Palermo Airport to City: Train, Bus, Taxi & Transfers
The official name of Palermo Airport is Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO). It takes around 40 to 60 minutes to get into the city. The journey depends on the type of transport you use, traffic, the time of day, the season, and even the rain. During heavy downpours, roads can flood and this can make traffic more difficult. So I recommend allowing around an hour.
You can get into the city by train, bus, or car. A taxi costs around €50. The train and bus cost around €7–10. The taxi rank is right outside the airport. You can find the bus to the right of the airport entrance, slightly hidden around the corner of the building. You can check the bus timetable through the ticket booking section on the website https://funiviaerice.it Tickets can be bought online in advance or at the ticket office near the bus, and you can pay both in cash and by card.
If you’re taking the train, you don’t even need to leave the airport. As soon as you come out of the baggage area into the main hall, turn left and follow the signs. The corridors will take you to the platform. You can buy tickets there at the ticket office or, again, through the Trainline or Trenitalia apps.
If you’re buying tickets for a late flight, it’s important to take the time of the last train into account. This also depends on the time of year. So before buying your flight ticket, I recommend checking the timetable in Trainline. The route you need is Palermo Aeroporto – Palermo Centrale. If you’ve already rented an apartment, you can adjust your final station in the city with the help of your host. For now, the important thing is to understand what time you need to leave the airport.
If your flight arrives later than public transport is running, I recommend arranging a transfer through your apartment, because there’s a good chance there won’t be any taxis at the airport parking area at night.
The same applies to early morning flights — it’s better to check the timetable first or include the cost of a taxi in your budget.
There is no luggage storage at Palermo Airport, as of autumn 2026. If you want to walk around the city, you can leave your luggage at the train station or somewhere in the city. There are different apps for this. I personally use Radical Storage, but you may prefer alternatives like Bounce, Nannybag, or Stasher. It’s very important to pay attention to opening hours and lunch breaks so you can collect your luggage on time.
If you’re flying out of Palermo, you don’t necessarily need to allow a lot of extra time for the airport, because it’s quite small. Some of my friends still prefer to be at the airport two hours before departure, but I usually arrive around an hour and a half before. I have time to drink a coffee, go through security, and still spend another 30 minutes walking around the airport. Palermo’s duty-free area isn’t very big either, so most of the time I’m simply bored. But of course, everyone decides for themselves. There are also days when Catania Airport closes because of the volcano, and Palermo can be busier than usual.
The train from Palermo to the airport leaves from Palermo Centrale and stops at several stations along the way. Check the map or ask your apartment host which station is closest to you. Tickets can be bought at the station ticket offices or through the app. Buses also leave from Palermo Centrale, and tickets are sold there as well. Palermo’s bus station is to the right of the train station if you’re facing the main entrance.
There is a smoking area in the departures zone — an open terrace with a view of the sea. You can have a coffee and a cigarette there and say goodbye to the sea. There is no smoking area in arrivals, so you’ll have to wait until you get outside.