A Bespoke But Affordable Day Tour Of Palermo For Older Travelers

Palermo, the bustling, colorful city and province that is Sicily’s capital, is also the largest city on Italy’s largest island.

Its rich historic center, with layers of culture, is walkable in size for most. Still, the maze of narrow, winding streets with uneven pavement can be challenging and stressful for older or mobility-impaired travelers.

Cars and motor scooters pop up unexpectedly, and the density of people, particularly in peak tourist seasons, can make visitors feel as if they’ve been packed in a can of sardines (ironically, one of the most popular fish products in Sicily).

The Benefits Of Private Van Tours

There are many reasons to opt for a private van tour of Palermo rather than a group walking tour:

• You can create your own itinerary (or deviate from the one suggested) to add stops based on your interests or delete ones that don’t appeal to you.

• You can traverse a wider geographical area than you can by foot.
• Drivers can maximize your use of time because they are intimately familiar with crowds, traffic, and what’s busy and when.
• When parking isn’t available, they can wait for you at a nearby meeting point.
• You can develop a personal relationship with your guide, spending time together in the vehicle and on the ground. It’s also easier to ask questions.
• You don’t have to be part of a group following a guide with a “lollipop” or flag. This allows you to blend in more easily and not stick out as a tourist.
• You can maximize your time: You can determine your pace, take breaks, stop when tired and linger longer at sights that interest you. Keeping up with a group can be stressful if you are a slower walker.
• You can get extra help from the driver when needed (e.g., crossing a heavily trafficked street).
• You can invite the driver to a meal and learn more about local foods and traditions.
• You can often arrange door-to-door service so you can be picked up and dropped off at your accommodation.
• If you are traveling with friends or family, you can create your own group.

Our Private Van Tour Of Palermo

We found ToursByLocals, a Canadian-based, online international tour provider that connects travelers with local guides in over 175 countries. The company offers dozens of tours across Sicily geared to various interests, destinations, and price points.

We opted for a 7-hour tour in an insured, air-conditioned Mercedes minivan that could accommodate up to four people. The weather in Palermo is generally temperate in winter, with average highs around 50℉, but summers can be brutal, making a case for air-conditioning.

We were able to choose our pick-up point. We met our driver, Bartolomeo Alaimo of ToursByLocals, at Hotel Politeama, a 4-star hotel in the city center with incredible views of the Politeama, the theatre of Palermo, which sits on Piazza Ruggero Settimo. Although not a licensed tour guide, our multilingual driver had previously worked in the hospitality industry and had been driving for two decades.

We stopped at many historical and cultural sites in the city center, including The Chinese Palace, the Massimo Opera House, the Royal Palace, and the magnificent Palermo Cathedral. We saw the Baroque square with the iconic Quattro Canti (four corners).

We also visited places we wanted to see outside the center. We walked on the promenade beside Mondello Beach, surrounded by posh homes and Liberty-style architecture.

We drove up to the top of Mount Pellegrino, which would have taken 11,000 steps on foot (a popular pilgrimage route) to visit the sacred Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia (the patron saint of Palermo), where monks once lived as hermits in caves.

We also visited the Monreale Duomo on Monte Caputo, which is famous for its Norman architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our timing was perfect because we got to see the newly restored gold leaf mosaics at the Monreale Cathedral soon after a one-year restoration.

We also took a stroll beside the bay at the Palermo Marina, a new waterfront development with a modern cruise terminal, restaurants, shops, and water features.

The Downsides Of A Van Tour Of Palermo

Nothing is perfect, and neither are private van tours. Of course, walking is usually the best way to visit any destination if you have the time and stamina.

Another downside of a van tour is its cost. Ours was less than $500, and given that our son and his partner joined us, it wasn’t much more expensive than we would have paid for group walking tours for four people.

Throughout our tour, we could stop for photos, shop or spend as much time inside attractions as we wished. Riding up and down the mountains circling the city offered stunning views of the cityscapes and and the sea.

Just as cruising introduces cruisers to new ports of call to which they want to return, our day van tour of Palermo allowed us to get an overview of the city’s layout and find new places we wanted to visit during the coming days of our stay.