4-Day Palermo Street Food, Mosaics & Norman Palaces City Break

Markets, Arab-Norman mosaics and the best street food in Italy.

Day-by-day plan

Day 1: Arrive and the markets

Stay near the Quattro Canti.

Morning: Train from the airport to the centre.

Afternoon: Ballaro Market street-food grazing.

Evening: Arancini and a passeggiata on Via Maqueda.

Day 2: Palace of the Normans

The Arab-Norman UNESCO core.

Morning: Palatine Chapel and the Norman Palace.

Afternoon: Cathedral and its rooftop walkway.

Evening: Panelle and sfincione supper.

Day 3: Monreale day

A hilltop mosaic morning.

Morning: Bus up to Monreale Cathedral and cloisters.

Afternoon: Back for the Teatro Massimo tour.

Evening: Cannoli from a pasticceria.

Day 4: Seafront and departure

Sea air before the flight.

Morning: Walk the Foro Italico and the marina.

Afternoon: Final granita before the airport train.

Evening: -

Budget

  • Flights — Return fare anchor: lastminute.com's London-Palermo route page lists return flights from £47 per person (one-way from £33) (lastminute.com/flights/r_london--palermo, checked 3 Nov 2026); 'from' fares are lead-in prices including taxes and do not guarantee availability on specific dates. — 47 GBP
  • Accommodation — 3 nights sole occupancy at about £83 a night. Anchor: budgetyourtrip.com's Palermo page puts the average off-season double-occupancy hotel room at about USD105 (~£83) a night (budgetyourtrip.com/italy/palermo, checked 3 Nov 2026). — 249 GBP
  • Food & drink — Market grazing, arancini and trattoria dinners. — 70 GBP
  • Activities — Palatine Chapel, cathedral roofs and Monreale entries. — 30 GBP
  • Local transport — Airport train and city buses. — 15 GBP

Tips

  • Palatine Chapel: Glittering Norman chapel of Byzantine mosaics.
  • Ballaro Market: The city oldest and liveliest street market.
  • Monreale Cathedral: Hilltop cathedral with a world-famous mosaic cycle.
  • Teatro Massimo: Italy largest opera house.