Where to stay in Palermo?

Stay in the heart of the historic center

The center of Palermo is made up of four districts: Castellammare, Monte di Pieta (of which the historic heart is a part), Kalsa and Albergheria (to be discussed later in this article). It's quite a vast area, therefore, and it's important to separate the zones to fully understand the ambience and criteria of each.

At its heart is the area around the Quattro Canti (photo), the famous square that represents the old town. It's even considered the starting point for discovering Palermo. In fact, it's here that you're closest to the Sicilian city's places of interest.

You'll also find many historic monuments and interesting tourist sites, including :

• piazza Marina
• vila Giulia, a beautiful park for a stroll
• the Ballarò and Vucciria markets
• the Palermo Botanical Gardens
• the fontana pretoria, a famous fountain renowned for its architecture

The area is very lively and touristy, especially in summer. There's plenty to do day and night. It's a multicultural area that suits all types of travelers visiting Palermo.

Partly pedestrianized, this area is very easy to visit on foot. Everything is nearby (shops, museums, etc.). As for bars and restaurants, you're bound to find a nice place to relax or have fun!

Finally, the accommodation on offer in this part of Palermo is quite convincing. There are plenty of places to stay in the mid-price range. You'll also find more or less expensive accommodation, depending on your criteria. You should also be aware that the area is rather noisy, so the choice of accommodation is not to be neglected.

Kalsa, the lively central district

Kalsa is one of Palermo's central districts. It lies to the southeast, just a few meters from the coast. It's a charming old Arab town with narrow streets ideal for strolling.

The area is currently undergoing extensive renovation and redevelopment. The social and cultural aspects are being revitalized to make it as safe as possible. But it's still a working-class neighborhood. It will appeal to young people in particular. It's the ideal place to enjoy the authenticity of the city's cafés, bars and restaurants.

The area is home to impressive churches such as Magione and Spasimo, as well as other places of interest, including :

• palazzo abatellis
• garibaldi Park
• palazzo Abatellis
• porta dei Greci (Greek Gate)
• the Fountain of the Genius

The area around Piazza Marina is also a great destination for families. Indeed, this part of Palermo is very lively and centrally located. If you decide to stay in this area, everything is within easy reach. This means you can usually get around on foot or by bus.

It's not difficult to find a place to stay in this area, as the accommodation on offer is very varied and rather massive.

Further north is the Castellammare district, also known as the Loggia. It lies between La Kalsa and Monte di Pietà. Here you can discover the remains of the city's ancient fortifications, including the Porta Felice. This is an ideal area for families.

Staying along the Via della Liberta in Politeama

Via della Liberta is a famous central street in the Politeama district. This district is close to the center of Palermo, to the north. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the heart of the city on foot. Public transport also makes it easy to get around the Sicilian capital.

Politeama has a reputation for being a lively, upscale district. In addition to monuments of Art Nouveau architecture, you'll find numerous international brands, especially along Via della Liberta, and independent boutiques. It's a great opportunity to stroll among these elegant buildings, making Politeama Palermo's chic district.

Via della Liberta lies between two of the area's most popular tourist attractions: the Politeama Theatre and the English Garden, Parco Piersanti Mattarella. The Politeama Theatre is one of the largest theaters in the world, and can be visited before or after enjoying the peace and quiet of the park, for example.

Staying in this area is a good alternative, as it's one of the best places to stay in Palermo. It's the ideal place for a family stay, even if the evenings are very lively. It also caters to the needs of the most hard-core party-goers, especially young people. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and sophisticated clubs to choose from.

As far as accommodation is concerned, you'll have no trouble finding a hotel, apartment or other property in this area. However, as this is one of Palermo's nicer districts, prices are a little higher than in other parts of the city.

Accommodation south of the city center in Albergheria

Albergheria is often referred to as the "Little Africa" of the Sicilian capital. This district lies to the south of the heart of the old town, bordered by Monte di Pieta and Tribunali. It's a fairly poor part of Palermo, andone of the least touristy.

Although its Arab-Norman architecture will appeal to many, Albergheria is not the first choice of travelers on a visit to Palermo. But if you're looking for a cheaper place to stay than in other parts of the city, it's the place to go. Its main advantage is its proximity to the center and the main railway station. You can easily radiate throughout the city and reach the most popular points of interest in just a few minutes on foot.

But Albergheria also has a number of interesting sights to discover, including :

• the Palazzo dei Normanni and its Palatine Chapel
• the Ballaro market for local produce, fish and seafood
• as well as Bologna Square, the Sclafani Palace and the Regional Gallery of Sicily

This is also the area where you'll find numerous craft stores selling souvenirs and typical items such as the "coffa", a traditional Sicilian basket.

Albergheria is home to a few Italian and international restaurants, but not as many as in other areas. As far as bars are concerned, the offer is the same. Indeed, it's not the liveliest place in Palermo. As for accommodation, there's a good choice of places to stay at unbeatable prices.

Stay close to the beach in Mondello or Addaura

Mondello and Addaura are located in the northeast of Palermo. It's easy to get there in around 30 minutes from the center of Palermo by bus, or by car if you have a car.

Mondello is an old fishing village that has become very famous over the years. It's a pleasant, authentic place, perfect for relaxing during a trip to Sicily's capital. Indeed, staying in this part of Palermo is ideal for those seeking peace and relaxation. If your vacation in Mondello could be summed up in 3 words: rest, relaxation, idleness!

This area is famous for its magnificent sea views and turquoise waters. Mondello Beach, with its fine sand, is the best-known place to enjoy the Mediterranean. However, most of the area is overrun by private beaches, where you have to book in advance (usually costing around 20 euros a day) to get a deckchair or parasol. There are, however, places where you can lay down with your towel, but space is very limited.

As you can see, Mondello is the place to stay if you're looking for a seaside vacation. As far as tourism is concerned, you won't find anything of interest. The center is quite small and there's not much to do. But even if the area is fairly quiet, there are plenty of restaurants, bars and even discos for nightlife lovers.

Further south, at the foot of Mount Pellegrino, lies the small village of Addaura. This area is very similar, if not identical, to Mondello. Indeed, the atmosphere is the same, and staying here is a choice made for the same reasons as in Mondello. The ombelico del Mondo is the perfect place to bathe in this area. It's a large public bath with deckchair/parasol reservations. Beware,access to the sea is rather complicated and there are many rocks, which can become dangerous.

Mondello and Addaura are very popular with tourists in search of relaxation. There's plenty of accommodation on offer, but it can be expensive.

Borgo Vecchio's nightlife

Following on from the historic center is Borgo Vecchio, Palermo's port district. The old town can easily be reached on foot in around 20 minutes.

The area is fairly quiet, with a mix of beautiful neighborhoods and port areas. It's easy to find a place to stay here, as there's a wide range of accommodation on offer. Accommodation prices are varied, but for the most part very affordable. Borgo Vecchio is one of the cheapest areas to stay in Palermo.

In terms of tourism, there's not much to do. However, the marina Palermo is very pleasant for a stroll. There are also several excursion agencies if you'd like to book trips and other water sports.

Borgo Vecchio's reputation is undoubtedly founded on the festive atmosphere of the evenings spent here. Indeed, nightlife is very much a part of the town's reputation. If you're a party-lover, this is the place to stay! What's more, it's home to many bars, restaurants and cafés.

As you can see, staying in Borgo Vecchio is a good alternative if you're looking for inexpensive accommodation close to the historic center, and a lively nightlife.

Zisa: close to the historic center

La Zisa is located to the northwest of the historic center. The two areas are quite close, but it takes a good 30 minutes on foot to make the connection.

This is not the most touristy area of Palermo. In fact, this old countryside is not the most lively place; here the atmosphere is more residential. It does, however, boast a number of interesting tourist attractions, including

• the Palazzo della Zisa, a beautiful Arab-Norman castle
• the Zisa gardens
• the Capuchin catacombs , which over the centuries have housed the bodies of Sicilian aristocratic families, some of which are still in very good condition

As far as accommodation is concerned, you won't easily find a place to stay in this part of the city . But the few accommodations that are available are, for the most part, very affordable. Bars and restaurants are also rare in this area.

As you can see, the Zisa is not necessarily the best place to stay during your stay in Palermo. Even though it's close to the center, it's more out of the way than other, more interesting areas.