3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walk

3-Hour UNESCO Sites Walk, 3 hours (approx.), rated 4.8 across 437 traveller reviews.

Overview

This three hour walk, run by Towns of Italy, covers the UNESCO listed core of Palermo with a licensed English speaking guide. The route takes in the city's main historical monuments, seen from outside, plus entrance to Palermo Cathedral. Along the way the guide points out landmarks such as La Martorana church and shares the history behind them. The tour finishes with a Sicilian cannolo or granita, a small treat included in the price.

The group meets at the Towns of Italy hub on Via Volturno and sets off on foot, returning to the same point at the end. Groups are capped at twenty travellers, so it stays a shared walking tour rather than a private outing.

It suits first time visitors best. Reviewers repeatedly say it works well on day one of a trip, giving an overview of the must see sights and flagging places to come back to. The cathedral entry and the food stop at the end set it apart from purely exterior walks. Anyone hoping to visit a palace interior should note that the five hour combo with the palace visit is a separate product with its own second meeting point.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Via VolturnoMeet at the Towns of Italy Tourist Hub and Cooking School, Via Volturno 44, arriving fifteen minutes early. The walk departs from here.
2. Guided walk through PalermoThe licensed English speaking guide leads the group through the historic centre, covering the city's main monuments from outside and explaining their history as the tour goes.
3. Palermo CathedralThe tour includes entrance to Palermo Cathedral, the one interior visit on the standard walk.
4. Cannolo or granitaA typical Sicilian cannolo or granita is included, served at the end of the walk.
5. Return to meeting pointThe activity ends back at the meeting point on Via Volturno. Total duration is approximately three hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this walk.

• Meeting point. There is no hotel pickup or drop off. Meet at the Towns of Italy hub at Via Volturno 44, fifteen minutes before the start, and make your own way there. The tour ends back at the same spot.
• Pace and fitness. It runs in all weather, including heat and rain.
• Group size. The maximum is twenty travellers. Several reviewers mention the guide managing the group well in heat and keeping everyone together, which suggests a shared group rather than a private format.
• Food stop. A cannolo or granita is included at the end. Travellers appreciated the treat, with one mentioning great cannoli to finish. Guides also give non pushy food recommendations for later, according to one review.
• What to bring. Bring water and sun protection, since the tour runs regardless of the weather and several reviews mention intense heat. Gratuities are not included.
• First day timing. Multiple travellers recommend doing this walk early in a trip to orient yourself and note spots to revisit. It covers the main sights from outside plus the cathedral interior, giving a base for exploring further on your own.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and pets are not permitted, though pushchairs are fine and service animals are allowed. It runs in all weather, and several reviews mention intense heat, so conditions can affect comfort. Monument visits are from outside except for the cathedral, so anyone wanting more interiors would need the separate five hour palace combo, which has a second meeting point not covered by this walk. Gratuities and hotel transport are not included.

Common Questions