I have seen similar posts and have found the information helpful.

With just a day (cruise stop) we are trying to decide between a guided tour of Monreale and the catacombs versus the catacombs and other sites within the city eg the cathedral and palace.

We would also like to be able to walk the market place.

Is the Monreale an excursion which would consume the day but be worthwhile ?

We have talked to "Tours of Sicily" and "Passage to Sicily" about guided tours. Has anyone experience with either of them ?

Thank you.

I did Monreale in just a few hours - just on the edge of town. I see no way it would consume more than a few hours. And if i recall right the church with the macabre bones and catacombs in one the way there - I did both easily in one afternoon.

The Palentine Chapel in the Norman palace is interesting although you can only tour the entire place at certain times because it's used for government functions. However, if you're going to Monreale then the Palentine Chapel is more of the same type of thing. The cathedral is very plain inside and only worth a few minutes.

Monreale is fabulous and I would highly recommend it.

I would try to do your own guided tour as you could see so much more of Palermo in a day and the 2 choices you have seem limited.

One of the highlights of Palermo was a puppet show. I thought it would be hokey but it was great!

Other things I did that I very much enjoyed included an Oratorio and Palazzo Abatellis (museum).

Here are my photos so you can see Monreale and the Palentine Chapel.

http://modigliani.shutterfly.com/sicily2011

Agree - Monreale is a gem and can be visited in a few hours. If I had to choose only one site to visit in Palermo, it would be the cathedral at Monreale, but I can't speak to your interests.

I also second adrienne"s suggestion to visit on you own if you can. Then you can use the rest of your time as you see fit. Like adrienne, I enjoyed a puppet show (which I thought hokey and wonderful all at once and which had me laughing so hard tears were running down my face) and the Palazzo Abatellis. I'm glad I saw the Palentine and other parts of the palace, but agree they are similar to (and not quite as spectacular as) Monreale. And there is much else to enjoy in Palermo - La Martorano, San Cataldo, the archeological museum ...

Enjoy!

Thanks for all the good advice.

We would like to have a driver at least if not a guide because our group includes an older grandparent who may not be as able to travel by feet.

We are in Palermo on a Sunday. Will the markets and other sights be open ? If not what are our best sight seeing options on a Sunday ?

Thanks.

We saw way more than I expected in one day in Palermo (Palermo is fantastic, by the way), but given mobility issues perhaps a driver would be good. Traffic on that ring road is terrible, though!

Just to let you know, I've been on Fodor's for years but the best Sicily info I received was on the tripadvisor Sicily forum. There are a number of people living in Sicily--including Palermo--on that forum. You might want to check it out.

Oops, wanted to say I am not in any way criticizing the Sicily advice that you (or I) have received here. The posts above are all full of good information. Just saying that for nitty-gritty logistical details, you can get a lot of answers from the Sicily tripadvisor regulars.

Thanks Leely2. Will pick everybody's brain !

My main concern is what will be open on Sunday in October.

A little disappointed that the markets may be closed.