During our trip to Italy, we’re olanning a very short trip to Palermo. We’ll arrive at 1:00pm, spend that day, the next full day and leave the 3rd morning to go to Rome. We would like to spend the 1/2 day at mondello beach, spend the night in mondello then the full day go into Palermo for just the day then back to our house in mondello beach. I realize it’s all considered Palermo, but we’re worried about the travel from mondello to Palermo. I have read that the buses are unreliable but that taxis are expensive. Is it possible to see both places in essentially 1 1/2 days? We would also love to go up Mount Pellegrino. Are we dreaming thinking we can make this happen in 1 1/2 days? Anyone have any experience with such a short amount of time in Palermo? Also, would you recommend staying in Palermo vs staying in mondello? Thinking of staying in mondello so we can use the half day to go to the beach. Then full day in Palermo but back to the room in mondello for the 2nd night. Then to the airport the following morning.
Posted by
North Italy
401 posts
Hi it's a good idea to stay in Mondello and then visit Palermo by bus. We did the opposite but would definitely stay in Mondello if we returned. There's a direct bus in the summer, otherwise you have to change once. There were no problems and I don't remember the buses being particularly late or unreliable. We were there October so had to change bus and I seem to remember it took about 40 minutes. I doubt a taxi would be quicker because of the traffic. By the way if you are visiting in the summer the sea in Mondello is superb - clean and transparent. I was sceptical when a friend told me because the Palermo area isn't always the cleanest but it is really beautiful.
There's also a bus to Monte Pellegrino but I don't know if you'll have time for it all. Palermo deserves a full day....
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16193 posts
The bus ride is about 45 minutes. I took it on a Sunday at the very end of May to spend the day at the beach and it was packed with beach goers. Since you will be doing the reverse in the morning, maybe it won’t be as packed. Mondello is not a separately administered town, but a district of the City of Palermo.
The beach is very nice and not too crowded when I went, in spite of the packed buses. But if you go in July or August, it might be a totally different story.
I visited Palermo basically in one full day. You may not have time for the Basilica of Monreale, on top of the hill, however.
Posted by
OP
Arkansas (USA)
21 posts
Thank you both so much for the information. I thought we were planning it ok until I started reading some other comments, then began to second guess myself!
So our plan will be to arrive May 30 about 1pm. Take a bus from the airport to the Mondello area Check in to our apartment, then go to the beach and visit the areas around the beach. We’ll spend the night May 30 in Mondello, then early morning on May 31 take the bus to Palermo for the full Day. We’ll return to Mondello that night, spend the night and leave for Rome on the morning of June 1. I know it’s definitely not enough time to get the full scope of Sicily, but we really want a little beach time and my husband is very excited to see Palermo!! So hopefully we’re using our time wisely!!
Thanks again and I appreciate any additional information!!