Palermo Car Rental

Situated on the Conca d’Oro (Golden Basin) and surrounded by mountains, Palermo is one of Sicily’s jewels thanks to its rich cultural heritage which mixes Greek, Roman, Arabic, and Norman influences, and to the beauty of its sea and landscapes.

Spending a holiday in Palermo means not only immersing yourself in a place characterised by an authentic melting pot of history and art, but also having the chance to taste delicious cuisine and street-food.

The Sicilian capital is the ideal destination for every type of traveller and the best way to explore it is by car, which will allow you to move easily around the city without any problems.

Palermo: things to see and do

To get around Palermo and the surrounding villages, we recommend that you rent a car directly on the island.

If you arrive in Sicily by air, you can go to the car rental office at “Falcone e Borsellino” airport in Palermo. However, if you arrive by train, then you can go to the Maggiore office located at the Notarbartolo train station.

Travelling by car with Maggiore is a guarantee of safety and this is because our rental cars are not only modern and equipped with all the comforts, but also because they are carefully checked. The highest standards of cleanliness are maintained, and each car is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised before it is delivered.

Once you have rented your car in Palermo, head towards the centre and stop at Palazzo Normanni, a building that bears witness to the city’s cultural mix and its magnificent Palatina Chapel, an Arab-Norman-Byzantine masterpiece.

From here you can easily reach the Martorana Church, one of the most beautiful Byzantine churches in Italy, which over the centuries has been an early Christian basilica, a mosque and a church. You can also reach the Massimo Theatre, the third largest in Europe.

Also worth seeing in Palermo are the Regional Archaeological Museum, with its rich collection of Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian and Greek artefacts, the Pretoria Fountain, called the “Fountain of Shame” by the locals, and Palazzo Gangi, known for being the set of Luchino Visconti’s “The Leopard.”

With a rental car you can easily reach the medieval church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, easily recognisable by its characteristic red domes, or reach the Orto Botanico (Botanical Garden) where you can enjoy relaxing in nature, and Villa Giulia, a beautiful public garden located right next to the Kalsa district.

Other things to do in the Sicilian capital include a visit to the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, with its 8,000 perfectly preserved mummies, a stroll through the colourful and characteristic markets of Ballarò, Vucciria and Capo, and a taste of the best local pastries and street food; try the “meusa” (spleen sandwich), or the “panelle” (flatbread made with chickpea flour) and don’t forget to try a cannolo, cassata or “gelo di anguria” (watermelon jelly).

Visit Palermo’s beaches and surrounding areas

Palermo is also an excellent base to visit other places of interest that are definitely worth seeing.

Just a 30-minute drive from the capital is Monreale, a village known mainly for its Duomo and Cloister, true masterpieces of Arab-Norman-Byzantine art, and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia, a very evocative place of worship located on the slopes of Monte Pellegrino.

Places to visit near Palermo include the ancient fishing village of Cefalù, renowned for its fascinating Basilica della Trasfigurazione, Mondello, a famous seaside resort built in Art Nouveau style, Bagheria, also known as the “city of villas” for its many noble buildings, and Borgo Parrini, a hamlet of Partinico, which thanks to the tenacity of the few remaining inhabitants has been given a new lease of life, having been completely restored in the style of Gaudi.

History lovers should not miss the beautiful archaeological site of Segesta, about 90 km from Palermo, while nature lovers should stop at Castellammare del Golfo and the magnificent Zingaro Nature Reserve.

A tour of Palermo and its surrounding areas also means discovering its sea and coastline!

Among the beaches worthy of mention are those of Castel di Tusa and Sant’Ambrogio di Cefalù, the very famous Mondello beach, with its white sand and crystal-clear water, and the beach of Capaci, which is also ideal for children as the seabed is shallow and the sea is very calm.

These are just a few, there are so many more beautiful beaches near the Sicilian capital!

Also worth mentioning are the beach at Altavilla Milicia, the wild and unspoilt beach at Ficarazzi, the beaches at Kafara, Sant’Elia and Porticello di Santa Flavia and the beaches at Capo Gallo, Lascari and the Sferracavallo area, where you should stop to visit the Baia del Corallo and Spiaggia delle Vergini.

There are so many things to see in and around Palermo, and if you want to discover them all, opt for a rental car and get ready to experience an unforgettable holiday.