Palermo from Australia: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Palermo, when to go, the visa for Australians and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Palermo tripDay to day in Palermo, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | A$34 | A$43 |
| A balanced mix | A$51 | A$59 |
| Mostly restaurants | A$70 | A$79 |
- Local transport: about A$9 a day. Taxi: A$5 to start, then A$1.44 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about A$14 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about A$6 a person a night, paid at your stay.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, holidu.it, blogsicilia.it; in AUD at today's rate.
When to go
13°F
13°M
15°A
18°M
22°J
27°J
31°A
31°S
27°O
23°N
18°D
14°
The most pleasant months are March to June, September and November. July is the driest month (7 mm of rain) and January the wettest (97 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Italy, place by placeCompare: Italy or Greece · France or Italy · Spain or Italy · Japan or Italy · Italy or Portugal · Croatia or Italy · Italy or Switzerland · United Kingdom or Italy
Visa for Australians
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: smartraveller.gov.au, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Palermo
Palermo Cathedralchurch · a couple of hoursClimb to the roof terraces for views over the old city; royal tombs inside
Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatinapalace · a couple of hoursThe gold mosaics of the Palatine Chapel are the highlight; check limited Sunday hours
Monreale Cathedralchurch · half a day8 km uphill from the city; pay extra for the cloister and the roof terraces
- Capuchin Catacombscemetery · a couple of hours
Thousands of mummified Palermitans in their Sunday best; not for the squeamish, no photos
- Ballarò Marketmarket · a couple of hours
Palermo's oldest street market; mornings are liveliest
Teatro Massimolandmark · a couple of hoursItaly's largest opera house, seen in The Godfather Part III; daytime guided tours or an evening performance
Quattro Canti and Piazza Pretoriasquare · a couple of hoursBaroque crossroads at the heart of the old city; La Martorana's mosaics are steps away
San Giovanni degli Eremitichurch · a couple of hoursRed Arab-Norman domes and a peaceful cloister garden near the Norman Palace
Mondello Beachbeach · half a dayThe city's sandy beach below Monte Pellegrino, 30 minutes by bus 806
Church of the Gesù (Casa Professa)church · a couple of hoursEvery surface covered in coloured marble; a short walk from Ballarò market
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Palermo cost?
Food and getting around come to about A$43 a person a day eating street food, A$59 with a balanced mix and A$79 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Palermo?
The most pleasant months are March to June, September and November. July is the driest month (7 mm of rain) and January the wettest (97 mm); daytime highs run from 13 to 31 °C over the year.
Do Australians need a visa for Italy?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on smartraveller.gov.au on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Palermo?
Palermo Cathedral, Palazzo dei Normanni and Cappella Palatina, Monreale Cathedral, Capuchin Catacombs, Ballarò Market.
Your whole Palermo trip, priced from your door
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