Transportation in Palermo

Palermo's transport is a patchwork of buses, trams, and the single metro line that locals use. The metro (Metropolitana di Palermo) runs from the central rail hub at Palermo Centrale out to the airport in about 50 minutes, cheap, direct, and the only rail option you'll need. Inside the city, orange city buses and the newer trams cover most sights. Buy a day-pass at any tabacchi shop and tap on once, no need to queue at every ride. Taxis are a splurge and best booked via the Free Now app to avoid the unofficial cabs that linger near tourist squares. First-timers: the historic center is compact, so walking often beats waiting for traffic-clogged buses. If you must cross town, the metro is fastest east-west; north-south, the tram lines 1 and 4 are your friends. Skip the hop-on-hop-off buses, they crawl the same gridlocked streets you can stroll in half the time. From Falcone-Borsellino Airport, the metro train is the smart move: it leaves from the station inside the terminal, runs frequently until late evening, and costs a fraction of a taxi. If you land after the last train, the official white taxis queue outside arrivals, insist on the meter or agree the fare before you load your bags.