Palermo

I visited Palermo about 5 years ago. I took the airport bus and then walked a couple of blocks to my hotel. I don't remember the hotel but it was about 3 to 4 blocks from the Opera House. I walked around on my own, took the local bus, etc. while I was there and felt comfortable. You do have to take the same care that you would in any big city. As long as you have your valuables securely stored and are sticking to the main tourist areas, I would not be overly concerned.

Stories about "violent and dangerous" Palermo are an exaggeration insofar as people in US writing about how dangerous Los Angeles is. The "rough" neighborhoods will be out of sigh and you don't have any reason to go there anyway. Fortunately, contrary to US, in Europe the worst parts of a city are usually well over the central areas, stuck between the core districts and the countryside with all problems like illegal immigrants, some gangs, ghetto-Eurotrash etc.

You should absolutely arrange for private transportation to your lodgings. But, it has nothing to do with security/safety. It is just a matter of making things easier for yourself. I am assuming you will be flying overnight and thus landing jet lagged in a city with which you are unfamiliar. If you have arranged transporation, you can just gather your belongings and get dropped off at your destination. Once you get settled in, you can take a shower (to spunk yourself up), go explore and get yourself oriented. Pamper yourself a bit and let someone else deal with the logistics in an unfamiliar city....especially when you will be tired. And.....have a marvelous time!!!!

Thank you so much for your input! I think in general it's good to be aware of petty thieves, but overall it sounds safe.

I've been to Palermo several times. No ones gonna bother you. As suggested just take the usual precautions and be aware of what's going on around you. I would say transport depending on your luggage. If you have a couple of peices that are easy to handle take the bus. It's six euro and drops in 8/9 locations around town. If you'll have alot that would be a pain to handle then a taxi which will be around 40 euro. Palermo is a wonderful place. I've walked through some of the not so nice areas....never had a problem. You'll be fine. Enjoy!

Andre L says ghetto-Eurotrash Andre L, what do you mean by "ghetto-Eurotrash"? Are you talking about the build up of rubbish on the roads in Naples?

Nigel, it was a bad translation from a Dutch expression used to describe the European equivalent of the "trailer trash" persona in US: underachievers, heavy on smoke and cheap alcohol, delusional, narrow-minded and thinking of the next town as a whole, new, brave, strange World.

I spent several days alone in Palermo in 2005. I walked all around the central area; if I noticed a "dodgy" area, I didn't go there. I expected Palermo to be another version of Naples, but it was neat, clean, and very interesting. It was as safe as other European cities. Pay attention, wear a moneybelt, etc. I took the train into town and was met by my B&B host. The bus goes to central Palermo. if you know where your hotel is in relation either to the train stations or the bus station, you can use public transportation.

I was in Sicily for a month in July 2011, and had a great time! My B&B host, a rock musician who plans ahead, met me at the station after many days of texting to plan it to the minute. You'll have a great time. Be sure to go to Monreale.

I think 90% of problems with "unsafe" areas in cities with urban problems (from Paris to Barcelona to Manchester to Palermo) can be avoided used common sense. As a colleague wrote above, if an area seems dodgy and look dodgy, it is probably best to avoid it (in Northern Europe "dodgy" areas are generally safer though). Any big city will have some spots plagued with drug trafficking, homelessness or else. They are easy to spot and avoid daytime. Nighttime, in my opinion, is just not the time in which you venture out of safe and delimited districts to explore corners, alleys and back paths on foot in any big/medium city. Sounds like common sense - you wouldn't do that in Miami, Detroit, Chicago or Los Angeles; why would you do it in Madrid, Roma, Lyon or London?

I was just in Palermo a few weeks ago. If you are staying in the center, you can take a bus from the airport that will drop you off at various places in the center. It ends at the train station, but your stop would probably be earlier. There are signs that lead you to this bus from inside the airport. This bus costs 5.80€ if I remember correctly. You could always get off, and take a taxi from there which will save you a great amount of money. If you do plan on taking a taxi, arrange a private pick-up early on, or make sure before you step in the taxi you agree with the driver what the final cost will be. Some of them like to take advantage of tourists. As far as bold thievesreally no issue if you are smart and confident. I felt no worries, but I also hold onto my purse and belongings wherever I go. I even walked through a rough neighborhood for a little (mostly on accident while wandering around, headed back to a larger street) and was fine. Palermo does have it's problems, but it is unlikely that you will personally be affected by it.