Daily excursions departing from Palermo
Many full-day itineraries to discover the countless wonders of Sicily’s territory.
Gastronomy, nature, artistic and cultural beauties, a variety of experiences to suit every need. By car or minivan, by jeep or on foot… to explore Sicily far and wide.
Palermo walking tour
Description: Meeting at 9:00 am in Piazza Verdi, at the foot of the steps of the Teatro Massimo to admire the imposing structure of the largest opera house in Italy. A few steps away you will enter the heart of the historic market U Capu, where history, tradition and street food blend with the voices and faces of the people of Palermo. There a recently restored baroque jewel is hidden, the little church of the Immacolata Concezione. Through alleyways and ancient palaces you will arrive at the Norman Cathedral where the remains of Frederick II of Swabia and the silver “Vara” of Saint Rosalia are kept. Among the gardens of Villa Bonanno and the ancient Roman ruins of the Paleopolis you will reach the Royal Palace or Palace of the Normans, which preserves 3000 years of our history and the splendid mosaics of the Palatine Chapel, where Arabs, Byzantines and Normans shared knowledge, esoteric secrets, life and customs in great tolerance. Skirting the ancient fortifications, you will photograph San Giovanni degli Eremiti, an evocative Arab-Norman architecture with its distinctive domes. Discovering medieval quarters, Spanish facades and courtyards of historic mansions, you will walk along the “Cassaro” to end your tour at Quattro Canti or Teatro del Sole, an elegant baroque layout.Departures: Every day
Duration: Half day
Adults € 38.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: From Tuesday to Sunday
Meeting point: Piazza Verdi at 9:00 am.
Included: Multilingual tour escort, whisper.
Not included: Lunches and drinks, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums, local guides. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Palermo by night walking tour
Meeting with our staff at 7:00 pm at Porta Felice. Join us on an intriguing Palermo by night walking tour!
Have you ever had a drink next to what was once the bed of an ancient river? Let yourself be guided through the streets of the historic centre and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the Palermo nightlife, where history and modernity come together to offer unusual scenes. We will walk through the ancient Arab district of Kalsa and see fantastic examples of street art, with many murals along the way. We will then enter Piazza Magione and Piazza Rivoluzione and see the main spots of local nightlife! Finally, we will take you to a famous pub where you will taste a delicious all-Sicilian aperitif. We will then return to the initial meeting point, passing by the magnificent Basilica of St. Francesco.Departures: Every day
Duration: Half day
Adults € 48.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Every day
Meeting point: Porta Felice Gate at 7:00 pm.
Included: Multilingual staff, whisper, one Sicilian aperitif per person (1 glass of Sicilian wine and snacks)
Not included: Any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums, local guides. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Baroque and Aristocracy
Meeting at 2:00 pm at Quattro Canti (Piazza Vigliena) you will walk along the ancient axis of the city to reach and visit Palazzo Alliata di Villafranca, one of the richest residences of the Palermo aristocracy which, among its beautifully restored halls, houses a beautiful Crucified Christ by Van Dyck. Then continue on foot towards the famous Fontana Pretoria or “of Shame”, which will be the setting for popular tales. In Piazza Bellini you will admire the domes of San Cataldo from the 12th century, of the Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and then, as a surprise, the visit of the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, known as “la Martorana”, where baroque and Middle Ages coexist among the finest Norman-era mosaics. This will be followed by a particularly interesting visit, the Church of Santa Caterina, recently returned to the city but for centuries reserved only for young cloistered nuns, girls from the highest aristocracy who lived secluded among lapis lazuli altars and precious stones in contrast with baroque and Spanish Palermo society. You will then walk along the alleys of the craftsmen’s guilds and the judges who accompanied the condemned to death. You will be introduced to the tales of the “Gattopardo”, admiring from the outside the terrace of Palazzo Gangi, location of Visconti’s famous film, to reach the small square decorated by the splendid Gothic rose window of the church of San Francesco d’Assisi. From there you will discover the richest and darkest centuries of Spanish Sicily, reaching Piazza Marina to admire a centuries-old ficus magnolioides in the Garibaldi Garden, once a place reserved for the sentences and tortures of the Holy Inquisition. Here the walk will end with traditional ice creams and cannoli in the old port district, La Cala.Departures: Every day
Duration: Half day
Erice, Salt Pans and Segesta
Meeting with our staff and with the rest of the group at the Meeting Point and departure towards western Sicily where we reach Erice. The Elymians founded the medieval town of Erice, which was an important religious site associated with the goddess Venus. We continue through the Trapani Salt Pans, where the ancient tradition of harvesting salt from the sea is still practised. In the afternoon we continue to Segesta, one of the main cities of the ancient Elymian people, to visit the Doric Temple (entrance ticket not included), dating back to the late 5th century BC, built on a hill just outside the ancient city and offering an impressive view over the surrounding area. Return to Palermo.Departures: Tue and Sat
Duration: Full day
Adults € 78.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Tuesday and Saturday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 8:00 am and 9:00 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, multilingual staff.
Not included: Lunches and drinks, guided tour of Segesta, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums, local guides. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Entrance fees per person to be paid on the spot: Doric Temple of Segesta € 6.00 p.p. + little train to the Theatre € 1.50 p.p. – Cathedral of Erice € 2.00 p.p.
Piazza Armerina and Agrigento
Meeting with our staff and the rest of the group at the Meeting Point and departure for Piazza Armerina to visit the Roman Villa del Casale (entrance not included), dating back to the late 4th century AD. It belonged to an important influential Roman family. We then continue to Agrigento to visit the magnificent Valley of the Temples (entrance not included), built by the Greeks during the 5th century BC. Return to Palermo in the evening.Departures: Wed and Sun
Duration: Full day
Adults € 98.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Wednesday and Sunday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 6:00 am and 7:00 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, our multilingual staff, local guide in the Valley of the Temples.
Not included: Lunches and drinks, guided tour of the Roman Villa del Casale, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums, local guides. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Entrance fees per person to be paid on the spot: Valley of the Temples in Agrigento € 10.00 p.p. – or Valley of the Temples plus Archaeological Museum € 13.50 p.p., Roman Villa del Casale € 10.00 p.p. + whisper € 1.50 p.p.
Etna and Taormina
Meeting with our staff and with the rest of the group at the Meeting Point and departure for Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe (3,345 m). On arrival, visit the Silvestri Craters. Then departure for Taormina, a charming and romantic town on the slopes of Mount Tauro (204 m). Free time to visit the famous Greek Theatre (entrance ticket not included) from where you can enjoy an extraordinary view of Mount Etna and the bay of Taormina and Giardini Naxos. Later we return to Palermo.Departures: Wed and Fri
Duration: Full day
Adults € 108.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Wednesday and Friday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 6:00 am and 7:00 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, multilingual staff
Not included: Meals and drinks, guided tour of Taormina, Etna: cable car and unimog (jeep) tickets, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Entrance fees per person to be paid on the spot: Ancient Theatre of Taormina € 13.50 p.p., Etna: cable car up to 2,500 m € 30.00 p.p.; cable car + 4×4 minibus + alpine guides up to 2,920 m € 68.00 p.p. (rates subject to reconfirmation).
Castelbuono and Cefalù
Meeting with the group at the Meeting Point and departure for Castelbuono, a small medieval village located in the Madonie Park with a delightful historic centre that is still well preserved and fascinates you from the very first moment. The town developed around the Ventimiglia Castle, near a Byzantine settlement called Ypsigro. Walking through its narrow streets is like entering another dimension. On arrival, we will stop at a small pastry shop to taste the famous Sicilian Panettone, a typical Christmas cake of Milanese origin, reimagined and revisited in a Sicilian key, with particular attention to the flavours of the land and respect for the rhythms of nature. Enjoy the tasting of Sicilian panettoni. We then continue to Cefalù, a wonderful town on the northern coast of Sicily and one of the region’s main tourist attractions. Built on a promontory dominated by an overhanging cliff, Cefalù, while still preserving its ancient character, has developed around the Cathedral commissioned by Roger II. The Cathedral, begun in 1131, is one of the most interesting medieval monuments on the island and boasts splendid mosaics and a wonderful cloister. Much of the town is pedestrianised. Stroll through the medieval alleyways and admire the picturesque houses overlooking the sea and the long sandy beach. At the end of the tour we return to Palermo.Departures: Tue and Fri
Duration: Full day
Adults € 78.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Tuesday and Friday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 8:20 am and 9:00 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, multilingual staff
Not included: Meals and drinks, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Marsala and Island of Mozia
Meeting with our staff and with the rest of the group at the Meeting Point and departure for the Island of Mozia, an ancient Phoenician city founded in the 8th century BC. Shuttle to the boat to reach the small Phoenician island and explore the area. In the afternoon we enjoy a visit to the Marsala salt pans and a delightful wine tasting at the Cantine Pellegrino winery (or similar, subject to availability). Later we return to Palermo.Departures: Mon and Thu
Duration: Full day
Adults € 98.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Monday and Thursday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 7:30 am and 8:30 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, multilingual staff, round-trip boat tickets for Mozia, entrance fees for Mozia, wine tasting in Marsala.
Not included: Meals and drinks, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Island of Favignana
Meeting with our staff and with the rest of the group at the Meeting Point and departure for Trapani to take the hydrofoil and reach incredible Favignana, the largest island of the Egadi archipelago, shaped like a butterfly. The hydrofoil from Trapani arrives at the lovely little harbour of the town of Favignana, which for centuries was protected by the Forte di Santa Caterina. Originally built by the Arabs as a watchtower, it was later enlarged by the Normans and subsequently used as a prison by the Bourbon kings. The Island of Favignana has a simple, unpretentious charm and a relaxing atmosphere, wonderful cliffs, crystal-clear sea, and delicious cuisine for lovers of fresh fish. On arrival, you will rent a bicycle, the most popular form of transport on the island of Favignana. Thanks to the small size of the island – it measures less than 9 km from east to west – and the lack of climbs or slopes, it is easy to get around by bike. Free time. In the afternoon, return of the bike and departure by hydrofoil for Trapani. Arrival and transfer to Palermo.Departures: Mon and Thu
Duration: Full day
Adults € 108.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Monday and Thursday
Pick-up: Scheduled between 7:30 am and 8:30 am depending on the departure hotel.
Included: Air-conditioned vehicle, multilingual staff, round-trip hydrofoil tickets, full-day bicycle rental
Not included: Meals and drinks, any entrance tickets for archaeological sites/museums. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
Island of Ustica
Today departure by hydrofoil to Ustica, a small, beautiful, unique and fairly wild island, full of warm-hearted people. Fantastic seabeds, a marine reserve like few others in the Mediterranean and many well-equipped diving centres. A fascinating historical background, a paradise for divers and fish lovers. On arrival in Ustica we meet our staff and transfer to a local bar for a small breakfast. Then a short panoramic tour of the island to explore the most important and fascinating cliffs, followed by a boat trip around the island to enjoy pleasant snorkelling. Do not forget your camera and swimsuit! This afternoon optional hiking or e-bike tour or diving. In the late afternoon we return to Palermo.Departures: Mon and Thu
Duration: Full day
Adults € 148.00 p.p.
Reduction (3–12 years): 30%
Departures: Monday and Thursday
Pick-up: Scheduled at 6:00 am in front of the Liberty Lines ticket office, Calata Marinai d’Italia
Included: Hydrofoil tickets, round trip, short tour of the island of Ustica, multilingual staff on arrival in Ustica, breakfast in a local bar in Ustica, boat excursion (about 2 hours)
Not included: Meals and drinks. Everything not mentioned under “Included”.
