What has been your experience of Palermo? Comment below and let me know! Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already - your support for my channel means the world!
I went to Palermo in December. 1. I think I saw Malbello Beach from the surrounding hill tops. Is it a separate suburb that’s a few kilometres NW of the city? It looked separate from Palermo and empty at that time of the year. 2. There was still piles of rubbish in December but only around the apartment blocks that are on the fringes of the city. The tourist centre was actually clean. Interestingly I only had to go through the suburbs from a hike as the public transport wasn’t running that day. 3. I hired a car in Palermo and didn’t have any issue, but then I didn’t leave anything inside it. I highly recommend hiring a car to visit other parts of Sicily. I got bored of Palermo after a while and other places such as The Valley of Temples, Siracusa and Taormina are 100% well worth a visit and maybe the centre of Catania. 4. I reckon in Italy, zebra crossings are just a decoration that the locals consider optional. The standard of driving is absolutely appalling. I’d recommend waiting for a local and cross the road and you cross when they cross. 5. I recommend eating Arancini (rice balls that come in many different flavours) and Cannoli (pastry roll with cream cheese). In fact, I love arancini so much that I want to find them in the UK?! Arancini also make a good food to put in your bag for hiking. You can different flavours of arancini like Nutella or ham and cheese etc. 6. Palermo had a lot of e-scooters, they made a convenient alternative to public transport. You can buy an unlimited day or week pass. Drop off the e scooter where you want to visit. 7. The train a few stops before Malbello was surprisingly cheap compared to the UK (I think €1.60) I also got a train to Valley of the Temples (well worth a visit) 8.I naturally walk with my hands in my pockets and I never stop to talk to strangers and ignore them. Therefore I’ve never had a problem with pick pockets. My advice is the central tourist area of Palermo is ok for a short while but there’s not enough for a few days. The Palermo coastline is disappointing with it’s industrial docks and no beach. I would spend a day or 2 in Palermo and then get a hire car and visit the whole island. There’s nice hiking in the hills surrounding Palermo (such as Pizzo Manolfo) that give nice views.
This week, my husband and I are going to Sicily for the very first time. We'll be there for one week. Any advise for hotels or Airbnb? We like to sleep well without the noise😅
As an Italian, I can say that you give excellent advice to tourists, at the same time showing that you love the city by putting aside bad prejudices. Thank you ❤
I just got back from Italy. Such a beautiful country and she is correct, I was surprised about the trash, everywhere. Not just in cities but on every highway, road, corner, beach. It's a shame really.
You' ve certainly been in the south...and Rome, North of Italy is spotless. Recycling percentage of Italy is 82% against an European average of 39%...Germany is 44%. (2022)
I have visited Palermo twice and both times had very good experiences around the city itself. Food markets are really impressive and have among the best food that you can find around Sicily overall. One particular aspect regarding the insight of cars potentially attracting attention, it also applies to foreign cars. The first time I went there was due to a tournament and with some of my teammates we departed from Malta, crossed by ferry and drove the remaining part. As here in Malta we have left hand traffic, our car did catch a fair bit of attention having the steering wheel on the right, even if many people from Malta still drive in various parts of Sicily
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad it was a good one! I think Italians are naturally curious and so anything that's a little bit different, draws their attention.
I completely agree with the tip not to visit in August. It's so congested and many businesses are shut down for the month. Great video ~ thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this. Super useful and very accurate information, with a touch of humour thrown in for good measure. I thoroughly recommend that anyone thinking of visiting Palermo look at this entire vid and take heed of all your suggestions and warnings.
Great video! We’ve stayed in a very nice Airbnb near Norarbartolo station and we recommend the area very much. The bus connection to the downtown was literally perfect. Our experience in early September in Mondello beach was unfortunately the worst in Sicily. Not crowded at all but our lido was just not was is tipicaly expected in Sicily. When crossing the street we figured out you just have to keep walking. If you stop you will never cross it 😅
Very nice assessment. I lived here for 2 winters and love the city. I finally figured out how to cross the street :-) You are 100% correct you have to begin crossing with out waiting. They will stop. But honestly I will never feel 100% safe crossing the street in Palermo. As far as August is concerned, I will take it a step further. I never stay in Italy in the month of August. It is absolutely the worst month to visit. I like to go home to New York. The best month for the beaches in Sicily is June, September and October. July can be great but it all depends where you go.
I've been living in Sicily for 10 years. People are wonderful, kind, generous but fatalistic about the possibility of improvement. Public infrastructure, maintenance, trash collection, access to hospitals to name a few is abysmal. People's tolerance and acceptance of filth, chaos and poor public is amazing. A tourist passing through for a few days may not notice or care.
Italy is a fascinating country, there are some problems that could easily be fixed (proper rubbish collection is not like planning a mission to Mars) but after decades are still there with zero improvement: crazy. BTW I am Italian.......
North of Italy is spotless. Recycling percentage of the country is 82% - the highest - against an European average of 39%. It's the south of the country the problem that can't be fixed.
@@francescotellini1389 went to Liguria last summer, looked super clean and nice indeed. One of the first infos in our holiday home was about which trash to put where. Big deal there. ;)
I am glad you pointed out the dirty part of Palermo. My Husband and I we’re there 2 weeks ago. Stayed 1 night and had to leave. I was not going to spend 4 days of my holiday walking over garbage. Driving was insane. We had been driving all of Sicily, but Palermo was next level crazy drivers. We loved Sicily. Visited Catania, Syracuse, Taormina, Cefalu. We left Palermo and went to the most charming town, San Vito Lo Capo. Amazing beach, restaurants and street markets. Stayed at a hotel 1/2 price of Palermo, with ocean view. Thanks for your great video.
I’m sorry you had to experience this especially because Palermo is a beautiful city - it just lets itself down with this situation. Oh and the drivers - the absolute worst I’ve ever seen too!
I am planning on going to mondello in July. How is it during July ? Chaotic like August or little less ? I also planned on doing 7 days . Would you say that’s too much or a good amount ?
Thanks for this. I am going to Palermo in middle of September, would that be still busy at Mondello beach? What would be the best way how to travel to central Palermo to Mondello? Are there any e-bikes or scooters? Are the buses running frequently? Are there any beaches in Palermo that are clean and I could swim? Thank you
Mondello will start to empty out by the middle of September and the lidos will slowly start winding down (it marks the end of their season). Therefore you’ll have a better experience at the beach with less crowds. In terms of how to get to Mondello there is a bus from the centre of Palermo - Bus 806. Download the moovit app to see the timetable. You’ll also find scooters and bikes for hire too in the centre of Palermo - but some have area restrictions- so you’ll need to check on the website of the operator.
Hi, @MsBritaly! Returning to Palermo for my 4th visit this September. It will be my first since the pandemic (I was there in September 2019). Your experience sounds very much like mine. The first time I came, I found it a bit of a tough go, especially since I had badly strained my knee. But I've been back twice since then, falling in love with it a bit more each time. (I do wish the buses were more reliable, but, good to know the Via Roma bus is still reliable; in Catania last year, the bus up and down the main avenue, via Etnea, simply never arrived!). I am hoping to find a site where I can learn some Palermitan Sicilian to augment my Italian. Look forward to any future posts you do.
I suggest trying the food markets - Capo being my favourite. There you can find lots of places to sample typical Sicilian street food and fresh fish. Also Bisso Bistrot which is directly next to Quattro Canti in the heart of the city. Although it's in a prime tourist location, the food is delicious, reasonably priced and it's even where the locals go too.
Oh no, I am going 13-18 august which means not only is it during the worst months, but also over the ferragasto holiday! Are you still able to go out to eat, or go to clubs or is everything closed?
Watch this video here with some tips for visiting in August - ua-cam.com/video/c4-PP5CCEIM/v-deo.htmlsi=T-wVz-09BYabnqKU Don’t worry you can still have a great time!
You will still have a great time! Just be aware of the heat, perhaps book a space at a lido on the beach if you don’t want to fight with the masses for a space on the free beach - especially at Mondello!
I like that in this video, while pointing out the positives, you also realistically warn people that they are not at Disneyland and should not expect everything to be so perfect. All this without also passing a negative judgment on Italy in general.
Fact is with all its flaws italy remains #1 best vacation spots, food ,amazing heritages cultures, styles, music ETC. among many other amazing things to do & see in italy. Most beautiful ppl. In the world.
The churches will be open on a Sunday and they are beautiful to explore, you’ll find an open air antiques market in Piazza Marina and the food markets will be open in the morning and up to lunchtime too.
Anywhere in Europe in August is like a madhouse as its a traditional time to take holidays for Europeans.I avoid it like the plague ,May June or September is a better time to visit.
Don’t worry - watch this video with some tips for August - ua-cam.com/video/c4-PP5CCEIM/v-deo.htmlsi=T-wVz-09BYabnqKU You can still have a great time if you’re prepared!
In August it's a little more difficult to find places that are available/reasonable due to the fact it's the peak month for holidays. You could try the centre as a lot of people tend to book beach locations during that month and the city itself empties out.
Thanks for the tips! How about tap water, is it Ok to drink? And street food on the markets, are they really asking double or triple the price for tourists? Could you name a few good ones for stuffed sardines, Frutta Martorana, pistachio cream canolli/plain canolli, cassata, granita, and sfincione?
Tap water it really depends. A lot of parts of Palermo have hard water and so it is better to buy bottled water or filter it. In terms of street food I recommend Capo Mercato and Dainottis. It’s reasonable and a few years ago won an Italian TV show - 4 Restaurants - for its street food.
Is a Fiat Panda as risky to rent from Palermo but for use in rural area of Marsala? Asking for a friend… who definitely isn’t worrying after booking a Fiat Panda
@@MsBritaly I’m familiar with the rough areas of Manchester and Liverpool so I suppose it’s no different tactics to there for getting cars nicked. Great video by the way, should help a lot. We have booked a trip to Naples, Palermo & Sicily and then randomly Vienna… booked in a few hours yesterday and we leave tomorrow 😂
Hi, I'm thinking of booking a 3 month trip to Sicily. I have a few random questions please could you help me? 1. Can you get by taking taxis everywhere? Would you need to rent a car? 2. I'm more of a beach person, prefer warmer climates, prefer a quiet area and enjoy going to the gym, are there any areas you recommend with this in mind? It would also be nice if I'm nearer tour operators so perhaps a city is best for me? 3. What are the main cultures who live there with native Sicilians? The British, German, French? Many thanks :)
Good video the host of channel may agree with me but I'd avoid the Taxi if you can help it , private chauffeur drivers may be cheaper or private taxi 🇮🇹✌️
Lots of questions - I'll do my best to answer them - in summary - 1. You don't need to rent a car but it all depends on where you base yourself and on what you want to do. Public transport here isn't the most efficient service in the world and so that's something to consider. Taxis are available in the main centres and so you can choose to use those if you wish. 2. Yes or with easy access to a city - Sicily is a large island and so you have to factor in when you want to come and the things you want to do. Palermo is a great city with its own beach - Mondello - but I don't recommend this at the height of Summer because it's just too busy. August is a very busy month and so I don't recommend visiting then if you prefer quieter locations. Ragusa and Marina di Ragusa are also great locations and of course Modica. Then there's Cefalù and San Vito Lo Capo - so many places to look into. 3. Sicily is a melting pot of different cultures and people from all over the world live here
We are very excited about visiting and eating our way across Palermo NEXT May 2025. Early planning😂 We were wondering IF you plead with us NOT to eat in the tourist area streets ... WHERE do we go to eat ... what streets are ACTUAL local flavors and prices?? Please advise .. we will follow your advice!! 😊😊
They were amazingly kind and friendly in Palermo. I had the best time, singing "volaré, cantaré" with locals in the street. I remember asking about mondello and the locals misunderstood and thought I was asking about modelo, a prostitute lol. I was perplexed why they took out the classifieds then understood aftering getting a glimpse at the ads. :-) good memories!!
Just realised my husband booked a fiat for the car hire!! 😅😅 we will be in Taormina - Scilla in Calabria and Cefalù - is it just Palermo to worry shout?
Just came back from Palermo and even tho the beach wasn’t packed, it was so difficult getting to Mondello by the bus. We’d miss 2 packed 806 on our way there and back, have to walk to different bus stations, wait for other bus lines for 40 minutes etc. Our place was near Mercato Del Capo and it sometimes took us 2 hours to get to and back from Mondello. Therefor my main criticism of Palermo is public transport. My bf really didn’t like the sight and smell of garbage and did take pics in disbelief that Italy could be so dirty. We fell for a tourist trap first night in Via Maqueda cause it was the only place we saw selling food after midnight. La Vucciria can get kinda crazy at night, we were offered drugs mutiple times and saw some shady bussiness going on, even with police presence the place had a bad vibe to it. Also I’d stick to visiting Ballarò market only during day, cause venturing into alleys in Albergheria can feel quite unsafe at night. Otherwise I really loved the city, beautiful architecture, nature, the beach, little streets and balconies, markets and food etc. People are really nice and we met some locals we befriended and stayed in contact with. Culture is unique, lively and colorful with strong family ties and the city being a little gritty adds to the experience. I will definitely come back.
I have travelled around most of italia and I have found no one trys to rip you off more than italians in Palermo, they are masters at every sneaky trick to rip you off!
As a Brit the main reason not to visit in August (June and July) is it is too bloody hot and the idea of sitting on a beach is my idea of hell. Much better to visit Sicily in winter, spring or autumn. Go to Rome in August, it is empty.
From someone like me who was born and lived most of his life in this disgraceful city (apart my 30+ years between northern Italy and Spain), you couldn't be more accurate and realistic. Well done! It's a shame that such a beautiful and historic city be in the hands of such shameful and disrespectful people. It's an atavic problem that regards the character of the population and the public administration corruption. I lost hope to see this city solve the problems you mentioned in your video.
Just got back from Mazara was ok little break no beaches etc nice pool hotel - was just more like historical place and bit last min sunshine ... wouldn't recommend for children all the footpaths are nightmare and yes quite dirty with litter but town centres are quite tidy ... Sicilian people are very nice accommodating probably go to other parts Italy Sorrento 🇮🇹 maybe... personally prefer Greek islands. 👍
I wonder what is good about this city, food is based on pasta and bread mainly and it is very expensive, also cold coffee in small cups didnt do me very well, I had to drink 4 cups of coffee in one go to get my caffeine. Everything closes midday when you are middle of doing something. Traffic is mental and very dangerous to cross the traffic lights. No one stops red light or zebra crosses. But people were very good
About all things you said are no-goes for me, why take all these risks when there are 1000s of stunning places in Europe that you can visit without having to worry on your vacation?
Have you visited NYC, or any other major city they all have cleanliness issues and rough edges.. I feel that this video is misleading. Palermo is a fine place to visit in August and is safer than most cities in the world..
Everything is perception of course but I think as a resident, you do see things differently. August isn’t the best month to visit Palermo - in my humble opinion.
Is this a video with a bold truth?😂 jeez, I swear, if someone skip their trip after this one - they probably didn't even consider to trevel there in the first place 😅 I heard nothing horrible. I would love to hear even more things, to be honest
I am looking at emigrating in my upcoming retirement. Spain, Portugal or Italy (specifically Sicily). When I speak to family and friends, and go through my options it’s always the same reaction. Everybody does this. Spain… Nice 👍 Portugal… Lovely 👍 Italy… Eeuuuwww 🤢 That kinda sums it up for me… Beautiful, but not pleasant
Don’t let it! It’s designed to help you to have an awareness of what it can be like here but it’s a beautiful city. In August you will notice a lot of people here and some places closed - so it’s good to know this - but it doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy your experience here.
Ok cancel august unless i want to get run over by a garbage truck after getting a 10 euro slice of pizza and finding out that they stole the panda 🐼 toy out of my panda while avoiding the train station at the disgusting beach ~ 😮
Palermo is dirty not because of money or waste collection issues, it's because of people who are animals and not showing respect for their city, you got it right. Honestly why anyone would want to visit Palermo at all is beyond me. Listen to a Palermo local, go to Greece.
Hmmm what is the mayor doing about rubbish problem .Spain is not like that theyre always clean even lots & lots of tourist. Dont give an excuse it is not enough rubbish bin and the govt most probably corrupt and lazy to do their job.im thinking f going there in August but not now
What has been your experience of Palermo? Comment below and let me know! Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already - your support for my channel means the world!
These are all common sense recommendations.
Fairy lands dnt exist.
Stating the obvious is not a big deal.
It's surprising though just how many tourists romanticise Italy. It always helps to keep a balanced view.
I was there for the last week of August and really enjoyed Palermo. Would love to go and live there in the near future.
I went to Palermo in December.
1. I think I saw Malbello Beach from the surrounding hill tops. Is it a separate suburb that’s a few kilometres NW of the city? It looked separate from Palermo and empty at that time of the year.
2. There was still piles of rubbish in December but only around the apartment blocks that are on the fringes of the city. The tourist centre was actually clean. Interestingly I only had to go through the suburbs from a hike as the public transport wasn’t running that day.
3. I hired a car in Palermo and didn’t have any issue, but then I didn’t leave anything inside it. I highly recommend hiring a car to visit other parts of Sicily. I got bored of Palermo after a while and other places such as The Valley of Temples, Siracusa and Taormina are 100% well worth a visit and maybe the centre of Catania.
4. I reckon in Italy, zebra crossings are just a decoration that the locals consider optional. The standard of driving is absolutely appalling. I’d recommend waiting for a local and cross the road and you cross when they cross.
5. I recommend eating Arancini (rice balls that come in many different flavours) and Cannoli (pastry roll with cream cheese). In fact, I love arancini so much that I want to find them in the UK?! Arancini also make a good food to put in your bag for hiking. You can different flavours of arancini like Nutella or ham and cheese etc.
6. Palermo had a lot of e-scooters, they made a convenient alternative to public transport. You can buy an unlimited day or week pass. Drop off the e scooter where you want to visit.
7. The train a few stops before Malbello was surprisingly cheap compared to the UK (I think €1.60) I also got a train to Valley of the Temples (well worth a visit)
8.I naturally walk with my hands in my pockets and I never stop to talk to strangers and ignore them. Therefore I’ve never had a problem with pick pockets.
My advice is the central tourist area of Palermo is ok for a short while but there’s not enough for a few days. The Palermo coastline is disappointing with it’s industrial docks and no beach. I would spend a day or 2 in Palermo and then get a hire car and visit the whole island. There’s nice hiking in the hills surrounding Palermo (such as Pizzo Manolfo) that give nice views.
I am just back from my first trip to Palermo, and Sicily, ever. 100% in love with the place, even the rough edges.
It really is a special place
Any advise on where to stay in Palermo for a couple of days?
I'd like to sleep at night and eat good street food!
This week, my husband and I are going to Sicily for the very first time. We'll be there for one week. Any advise for hotels or Airbnb? We like to sleep well without the noise😅
As an Italian, I can say that you give excellent advice to tourists, at the same time showing that you love the city by putting aside bad prejudices. Thank you ❤
I just got back from Italy. Such a beautiful country and she is correct, I was surprised about the trash, everywhere. Not just in cities but on every highway, road, corner, beach. It's a shame really.
It is such a shame because what ends up happening, is that things like this detract from the real beauty of this country.
You' ve certainly been in the south...and Rome, North of Italy is spotless. Recycling percentage of Italy is 82% against an European average of 39%...Germany is 44%. (2022)
I have visited Palermo twice and both times had very good experiences around the city itself. Food markets are really impressive and have among the best food that you can find around Sicily overall.
One particular aspect regarding the insight of cars potentially attracting attention, it also applies to foreign cars. The first time I went there was due to a tournament and with some of my teammates we departed from Malta, crossed by ferry and drove the remaining part. As here in Malta we have left hand traffic, our car did catch a fair bit of attention having the steering wheel on the right, even if many people from Malta still drive in various parts of Sicily
Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad it was a good one! I think Italians are naturally curious and so anything that's a little bit different, draws their attention.
I completely agree with the tip not to visit in August. It's so congested and many businesses are shut down for the month. Great video ~ thanks for sharing.
Thank you - absolutely far better in other months!
Thanks for this. Super useful and very accurate information, with a touch of humour thrown in for good measure.
I thoroughly recommend that anyone thinking of visiting Palermo look at this entire vid and take heed of all your suggestions and warnings.
Thank you!
You are precious and as a Sicilian I am glad to had you as host and that you appreciated us
Thank you!
Great video! We’ve stayed in a very nice Airbnb near Norarbartolo station and we recommend the area very much. The bus connection to the downtown was literally perfect. Our experience in early September in Mondello beach was unfortunately the worst in Sicily. Not crowded at all but our lido was just not was is tipicaly expected in Sicily. When crossing the street we figured out you just have to keep walking. If you stop you will never cross it 😅
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I'm glad it was a good one.
Very nice assessment. I lived here for 2 winters and love the city. I finally figured out how to cross the street :-) You are 100% correct you have to begin crossing with out waiting. They will stop. But honestly I will never feel 100% safe crossing the street in Palermo. As far as August is concerned, I will take it a step further. I never stay in Italy in the month of August. It is absolutely the worst month to visit. I like to go home to New York. The best month for the beaches in Sicily is June, September and October. July can be great but it all depends where you go.
I agree!
I am a solo mature female from Australia and i just love palermo. Energetic, gritty and passionate.
Yes - it's a very unique place!
I've been living in Sicily for 10 years. People are wonderful, kind, generous but fatalistic about the possibility of improvement. Public infrastructure, maintenance, trash collection, access to hospitals to name a few is abysmal. People's tolerance and acceptance of filth, chaos and poor public is amazing. A tourist passing through for a few days may not notice or care.
Absolutely!
Italy is a fascinating country, there are some problems that could easily be fixed (proper rubbish collection is not like planning a mission to Mars) but after decades are still there with zero improvement: crazy. BTW I am Italian.......
It does feel like Italy doesn't even realise its own magnificence, sometimes.
@@MsBritaly Totally agree......
North of Italy is spotless. Recycling percentage of the country is 82% - the highest - against an European average of 39%. It's the south of the country the problem that can't be fixed.
@@francescotellini1389 went to Liguria last summer, looked super clean and nice indeed. One of the first infos in our holiday home was about which trash to put where. Big deal there. ;)
Can you pay for bus tickets on Moovit as we do at home?
I am glad you pointed out the dirty part of Palermo. My Husband and I we’re there 2 weeks ago. Stayed 1 night and had to leave. I was not going to spend 4 days of my holiday walking over garbage. Driving was insane. We had been driving all of Sicily, but Palermo was next level crazy drivers. We loved Sicily. Visited Catania, Syracuse, Taormina, Cefalu. We left Palermo and went to the most charming town, San Vito Lo Capo. Amazing beach, restaurants and street markets. Stayed at a hotel 1/2 price of Palermo, with ocean view. Thanks for your great video.
I’m sorry you had to experience this especially because Palermo is a beautiful city - it just lets itself down with this situation. Oh and the drivers - the absolute worst I’ve ever seen too!
I am planning on going to mondello in July. How is it during July ? Chaotic like August or little less ? I also planned on doing 7 days . Would you say that’s too much or a good amount ?
July can be like August for the number of tourists. 7 days is a nice period of time because you can also explore the centre of Palermo too!
Thanks for this. I am going to Palermo in middle of September, would that be still busy at Mondello beach? What would be the best way how to travel to central Palermo to Mondello? Are there any e-bikes or scooters? Are the buses running frequently? Are there any beaches in Palermo that are clean and I could swim? Thank you
Mondello will start to empty out by the middle of September and the lidos will slowly start winding down (it marks the end of their season). Therefore you’ll have a better experience at the beach with less crowds. In terms of how to get to Mondello there is a bus from the centre of Palermo - Bus 806. Download the moovit app to see the timetable. You’ll also find scooters and bikes for hire too in the centre of Palermo - but some have area restrictions- so you’ll need to check on the website of the operator.
Thinking about coming back to my grandparents country in Palermo 🙌🙏
Imagine having booked to go to Palermo and Mondello in August and coming across this video !! 🙋🏻♀️
Don’t panic! You come prepared at least and I have no doubt, you will still have a great time!
Where is the safest part with super markets and cafes? Should be moving there in March and will start off renting??????
Thanks for your question - I'll answer it in a future video!
Hi, @MsBritaly! Returning to Palermo for my 4th visit this September. It will be my first since the pandemic (I was there in September 2019). Your experience sounds very much like mine. The first time I came, I found it a bit of a tough go, especially since I had badly strained my knee. But I've been back twice since then, falling in love with it a bit more each time. (I do wish the buses were more reliable, but, good to know the Via Roma bus is still reliable; in Catania last year, the bus up and down the main avenue, via Etnea, simply never arrived!). I am hoping to find a site where I can learn some Palermitan Sicilian to augment my Italian. Look forward to any future posts you do.
Ah amazing well enjoy your next trip! I think Palermo grows on you for sure.
Hello good day, could you tell me how is January/February to visit.. Palermo, Catania etc
It’s a little rainy and bleak in those months but you will definitely experience real Palermo as it’s low season for tourism.
been think doing again 20 years see how it changed i loved then see sill love it
We going next year march Please can you name some local very traditional restaurants and places for drinks not expensive,thanks
I suggest trying the food markets - Capo being my favourite. There you can find lots of places to sample typical Sicilian street food and fresh fish. Also Bisso Bistrot which is directly next to Quattro Canti in the heart of the city. Although it's in a prime tourist location, the food is delicious, reasonably priced and it's even where the locals go too.
Oh no, I am going 13-18 august which means not only is it during the worst months, but also over the ferragasto holiday! Are you still able to go out to eat, or go to clubs or is everything closed?
Also I will be staying right by the mondello beach…
Watch this video here with some tips for visiting in August - ua-cam.com/video/c4-PP5CCEIM/v-deo.htmlsi=T-wVz-09BYabnqKU
Don’t worry you can still have a great time!
So we are already locked in for Palermo for the last week of August and can't change it now. Any suggestions?
You will still have a great time! Just be aware of the heat, perhaps book a space at a lido on the beach if you don’t want to fight with the masses for a space on the free beach - especially at Mondello!
I’ve got a fiat booked?! Should I cancel it 😢 and where should avoid parking
Just be careful where you park it. Make the most of official parking spaces if you can and don’t leave belongings in the car
Ford Fiesta if possible
I like that in this video, while pointing out the positives, you also realistically warn people that they are not at Disneyland and should not expect everything to be so perfect.
All this without also passing a negative judgment on Italy in general.
Thank you. It's good to keep a healthy balance.
Fact is with all its flaws italy remains #1 best vacation spots, food ,amazing heritages cultures, styles, music ETC. among many other amazing things to do & see in italy.
Most beautiful ppl. In the world.
It is indeed an incredible country
We will be there In September on a Sunday Monday Tuesday. What can we hope to visit on a Sunday in the historical area?
The churches will be open on a Sunday and they are beautiful to explore, you’ll find an open air antiques market in Piazza Marina and the food markets will be open in the morning and up to lunchtime too.
Anywhere in Europe in August is like a madhouse as its a traditional time to take holidays for Europeans.I avoid it like the plague ,May June or September is a better time to visit.
Absolutely!
Literally about to book for august 😭
Don’t panic! You can still have a lovely time - just prepare yourself based on what I’ve said.
What if our non refundable trip is already planned for August?
Don’t worry - watch this video with some tips for August -
ua-cam.com/video/c4-PP5CCEIM/v-deo.htmlsi=T-wVz-09BYabnqKU
You can still have a great time if you’re prepared!
What area is nice and afordable end of august in Palermo?
In August it's a little more difficult to find places that are available/reasonable due to the fact it's the peak month for holidays. You could try the centre as a lot of people tend to book beach locations during that month and the city itself empties out.
How is july ? Second and third week?
Hot, lots of tourists but places are still open.
Thanks for the tips! How about tap water, is it Ok to drink? And street food on the markets, are they really asking double or triple the price for tourists? Could you name a few good ones for stuffed sardines, Frutta Martorana, pistachio cream canolli/plain canolli, cassata, granita, and sfincione?
Tap water it really depends. A lot of parts of Palermo have hard water and so it is better to buy bottled water or filter it. In terms of street food I recommend Capo Mercato and Dainottis. It’s reasonable and a few years ago won an Italian TV show - 4 Restaurants - for its street food.
Is a Fiat Panda as risky to rent from Palermo but for use in rural area of Marsala? Asking for a friend… who definitely isn’t worrying after booking a Fiat Panda
Haha don’t worry if you’ve booked this car just be mindful of where you park it and of not leaving anything valuable in the car itself.
@@MsBritaly I’m familiar with the rough areas of Manchester and Liverpool so I suppose it’s no different tactics to there for getting cars nicked. Great video by the way, should help a lot. We have booked a trip to Naples, Palermo & Sicily and then randomly Vienna… booked in a few hours yesterday and we leave tomorrow 😂
Where you you recommend staying west of Palermo if we want to avoid being in the city and want a quaint seaside town instead?
Try - Carini, Mondello, Sferracavallo - these are some seaside towns close to Palermo.
@@MsBritaly thanks!
Hi, I'm thinking of booking a 3 month trip to Sicily. I have a few random questions please could you help me?
1. Can you get by taking taxis everywhere? Would you need to rent a car?
2. I'm more of a beach person, prefer warmer climates, prefer a quiet area and enjoy going to the gym, are there any areas you recommend with this in mind? It would also be nice if I'm nearer tour operators so perhaps a city is best for me?
3. What are the main cultures who live there with native Sicilians? The British, German, French?
Many thanks :)
Good video the host of channel may agree with me but I'd avoid the Taxi if you can help it , private chauffeur drivers may be cheaper or private taxi 🇮🇹✌️
Lots of questions - I'll do my best to answer them - in summary -
1. You don't need to rent a car but it all depends on where you base yourself and on what you want to do. Public transport here isn't the most efficient service in the world and so that's something to consider. Taxis are available in the main centres and so you can choose to use those if you wish.
2. Yes or with easy access to a city - Sicily is a large island and so you have to factor in when you want to come and the things you want to do. Palermo is a great city with its own beach - Mondello - but I don't recommend this at the height of Summer because it's just too busy. August is a very busy month and so I don't recommend visiting then if you prefer quieter locations. Ragusa and Marina di Ragusa are also great locations and of course Modica. Then there's Cefalù and San Vito Lo Capo - so many places to look into.
3. Sicily is a melting pot of different cultures and people from all over the world live here
"Never eat the bananas in Palermo"! LOL😂😹😂😆🤣😂😹
Which neighborhood is nicer, Monte di Pieta or Albergheria?
Just booked Palermo last night for my birthday, end of august ffs 😂
Ahahah don’t worry! I am sure you will have a lovely time!
We are very excited about visiting and eating our way across Palermo NEXT May 2025. Early planning😂 We were wondering IF you plead with us NOT to eat in the tourist area streets ... WHERE do we go to eat ... what streets are ACTUAL local flavors and prices?? Please advise .. we will follow your advice!! 😊😊
Amazing preparation. Well, stay tuned for some videos about food in Palermo!
They were amazingly kind and friendly in Palermo. I had the best time, singing "volaré, cantaré" with locals in the street.
I remember asking about mondello and the locals misunderstood and thought I was asking about modelo, a prostitute lol. I was perplexed why they took out the classifieds then understood aftering getting a glimpse at the ads. :-) good memories!!
Did you manage to make a list with restaurants that are not tourist traps? I can not find a video on your channel about this
Would love to see something like this also!
It’s added to my list - stay tuned!
What about Mondello at the end of May? Sounds like a nightmare with all the barriers at all times of the year.
No in May it’s nice - when the lidos open June time is when the barriers appear and the free beach is limited
@@MsBritaly ah thanks so much that’s great I will add it to the itin in that case! Also such a great tip about the car brands!
Just realised my husband booked a fiat for the car hire!! 😅😅 we will be in Taormina - Scilla in Calabria and Cefalù - is it just Palermo to worry shout?
Don't stress just be careful where you park and don't leave any valuables in the car.
Just came back from Palermo and even tho the beach wasn’t packed, it was so difficult getting to Mondello by the bus. We’d miss 2 packed 806 on our way there and back, have to walk to different bus stations, wait for other bus lines for 40 minutes etc. Our place was near Mercato Del Capo and it sometimes took us 2 hours to get to and back from Mondello. Therefor my main criticism of Palermo is public transport. My bf really didn’t like the sight and smell of garbage and did take pics in disbelief that Italy could be so dirty. We fell for a tourist trap first night in Via Maqueda cause it was the only place we saw selling food after midnight. La Vucciria can get kinda crazy at night, we were offered drugs mutiple times and saw some shady bussiness going on, even with police presence the place had a bad vibe to it. Also I’d stick to visiting Ballarò market only during day, cause venturing into alleys in Albergheria can feel quite unsafe at night. Otherwise I really loved the city, beautiful architecture, nature, the beach, little streets and balconies, markets and food etc. People are really nice and we met some locals we befriended and stayed in contact with. Culture is unique, lively and colorful with strong family ties and the city being a little gritty adds to the experience. I will definitely come back.
Thank you for your insights!
I have travelled around most of italia and I have found no one trys to rip you off more than italians in Palermo, they are masters at every sneaky trick to rip you off!
You can find people like this everywhere sadly. The key is to have your wits about you.
Ok, I’m here now and it’s middle of July
Very typical for popular destinations, particularly during the high season. The title is misleading.
Not really - there are many things that catch people out here but thanks for taking the time to comment!
also install palermobilità for purchasing online bus tickets and muoversi a palermo for knowing of any delays and to know where the bus is real time
Great tip!
Perfect
Could you please tell maybe why there is such a big problem with the rubbish? Just curious why the problem exists
The million dollar question. I think it’s quite simply the infrastructure here.
As a Brit the main reason not to visit in August (June and July) is it is too bloody hot and the idea of sitting on a beach is my idea of hell. Much better to visit Sicily in winter, spring or autumn. Go to Rome in August, it is empty.
Yes but in Rome in August it’s also unbearably hot which is why the locals escape!
Thank you very much - my decision - forget about Palermo it will never get any better 😧
Maybe not for a long time but there's still a lot of beauty to be found here.
Sicily is the best place on the planet.
It’s a very unique place!
From someone like me who was born and lived most of his life in this disgraceful city (apart my 30+ years between northern Italy and Spain), you couldn't be more accurate and realistic. Well done! It's a shame that such a beautiful and historic city be in the hands of such shameful and disrespectful people. It's an atavic problem that regards the character of the population and the public administration corruption. I lost hope to see this city solve the problems you mentioned in your video.
Yes it’s such a shame - it often feels like this city just doesn’t realise what it has
❤❤❤❤
Thanks😅
Is it okay to rent a Ferrari or Lamborghini?? 😉
Ahahha wrap it in bubble wrap! 🤣
Just got back from Mazara was ok little break no beaches etc nice pool hotel - was just more like historical place and bit last min sunshine ... wouldn't recommend for children all the footpaths are nightmare and yes quite dirty with litter but town centres are quite tidy ... Sicilian people are very nice accommodating probably go to other parts Italy Sorrento 🇮🇹 maybe... personally prefer Greek islands. 👍
Mazara is lovely but it is small. You'll find more liveliness in larger cities - Palermo, Catania etc.
I wonder what is good about this city, food is based on pasta and bread mainly and it is very expensive, also cold coffee in small cups didnt do me very well, I had to drink 4 cups of coffee in one go to get my caffeine.
Everything closes midday when you are middle of doing something.
Traffic is mental and very dangerous to cross the traffic lights.
No one stops red light or zebra crosses.
But people were very good
About all things you said are no-goes for me, why take all these risks when there are 1000s of stunning places in Europe that you can visit without having to worry on your vacation?
With any place there are always risks - you just have to be sensible
sto andato a Palermo perché miei parenti vivono li. E il posto della nascita del mio bisnonno
Ah bene
As an Italian the country is beautiful, the people are beautiful. However the politics and system is awful dreadful never changes.
It is true that these aspects let the country down
You got lovely voice why the need of background music!
Have you visited NYC, or any other major city they all have cleanliness issues and rough edges.. I feel that this video is misleading. Palermo is a fine place to visit in August and is safer than most cities in the world..
Everything is perception of course but I think as a resident, you do see things differently. August isn’t the best month to visit Palermo - in my humble opinion.
Is this a video with a bold truth?😂 jeez, I swear, if someone skip their trip after this one - they probably didn't even consider to trevel there in the first place 😅 I heard nothing horrible. I would love to hear even more things, to be honest
Yes - some people struggle to see beyond these issues and it’s enough to make them not want to visit!
I am looking at emigrating in my upcoming retirement. Spain, Portugal or Italy (specifically Sicily).
When I speak to family and friends, and go through my options it’s always the same reaction. Everybody does this.
Spain… Nice 👍
Portugal… Lovely 👍
Italy… Eeuuuwww 🤢
That kinda sums it up for me… Beautiful, but not pleasant
I’m so sorry. This just ruined my day. Does this review include the last week of august
Don’t let it! It’s designed to help you to have an awareness of what it can be like here but it’s a beautiful city. In August you will notice a lot of people here and some places closed - so it’s good to know this - but it doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy your experience here.
Thank you for the warnings. - I have choosing to not go. I do not need a vacation in dirt and crime.
son of a beach
Ok cancel august unless i want to get run over by a garbage truck after getting a 10 euro slice of pizza and finding out that they stole the panda 🐼 toy out of my panda while avoiding the train station at the disgusting beach ~ 😮
What a way with words 🤣 The rest of the year fares better (apart from the rubbish)
Palermo is dirty not because of money or waste collection issues, it's because of people who are animals and not showing respect for their city, you got it right. Honestly why anyone would want to visit Palermo at all is beyond me. Listen to a Palermo local, go to Greece.
The people certainly don’t help - first to complain but often some of the biggest contributors.
Yeah avoid Italy
Only in August....
Hmmm what is the mayor doing about rubbish problem .Spain is not like that theyre always clean even lots & lots of tourist. Dont give an excuse it is not enough rubbish bin and the govt most probably corrupt and lazy to do their job.im thinking f going there in August but not now
The rubbish collection here is complicated and believe me I gave up trying to find a reason, a long time ago!
Christ bloody dangerous out there very rude driver dont stop in zebra crossing
Oh yes!