Palermo Centrale (Palermo)

Palermo Centrale is a terminus station so the access from and to the trains is step-free, but in common with most large stations in Italy, the binario (platforms/tracks) which the trains arrive at and depart from, are some distance from the station’s main exit/entrance on Piazza Giuilo Cesare.

When you arrive on the initial concourse directly in front of the trains, you will see a branch of McDonalds to the left and a Chef Express pizzeria to the right of it, these are the main food and drink outlets within the station.
The left luggage office is over to the right of this open-air concourse.

Despites it's name, the central station in Palermo is located towards the south of the heart of the city.
Bus lines/routes 101, 102 and 124 which do head towards the city centre depart from stops just outside the front of the station.
Follow the passage ways straight ahead, to the left of the McDonalds, or to the right of the pizzeria – and keep going, you’ll eventually get to the exit.

All three of those bus lines head into the city along a main street named Via Roma, it’s a three stop ride to the stop named ‘Lattarini’.
This bus stop is within a three minute walk of the Piazza Pretoria – which is right by two of the city’s churches which are included within its list of UNESCO World Heritage sites – the Chiesa della Martorana and the Church of San Cantado.
Though the route to Piazza Pretoria from the bus stop isn’t particularly obvious.

If the weather is fine, you can head off on foot to the Piazza Pretoria, as it is a 12 – 20 min walk from Palermo Centrale.
When leaving the trains head down the passage way to the left of the McDonalds, go out of the station and cross diagonally top right to the corner of the street named Via Maqueda.
On either side of this street at the intersection there is a pair of columns – the Porta di Vicari, so once you’re by these, you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction.
This street leads directly to the Piazza, so you won’t miss it over on the right-hand side.

The Piazza Pretoria is one of the closest historical landmarks to Palermo Centrale, so it makes a good landmark to head to, if you want to set off on foot from the station to explore the city.
No bus routes/lines, penetrate the historical heart of Palermo, which is located to the west of the piazza.

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If you want to take a taxi, use the side exit of the station which leads on Via Balsomo, head over to the right of the first open-air concourse and use the passage way which leads off to the right, by the pizzeria.
The tram stop on line 1 is also located here, but this line doesn’t go to the city centre.

The Norman Palace is 20 – 30 minute walk from Palermo Centrale, but it is within a 5 minute walk of the station named after it – ‘Palermo Palazzo Reale-Orleans.
There are usually two trains per hour to this station from Palermo Centrale – some of the trains heading to Punta Raisi will call at Palazzo Reale-Orleans.
On exiting this station, turn left when you reach the main road and you’ll see the palace ahead of you on the other side of the street – though the pavement/side walk here is exceptionally narrow.

Punta Raisi station is located at the basement level of the main terminal at Palermo Airport.
There are usually two trains per hour and the journey time is 50 – 55 minutes – it’s faster than taking the bus.
The trains from Palermo Centrale will have a final destination of Punta Raisi.

Bus line/route 107 connects Palermo Centrale station to the ferry terminal on Mondays to Saturdays there are usually four buses per hour, but the service is less frequent on Sundays, take buses heading to ‘Stadio’.