Palermo Hop on Hop off Bus Tours

With its perfect combination of Byzantine and Arabic architecture, Palermo has everything to amaze you. Its streets and picturesque squares, its beautiful buildings and monuments, the historic centre and the emblematic Piazza Pretorio, are some of the things you can visit on board a tourist bus.

Get on board a double-decker bus, without roof, and enjoy the 360° views, where you will see the most emblematic and unmissable places of Palermo in one day, and with the possibility of making as many stops as you wish. You will visit the Teatro Massimo, the Cathedral of Palermo and the imposing Siza Castle. Below I will tell you why this is one of the best things to see and do in Palermo, and I will also give you all the details you need to know about it to make the most of your experience.

The Palermo tourist bus has two different routes, one of them is the Red Line and the other one is the Blue Line. In both cases, the bus takes you through the streets of this historic city, and in about 50 or 60 minutes you will get to know all the best of Palermo in terms of tourist interest.

In this activity you can take advantage of the hop on-hop off mode of the bus and get off as many times as you want between its different stops to visit each place. Of course, if you decide to get off the bus and visit at your leisure, it will take you a little longer to do the whole tour.

The Red Line tour has more emphasis on the historic centre, and during the tour you will see sites such as the Teatro Massimo, which boasts the largest opera house in Italy, the Piazza Vigliena and the impressive palaces that surround it, the Cathedral of Palermo, and even the Catacombs of the Capuchin order.

This tour has 14 stops, where, thanks to the hop on-hop off mode, you can get off to explore at your own pace and then hop back on at any of the available stops. You can do this as many times as you like, within the 24 consecutive hours of validity of your ticket.

Interesting details

• Price: from 21 euros per passenger. With your ticket you can choose between any of the two lines available. Children under 5 years old are free, and children between 5 and 15 years old get a reduced price.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately one hour (if you don't get off the bus).
• Means of transport: open-top double-decker bus.
• Advantages of this option: an audio guide is available in several languages, including Spanish.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer pick-up and drop-off at the accommodation sites.

The other available Palermo sightseeing bus tour is the Blue Line. This one points more towards the north-west of the city with the Castello della Zisa as its star attraction.

The Blue Line tour is just a little bit shorter than the Red Line tour, as it has a total duration of 50 minutes (if you don't get off the bus). Some of the attractions you will see on this route are also included on the Red Line, such as the Teatro Massimo and the Teatro Politeama.

The advantage of having two lines available is that you can either opt for the one with a route that is more interesting to you, or you can do both, taking in more of this great city's landmarks. You can even walk around the stops that aren't on your itinerary and then hop back on the bus, as both options have free stops.

Details of interest

• Price: from 21 euros per passenger. With your ticket you can choose between either of the two available lines. Children under 5 are free, and children between 5 and 15 get a reduced price.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 50 minutes (if you decide not to get off the bus).
• Means of transport: open-top double-decker bus.
• Advantages of this option: the vehicle is adapted for pushchairs and wheelchairs. As there is no roof, you can enjoy 360° views.
• Disadvantages of this option: no pick-up and drop-off at the accommodation sites.

The difference between the two routes is that the Red Line basically covers the historic centre, while the Blue Line covers the north-western part of Palermo. The Red Line route is only a few minutes longer than the Blue Line.

Below I have compiled all the attractions that you can visit on the Red Line.

Politeama Theatre

This iconic theatre is located in the heart of Palermo, in Piazza Ruggero. The Teatro Politeama was opened to the public in 1874. With a neoclassical architecture, this theatre has a capacity for 950 spectators. Its name derives from Greek and refers to the varied performances that take place in it.

At the entrance of this great theatre you can see a triumphal arch that holds the bronze quadriga, where Apollo and Euterpe are represented. This work belongs to the artist Mario Rutelli.

Massimo Theatre

This is the largest opera house in Italy and the third largest theatre in Europe. The Teatro Massimo was built in homage to the monarch Victor Emmanuel II. Its architecture has Renaissance and neoclassical features.

Inaugurated on May 16th 1897, the Massimo is a must-see if you are in Palermo. If you've seen the Godfather trilogy more than once, you'll be interested to know that the last scene of the saga was filmed here. And if you found this last fact interesting, I recommend you to take one of the best Mafia tours in Palermo, an unmissable experience.

Palazzo Steri

Palazzo Chiaramonte Steri is a historic Palermo palace that was the residence of Count Manfredi III Chiaramonte, then the seat of the Spanish viceroys, the seat of the Royal Customs and the tribunal of the Holy Inquisition.

This elegant and solemn building, with more than 7 centuries of history, is now a museum. Here you can enjoy works such as La Vucciria, by Renato Guttuso.

Orto Botanico

The Orto Botanico gained its popularity in the 19th century for being home to an infinite number of different species of trees and plants typical of maritime areas.

The botanical garden was founded at the end of the 18th century with the intention of providing the city with a specific site for the study of botanical science. It has different sectors, ordered according to the species housed, and to visit it internally you have to pay a ticket starting at 6 euros. It is worth noting that this is not included in the tourist bus ticket.

Central Station

This is Palermo's main railway station, which handles approximately 19 million passengers a year. It is among the 13 "Great Stations" of Italy.

Palermo Central Station is located in Piazza Giulio Cesare and was inaugurated in 1886. Its pictorial decorations and neoclassical style make it an architectural masterpiece worth seeing.

Quattro Canti

This octagonal-shaped square is located between two central axes of Palermo, via Maqueda and via Cassaro. It is the centre of Palermo's old town and is characterised by a corner with four façades, as its name suggests.

The official name of this site is Piazza Villena in honour of the Spanish viceroy Don Juan Fernandez Pacheco de Villena y Ascalon.

Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)

Also known as the Norman Palace, this ancient building originates from the period of Arab rule in the region. It contains the Palatine Chapel, a building that is considered to be the finest architectural work of the Norman Arab-Byzantine style.

Since 1947 it has been the seat of the Sicilian Regional Assembly and since 2015 it has been considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Cattedrale (Cathedral of Palermo)

The Cathedral of Pal ermo was originally a Byzantine basilica, on which a Catholic church was later erected. The bishop who commissioned its construction intended it to compete in beauty and importance with the Cathedral of Monreale.

Over the years the Palermo Cathedral has been modified several times. Inside you can visit several chapels of great beauty. Among them is the chapel of Santa Rosalia, who is considered the patron saint of Palermo.

Below I have compiled all the attractions that you can visit on the Blue Line.

Giardino Inglese

Formerly known as Giardino Inglese, this public park in Palermo is called Piersanti Mattarella Park. It was designed in 1851 by the architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile and contains species of plants and trees from all over the world.

Besides the marvellous vegetation, inside the English Garden, you can find interesting jewels such as a temple in Arab-Norman style, as well as numerous sculptures.

Villa Malfitano

This is a villa located in the Palermo neighbourhood of Politeama and was built during the 19th century for the businessman Joseph Whitaker and his wife Tina Whitaker. Known as Villa Malfitano Whitaker, it is now a natural history museum, which also contains pieces from the archaeological and artistic collection of the Whitaker family.

The site is also home to the Whitaker Foundation which is dedicated to promoting cultural activities in Sicily.

Castello Della Zisa

Also known as the Zisa Palace, this imposing Sicilian monument was built in the 12th century for King William I of Sicily as a summer residence for the monarch and his family.

Its architecture is inspired by the Moorish style, and for its great historical value it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is located in the square of the same name, and due to its imposing structure and surroundings it is one of the places you cannot miss in the city of Palermo. To visit it inside you must pay a ticket, which is about 4 euros per person, which is not included in the price of the tourist bus.

Mercato Del Capo

This is an urban street market where you can buy all kinds of food, meat, seafood, vegetables and fruit, as well as typical Sicilian dishes. It is located on Via Capuchinelli and is named after the name given to the highest part of the neighbourhood where it is located, the Capo (head).

Other attractions on the blue line include the Teatro Massimo and the Teatro Politeama.

And if you want to take a more leisurely tour of the city of Palermo, you can take a guided walking tour of the most interesting sites, which also includes an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Palermo sightseeing bus.

How often do the buses pass by each stop?

Buses pass through the stops with different frequency according to the time of the year. The Red Line between March 24th and November 4th has daily departures every 30 minutes from 9:30am to 5pm. From 5 November to 23 March inclusive, the Red Line departs from Monday to Friday at 10am, 11am and 12pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, every 30 minutes from 10am to 1pm.

As for the Blue Line, from 24 March to 4 November, it has daily departures at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 2:40pm, 3:20pm, 4pm and 5pm. Then from 5 November to 23 March, it departs from Monday to Friday at 1pm, and on weekends and public holidays it departs at 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

Is the ticket valid for both lines or are they bought separately?

The ticket you buy is valid for both bus lines. Within the 24 hours of validity of your ticket, you will be able to use both lines.

How do I recognise the bus stops?

The bus stops are clearly marked with signs that you can identify on the route map, as they are illustrated on the map. In any case, the map also shows the exact addresses of each stop and a numerical marker indicating them.

If I buy my ticket online, do I have to take the bus on a specific day?

No, from the date you buy your ticket for the Palermo tourist bus you have up to 3 months to use it.

What happens if I need to cancel my ticket?

If you cancel your Palermo bus ticket 24 hours in advance or more, you will receive a 100% refund, after this time there are no refunds.

Is this activity suitable for children?

Of course it is! It is even important to note that children under 5 years of age do not have to pay a ticket, even if they occupy a seat. Children between 5 and 15 years of age pay a ticket for around 10.70 euros. In addition, the vehicle has enough space to carry a pram in case you need it.

Can I buy tickets directly on board the bus?

It is possible, although not all buses are equipped to accept card payments, so you will have to pay in cash.

Does the bus operate on Sundays?

Yes, both the Red Line and the Blue Line operate on Sundays, with the same frequency as on Saturdays and public holidays.

Can I travel on the bus with my pet?

Of course you can, the Palermo tourist bus is pet friendly, as it allows access to passengers with small and medium sized pets. It is important to clarify that the animal must wear a muzzle and a leash at all times, and its carrier must be in good condition.

Can I take my luggage on the tourist bus?

Only small bags or backpacks are allowed. For safety reasons, it is strictly forbidden to ride the tourist bus with bulky luggage, large backpacks, large suitcases or bags that are uncomfortable for other passengers in the common area of the vehicle.