Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
pensive parking, and the excellent public transit from Palermo's airport, you're generally
better off postponing rental car pickup until after you leave the city.
TRAIN
From Palermo Centrale station, just south of the centre at the foot of Via Roma, regular
trains leave for Messina (from €11.80, 2¾ to 3½ hours, hourly), Agrigento (€8.30, two
hours, eight to 10 daily) and Cefalù (from €5.15, one hour, hourly). There are also Inter-
City trains to Reggio di Calabria, Naples and Rome.
For Catania or Syracuse, you're generally better off taking the bus. There's only one
direct train to Catania (€12.50, three hours, Monday to Friday early morning); all others
require a time-consuming change at Messina.
Getting Around
TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
Prestia e Comandè
( 091 58 63 51;
www.prestiaecomande.it
)
runs a half-hourly bus service
from the airport to the centre of town (one way/return €6.10/11), with stops outside Teatro
Politeama Garibaldi (30 minutes) and Palermo Centrale train station (45 minutes). Buses
are parked to the right as you exit the airport arrivals hall. Buy tickets on the bus. Return
journeys to the airport run with similar frequency, picking up at the same points.
The Trinacria Express train (€5.80, 45 minutes to 1¼ hours) from the airport (Punta
Raisi station) to Palermo takes longer and runs less frequently than the bus.
A taxi from the airport to downtown Palermo costs €45.
BUS
Palermo's orange, white and blue city buses, operated by
AMAT
( 848 80 08 17;
www.amat.pa.it
)
, are frequent but often crowded and slow. The free map handed out at
Palermo tourist offices details all the major bus lines; most stop at the train station. Tick-
ets, valid for 90 minutes, cost €1.30 if pre-purchased from
tabacchi
(tobacconists) or
AMAT booths, or €1.70 onboard the bus. A day pass costs €3.50.
Three small buses - Linea Gialla, Linea Verde and Linea Rossa (€0.52 for 24-hour tick-
et) - operate in the narrow streets of the
centro storico
(historic centre) and can be useful
if you're moving between tourist sights.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
