Yes — Ballarò and Vucciria are largely cash-only, so carry small bills and coins.
Discover Authentic Palermo: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Palermo, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Norman Palace, Ballarò market and Monreale Cathedral, alongside our Mercure hotel.
Top 5 Things to Do in Palermo
Ballarò Market
Palermo\u2019s oldest market, running daily between Piazza Casa Professa and Corso Tukory. Go between 8am and noon for the freshest fish and the loudest vendor chants, or abbanniata.
Vucciria after dark
Quiet by day, this market comes alive from about 9pm to 1am, when grilled meat smoke, cheap wine and street food take over the square.
Stigghiola and pani ca meusa
Grilled lamb intestine wrapped around spring onion, or a sandwich of chopped spleen and lung — Palermo's street food is not for the squeamish, but it's the real thing.
Teatro Massimo
One of Europe's largest opera houses, about a 7-minute walk from the hotel — worth a look even if you're not catching a performance.
Il Capo market
The third of Palermo's historic markets, quieter than Ballarò and Vucciria, with its own rhythm and regulars.
Explore Palermo's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Palermo
We've mapped local spots in Palermo, from Arab-Norman monuments to street markets.
Monuments
Palermo historic centre
Palermo Cathedral, the Norman Palace and its Palatine Chapel, the Quattro Canti and Fontana Pretoria, the red domes of San Giovanni degli Eremiti and the Martorana's mosaics – a city of layers.
City centre · Historic centre · Perfect for culture
Monreale Cathedral
On a hill above Palermo, a masterpiece of medieval art, with sweeping views over the city and countryside. The mosaics glitter.
Monreale · Cathedral · Made for mosaics and views
Teatro Politeama Garibaldi
The Politeama Garibaldi stages performances and concerts in a grand 19th-century setting. See what's on tonight.
Piazza Politeama · Theatre · Ideal for an evening show
La Martorana (Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio)
A 12th-century church famous for its glittering Byzantine mosaics, on Piazza Bellini beside red-domed San Cataldo.
Piazza Bellini · Church · Perfect for mosaics
Falcone and Borsellino mural
A large mural by Rosk & Loste near La Cala, based on Tony Gentile's famous photo of the two smiling anti-Mafia judges – a tribute to their memory.
La Cala · Street art · Great for understanding the city
Markets & gardens
Ballarò market
Palermo's culinary heart, all colour, noise and the scent of fresh produce. Try the street food as you go.
Albergheria · Street market · Made for street food
La Vucciria
The historic Vucciria market turns into a lively quarter of bars, clubs and restaurants after dark.
Old town · Market and nightlife · Perfect for evenings out
Palermo Botanical Garden
A calm oasis in the city, with lush gardens and a rich variety of exotic plants.
Kalsa · Botanical garden · Ideal for a peaceful break
Via Lattarini
A street of artisans' workshops and traditional crafts.
Centre · Craft street · Great for souvenirs
Palermo street art
Murals across the city add a lively layer to Palermo's culture. Keep your eyes open.
Street art · Perfect for a walk
Food & drink
Antico Caffè Spinnato
A historic café and pastry shop founded in 1860, famous for cannoli and cassata.
Centre · Café · Made for Sicilian sweets
Palazzo Branciforte restaurant
Modern cooking rooted in tradition, with menus renewed every three months.
Centre · Restaurant · Ideal for dinner
Al Brigantino
A sea-view restaurant known for good-value fish tasting menus.
Restaurant · Perfect for seafood
Lo Scrigno di Donna Rosa
Sicilian classics such as bucatini with sardines and Mazara red prawn crudo.
Restaurant · Great for Sicilian food
FAQ
Morning, roughly 8am to noon, when the fish is freshest and the market is at its most lively.
Yes — it\u2019s a short walk from Teatro Politeama and Teatro Massimo, in the heart of Palermo.
The Cathedral, the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel, the Quattro Canti and nearby Monreale Cathedral.
At Ballarò market, the city's culinary heart, or in La Vucciria.
Yes. Its cathedral is a medieval masterpiece with views over Palermo.
Where to Sleep in Palermo
This Mercure hotel appears on our map:
- Mercure Palermo Centro