Palermo Safety Guide: Insider Tips & Scams to Avoid from a Sicilian

[@David_R434]

Just back from a fantastic trip to Palermo and heading back again soon. Picked up on the crossing advice and you do need to watch out for the electric bikes and scooters. Street food tour and tour of Norman Palace are fantastic.

[@IAm-yi8td]

Thank you Nico, I’m solo female traveler visiting Palermo on Sunday, this really helped a lot

[@WeArePalermo]

Thank you! Don't worry, Palermo is safe for solo female travelers; we welcome a lot of them here. Just take the usual precautions, and like I mentioned, the Politeama Libertà area is a great spot for solo travelers. If you have any other questions, feel free to text anytime

[@austinpresler6811]

I'm in the same boat! heading in on the overnight train that crosses. Any tips you would care to pass along? What do you wish you'd known or what do you recommend

[@blumojo1947]

Bravo Nico. Informazioni importantissime!

[@WeArePalermo]

grazie mille ☺

[@Freddels1]

We love Palermo. I was there this past November. I never felt unsafe in Palermo.

[@WeArePalermo]

Ciao amici! I'm super happy to hear you loved Palermo and felt safe! Indeed, most visitors feel completely secure here. Typically, only those not used to less touristy spots or with less travel experience might feel a bit unsure

[@JoseMartinez-qc9zh]

Seems like they still haven't sorted out the trash problem. Pitty .

[@anneavenell3691]

Hi Nico, I’ve subscribed to your channel and have been watching lots of your videos. They’ve all been super helpful. As a female solo traveler I’m staying in Via Matteo Bonello in a few months time. I’ve looked on Google Earth and it seems to be a well lit area. Just wanted your thoughts as to whether you would agree it’s a good place to stay? Thank you 😊

[@WeArePalermo]

Ciao! Thanks for subscribing and watching the videos-I'm really glad they've been helpful! About staying on Via Matteo Bonello, it's a long street. The first section, roughly from house number 1 to 20, runs along the cathedral. It’s well-lit and feels very safe-great area. As you go further away from the cathedral, the area can start to feel a bit sketchier. It’s still generally safe, but if you're out alone late at night, you might feel a bit intimidated, even though it's safe. It really depends on your own comfort level. Let me know if you have more questions 😉

[@elliediamond9290]

Hello I want to move to Sicily not sure best place for single ladies??

[@chowd.a.d.8309]

Ciao Nico, great work. I would like to go on a cooking class in Palermo, good if they speak some English since my Italian is not that very good. Do you know some good people who do this food/wine and cooking classes?. Also, what should be normal price for a taxi from Palermo to Mondello?. Molte grazie.

[@WeArePalermo]

Ciao! Thanks for the props! For cooking classes in Palermo that offer English instruction, check out GetYourGuide. They've got a solid selection. Specifically, this pizza and gelato class (bit.ly/gelatoandpizzacookingclass) and this half-day cooking class (bit.ly/half-day-cooking) are top-notch, based on the feedback I've heard from others. As for taxis, they can get pricey. The cost from Palermo to Mondello really varies depending on traffic, the time of day, and whether you hail one on the street or book it. But generally, expect to shell out around 30 euros. Grazie mille!

[@chowd.a.d.8309]

@@WeArePalermo Grazie, molto bene.

[@timothyoreilly6675]

I was there in 2017. The taxi situation wasn't great (hard to get and expensive). I wonder if they have sorted that out?

[@WeArePalermo]

Ciao! Taxis are easy to get, but if you're not in the city center close to their parking areas, you'll need to call them. They're still quite expensive and, unfortunately, can sometimes be scammy

[@timothyoreilly6675]

@@WeArePalermo Thanks 🙂

[@elisa.rainbowheart]

I have to add to be very careful while riding the buses here. I rode the bus two times before and bought my ticket on the bus. The third time, a plain clothes man would not let me pay and demanded my passport which I did not have- it was at home. He made me get off the bus, humiliated me, even though I explained I just arrived and didn't know how the system worked, and then proceeded to call the police. The only way I got out of the situation was to call my local Sicilian friend. I have travelled the world and never experienced anything like this before. The bus ticketing system is extremely confusing to navigate. 90 percent of Sicilians have been excellent, like anywhere, you have the 10 percent bad eggs.

[@WeArePalermo]

Ciao! I'm really sorry you had to deal with that, Elisa. Honestly, it’s not surprising given how stupid and frustrating public service employees can be around here. We locals all know what a bunch of morons they can be, and it's exhausting. They never seem to make it easy, especially for foreigners trying to figure things out. It's ridiculous how complicated they make it to simply buy a bus ticket! That's actually one of the main reasons I started my website, We Are Palermo. I wanted to help travelers understand the local systems that the government fails to explain clearly. Again, I'm really sorry you had to deal with such a mess

[@elisa.rainbowheart]

@@WeArePalermo Grazie mille for your response! Yes, a certain level of understanding on their part would be helpful! Evert person I have talked to in Palermo tells me a different story about how bus tickets work! Thank you for creating this channel! I am a Sicilian-Americano trying to learn about my ancestry and I am super grateful to be here. In every place, 90 percent are good, but we have to deal with the rotten 10 percent. Sicilia has been good to me overall

[@Filpa52186]

Tutte balle ! Palermo è una giungla!

[@rubenangelvarisco9719]

Palermo? No thanks!

[@WeArePalermo]

I'm sure the locals will survive the heartbreak 😉

[@SSlava21]

Highly unlikely you are going to get your laptop stolen in Dubai, even with the car unlocked.

[@WeArePalermo]

Yeah, I lived in Dubai for four years, and it’s super safe-I mean, folks literally leave their cars running with the AC on while they grab coffee. The laws are strict, which keeps most people from stealing. But here's the thing, I had my iPad swiped right out of a café in Dubai, and I've heard similar stories from others while I was there. Believing there’s a place with zero thieves is just naive. That’s usually when you let your guard down, like I did with my iPad