Getting from Palermo airport to the city centre: the complete guide
Falcone-Borsellino airport sits at Punta Raisi, thirty-two kilometres west of Palermo. It is not in the city itself, but reaching the centre is straightforward: there are four main options, all running seven days a week, and each makes sense in a different situation. This guide walks you through them one by one, with journey times, costs, frequencies and a few tips you only pick up by living here.
1. Trinacria Express: the train for light travellers
The Trinacria Express is the regional train linking the airport to Palermo Centrale station. It is the cheapest option and, in many time slots, also the fastest: no traffic, regular departures and a predictable journey time.
The practical details
- Time: 45-60 minutes, depending on the intermediate stops.
- Cost: around 6.80 euros each way.
- Frequency: roughly every 30 minutes, from 5am until midnight.
- Arrival station: Palermo Centrale (the main one; it also stops at Notarbartolo and other city stations).
The train station is a five-minute walk from the arrivals terminal — just follow the Trenitalia signs. You can buy tickets from the machine or online through the Trenitalia app. This is the option we recommend if you are travelling light (one or two cases) and arriving during the day.
2. Taxi: convenient, direct, fixed price
A taxi from the airport to central Palermo runs on a fixed fare set by the City Council. Look for the official taxi rank at the arrivals exit (white cars with a Taxi sign).
The practical details
- Time: 40-50 minutes, traffic permitting.
- Cost: around 45-50 euros, a fixed fare to the historic centre (do check at the time, as the fare can change).
- Capacity: up to 4 passengers with standard luggage.
This is the right choice if you are arriving late in the evening, travelling as a group of two or more with sizeable luggage, or have young children. Always confirm the fixed fare before getting in.
3. Prestia e Comandè coach: affordable, with handy stops
The Prestia e Comandè company runs the long-established coach service between the airport and Palermo, with very frequent departures.
The practical details
- Time: 50 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.
- Cost: 6.30 euros each way.
- Frequency: roughly every 30 minutes, from 5am until the last evening departure after the final flights.
- Handy stops in town: Politeama, the Central Station and other central stops.
The coach has a generous luggage hold. It is a great option if your destination is near Politeama, as the stop is about a ten-minute walk from Via Cavour.
4. Private transfer: no worries at all
If you are arriving on an intercontinental flight, travelling with children or bulky luggage, or simply want to avoid any hassle, a private transfer is the most comfortable solution. A driver waits for you at the airport with your name on a sign and takes you straight to the door of your accommodation.
The practical details
- Time: 40 minutes, door to door.
- Cost: a price agreed in advance, generally competitive with a taxi.
- Capacity: up to 3 people with standard luggage; larger vehicles available on request.
Porta Maqueda arranges transfers on request, either when you book or afterwards by messaging the concierge. It is best to let us know at least 24 hours before you arrive.
From Palermo Centrale to Porta Maqueda
If you arrive at Palermo Centrale (by train from the airport, from the mainland or from other Sicilian cities), Porta Maqueda is in the historic centre, just over a kilometre from the station.
- On foot: about 15 minutes, the whole way along Via Roma or Via Maqueda — a pleasant stroll if you are not weighed down with luggage.
- Taxi: 5-7 minutes, around 10-12 euros.
By car and parking
Porta Maqueda is outside the historic centre's night-time ZTL (restricted traffic zone), but Via Maqueda in front of the theatre is pedestrianised and Via Cavour has regulated parking. For those arriving by car, there is a partner car park a few minutes' walk away: ask us for the details when you book.
From the port
If you arrive by sea (from Naples, Genoa, Tunis, Cagliari or Civitavecchia), you will dock at the Port of Palermo, in a very central location. From there, Porta Maqueda is a 15-minute walk across Via Roma, or a five-minute taxi ride.
Where Porta Maqueda is
Porta Maqueda is at Via Cavour 118, on the corner of Via Maqueda, facing the Teatro Massimo. Historic centre, outside the ZTL, easily reached from every entry point into the city. For more details on getting here, maps and specific journey times, see our how to get here page.