Palermo, Italy in 2.5 days
 

We have 2.5 days in Palermo. What would you do? We are in our 20"s FYI - thanks in advance for your help!

Go out to Montreale just on the southern edge of town and visit the glorious abbey there and also a church with lots of skulls and bones on display.

https://www.google.com/search?q=monr...HXufDnMQsAQIHg

Another day take the bus or train to Segesta to see the stunning Greek temples and theatre, etc there:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...italy%20images

Of course look around Palermo but IME of being there a half day or so is enough for that.

If looking for a close by sweet seaside town Cefalu is about an hour away by train or bus:

https://www.google.com/search?q=cefa...HZcfAnEQsAQIGw

I would go to the library and get my hands on a very good guide for Palermo and also look online for descriptions of Palermo and blogs about Palermo and trip reports. Then pick what really interests you personally. That might be a tour of the opera house + going to one of the food markets + the Norman Palace. Or it might be a historic puppet show + the Palazzo Chiaramonte + a walking tour of the Mafia areas of the city. Or it might be Monreale one day + the museum of Sicilian painting (quite interesting to me) + and the street where people grill fish outdoors and eat at communal tables (the name escapes me).

You won't have time to see everything in Palermo but it has lot of places to enjoy that are purely Sicilian so pick what you think is important.

The name of the street I was trying to think of where they grill fish is via Torremuzzo. Also, Palazzo Abatellis is the home of the museum of regional Sicilian painting, but also several masterpieces from the Italian mainland.

I just the read the post above and think it is -- pardon me -- idiotic to think that the main sights of central Palermo can be seen in half a day. If you don't want to see Palermo, up to you, but you will see next to nothing in half a day.

sandra - I said IME and that's how I feel so get off your low horse and put yourself in the shoes of young average first-time travelers - actually I was disappointed in Palermo itself - all those things you say are neat but there is a lot more in Sicily IMO to spend more time in than Palermo itself. Each to their own and who is to judge - except you of course as usual. That was my opinion after being there as a veteran traveler - Montreale and Segesta now are real gems.

Ah this mantra you must spend days in each place or it is not worth it. I thought Catania, a city no one seems to recommend, was a lot nicer in itself than a rather dirty dilapidated Palermo.

Here's what I would put at the top of my list in Sicily - Climbing Mt Etna; Syracuse and its Roman/Greek ruins; Agrigento and its stunning Greek temples and Segesta and Montreale in or near Palermo.

Lose the judgmental attitude and state your own opinion without dissing another's equally valid opinion - Palermo about a day - OK I'll bump it up to a full day but for the average traveler no more - use it as a base for Montreale, Segesta and Cefalu - Cefalu would make a nicer base for most people actually than dicey Palermo.

tbbeach - what are you interested in - opera houses, museums or puppet shows, etc. It makes a difference in how long you may want to spend in Palermo and can guide others for recommendations.

Well, we all like different things. I found Palermo a fascinating and even beautiful city.

tbbeach, we had a very short time there, too, because our plane was delayed (and delayed). Still, we managed to take the bus up to Monreale Cathedral--for us this was about a half-day excursion. Saw the Norman Palace rather quickly, the Capella Palatina, a number of churches, including those with the Serpotta stuccoes and la Martorana, the Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria and more. We walked almost everywhere. Stayed right by Piazza Marina, which was a convenient location for the sights we most wanted to see. We even had time to shop because my friend's luggage was lost and she had nothing to wear.

I'm not a market-visiting person, so skipped those.

Have a fantastic time!

I agree with everyone who suggested Monreale. It is so incredible.

Agree with checking in books (or online) for best Palermo sites--with limited time, it makes sense.

DH and I took a local bus to Mondello Beach. Even in March when we were there, kids were playing beach volleyball, there were local markets along the beach, and there's a cool beach house.

Listen to your hearts and have a super time. You will return!

p.s. I used the Michelin Green Guide for Sicily and found it very helpful.

Yes go to a library and photocopy relevant pages of Michelin Green Guide for the few places you are going - ditto with other guides then you have to not port around hefty books and have several points of view.