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Transfers vs. Other Ways to Get from Palermo Airport (Falcone–Borsellino Airport)
Palermo Airport named after Falcone and Borsellino (formerly known as Punta Raisi Airport) is one of the two biggest airports in Sicily which serves more than 4,5 million passengers a year. It is located half an hour drive away from the city center, in the town of Punta Raisi. In Palermo, there are a lot of architectural monuments of different styles and epochs. And for those, who are tired of visiting sights, there are great beaches of the resorts of Trapani, Mondello, Cefalu, and Balestrate as well as other destinations.
How to get from Palermo Airport to Palermo city center or the other way round
There are several types of transportation you can choose to cross 35 km from the airport to Palermo center:
- by buses of Prestia e Comandè company. They run to the central train station via Emerico Amari street (via Emerico Amari), where the port of Palermo is located. The first bus from the airport is at 05:00, and from 06:30 to 00:15, buses run every 30 minutes. They run in the opposite direction with the same interval, but from 04:00 to 22:30. Tickets can be bought online, at ticket offices or from a driver. The stop is located to the right of the terminal exit;
- by taxi, which can be taken on the spot or booked via the app;
- by transfer, booked online in advance.
Before, it was possible to get to the city center from 05:00 to 21:00 on Trinacria Express train. But, the train station has already been under repair for more than a year, and it is not known when it will open. If you arrive at night, you will have to take a taxi or book a transfer.
Transfer from Palermo Airport vs. Taxi taken on the spot or via the app
Advantages of a private transfer
Book in the language you speak. Uber is forbidden in the territory of Italy. It is possible to book a taxi from Palermo Airport via it Taxi app, which is however mostly available in Italian. Kiwitaxi site and its customer support service are available in 5 languages, including English.
The price does not depend on your knowledge of Italian. Do you remember those tales about Sicilian mafia? Taxi drivers are, of course, not Mafiosi, but they will not miss the chance to get a cut of money from a puzzled tourist. And it will be easier for them if the passenger does not speak Italian.
No extra worries. Sicilian freelance drivers can offer an inexpensive ride, but you will be asking yourself for the whole trip if it is the final price, if you are heading to Palermo, and if all Italians drive so fast and recklessly. The price for a trip by transfer from Palermo Airport to the city is always fixed and known in advance, and the driver drives carefully below the speed limit.
Disadvantage of a private transfer
A bit more expensive. Taxi from Palermo Airport to the city center will cost 30–50 euro according to the meter. The transfer of micro class for three people will cost 53 euro, and of economy class for four people — 55 euro.
Transfer from Palermo Airport vs. Bus
Advantages of a private transfer
Twice as fast. A bus trip to Palermo will take around 1 hour and 20 minutes including waiting time. By transfer, you will get to your hotel there in 35 minutes.
Travel to Palermo even at night. The last bus from the airport departs at 00:15, and from the city — at 22:30. The transfer is available round the clock.
Travel to Trapani at any time. Buses to Trapani are provided by Segesta company. There are only four buses a day: at 09:30, 12:30, 15:30, and 19:30. In order not to waste time on waiting, it is better to book a transfer.
Disadvantage of a private transfer
More expensive. One ticket to Palermo costs 6,3 euro, and a trip to Trapani will cost 10 euro. Kiwitaxi transfer for 7 passengers can be booked for 74 euro.