Car Rental in Palermo

Why rent a car in Palermo?

Palermo is a great place for renting a car. Not only will it let you explore the rest of the island, a great city in its own right.

Taking a rental car to the mainland: Most hire companies at Palermo Airport allow their cars to be taken between Sicily and mainland Italy. Usually, travelers make this a one-way trip (that is, not returning to Siciliy or not returning to the mainland). There is an additional fee for this, though it is not large percentage-wise if hiring a car for a week or more.

Top ways to enter Palermo

• Palermo Airport: Also known as Palermo-Falcone Borsellino, it handled 6.6 million travelers in 2018. The airport is especially active during the summer months when it has flights by more than 30 different airlines. The airport is located 31 km (19.2 mi) northwest of the city and can be reached in about 45 minutes.
• Trapani Airport: Also known by its full name Vincenzo Florio Airport Trapani–Birgi, this small airport handled 1.5 million travelers in 2018. The airport is served by five different airlines, offering domestic connections, as well as flights to and from countries like Germany, Malta, and the Czech Republic. Located 112 km (69.5 mi) southwest of Palermo, Trapani Airport takes 90 minutes to reach.
• Comiso Airport: Another small international airport, Comiso-Pio La Torre is served by four airlines (although two only have flights during the summer months). The airport offers flights to and from Belgium, Germany, and Malta. Located 238 km (148 mi) southwest of Palermo, Comiso Airport can be reached in about 3 hours and 20 minutes.
• Catania Airport: Sicily’s biggest airport, Catania-Fontanarossa handled almost ten million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by more than 50 airlines, including low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Volotea, and Wizz Air. Located 215 km (133 mi) southeast of Palermo, Catania Airport can be reached in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

City facts

• Palermo has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with very hot summers and mild winters. The average high temperature is 30.5 °C (87 °F) in August, the hottest month, and 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) in February, the coldest. Palermo is, on average, one of the hottest cities in Europe. The precipitation is very low in June and July, but there’s an increase from October all the way to February. Despite its southern location, snowfall does occur in Palermo (about once a decade). 
• Palermo is the capital and largest city of Sicily (which is not only one of Italy’s 20 regions, but also the largest island in the Mediterranean). The city has a population of about 675,000, with 525,000 more people living in the larger metropolitan region. The city is made up of eight districts that are further divided into quarters. An inhabitant of Palermo is called Palermitano or Panormito.

Top sights and activities

• Palace of the Normans. Once the home of Sicilian kings and the oldest royal residence in Europe, this palace is one of the finest examples of the unique Arab-Norman architecture that you can find all across Sicily. Dating back to the 11th century, Palazzo dei Normanni is the seat of the Sicilian Parliament nowadays, but it can still be visited by tourists.
• Capuchin Catacombs. Seeing the remains of ex-residents of Palermo might understandably be considered scary, so you should definitely know what you’re getting into before visiting, but the Catacombs do provide a fascinating insight into the city’s history. The catacombs grew around the Capuchin monastery, and are especially known for the 1,200 mummies whose final resting place is in them. Visit the landmark’s official website to learn more about admission.
• Church of the Gesù. Built of polychrome marble, the church of Gesù (also known as Saint Mary of Jesus) is one of the most notable Baroque buildings in the Sicilian capital. Its construction dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, The church was partially destroyed during the Second World War, but its lavish interior and frescoes have since been restored to their original state.
• Palermo Cathedral. Another very notable religious building, Palermo Cathedral took no fewer than 600 years to finish and is therefore unsurprisingly a mixture of various styles that include Norman, Moorish, Gothic, and Neoclassical. Known for its towers, unmistakable portico, and collection of rich religious art, it is also the resting place of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and his wife, Constance of Aragon.
• Zisa and Cuba. The city of Palermo was actually founded by Semitic-speaking Phoenicians as early as 2,800 years ago, and its original name was Ziz which means ‘a flower’ in that language. While these two palaces are relatively much more recent and come from the 12th century when Sicily was the site of a cultural connection between Normans and Arabs, it is perhaps one of Palermo’s landmarks that most embodies its incredibly diverse and fascinating history. For this reason alone, it is worth venturing slightly outside the Palermo historical center and tourist zone to see these (the palaces themselves are about a 25 minute walk or 10 minute drive from each other).
• No Mafia Memorial. Thanks to both The Godfather trilogy and certain pages of Italian history, Sicily continues to be associated with organized crime in public imagination – but what many people don’t know is that some of the strongest anti–mafia initiatives have also originated on the island. To provide historical context, commemorate victims, and celebrate the courage of regular Sicilians, locals have created the No Mafia Memorial, and the museum has deservedly become one of the most visited landmarks in the city.

Traffic and parking

• The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30 km/h. 
• Main highways are limited to 130 km/h, non-major highways to 110 km/h, and local roads to 90 km/h. During the rain the limits are respectively lowered to 110 km/h on the main highways and 90 km/h on non-major highways. The general speed limit is lowered to 50 km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
• The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card and your driver's license with you at all times.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers. Being over the allowed limit can result in hefty fines, suspension of your license, and even imprisonment. 
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

There are two toll roads on Sicily — the A18 between Catania and Messina and the A20 between Palermo and Messina. The A19 between Palermo and Catania is not tolled and neither are the A29 and highway between Catania and Siracusa.

The toll gates accept credit cards, cash, and Telepass. Most rental companies in Siciliy do not provide Telepass transponders with their cars. Keep in mind that you cannot use your own Telepass unless the license plate of the car is registered to it — contact Telepass to see if you can do this or not. In any case, you can always pay for the tolls in cash or with a credit card. 

Ideas for day trips

• Bagheria. This small town is visited both for its magnificent villas and for the museum of painter Renato Guttuso.
• Trapani. Similar in atmosphere to Palermo, only smaller, Trapani is a great place to visit on a relaxing day trip. Nearby Lido di San Giuliano beaches are some of the most beautiful you’ll find in Sicily. 
• Cefalù. About an hour’s drive east of Palermo, this village is famous for its beaches, seafood, and unique architecture.
• Madonie Regional Natural Park. One of the most notable protected nature areas on Sicily, Madonie is named after the mountain range at its heart and has six peaks between 1,500 m and 2,000 m (4,920 to 6,500 feet) that are easy enough to climb but offer great views of the island and the sea below. The austere landscape of the park is enriched by wildlife like the Balloni’s eagle and fallow deer, as well as steep hillside villages and castles like Castelbuono. 

Most popular cars

The most popular rental cars in Italy are the Fiat Panda, the Ford Fiesta, and the Fiat 500. The most popular rental car type is an economy, followed by mini and compact.

Further destinations

For more about traveling around Sicily with a rental car, check out our complete guide.

• Catania. Dramatic Mount Etna and beautiful baroque architecture are just two of the many reasons to visit Palermo’s great rival on the eastern coast of Sicily.
• Syracuse. Not far from Catania, Syracuse is perhaps the best place on the island to learn about Sicily’s Greek heritage.
• Malta. Picturesque, hospitable, and full of ancient stories, Malta is a great destination that’s only a short flight away from Palermo. You can pick up a new rental car after arriving on the island.

Car rental prices in Palermo

• Medium cars - from $10 per day
• Small cars - from $4 per day
• Large cars - from $14 per day
• SUVs - from $10 per day
• Station wagons - from $10 per day
• Vans - from $47 per day
• Convertibles - from $49 per day
• Premium cars - from $132 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Below, you'll find reviews about traveling to Palermo from customers who booked their rental car through us. Here's a summary of some of the most frequent tips they mentioned:

1. Exploring Beyond Palermo:

   • Example Quote: "Having the rental car allowed us to tour the entire island including all the hidden gems."

   • Tip: Renting a car provides the flexibility to explore remote areas and beautiful sites outside the city.

2. Visiting Popular Sites:

   • Example Quote: "Wonderful trips to Taormina and the surrounds were made easy with the car."

   • Tip: Make sure to visit popular tourist destinations like Taormina for a memorable experience.

3. Island Hopping:

   • Example Quote: "Favignana was extraordinary, we liked shopping there as well."

   • Tip: Use your rental car to reach ferry points for island trips, such as to Favignana.

and some issues to watch out for

1. Navigational Challenges:

• Example Quote: "Driving in Palermo can be a bit of a challenge due to narrow streets and traffic."

• Issue: Be prepared for the busy and narrow streets in Palermo which can be difficult to navigate.

2. Parking Problems:

• Example Quote: "Parking in the city was sometimes difficult to find."

• Issue: Finding parking spots in the city can be challenging; plan accordingly.

There are many things you can do to get a good rental deal in Palermo:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Palermo is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 70% cheaper than the yearly average.
• Check out our list of the best rental companies in Palermo.