Our recommendations for the best day trips from Palermo - whether you’ve take a car, a tour or the bus!

Updated January 2024

Palermo, the capital of Sicily, is becoming a popular alternative city break on its own merits as well as a start point for longer Sicily adventures.

However, if you’re looking to spend a little more than a long weekend here, it’s an ideal base from which to explore more of the island’s picturesque northern beaches, its sparsely populated interior, and even its famous active volcano.

In this post, we’ve shared our picks for the best day trips from Palermo alongside advice on how to visit them independently or with a tour; whether you feel like a beach day, a hike day, or an exploring-a-pretty-little-town-and-sipping-on-Aperol sorta day, we’ve got a day trip for you!

Palermo Day Trips | How To Get Around independently

Whilst a number of destinations within this post are easily accessible by public transport, there remain several that can only be reached with your own car; that’s why we recommend that independent visitors to Sicily wanting to explore beyond the main sights or at their own pace rent their a vehicle.

It also makes visiting more than one attraction in a single day much easier without having to rely on tours.

We rarely go direct when hiring our road trip vehicles, instead preferring to use two popular rental aggregators to compare costs and find the best deal. The two companies we use are AutoEurope and RentalCars - both of which we have had excellent experiences with.

If you’re planning on renting a car during your time in Sicily, we highly recommend reading our post ‘15 Essential Things to Know Before Driving in Sicily’. This Italian island has a bit of a reputation for bad drivers, so this post should help allay some of your concerns and provide some tips to make your experience a little smoother.

Additionally, we’d also suggest reading ‘Nine Essential Car Rental Tips for Travellers’, for general tips on how to save money on your car hire and avoid some common vehicle rental mistakes.

Hike through Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro

The coastline that stretches between San Vito Lo Capo and Scapello is undeniably beautiful; aleppo pines, wild flowers and verdant green cacti tumble out over rocky trails, towering cliffs and the cobalt blue waters of the Mediteranean below, a bounty of hidden pebble-stone lined coves just waiting to be explored.

It may come as a surprise to learn then, that were it not for a group of local protesters, what is now known as Riserva Naturale Dello Zingaro would simply have become another road, another stretch of tarmac.

We spent a delightful day hiking the length of the nature reserve, but it’s perfectly possible to simply park your car and walk a short distance to one of the many secluded coves along the way and enjoy a beach day with far fewer tourists that you’ll find elsewhere on the island!

Do It Independently | You can only do this trip with your own wheels as it’s a 1h 25 minute drive from Palermo to the start point. However, you’ll be able to access some of the best beaches in Sicily so it’s a no-brainer if you have the time! We recommend renting a car in Palermo via Auto Europe, and if you’ve never rented before you should read this guide full of stress and money-saving car rental tips.

Read our personal guide to hiking Lo Zingaro Nature Reserve for all the details on visiting.

Take a Tour | We haven’t discovered a tour company that offers day trips from Palermo, but would be happy to add a link if you have any suggestions (let us know in the comments).

Splurge // Fancy visiting Lo Zingaro in luxury? If you can get yourself to San Vito Lo Capo (a nearby beach town), you can join experience a private boat tour with up to 12 of your friends or family. The boat hire kind of pricy, but if you fill all the seats it works out to be much more affordable. It allows you to visit the most spectacular little coves in not just the Nature Reserve, but also along this spectacular coastline. You can find out more about this super popular and highly-rated option here.

Best Day Trips from Palermo | Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro

Mondello Beach

Palermo is a super popular place for a short Sicilian getaway, but just because you're based in a city doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice time at the beach.

Mondello, located just 10 miles (or a 30 minute bus ride) from the city centre, makes an excellent day trip. A long crescent of soft white sand and beautiful blue water, the coastal holiday town has all the amenities you need for a perfect beach-bum day including lidos, restaurants and beach bars.

Do be warned however that should you visit during a sunny summer day, you will most definitely not be alone with Mondello’s proximity to Palermo meaning it can sometimes feel like the entire city has come to join you! We visited on a Monday at the very beginning of July and the beach was super packed with tourists and locals alike, and that is supposedly quite common in the summer months.

However, if you don’t mind sharing, then you can still have a lovely day.

Do It Independently | There is a regular bus to Mondello beach departing from Palermo city centre. It takes between 20 to 50 minutes, and costs €1.40. Alternatively, if you have your own rental vehicle, you can drive and park easily enough.

Find all the information on how to get there from Palermo in this short guide to Mondello Beach.

Take a Tour | Actually, don’t - at least if you only want to visit the beach. There are a few tours from Palermo which take you to Mondello, but they aren’t necessary. Simply take public transport!

The exception to this is if you’d prefer to experience the coastline from the sea, in which case consider joining this popular, small group boat tour which includes several snorkelling and swimming spots.

Keep Reading // Where To Find The Best Beaches in Sicily

Best Day Trips from Palermo | Mondello Beach

Enjoy the beautiful town of Cefalù

Anchored between salty water and craggy rock sits the charming small town of Cefalù. An ancient fishing port at heart, in relatively recent years it has become the beachside break for those seeking sun and sand along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily.

And whilst we would honestly recommend spending more than a few hours here, being just an hour down the road from Palermo means that for those of you on a bit of tight schedule (or preferring to have one base on your northern Sicily holiday), it's remains an excellent choice for a day trip from Palermo.

To find out more, head on over to our guide to Cefalù.

Do it independently | If you've got a hire car, it's an easy drive to the centre of Cefalù, although you'll need to get there early to ensure a good parking spot. Alternatively - and perhaps an easier option - is the regular train that departs form Palermo's central station. The train takes one hour and twenty minutes, and costs around €6 per person.

Take a tour | Combine your guided tour of Cefalù with a visit to Monreale in this super popular (and highly rated) full day tour from Palermo.

Marvel at Monreale

Despite our best of intentions when travelling, we don’t always get it right. Case in point? Monreale. Or more precisely, the World Heritage-listed Cathedral di Monreale.

Said to be one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture in Europe, but somewhere we kind of forgot to visit.

Yeah, we’ve been regretting that one.

Located in a hilltop town of the same name, it offers unrivalled views of the Conca d’Oro and the Tyrrhennian Sea, and at just 7 km from the Sicilian capital, it makes a mighty fine day trip from Palermo.

Do it independently | The best way to visit Monreale independently is by bus (you can go by car, but parking can be quite tricky in the summer months), and you have two options. Bus number 389 departing from Piazza Indipendenza or another bus run by Azienda Siciliana Transporti (AST) which leaves from the train station.

It’s €1.40 each way (it’s best to have the right change), and despite being relatively close to the city it can take up to one hour each way due to traffic.

Alternatively, you can book this convenient shuttle bus.

Take a tour | You have two popular options for a guided tour from Palermo: this one which also includes the spectacular ruins of Segesta, or this tour which takes you on a full day trip to combines a trip to Monreale (and its cathedral) with time in our favourite, Cefalù.

If you’d prefer a private tour, consider this highly-rated option which also includes a guided visit to the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo.

Climb Mount Etna

When we were planning our time in Sicily, well, we honestly didn't know too much about the 'must-sees' or 'can't misses'. One thing we were certain of however, was that we had to climb Mount Etna, the 500,000 year old volcano - the oldest and most active in all of Europe - that dominates the skyline of Sicily’s eastern coast.

Whilst most people choose to use Catania or Taormina as a base from which to explore Etna, with a little bit of effort it’s absolutely possible to visit on a day trip from Palermo.

Do it independently | Okay, first things first: for those basing themselves in Palermo, visiting Mount Etna without a tour is possible. Rifugio Sapienza, located at the base of Etna and where you park your car, is located around a two hour drive away and then you are able to use either a combo of walking / cable car / private 4x4 network to get all the way to 2,900 metres.

However - and this is the important bit - due to well-warranted security concerns on this super active volcano, it is only possible to hike to the summit as part of a tour.

For many of you, this may not be a problem (indeed many organised tours do not actually visit the summit), but it is something to be aware of before setting out on that day trip!

If you’re really keen on visiting independently, we highly recommend reading our complete guide to climbing Mount Etna.

Take a tour | To visit Mount Etna on an organised tour from Palermo, you have two options: this group combined Etna and Taormina tour allows you to kill two birds with one stone, or if you’d prefer a more personalised experience you can join a private tour to both Etna and Taormina.

Do be aware that given the travel distance between Etna and Palermo (at least 3 hours each way), whichever option you prefer, you’ll be on a more limited schedule.

discover Corleone

The literal home of the Godfather, Corleone has somewhat of a reputation.

It’s for this reason that a variety of community projects have been set up in town to remove the Hollywood fuelled glitz and glamour associated with Sicily’s dark underbelly - and this is exactly why you should visit.

Don’t miss CIDMA, where they have guided tours in English and Italian (you have to book ahead via their website). Afterwards, take some time to wander around the town which is so wonderfully and quintessentially Sicilian, it’s easy to forget that Corleone was the root of so much bloodshed.

Do it independently | Although not the most frequent service, it is possible to reach Corleone with public transport. There’s an AST bus that leaves central Palermo at 8.15 am, arriving in Corleone at 9.55 am and costing €8.50 per person.

To return, the only option is a departure at 2.15 pm, arriving into Palermo at 4.40 pm.

The easier option is to hire a car, tie Corleone into your own Sicily road trip itinerary. It’s a gorgeous drive along picturesque back-country roads, and takes around 1.5 hours each way. Parking is easily available in the town.

Take a tour | This six-hour tour includes a tour of the town and anti-mafia perspectives, as well as stops at the Gorges of the Dragon and Due Rocche Waterfalls.

Alternatively, Addiopizzo Travel runs this ‘Beyond the Mafia’ tour to Corleone on Fridays. If you book direct, you will need to arrange your own transport to the town, or alternatively you can join this tour which includes transport within the price.

If you’d prefer a private guided tour, there is also this option.

Further Reading // Our Sicily Road Trip Route

Go back in time at the Valley of the Temples

We need to preface this recommendation with the full acknowledgement that visiting the Valley of the Temples from Palermo is not a ‘quick day trip’ by anyone’s standards. However, upon realising that the Temples are such a tourist draw and people are making the 2.5 hour journey across the island (and then back again) to see them, they deserved a place in this post.

The Valley of the Temples is a special place.

Situated on the dry arid hilltops overlooking the penetrating blues of the Mediterranean sea, these iconic temples have stood strong in the face of the winds, the invasions, the wars, the sorrows, the eruptions, and the shifting plates and political fortunes of Sicily.

For 2,500 years, they have remained standing - resolute in form and expression.

Though some have admittedly seen better days, with weather and time beginning to edge ahead in their eternal battle, these famous Greek temples of Sicily scattered amongst the olive trees, the modern tarmac road, the dusty pathways, are something to be treasured by any visitor to the island.

Do It Independently | To do this independently, you’ll need a rental car and the option to set off nice and early, especially during the summer months when the park heaves with tourists. The drive from Palermo is 135 kilometres, and will take a minimum of two hours and 15 minutes to drive.

There are a couple of paid car parks, one at the east entrance, the other at the west, and it matters little which one you choose. There are ticket offices at both entrance, and the standard ticket price per adult is €12 (€6 concession). There are alternative tickets available that include entrance to the museum etc. If you’re visiting during the summer time, you may wish to buy a skip-the-line ticket to avoid waiting in the hot sun - you can do so here.

If you’re still keen on doing this day trip independently, be sure to check out our complete guide to visiting The Valley of the Temples.

Note that if you’re doing a road trip around Sicily, we think it’s best to save the Valley for later in your itinerary once your base is closer.

Take a Tour | Given the distance from Palermo, if you’re really keen on visiting the Temples, we’d actually recommend joining a tour; their are two excellent options that we recommend.

The first and most popular option focusses on the Valley of the Temples and the Agrigento area - you can find out further details here.

The second option is to combine your visit to the Temples with time at Villa Romana del Casale (to see the incredible mosaics) on this highly-rated full-day tour.

Keep Reading // 15 Essential Things To Know Before Driving in Sicily

Valley of Temples from Palermo | Valley of the Temples

Discover the Secrets of Segesta

Sat atop a small hill overlooking the Gulf of Castellammare and isolated from the modern world is one of is one of the finest - and best preserved - examples of Doric architecture in the world. A temple that for more than 2,500 years has sat unfinished, as the passing of time has removed most traces of the great town of Segesta for which it was built.

Part of a larger complex that also includes Greek amphitheatre, it is a must-do for anyone who has even a passing interest in archeology and ancient history, particularly if you will not be able to make it south on your Sicily trip to visit ‘The Valley of the Temples’ discussed above.

Do It Independently | Although we have read rumours of a bus service from Palermo, and there certainly used to be a train stop there, we’ve struggled to establish definitively whether Segesta is accessible by public transport (if you discover differently, we’d love to hear from you in the comments!). Therefore, by far the most reliable way of visiting independently is with your own rental car.

From the main highway, you'll need to head to the nearby official ‘park and ride’ (Google Maps) from where you can catch a shuttle bus to the main entrance. The buses leave every 15 minutes, and parking for the day costs €5 per car.

Tickets to enter the site are bought from a booth where the shuttle bus drops off and cost €6 per person.

The walk from the main temple to the amphitheatre is apparently very beautiful but also incredibly steep, so if you don’t think you’re fit enough (or it’s too hot) consider jumping on the regular shuttle bus between the two (€0.50).

Although it costs a little extra, you can buy a combo shuttle bus and entry ticket in advance here.

Take a Tour | If you’d like to gain a deeper understanding of the history of Segesta and the ruins, consider taking a tour of the site. This highly-rated full day (eight hour) group tour includes not only a guided visit of Segesta, but stops in Nubia, the Salt Pans in Trapani, and the charming hilltop town Erice - it’s a great way to explore many of the highlights of western Sicily in one day. Find out more here.

Keep Reading // A Curated Guide to Trapani

Escape to the Hilltop Town of Erice

Precariously perched atop Monte San Giuliano, the wonderfully preserved medieval walled town of Erice offers an opportunity to step back in time at 751 metres above sea-level.

Despite not being quite as pretty as our lofty expectations and experiences of southern Italy had led us to imagine, it is probably still the most unique place we visited in Sicily. Accessible via an edge-of-your-seat ascent up a narrow hairpinned mountain road (or a relatively more sedate cable car ride), Erice is steeped in the myth and conquest of long gone powers, offers breathtaking vistas over Trapani, the coast, and the Mediterranean from a fairytale castle carved into rock, and the chance to indulge in too sweet treats at the island's most famous patisserie.

Do It Independently | To reach Erice by public transport, you’ll first need to take a bus to Trapani. This is a Flixbus, costs approximately €15 each way and takes one hour and 35 minutes. You can check bus times here. From Trapani, you will then need to take the cable car up to Erice.

If you’ve done the maths of that trip, especially if there’s more than one of you, reaching Erice by public transport doesn’t make a great deal of financial sense - instead, we’d advise independent travellers to travel to Erice by hire car. Doing so will mean you can drive straight to Erice without having to take the cable car, and means that you will be able to stop at other attractions and beaches along the way (we recommend checking out this road trip post for tips on where to visit).

You can find full details that will assist with visiting Erice independently in our complete guide to this lovely little hilltop town.

Take a Tour | The best tour from Palermo to Erice is actually the same one we recommended for visiting Segesta, and takes in many of the highlights of this western area of Sicily. Find out full details on the tour here.

THE MOSAICS OF VILLA ROMANA DEL CASALE

A Sicilian version of Pompeii? Not quite.

Villa Romana Del Casale does however offer up sumptuously preserved Roman mosaics and floors to gasp at, which are even better than those at Pompeii (though it is from a much later period of the empire).

Excavations of this luxurious villa complex started in 1800s, and it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site due to it being the home of ‘‘the finest mosaics in situ anywhere in the Roman world’. Vast and intricate, these well-preserved works showcase colourful scenes of lovers, bikini-clad women playing sport, and fantastical scenes of myths bringing together beast and man.

Do It Independently | It is possible to take a two hour and 15 minute bus from Palermo to Piazza Armerina (the nearest town to Villa Romana), but this will require you to then take another bus or a taxi onward to the site making the overall journey time really quite long and somewhat inconvenient.

Instead, we suggest that this day trip should be done with a more car or tour only.

Entry to the site costs €12 for adults, €6 for concessions. It’s open from 9 am - 7 pm, last entries at 6 pm.

For more information or for opening times etc, visit the official website.

Take a Tour | There are not an abundance of tour choices for those wanting to visit Villa Romana del Casale from Palermo, with most guided tours requiring you to make your own way to the site. If you need transport however, this seven-hour option is the one we recommend.

Alternatively, if you’d like to combine these incredible mosaics with a guided tour of the Valley of the Temples, this popular tour comes highly recommended.

Explore the Madonie Mountains

Located just south of Cefalù, the vast Parco delle Madonie incorporates quaint medieval towns and villages with lush mountainous landscapes and an agricultural heavy lifestyle - and provides quite a contrast to the the classically ‘Sicilian’ coastal way of life.

Home to a number of mountains over 1,500m (including Siliy’s second highest), Madonie lends itself particularly well to hiking and walking, with countless routes of varying length and difficulty. There’s even the possibility to ski here during the winter months!

Do It Independently | 35,000 hectares is a rather large area to cover in one day, so we’d recommend choosing a specific town (or several towns) to explore, or perhaps pick one of these hikes to conquer by yourself.

Take a Tour | You can take a day trip tour to Castelbuono, one of the most popular (and beautiful) towns to visit in the Madonie Mountains, which also stops in Cefalù - find out more here.

Keep Reading // 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Sicily