Palermo is Sicily’s capital and one of the more demanding Italian cities to drive in: a camera-controlled ZTL in the historic centre, blue lines almost everywhere and active towing. Blue lines cost €1/hour (Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00), a ZTL day pass costs €5, and at the airport you pay from €10 per day. This guide explains the zones and the ZTL, the best car parks near Teatro Massimo, the cheap park-and-ride, Mondello beach parking and Palermo Airport.
Driving in? Still choosing a car? Our Italy car rental guide compares the local desks and prices – pick the car first, then park it cheaply with the tips below.
On-street parking, the ZTL and towing in Palermo are run by the city company AMAT Palermo. The rules are simple once you know them: blue lines are paid, white lines are free unless a sign says otherwise, and the historic centre is a camera-controlled ZTL.
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| Line colour | Meaning | Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Paid parking (AMAT; zone F run by APCOA at the same price) | €1/hour | Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00 |
| Blue (Mondello, Sferracavallo) | Seasonal beach zones D and E | €1/hour | Daily 08:00–24:00, 1 May–31 Oct |
| White | Free parking | Free | Time limits only where signed |
| Yellow | Reserved (disabled badge holders, loading, taxis) | — | Tow risk |
Blue lines are free on Sundays and public holidays in the city zones. Mondello and Sferracavallo are the exception: from May to October you pay there every day, until midnight.
Visitors can buy a ZTL pass for €5 per day (petrol and diesel cars Euro 4 or newer; €2.50 for hybrids, LPG and methane; electric cars are free). You can buy it on the city ZTL portal (ztl.comune.palermo.it), in the PalerMobilità app, by SMS or at tobacconists – and even pay afterwards, within 24 hours on weekdays. If your hotel is inside the ZTL, this is the simplest way to drive to the door with luggage.
For a day in the centre, a covered garage near Teatro Massimo or the Orlando underground car park is the easiest choice. For longer stays, the AMAT park-and-ride is the cheapest.
Large underground car park at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, next to the law courts and a 10-minute walk from Teatro Massimo and the Cathedral. Open 24 hours, around 600 spaces.
Several private garages a few steps from Teatro Massimo and Via Maqueda. They can be pre-booked on Parclick, which is useful if your hotel is in the centre.
Station car park at Piazzetta Cairoli, handy if you combine the car with a train to Cefalù or the airport train.
Open-air interchange car park on Via Ernesto Basile, near the ring road. Leave the car and take bus 109 to Palermo Centrale station – the cheapest way to avoid the ZTL for a full day.
Guarded port car park, useful if you are taking a ferry (Tirrenia to Naples and Cagliari, Grimaldi to Tunis) or staying near La Cala.
In July and August Palermo regularly reaches the mid-30s °C. A covered garage keeps the car cooler and away from the street – worth it if you are staying several days in the centre.
Free white-line parking exists, mostly in residential streets outside the historic centre.
Blue lines in the city zones are free on Sundays and public holidays – but remember the Friday and Saturday night ZTL.
North of Via Libertà and in residential districts you will find free white-line bays. Check nearby signs for time limits or street-cleaning days.
From November to April the Mondello beach zone is free. From May to October it costs €1/hour every day until midnight.
Blue lines can be paid at meters, at tobacconists (scratch cards) or by app.
The city’s official app: pay for blue lines and buy the ZTL pass in one place.
All three work on Palermo blue lines and let you extend the session remotely. Useful if you already use one of them elsewhere in Italy.
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blue-line hours | Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00, €1/hour |
| Sundays / holidays | Free in city zones (not Mondello/Sferracavallo May–Oct) |
| Day ZTL | Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 |
| Night ZTL | Fri and Sat nights (20:00–06:00 May–Oct, 23:00–06:00 Nov–Apr) |
| ZTL pass | €5/day (Euro 4+), €2.50 hybrid/LPG, EVs free |
| Towing | €60 + €3.20/km by day, €75 at night, plus storage |
Inside the ZTL. Either buy the €5 pass or park at Orlando or Via Pignatelli Aragona and walk.
Garages on Via Pignatelli Aragona; blue lines along the side streets of Via Libertà.
Molo Santa Lucia for ferries; blue lines along Foro Italico.
Seasonal blue zone at €1/hour (May–October, 08:00–24:00). Bus 806 from Politeama is a good alternative on summer weekends. In summer 2026 (8 May–30 September) the centre of Mondello was also closed to traffic in the evening (20:00–24:00) – check whether this is repeated next season.
Paid car parks below the cathedral; a short uphill walk to the mosaics.
Falcone Borsellino airport is about 35 km from the centre. First 15 minutes are free.
| Car park | Rate |
|---|---|
| P2 – at the terminal | €3/hour, €18 per 24 h |
| P1 – long stay (approx. 600 m) | €13 per 24 h, €65 per week |
| P3 – low cost (approx. 700 m) | €10 per 24 h, €75 per week |
Palermo parking cost estimator
Reserve a parking spot →Based on the blue-zone street tariff (€1/h, Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00). Covered garages charge €12–24/day.
Yes, blue lines in the city zones are free on Sundays and public holidays. The exceptions are Mondello and Sferracavallo, which are paid every day from May to October.
The day ZTL runs Monday to Friday 08:00–20:00, and a night ZTL applies on Friday and Saturday nights. Visitors can buy a €5 day pass online, in the PalerMobilità app, by SMS or at tobacconists – even up to 24 hours after entering on weekdays.
P2 at the terminal costs €3/hour or €18 per 24 hours. For longer trips P1 (€13 per day, €65 per week) or the low-cost P3 (€10 per day) are cheaper. The first 15 minutes are free.
From 1 May to 31 October the beach zone costs €1/hour every day from 08:00 to midnight. From November to April it is free.
The official city app is PalerMobilità. EasyPark, MooneyGo and Telepass also work on the blue lines.
Towing is handled by AMAT. Expect €60 plus €3.20 per km by day (€75 at night), plus a daily storage fee and the fine itself.
