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 center 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 is the Blue Line. In both cases, the bus makes a tour through the streets of this historic city, and takes you to know in about 50 or 60 minutes 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 in between their 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 complete the whole tour.

The Red Line tour puts more emphasis on the historic center, and during the ride 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 and explore at your own pace and taste, and then get back on at any of the available stops. You can do this as many times as you wish, 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 available lines. Children under 5 years old do not pay, and children between 5 and 15 years old get a reduced price.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately one hour (if you do not get off the bus).
• Means of transportation: open top double-decker bus.
• Advantages of this option: audio guide available in several languages, including Spanish.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer pick-up and drop-off at the lodging sites.

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

The Blue Line tour is just a 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 that you can visit on this route are also included in 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, covering more emblematic sites of this great city. Even, having free stops on both options, you can walk the ones that are not on your itinerary and then get back on the bus.

Details of interest

• Price: from 21 euros per passenger. With your ticket you can choose between any of the two lines available. Children under 5 years old do not pay, and children between 5 and 15 years old get a reduced price.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 50 minutes (if you decide not to get off the bus).
• Means of transportation: open top double-decker bus.
• Advantages of this option: the vehicle is adapted for baby strollers and also for people using wheelchairs. As it has no roof, you can enjoy 360° views.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not offer pick-up and drop-off at the lodging sites.

The difference between the two routes is that the Red Line basically covers the historic center, while the Blue Line covers the northwest area of Palermo, as well as the duration, since 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 with the Red Line.

Politeama Theater

This iconic theater 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 theater has a capacity for 950 spectators. Its name derives from Greek and refers to the varied representations that take place in it.

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

Massimo Theater

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

Inaugurated on May 16, 1897, the Massimo is a must-see if you are in Palermo. If you are one of those who have seen the Godfather trilogy more than once, you will 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 seat of the Spanish viceroys, seat of the Royal Customs and court of the Holy Inquisition.

This elegant and solemn building, which has 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 infinity 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, arranged according to criteria of species housed, and to visit it internally you must pay a ticket that starts 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, through which approximately 19 million passengers pass every 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 is an octagonal-shaped square located between two central axes of Palermo, via Maqueda and Cassaro. It is the center of Palermo's old town and is characterized by being a corner with four facades, as its name suggests.

The official name of this site is Piazza Villena in honor 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 domination in the region. It contains the Palatine Chapel, a building that is considered to be the best architectural work of the Arab Norman Byzantine style.

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

Cattedrale (Palermo Cathedral)

The Cathedral of Palermo arose as a basilica of Byzantine origin, in which later a Catholic temple was erected. The bishop who commissioned its construction aimed 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 that of Santa Rosalia, who is considered the patron saint of Palermo.

Below I have compiled all the attractions that you will be able to visit with the Blue Line.

Giardino Inglese

Formerly known as English Garden, this Palermo public park 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.

In addition to the wonderful 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 neighborhood 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 today a natural history museum, which also contains pieces from the archaeological and artistic collection of the Whitaker family.

The site also houses 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 current, 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 for its imposing structure and environment is one of the places you can not 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 fruits, 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 neighborhood 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 tour of the most interesting sites on foot, which also includes an unforgettable gastronomic experience.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Palermo tourist bus.

How often do the buses pass by each stop?

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

As for the Blue Line, from March 24 to November 4, it has daily departures at 12, 13, 14, 14, 14:40, 15:20, 16 and 17 pm. Then from November 5 to March 23, it departs from Monday to Friday at 1:00 pm, and on weekends and holidays it departs at 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

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

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

How do I recognize the bus stops?

The bus stops are clearly marked with signs that you can identify on the route map, as they are illustrated on it. In any case, you have on the same map the exact addresses of each of the stops and a numerical mark 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 ticket for the Palermo bus 24 hours in advance or more, you will receive a 100% refund, after this period there are no refunds.

Is this activity suitable for children?

Of course it is! Even at this point it is 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 old pay the ticket at a value of around 10.70 euros. In addition, the vehicle has enough space to carry a baby carriage in case you need it.

Can I buy tickets directly on board the bus?

It is possible, although it is worth mentioning that not all units are equipped to accept credit card payments, so you will have to pay in cash.

Does the bus provide service on Sundays?

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

Can I travel on the bus with my pet?

Of course you can, the Palermo tourist bus is pet friendly, as it allows passengers with small and medium sized pets. It is worth mentioning that the animal must wear a muzzle and 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.