Palermo 2-day itinerary. What to see in Palermo in two days? Every time guests arrive at our B&B Ai Viceré, whether they are Sicilian, Italian, or foreign visitors, we propose and recommend, through a charming map created by us, the most significant points of interest to visit during their stay in Palermo.
- Mercati storici
- La concezione
- La cattedrale di Palermo
- Piazza Quattro Canti
- Porta nuova
- Il Palazzo Reale
- il Duomo di Monreale
- Teatro Massimo
- Piazza Pretoria
- Gli oratori del Serpotta
- Monte Pellegrino
It all depends on how much time you have. If you’re in Palermo for a romantic getaway, a cultural weekend, or a leisure trip away from your city’s routine, and you only have two days, I recommend following our valuable advice.
What would you like to see in a Palermo 2-day itinerary? What brings you to Palermo? Are you familiar with the traditions and culture of our city? Would you like to be captivated by the most suggestive and fascinating twinkling lights of the historical markets? Do you know that Palermo boasts the oldest royal residence in Europe? Are you aware that inside the Capo market, there is a wonderful Baroque church unknown to many Palermitans? So, if you want to know what to see in Palermo in two days, keep reading.
So, if you have only 2 days in Palermo and don’t know what to visit, if two days seem too short, and you’re afraid of missing something important, we are here to give you advice for your 48 hours in Palermo.
The tour I recommend to make sure you don’t miss anything about things to see in Palermo in 2 days includes the city’s main monuments, museums, markets, and streets. Following our advice and with our map in hand, you will fully immerse yourself in the city and discover every corner of the most authentic Palermo, visiting the major attractions, alleys, and cultural events.
What to see in Palermo in 2 days depends a lot on your arrival day. What time is your flight? Ship? or train? When is your arrival scheduled? The best-case scenario is to arrive in the morning with the possibility of leaving your luggage directly with us at Ai Viceré. We will welcome you and provide you with ideas about the places to visit.
1st Day
A few steps from Ai Viceré, take Porta Carini, one of the city’s oldest gates, and within minutes, you will immediately experience the enchantment of one of the oldest and most charming markets in the city, as well as the world: Il Capo.. The Capo market, of Muslim origins, is a characteristic place where sellers with their stalls full of products of all kinds, fragrant and colorful, alternate among the alleys of the historic center. Immersed in this typical atmosphere of Palermitan daily life, with the “abbanniate” (cries) of sellers encouraging the purchase of their goods, it’s easy to get lost in delicacies and typical street food palermitano.
A curious fact is to find yourself under the awnings of the stalls and in an instant be catapulted into one of the most stunning Baroque churches. A gem of seventeenth-century Baroque is the Church of Santa Maria Immacolata Concezione, located just after Porta Carini. Its entrance would leave anyone open-mouthed with awe at the multiple golden decorations, various types of marble, and the opulence typical of the Baroque style, contrasting with the humble market stalls that surround it.
After leaving the market and the overwhelming church, let yourself be transported to la Cattedrale, the Cathedral of Palermo, which you cannot miss in your itinerary of the most important things to see in Palermo in 2 days.
The Cathedral of Palermo is simply astounding, a mixture of architectural styles from various eras that harmoniously come together to create a monumental structure that from the outside embraces the main street, Via Vittorio Emanuele, and all the surrounding streets. Beautiful on the outside and less loved on the inside, the cathedral gives you the opportunity to see the entire city from above in a suggestive and unforgettable way by visiting the rooftops.
Once you have visited the Cathedral, you will find yourself on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the main street and crossroads, where a river used to flow in the past. Continuing along this street, you will reach Porta Nuova, one of the most imposing gates in the city, surmounted by the eagle, the symbol of the city of Palermo.
After passing the gate, you will find yourself on Independence Square, a large square that borders the Palazzo dei Normanni, also known as the Royal Palace, now the seat of the regional assembly. The palace is one of the oldest residences in Europe.
During one of the recent restorations, a room full of treasures with many gold coins was found in the Pisan tower! This is evidence that both King Frederick II and Roger II lived inside the palace. Of significant importance and wonder is the Palatine Chapel located inside, where many architectural elements such as the dome and apse are decorated with Byzantine mosaics, among the most beautiful in the world.
From here, we will head to the last obligatory stop to conclude this first day, which will take us to the visit of Monreale. From Independence Square, it will be easy to reach this enchanting town not far from Palermo by taking one of the public buses.
The Norman town of Monreale is famous for its impressive Cathedral. The Cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria la Nova is a masterpiece of Arab-Norman art, rich in mosaics inside that narrate the stories of the Old and New Testaments. The Monreale Cathedral is often contrasted with the Cathedral of Palermo. The antithesis of the two buildings is due to the splendor of the interior of one, matched by the beauty of the exterior of the other.
This day is coming to an end, and we recommend having dinner at one of the restaurants we suggest, where you can enjoy pizza, have dinner, savor a good ice cream, or simply have an aperitif:
Mercede Osteria Mangia e Bevi Vecchio Club Rosanero Ferro di Cavallo
It’s only the first day, and we’ve been carried away by the atmosphere of the Capo market and enchanted by the wonder of the Baroque church. The breathtaking view from the cathedral’s rooftops to see all of Palermo and experience Norman and Byzantine eras like true royalty.
Now it’s time to start the second day to conclude the itinerary on what to see in two days in Palermo.
2nd Day
What to see in Palermo on the second day of your stay? We are on the second day, ready for a great day on things to see in Palermo!
Thanks to the ancient system of intersecting streets of Arab origin, you can easily reach various places throughout Palermo. Far and wide, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the largest historical centers in Europe.
The first stop today will be the Teatro Massimo, just a few steps from Ai Viceré. You will find yourself in front of this imposing structure, which
Every time guests come to us at B&B Ai Viceré, whether they are Sicilian, Italian, or foreigners, we offer and recommend, through a lovely map created by us, the points of interest to visit during their stay in Palermo.
Behind the adjacent Palazzo Pretorio, Piazza Bellini opens up, featuring the Arab-Norman church of San Cataldo with its red domes.
Next to the Church of San Cataldo, we discover the beautiful Martorana church, built in Norman and Baroque styles, famous for the nuns who invented “frutta martorana” (exquisite almond paste that is delightful to taste and beautiful to behold).
Not far from the Vucciria market area, last but certainly not least on our list of things to see in Palermo in two days are the Serpotta Oratories. These oratories are adorned with stucco that resembles marble, making these places truly unique in the world.
Following our recommendations on what to see in Palermo in two days will leave you enthusiastic about your visit to our city, where art, culture, and food will accompany you throughout the journey and until your return.
Reach the sea from Porta Felice, skirting the Walls of the Bad, and in a few minutes, you will find yourself at the port: La Cala di Palermo, the ancient port of the city, where today people stroll, jog, and engage in sports. It’s full of little local spots. On this side of the city, one of the few cities with a tourist port in the historic center, you can admire an exceptional landscape and gaze upon Monte Pellegrino, the mountain where the sanctuary of Santa Rosalia is located.
Here we are at the end of our tour of things to see in Palermo, at this enchanting viewpoint where you can relax, breathe, or simply enjoy the sun that always kisses our beloved Palermo.
