The long history of the city means that there is a lot to see; its historical district is larger than that of any other Italian city except Rome and maybe Naples although parts are sadly rather neglected.

Palermo offers great dining as well as excellent shopping. Many of the better shops are located on the side streets in the city centre around Via Maqueda and Via Libertà. There are excellent pastry shops and bars serving ice cream, pastries and granita (flavoured ices).

Along a kilometre length of Corso Calatafimi exists a stunning multicultural historical legacy: a Phoenician-Carthaginian cemetery, Roman homes (in Piazza Vittoria), Norman palaces (the Cuba and Royal Palace) and Baroque churches.

Water in the city is rationed and only supplied for a few hours every two or three days and poor air quality and traffic jams are problematical.