Flights to Palermo
If you want to reach Sicily quickly and economically, fly: there are numerous flights to Palermo, so search for the best deal straightaway.
Palermo enjoys a splendid location on the north-western coast of Sicily and is easily accessible from other Sicilian cities and mainland Italy thanks to numerous road, air and sea connections.
If you’re in a hurry, you can opt for a quick flight, which is also budget-friendly thanks to budget airline offers!
If you’re travelling as a family or a group, reaching Palermo by ferry could be even more economical: daily departures from northern, central or southern Italy, along with several departures a week from Sardinia, ensure a wide choice of times and prices.
If the idea of travelling by sea doesn’t appeal to you, you can reach Palermo by train, whilst if you want maximum freedom, travel by car.
A ferry journey is much longer than a flight, but you can pass the time sleeping comfortably in your cabin, sunbathing on deck, dining at the ship’s bar or restaurant, and perhaps even catching a film at the onboard cinema.
A train journey is also long, but it has an incomparable charm of bygone days. Departing from Milan or Rome, you’ll see the entire (or nearly entire) peninsula unfold before your eyes—unless you’ve given in to a well-deserved sleep!
The most convenient way to reach Palermo is certainly by plane: thanks to numerous flights from national and budget carriers, the Falcone Borsellino airport in Palermo is connected to all major Italian airports.
From Rome you can land in Palermo in just an hour, while from Milan the flight takes less than two hours.
If you don’t fancy driving for hours but want to have your car with you once you arrive in Palermo, travelling by ferry is the solution for you—particularly convenient if you’re travelling as a family or with a group of friends.
If you’re travelling with a car, especially during the summer months, it’s advisable to book well in advance.
Driving to Palermo obviously takes more time, but gives you the freedom to leave when you want and, most importantly, once you’ve arrived you’ll be able to explore the area’s attractions.
If you want to reach Palermo by car from Rome, head towards Naples and after passing it, take the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway. At Villa San Giovanni, take the ferry to Messina: the port can be reached directly from the motorway by following the signs “Imbarchi per la Sicilia”.
Fast ferries and car ferries to Sicily also depart from Reggio Calabria port: in this case, exit the motorway at Reggio Porto.
Once you arrive in Messina, the fastest route to Palermo is the A20 motorway: you’ll arrive at your destination in approximately two and a half hours.
The total duration of the car plus ferry journey varies considerably depending on traffic and ferry waiting times, but you can expect around 10 hours. If you’re departing from Milan, add another 5 hours.
If you prefer to leave your car at home, you can always reach Palermo by train: Sicily’s capital is connected by direct trains from Reggio Calabria, Naples, Rome and Milan, whilst from Venice you only need one change. Palermo is also well connected by train to other important towns in Sicily.
With Trenitalia’s Intercity Notte overnight service, you can depart from Milan in the late afternoon and wake up in Palermo the next morning, or take the service departing from Rome in the evening. The most evocative moment of the journey is crossing the Strait of Messina: the entire train is loaded onto a ferry, and passengers can remain on board while you cross the sea—a unique spectacle that still exists in Italy.
The train ticket price includes the ferry crossing of the Strait of Messina.
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