Day Trips from Palermo

Located on the coast of Sicily, on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Palermo is the most important city of the island and also one of the main artistic and architectural centres of Italy. It is also an ideal place to use as a base for exploring other nearby destinations.

Among the best things to see and do in Palermo, an excursion to the surrounding cities is one of the most interesting alternatives. From the capital of Sicily you can take full day tours to Agrigento and Escala dei Turci, Monreale and Cefalù in the Basin of Gold, the salt mines of Segesta, Erice and Trapani and the villages of Corleone and Portella della Ginestra, among other places.

The Cuenca d'Oro is the mountainous region surrounding Palermo and Monreale is the main site on the periphery, noted for its Cathedral, which was the inspiration for the Sicilian capital's cathedral and is considered one of the most important medieval churches in the world. The Cathedral is striking with its mosaics and open terraces. You can tour the town on a private van tour from Palermo.

In Monreale you can also visit the monastery of San Benedetto, an imposing Romanesque building decorated with mosaic-covered columns, and the town's main square. Before continuing with the tour you can also stop for lunch in the local restaurants, which have nothing to envy to those of the best gastronomic tours of Palermo

The next stop on the tour is Cefalù, a seaside town that also stands out for the Cathedral and its religious monasteries and for the medieval laundry located at the foot of Porta della Pescara. In Cefalù you can also lose yourself in the narrow streets, visit the old houses with balconies overlooking the sea and enjoy the local ice-cream parlours.

In Cefalù you can also visit one of the best beaches in Sicily, with white sand and crystal clear waters, although the time for swimming depends on the tourist service provider and the number of visitors.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 110 euros per person. The final price varies according to the number of visitors and includes return transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 7 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will visit one of the most beautiful regions of Sicily.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... If you are travelling in summer you may not be able to swim at the beach of Cefalù because of the time of the excursion.

Agrigento was, in the Golden Age of Ancient Greece, one of the most important cities of the Hellenistic civilization and also a central point for the Greek culture. Nowadays, you can visit the Valley of the Temples on private full-day excursions from Palermo, to see the most famous ruins in southern Italy.

One of the most important archaeological sites in the world, the Valley of the Temples is actually an acropolis comprising a sacred area with ancient buildings of religious worship and Doric style, but also other constructions that were part of the government and administration of Agrigento. During your visit you will also be able to enjoy the open views of the rural landscape, full of olive and almond trees.

Along the same route you can also visit the Turks' Staircase, which is located about 20 minutes from Agrigento on the coast of Punta Piccola. These natural stairways, formed in the saline cliffs, have become one of Italy's main attractions. Their name derives from the raids by Turkish smugglers and pirates on the island of Sicily and their use of the cliffs as a refuge from persecution.

This private tour in small groups of up to 8 people is ideal if you plan to travel in a group, although if you don't make up the number of visitors you can be included in another contingent. These tours usually include hotel pick-up and return transfers. If you plan to travel to Palermo in summer you can enjoy the open views of Agrigento and the best weather on the island.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 140 euros per person. The final price varies according to the number of visitors and includes return transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 8 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to visit one of the world's major archaeological sites.
• Disadvantages of these tours... If you travel during the winter the views from the acropolis could be very cloudy and the days are rainy.

If you are a fan of the mafia theme a tour from Palermo to Corleone and Portella della Ginestra will be ideal. On these shared small group tours you can visit some of the locations where The Godfather trilogy was filmed, and learn about the history of the bandit Salvatore Giuliano, in one of the best mafia tours.

In Corleone you will see the historic centre of the town, take a guided tour of the Mafia Museum and have time for lunch in one of the local restaurants, while tasting wines from Sicilian wineries. The tour will then continue to some of the sites where The Godfather was filmed and where the mythical character of Vito Corleone, who is inspired by local gangsters, was brought to life.

The next stop on the tour will be Portella della Ginestra, a small hamlet between San Giuseppe Jato and Piana degli Albanesi that became famous when the bandit Salvatore Giuliano caused a riot during the May Day celebrations of 1947 that ended with the death of 11 people. During your visit you can visit the memorial to the victims of the uprising.

These excursions, which usually start at the Teatro Massimo, take about 5 to 6 hours and are therefore compatible with a short visit to the city. If this is your case, here is a list of activities so that you can discover Palermo in 3 days.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 75 euros per person. The final price varies according to the number of visitors and includes return transfers and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 5 to 6 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will get to see some of Sicily's most famous villages.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... The tour has a very hectic pace, not recommended for older adults and small children.

One of the most beautiful sites in the outlying areas of Palermo is the salt pans of Segesta, a destination you can visit on these full day tours from Palermo. In Segesta you will see the theatre and the Great Greek Temple, which is located on top of the town's hill. You will also visit the salt pans surrounding the archaeological sites and take a guided tour of the town, before continuing on to Erice.

Erice hides one of Sicily's best-kept secrets, which is the ancient recipe for almond sweets, a favourite with children, making it an ideal and fun excursion if you are planning a trip to Palermo with children. However, Erice also has to offer wines from local wineries and Sicilian lunches in restaurants housed in medieval buildings.

Trapani, the last destination on these excursions, is the main town in western Sicily, and is noted not only for its gastronomy but also for its churches, picturesque harbour that is a hub of yachting activities and granite monuments. In Trapani you can also visit the salt mines and the Nubian Salt Museum.

Interesting details

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 95 euros per person. The final price varies according to the number of visitors and includes return transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 8 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... This is the best alternative for getting to know the west of the island and an ideal plan to do with children.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... The route does not include a stop for a swim, despite the fact that you will be visiting beach areas.

If you want an adventurous experience during your trip to Sicily, you can take an excursion to Etna and Taormina from the Sicilian capital, to discover one of the main attractions of the east coast of the island. During this private tour you will be transferred by van on a full day tour that will take you on one of the best tours from Palermo.

Etna is one of the highest living volcanoes in the world and a natural wonder. During the tour you will be able to see the volcanic peak and if you wish, at extra cost, you can climb to the top on your own. During the tour you will be assisted by an expert local guide and after the visit to Etna you will visit the historic town of Taormina, which is characterized by the Greek Theatre, the picturesque Palazzo Corvaja and Villa Mon Pons, which is a neighbourhood built on high ground.

In Taormina you can have lunch in a typical Sicilian restaurant recommended by your guide or you can choose to use the free time to explore the historic town at your own pace until the time of your return. On these excursions you will get to know the east coast of the island, which has very different landscapes from those around Palermo.

Please note that these excursions last a full day, so you will find it difficult to combine them with a short stay in the city. If that is your case, here is a list of activities you can do to get to know Palermo in 2 days.

Details of interest

• Price of these excursions... They have an initial cost of approximately 155 euros per person. The final price is modified according to the number of visitors and includes return transfers with hotel pick-up and the assistance of an expert local guide.
• Duration of these excursions... Approximately 11.5 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions... You will be able to experience the changing landscapes of eastern Sicily.
• Disadvantages of these excursions... You will have to do the tour at a very intense pace, especially if you decide to climb the summit of Etna.

You can either book the tours in advance online or book them once you are in town. If you are planning to visit Palermo in August or during the summer months , I recommend that you book tours in advance to avoid selling out.

In addition, some tour providers offer discounts for pre-booking online, so you can save money as well.

The answer will depend on the tours you choose, but in general you'll get to see the main sites of Sicily and some of Italy's most interesting attractions, such as the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the salt mines of Segesta and the Etna volcano, which is one of the largest active volcanoes in the world.

You can also visit emblematic sites such as the village of Corleone or the site of Portella della Ginestra. If you like the architecture of Palermo, you will also like the Cathedral and the Monastery of Monreale, as they were built in the same style as most of the buildings in the Sicilian capital.

Palermo is located on the west coast of Sicily and is generally quite far from most of the island's tourist towns, so all excursions will take between 8 and 10 hours on average. This should be taken into account when organising your itinerary as you will hardly be able to combine these excursions with other tours in Palermo.

Also, if you plan to visit Palermo at Christmas or during the festive season you should make sure that the transport for the excursions runs smooth ly and that the entrance to the attractions remains unchanged, as many of the conditions change during the festive season.

You can tour the destinations on the outskirts of Palermo on your own, although you will need to make your own arrangements for transfers and entrance fees. If you decide to hire a car you will have to drive and if you decide to travel by train or bus you will lose time, so by using a guided tour you will be able to relax and enjoy the journey.

Bear in mind that if you rely on public transport you will often not be able to complete the excursions in one day, as some destinations, such as Mount Etna or Taormina, are 2 to 3 hours away from Palermo.