Palermo and Monreale

A 6-hour private tour: the gold mosaics of Monreale Cathedral and the Arab-Norman centre of Palermo on foot.

Duration: 6h Languages: IT, EN Private tour Culture

Highlights

  • Car and driver for 6 hours, for your group only
  • The gold mosaics of Monreale Cathedral
  • The Benedictine cloister, with its own ticket
  • The Cathedral, Quattro Canti and Fontana Pretoria on foot
  • The Teatro Massimo and the markets of the centre
  • Pickup also in Mondello, Altavilla Milicia and at the port

About this tour

Monreale sits on the hill above Palermo, about a quarter of an hour from the centre, and its cathedral with the gold mosaics is one of the nine monuments of the Arab-Norman UNESCO site. Entry to the church is free; the Benedictine cloister has its own ticket.

Then down to Palermo. The car drops you at the nearest point allowed and you explore the centre on foot: the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, the Fontana Pretoria, the Teatro Massimo from outside and, if you like, a market such as Ballarò or the Capo. You can add the Royal Palace with the Palatine Chapel, with its own ticket.

Your driver takes you, waits and tells you where to meet; inside churches and palaces you walk on your own or with an authorised guide, on request and paid separately. Tickets and lunch are paid on site.

Itinerary

  1. Pickup

    Your driver meets you at your hotel or address, or at Palermo port if you arrive by ship, at the agreed time.

  2. Monreale Cathedral 1h 15min

    The gold mosaics and, if you like, the Benedictine cloister, on your own or with an authorised guide on request.

  3. Palermo city centre 2h 30min

    On foot around the Cathedral, the Quattro Canti, the Fontana Pretoria and the Teatro Massimo, with a market stop if you like.

  4. Return

    Your driver collects you at the agreed point and takes you back to your pickup point.

What's included

  • A vehicle with driver for your group only: a sedan for 1 to 3 people, a van for 4 to 8
  • English-speaking driver
  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or address
  • Fuel
  • Time for Monreale Cathedral and about two and a half hours in Palermo city centre
  • Stops for photos whenever you like

Not included

  • Entrance tickets to archaeological parks, museums, cloisters and paid areas: you pay them on site
  • Lunch and drinks: you choose where to stop, your driver can suggest a few places
  • Authorised guide for Monreale Cathedral: optional, on request, paid separately
  • Authorised guide for Palermo city centre: optional, on request, paid separately
  • Tips: optional

Good to know

  • Monreale Cathedral (town sheet, November 2025): free entry, Monday to Saturday 09:00-12:45 and 14:00-16:45, Sundays and holidays 14:00-17:00. The cloister costs about 8 euro per person and opens Monday to Saturday 09:00-18:30, Sunday 09:00-13:00, free on the first Sunday of the month.
  • The centre of Palermo is a limited-traffic zone: your driver drops you at the nearest point open to cars, you walk the centre on foot and meet again at an agreed point.
  • Your driver drives, waits for you and suggests stops and timings, but does not explain the sites: in Italy, by law (Law 190 of 2023), only an authorised guide may do that.
  • For Monreale Cathedral and Palermo city centre you can ask for an authorised guide when you book, on request and paid separately.
  • The tour price does not cover entrance fees: you pay them on site, or online beforehand where the site allows it.
  • Pickup at your hotel or address at the agreed time: in historic centres with limited traffic the car comes to your hotel where traffic rules allow, otherwise to the nearest point, agreed beforehand.
  • If you arrive by ship, pickup is at the cruise terminal exit or at the port gate agreed when you book: plan the return with a wide margin before all-aboard time.
  • The price is per group, not per person: by sedan for 1 to 3 people, by van for up to 8. The tour is private: no other travellers join you.
  • You can cancel free of charge up to 120 hours before the day of the tour.

Pickup

Pickup at your hotel or address (Palermo, Mondello, Palermo port, Altavilla Milicia). Add the exact address in the booking notes.

Frequently asked questions

Can we visit the Palatine Chapel?

Yes, if there is time: the Royal Palace and Palatine Chapel ticket costs about 14.50 euro from Thursday to Monday and 10 euro on Tuesday and Wednesday (October 2026). The palace is the seat of the Sicilian Parliament and can close without notice.

Do we see everything with the 14:00 start?

Yes, but Monreale comes first: from Monday to Saturday the cathedral closes at 16:45, and on Sunday it is open 14:00-17:00.

Can we start from Palermo port?

Yes, pickup is at the cruise terminal exit: add your ship name and all-aboard time when you book. From the port Monreale is about 18 minutes away.

from $336

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