The Falcone-Borsellino Airport in Palermo is nestled between beautiful hills and the sea. If you’re planning on flying to Palermo, we’ll guide you through getting to the centre of the city from your landing spot.
Taxis (or Uber)
Your most convenient option, albeit very pricey, is to choose a taxi. The standard taxi fare for a trip from the airport to the centre of the city is about €50 at the moment. If you’d like a ride from 10am to 7pm, no matter the day, you’ll have to pay 25% more for the taxi. The ride takes about 40 minutes.
Though you won’t find Bolt in Palermo, you can find Uber. Though Italy has quite strict laws regarding all the taxi-esque apps, Uber was able to slip through by introducing Uber Black vehicles into bigger cities. These are effectively considered ‘luxury cars’, which means they don’t endanger the market of traditional taxis. This also means that Uber Black is your only option in Palermo, which is also quite pricey.
Trains
You can find a train station at the Palermo Airport which can take you to the centre of Palermo. You’ll find the Punta Raisi station at the airport from which you can take a 50 min – 1h journey to Palermo Centrale. Trains run twice an hour, from 5:30am to 10:10 pm. A single ticket costs about €6-€6.50. It’s a convenient option, the wagons are well looked after and it won’t cost you €50.
Buses
You can also take a bus from the Palermo Airport, and there are many companies operating there. Buses usually depart from 4am until 10:30pm (though sometimes there are also buses till 30 past midnight and later, depending on the season and day) and arrive at Palermo Centrale. Tickets cost about €6 for a one-way and about €10 for a round trip. Children from 3 to 12 can get a reduced ticket (€4 for one-way and €8 for a round trip).
As an example, Prestia e Comande offers special shuttle buses from 5:05 am to 1am through these stops:
- Airport
- Via Belgio, 2
- Via A. De Gasperi, 82
- Viale Croce Rossa, 56
- Via Liberta, 106
- Via Liberta, 80
- Via Liberta
- Via Liberta, 42
- Politeama
- Via Roma, 265
- Central Station
You will find wi-fi on board.
Car
How far is the Palermo Airport to the city centre? Quite far, over 20 miles. Getting there by car, however, is mostly pleasant. The route from the airport to Palermo Centrale, without traffic jams, takes about 30 minutes and mostly follows the E90 motorway. The problem is the jammed streets of the centre during rush hour traffic. Be careful, as there’s a toll on the motorway. Also, be mindful of the fact that the Sicilian driving philosophy is beyond mortal comprehension and should not be meddled with or questioned. 🙂
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