet, an imposing palace from the '300 today home to the Modern Art Gallery. We will cross a neighborhood full of young artisans' shops to conclude our evening tour in Piazza San Francesco where the majestic fourteenth-century church stands out, the oratory of San Lorenzo where the stolen Caravaggio was located and where the Antica Focacceria San Francesco has been located since point of reference of popular Palermo cuisine.

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Frequently asked questions about Palermo

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What people are saying about Palermo

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 852 reviews

Great 3 hr walking tour in English, including a nice balance of food tasting, history, and Sicilian culture. Tour guide, Fabrizio, has offered this tour for more than 10 yrs and knows how to keep his audience engaged and allows time for digestion between savory, mostly fried food tastings and the final cannolo tasting. My family and I would recommend this well-priced tour to taste a handful of classic Palermo street foods and learn many interesting tidbits from a true Palermitano.

It was the best 3 hours I spent in Palermo. I couldn't recommend it more highly. Our guide, Hermes, was so knowledgeable and answered each question we had so thoroughly. I had two children with me on this your and Hermes thought about them and made it interesting for them too. If I ever get back to Palermo I would do thus tour again in a heartbeat.

Fabrizio was an excellent guide. I was with a group of 11, and we all got along great and had many laughs, thanks to him. The food was amazing, the history was fascinating, and the whole late morning/early afternoon was simply fun. I recommend!

Fabrizio was an excellent guide! The tour was the perfect blend of history and delicious snacks. Highly recommend!!

It was easy to book and use the tkt, we had timely assistance when we needed it. Recommended