Downtown Palermo to Airport for early flight

Take the airport bus from the city to the airport.

http://www.prestiaecomande.it/linea/index_linea.htm

The Piazza (Teatro) Politeama stop is only a few blocks from Hotel Palmes. According to the schedule Giovanna posted, buses to the airport start at 4:00am and run half hourly from 5:00am. It estimates travel time as 35 minutes from Piazza Politeama to the airport and 50 minutes from the central train station to the airport.

I've taken this bus, and can highly recommend it as cheap and reliable transportation to the airport. There is air conditioning, and reclining seats with seat belts.

It takes 4 minutes to walk from the Hotel Des Palmes to the bus stop in front of the Politeama Palace Hotel. It takes 10 minutes to walk from the Centrale Palace Hotel to the other bus stop (origination point) in front of the Hotel Elena in Piazza Giulio Cesare (Stazione Centrale).

If you choose the Des Palmes, be sure to ask for an updated room. There are many hotels to choose from within walking distance of both airporter bus stops in Central Palermo.

I will already have a car, with a GPS but have never driven in Palermo and don't know the morning rush hour scene. Palermo is at the end of my 10 day stay in Sicily. I will arrive on a Saturday and leave early Monday morning. If it is just a 35 minute drive I'll drive it from Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes.

Thanks for all of the insights.

Claudia

The morning rush scene is horrific in Palermo. Drop the car off at the airport before your arrive in Palermo and take the bus to the city, or stay outside the city and visit Palermo on a day trip.

If you drive, allow much more time than 35 minutes to get from Palermo to the airport during Monday morning rush.