HERE’S THE PLAN...

Essential Info

When to go: Year-round. Summer months, especially July and August, can be both busy and hot. May, June and September still have warm weather, and so are good times to go. Getting there: easyjet (easyjet. com) flies from London Gatwick, London Luton and Liverpool to Palermo, starting from £24.68 per person (one-way, not including baggage). British Airways (0844 493 0787, ba.com) have single fares from £44 and fly between March and October. Getting around: The Old Town is walkable and easy to find your way around. It’s also possible to rent bikes – a good way to get around quickly and to reach sites a bit further out. There are also buses, trains and taxis (but check the fare first, where possible). Where to stay: Butera28 (+39 333 316 5432, butera28.it) has comfy and characterful self-catering apartments that are close to the marina and puppet museum; from €75pn (£70). B&B del Massimo (bbdelmassimo.it) has good-sized rooms and is right in the thick of the action, down a narrow alley from Teatro Massimo; doubles from €50pn (£44). Where to eat: L’ottava Nota Restaurant (ristoranteottavanota.it) isn’t cheap but it does excellent Sicilian dishes, as does the more affordable and traditional La Cambusa (lacambusa.it/en). For pizza, head to Arte E Tradizione (arteetradizione-palermo.it). Palermo’s markets and the street food at Vucciria are also well worth exploring. Further info: visitpalermo.it and turismo.comune.palermo.it.