Palermo Playbook: An Unrivalled Experience Watching Football in Sicily

When it comes to football tourism, Palermo has it all: the food, the weather, and a central stadium set in stunning natural beauty.

Owned by City Football Group, the Sicilian giants are on the way up, and Destination Calcio has been to see what all the fuss is about.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of your trip.

Where To Stay

Central Palermo is excellent for first-time visitors. It is easy to admire the many architectural styles, ranging from Arab-Norman to Baroque and Byzantine. The unforgettable Teatro Massimo is usually lit up at night and is a three-minute walk from the city’s vibrant food district.

Further north, Mondello is the foolproof option with views of the Mediterranean and the calming sound of waves. Conveniently located between Centro Storico and the airport, this lively seaside town is stacked with bars and restaurants.

Where To Eat

Over the past decade, La Braciera has consistently ranked among the top 50 pizzerias worldwide, according to 50 Top Pizza, and more importantly, was highly recommended by locals. We ordered the smoked salmon and pistachio (Bronte) and the bresaola and bufala (Braciera) pizzas at €14 each at their Pallavicino restaurant, which is a 25-minute stroll from the stadium.

Including the beers from their dedicated beer truck and the caponata di pesce spada starter, the bill came to €55. There are four La Braciera locations around the city, including at the airport.

Ke Palle make arancini, plump rice-filled balls stuffed with 23 various flavours, including squid ink and salmon, meat ragù and vegetarian combinations. This is Sicilian street food at its best, located at Via Maqueda 270, where each arancino (quite large) costs between €3.50 and €4.

For octopus, sauté cozze e vongole the Palermitano way, get your mussels and clams (with a dash of white wine) at our favourite, Trattoria Da Piero in the Mondello area. Owner Piero is an official Palermo FC sponsor and has, at some point, fed every player over the past two decades.

Where To Drink

Whisky & Tobacco is a five-minute stumble from the stadium and offers a decent selection of on-tap beers with a modern American diner experience. Expect big plates of pasta from €12, juicy steaks from €26, plenty of burger options between €14-€17, and, of course, pizza.

The two closest traditional pubs to the stadium – both around a 15-minute walk – are Jayson Irish Pub and the Old Nash Pub. The former serves Guinness on tap, opens at 8pm and has regular live music. The latter is a “cosy place where you can drink a good glass of wine, beer or a cocktail,” with salads, sandwiches and waffles on the menu.

Ristorante Medio Oriente is close to Via Cavour and shows football from various leagues. The Teatro Massimo is close by, too.

You cannot leave Palermo without trying authentic Sicilian granita, an ice cream alternative made in gelato machines, where milk is replaced with filtered water. Just a few minutes walk from the Renzo Barbera on Viale Croce Rossa, Yoghi is rated amongst the best in the city, and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 2am.

Don’t Forget

Tickets – Tickets for Palermo games are available on the club website, with options to buy family or VIP experiences. There is also a Palermo Museum add-on. Fans can buy tickets at the SiamoAquile Bar on the ground level of the Renzo Barbera. Around Palermo, tickets are available at Ticketone selling points.

Tickets start at €24 for adults and €20 for women and under-16s.

When picking up tickets at the stadium or at the ticket office, remember ID and leave a bit of time as collection offices can get busy.

Kick-off times will be moved for television, so bear that in mind when arranging a trip far in advance.

Merchandise – Official Palermo gear can be purchased on the club website or at their stores in the city, at the Renzo Barbera and in the departures area at the airport. The former is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 7:30pm, and on Sundays from 10:30am to 7:30pm, while the latter is open every day from 8am to 8pm.

Did You Know?

Palermo icons include Edinson Cavani, Mark Bresciano, Fabio Grosso and Fabrizio Miccoli, who holds the club scoring record.

Getting There

From the UK, Ryanair flies direct to Palermo’s Punta Raisi Airport from London Stansted all year round. There are seasonal flights from EasyJet (London Luton, London Gatwick, Bristol) and Jet2 (Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle).

There are also direct flights to Sicilian cities such as Trapani and Catania instead of flying into Palermo.

For information on how to get to the Renzo Barbera read our stadium guide.

Need Another Football Fix?

Trapani is a 90-minute drive from Palermo, with the Granata in Serie C. Further away but still on the island, Messina and Catania are proud Sicilian football cities.