All ways to get to and from Palermo airport

The airport is not very big and is easy to navigate. It is not very new, but there is everything you need for a comfortable wait: free Wi-Fi, currency exchange, stores, cafes, car rental services and other services. Not far from the main Sicilian air harbor you can find hotels — convenient for those who arrive at night and are not in a hurry to get into the city right away.

I will tell you about all the ways to get to the center of the capital of Sicily.

By train: Airport-Palermo Regional Electric Train

The cheapest way to get from Falcone and Borsellino Airport to Palermo is to take a Trenitalia train to Palermo Centrale Station. The station is located on the ground floor of the airport building.

• The fare is €5.90.
• Travel time from the airport to the station is 45 min.
• The first flight is performed at 5:15, the last one — at 00:25. The interval of movement is 30 min. Trains are rarely late.
• You can buy a ticket on the Trenitalia app or from a machine at the station.
• Don’t forget to comment when boarding the train, otherwise it is invalid.

By bus: shuttle from Falcone to the center of Palermo

An alternative way to get to the city is by Prestia e Comande bus, the name of which is written in large letters on the sides. The bus stop is easy to find — it is located at the airport exit to the right.

• Flights to Palermo run every 30 minutes during the day from 5:00 to 00:00 (from June through October, flights at 00:30 and 1:00 are added).
• The bus travel time to the Palermo Centrale terminus is about 60 min.
• If you don’t have a pre-purchased ticket, there is a risk of not being able to fit on the first departing bus in high season.
  
• The fare is 6 €, if you buy a ticket from the driver — 6,30 €. The cheapest way to buy round-trip tickets is on the website — 10 €.
• Tickets are sold online, through the app, on the bus or at the ticket office at the station. If you buy a ticket online, you can cancel your reservation without losing money.
• Buying tickets online is not possible for flights that operate at 00:00, 00:30, 1:00.
• Free Wi-Fi is available on all buses.
• More information on the carrier’s website.
  

Cab or transfer at Palermo airport

Cab drivers are waiting for you right outside the terminal. You can also order a car at the information desk or by calling the numbers on the airport website.

• For a 45-minute drive from the airport to the city, you will have to pay from 35 €.
• If you take a cab near the airport, there are fixed rates: to v. le Michelangelo/v. le Lazio — 35 €, C.so Calatafimi/Corso v. Emanuele — 40 €, Central Station/Brancaccio — € 45 €.
• It is better to check the fare with the driver at once, if the meter is off.
• A moderately priced and equally comfortable way to get to the city is by shared cab. There are 2 kiosks in the arrivals area where you can order this service with a flat rate of 8 €, provided you have 4 people in the car.
  
• Transfer cabs can be booked on Kiwitaxi at a price starting from 50 €. This method has a number of advantages: it is advantageous for a company of several people (for example, a minivan for 7 people will cost the same), the car with a sign will already be served by the time of arrival, the driver will already know the destination, so the language barrier will not be an obstacle.
  

By car: car rental at Palermo Airport

If you plan to rent a car in Palermo, you can do so right at the arrival hall. There are several rental companies at the airport. The parking lot where you can pick up your rental car is located opposite the entrance to the lounge.

The cheapest way is to book a car on an aggregator. Rental prices start from 40 €. Compare options and prices on Rentalcars, Discovercars and Economybookings, book at a discount and pick up immediately upon arrival.

What you’ll need to rent a car:

1. A passport proving your identity.
2. Age 19 and up.
3. International or national driver’s license, but with the last and first name in Latin characters.
4. A credit card in the driver’s name.
5. A refundable security deposit on the card (the amount depends on the landlord, usually stated in the terms and conditions of the lease).

One significant disadvantage of a car in Sicily is the ubiquitous parking problem, as Italy has special pay zones for cars.

Palermo carsharing

This doesn’t happen very often: in Palermo, even a tourist can use the local carsharing service. AmiGO provides this service here, and its cars are also available at the airport. The only disadvantage of carsharing is the possible lack of a vacant car, because the service is popular among locals.

Procedure for using a carsharing service:

1. You register in advance .
2. Approach the AmiGO Car Sharing parking lot, where 6 special spaces with special markings have been allocated. They are located outside the paid parking lot, near the exit of the arrival area.
3. You choose a car from the availability.
4. Go to the website and place an order. Receive an electronic confirmation of your car reservation on your smartphone.
5. Walk up to the fast parking ticket office in the parking lot and pick up your car.

The cost of the service consists of a one-year subscription (from 12 €/year) and a fee per 1 km of travel, which depends on the location of the car rental, time of day and kilometer. Detailed information about the carsharing terms and conditions on the website.

What is the best way to get from Palermo to the airport and back?

• Electric train — if you need to go straight to the central station. It is located at the beginning of the historic center of Palermo, where cars are not allowed. The trains have power sockets and toilets.
• The bus — if you need to get out closer to the Libertà district or the port: it runs along the border of the historic center and also ends at the main station.
• Shared cab or transfer — if there are 3 or more of you and if you are arriving at night.
• Rental car — if you plan to get around Sicily.
• Carsharing — if you want to experiment and adventure right after you arrive.