Palermo’s mosaics and Malta’s fortresses

The Cappella Palatina, the Martorana and the Ballarò and Capo markets in Palermo, with Monreale cathedral nearby; then Malta, with Valletta and St John’s Co-Cathedral above the Grand Harbour, Birgu across the water, Mdina inland, the prehistoric temples of the south-west coast and a day on Gozo.

Day by day Open the itinerary in the app

Palermo → Malta · 8 days

The route on the map, in the itinerary’s order.

ItalyPalermo
Days
3
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Average 114 EURMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
MaltaMalta
Days
5
When
Apr–Jun · Sep–Oct
Per person/day
Explore costsGuide estimate
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.

Who it is for

For anyone who enjoys layered history, from Norman to baroque and from prehistoric temples to the Knights’ fortifications.

Not for anyone who wants to see all of Sicily, since the route stays with Palermo and Monreale and leaves the other end of the island for another trip.

The strategy

Palermo comes first; from the airport to the centre there is a train and the Prestia e Comandè bus. Stay in the historic centre, which you can cover on foot, and check transport to Monreale before setting out. For Malta there are two options: the Virtu Ferries catamaran leaves from Pozzallo, on Sicily’s south coast, a few hours by road from Palermo, and reaches Valletta in about 1h45; or fly, though flights from Sicily to Malta are concentrated in Catania, so check whether there is one from Palermo on your date. In Malta, stay in Valletta or Floriana and book the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum well ahead, as it admits few visitors a day. For Gozo, the fast ferry leaves from Valletta and takes about 45 minutes. The flight home leaves from Malta airport. April to June and September to October suit both stops.

What you will see

Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo. The palace chapel combines Byzantine-style mosaics, a basilica plan and a wooden ceiling with muqarnas, geometric niches associated with Islamic art.
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Malta. Valletta's co-cathedral brings together chapels of the Order of St John, a floor of tombstones and paintings, including works by Caravaggio.