Is Palermo good for solo travel?
Sicily's lively capital of markets, street food, Arab-Norman churches and crumbling palaces. Cheap, gritty and fun for solo travelers; traffic, rubbish and petty theft are the trade-offs.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally fine for solo women. Expect catcalling and staring in some areas; use taxis late at night and keep bags zipped on the side away from the road. |
How to meet people in Palermo
Hostels with kitchens and tours, street-food walking tours, language exchanges, Mondello beach groups, and cultural events at Teatro Massimo and Kalsa.
Good things to do alone
- Eat at Ballarò and Capo markets
- Take a street-food walking tour
- See Monreale's cathedral mosaics by bus
- Visit the Palatine Chapel and Palazzo dei Normanni
- Swim at Mondello beach
Where to stay in Palermo
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Politeama–Libertà | Safe, modern, shops and cafés; best for longer stays |
| Kalsa | Old town with bars, galleries and the waterfront |
| Quattro Canti–Vucciria | Central, lively, close to markets and nightlife |
| Ballarò | Market district: cheap, atmospheric, rough at night |
Solo travel across Italy
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Rome | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Venice | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Florence | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Milan | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Naples | 4/5 | Limited |
| Cinque Terre | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Sicily | 4/5 | Limited |
| Tuscany | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bologna | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Verona | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Sorrento | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Turin | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Palermo | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Catania | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Bari | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lecce | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Genoa | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Amalfi Coast | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lake Como | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Positano | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Sardinia | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Pisa | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Capri | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lake Garda | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Siena | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Puglia | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Dolomites | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Taormina | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Matera | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Lucca | 3/5 | Common in tourist areas |
Quick answers
Is Palermo good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Sicily's lively capital of markets, street food, Arab-Norman churches and crumbling palaces.
How do you meet people in Palermo?
Hostels with kitchens and tours, street-food walking tours, language exchanges, Mondello beach groups, and cultural events at Teatro Massimo and Kalsa. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Palermo?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Palermo safe for solo female travelers?
Generally fine for solo women. Expect catcalling and staring in some areas; use taxis late at night and keep bags zipped on the side away from the road.
More about Palermo
Going to Palermo solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Palermo meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.