Sicily Walking Tours: The 15 Best Old-Town Walks

1.NO Mafia Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,431 reviews · 3 hours · from $40Our pick

Spend three hours walking Palermo’s historic center with a local guide, visiting Teatro Massimo, Il Capo market, the cathedral, and a memorial to judges and prosecutors killed by the Mafia. Learn how Addiopizzo and local businesses resist extortion. Tours run in English, Italian, French, and Spanish, with small groups available.

“A tour you shouldn't miss when visiting Sicily in general. Helps to realize how the life here is and what struggles the society has. Very authentic and informative! 10/10!”

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2.Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,105 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $83Top rated

Meet near Teatro Massimo for a small-group walk through Palermo’s street-food culture, with stops at Capo and Vucciria markets, neighborhood food stalls and bars. Expect panelle, arancine, Sicilian cheese and olives, three drinks, and a seasonal sweet. Guides such as Angelo, Simona and Vinz have led the walk, but your assigned guide may vary.

“Fantastic walking tour with insights into history and culture of Palermo. The food was delicious and Angelo really spoke about his life and growing up in Palermo.”

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3.Street Food and History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,294 reviews · from $54

Walk Palermo’s old town with local guide Fabrizio, pairing Capo Market tastings with stories about the city’s landmarks and food traditions. Try Sicilian staples such as panelle, arancine and cannolo, visit the Cathedral and Quattro Canti, and finish with a drink. The three-hour route suits first-time visitors who want food and history in one outing.

“We had an awesome time on this tour! Everything was super well planned, and our guide Fabrizio made it really fun and interesting. We got to see some amazing places and learned a lot along the way. Definitely worth it!”

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4.Palermo No Mafia walking tour: discover the Anti-mafia culture in Sicily

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,011 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39

Walk central Palermo with an English-speaking local guide and examine how the city resists mafia influence, from the Wall of Legality and courthouse memorial to businesses that reject extortion. The small-group tour also visits the Cathedral, Teatro Massimo and lively market streets. It lasts about three hours, ends near Piazza Pretoria and includes a contribution to Addiopizzo.

“Our guide, Sylvia, was superb. Extremely knowledgeable and obviously very passionate about no mafia mission. Highly recommended”

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5.Heart of the City Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 708 reviews · 2 hours · from $23

Start beside Piazza Duomo with a licensed English-speaking guide, then walk through Catania’s historic center, from the cathedral and fish market to Ursino Castle and Via Crociferi. Expect stories about the city, Mount Etna and local life, plus practical ideas for where to eat, drink and shop. The route ends at Piazza Università.

“I liked the guide, Maria Louise. She was very knowledgeable and her stories were interesting.”

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6.City Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 666 reviews · 2 hours · from $14Best value

This two-hour Catania walking tour takes you through the city center with a local guide speaking English or Italian. Expect stops at Duomo Square, the fish market, Ursino Castle, Via Crociferi, Piazza Stesicoro, and Piazza dell’Università, with more central squares and streets named along the route.

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7.Private Custom Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 661 reviews · 2 - 8 hours · from $53

Meet a local guide at a central Palermo hotel and set out on a private walk shaped around your interests. You can focus on city history, see landmark exteriors, ask for food tips, or arrange a museum visit in advance. Guides such as Delia, Martina, Alessia, and Aurora have led tours in English, Italian, French, and Spanish.

“Our guide was wonderful - we were blessed to have someone who catered for our needs”

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8.Street Food Walking Tour with Local Guide & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 632 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $52

Meet your English-speaking guide beside Chiosco Vicari in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi for a 2.5-hour walk through central Palermo and Capo Market. Sample specialties such as sfincione, panelle, crocché, and arancine, then finish with a Sicilian dessert. Guides include Francesco, Alessandra, Silvia, and Alessandro. Vegetarian options are available, but the tour is not suitable for vegans or people with gluten or lactose intolerance.

“I travelled to Palermo with 18 friends for my birthday. Our Sicilian walking food tour with Francesco was an absolute highlight of our trip! From the moment we met him, his warmth, humour, and deep knowledge of Sicilian culture and cuisine made the experience both fun and fascinating. We wandered through charming backstreets and bustling markets, stopping frequently to sample an incredible variety of local specialties — from fresh arancini and panelle to cannoli filled on the spot and perfectly chilled granita. Each stop seemed more delicious than the last, and the portions were very generous — come hungry! Francesco also shared fascinating stories about Palermo’s history, architecture, and ...”

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9.Palermo Walking Tour and Street Food

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 617 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Join Fabrizio Cavallaro for a three-hour walk through Palermo’s old town, with stops at Capo market, a street-food shop, a puppet theater, and the cathedral. Tastings and a drink are included, along with stories about the city’s streets and landmarks. Groups are capped at 14, and you can request vegetarian or gluten-free food in advance.

“Fabrizio was a great and awesome tour guide and very knowledgeable and looks out for us we felt safe as we toured Palermo amidst the traffic and busy streets”

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10.UNESCO World Heritage Sites Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 548 reviews · 3 - 5.5 hours · from $41

Explore central Palermo on a guided walking tour with a licensed English- or Spanish-speaking guide. See Teatro Massimo, Vucciria Market, Martorana Church, Piazza Pretoria, Quattro Canti, and Palermo Cathedral, where admission is included. Guides such as Renata, Simone, and Stefania bring local stories and customs into the route. A Sicilian sweet is part of the experience; a separate upgrade adds the Norman Palace and Palatine Chapel.

“Simon was an excellent guide and was a fountain of knowledge. He knew his history but was also happy to give us insights into everyday Sicilian lifestyle and culture.”

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11.Street Food Walking Tour at Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 492 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $52

Join an English-speaking guide near Quattro Canti for a 2.5-hour sunset walk through central Palermo. Expect local street food such as panelle, arancine and sfincione, plus stories about the city’s landmarks and history. Guides including Alessandra, Federico and Silvia have led outings, and vegetarian options are available if arranged in advance.

“Alessandra was a great guide taking us to several locations for delicious local food. In addition our walking tour provided sme great history about Palermo and the city. The food was plentiful and delicious. Only caution, it appears Sicilians eat quite a bit of fried food so if this is something you typically avoid plan accordingly.”

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12.Walking Tour of Historic Markets and Monuments

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 478 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Walk Palermo’s historic center with an Italian-speaking guide, visiting the Cathedral, Teatro Massimo, Quattro Canti, Fontana Pretoria, and Capo market. Hear tales of Santa Rosalia and the Beati Paoli, and look for Sicilian street food and pastries to sample. Claudio and Fabrizio are among the guides associated with recent tours, though your guide may differ.

“Grazie a Fabrizio abbiamo trascorso una bella mattinata in giro per Palermo, scoprendo storia e curiosità di una città che merita di essere conosciuta. Un’esperienza che consiglierei e che ci ha dato tanti spunti anche su cosa fare nei prossimi giorni di vacanza qui.”

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13.Guided City Walking Tour w/Customizable Itinerary

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 390 reviews · from $54

Meet a local guide at your accommodation or a central spot for a private, 2 to 6 hour walk shaped around your interests. You can ask about food, groceries, transport, history, and what to see or skip. Guides include Valentina, Sabina, Ali, and Francesca, though your assigned guide may differ.

“Ali is knowledgeable and sees the city as we do. He wasn’t born and raised in Palermo so he gives you details someone who raised here takes for granted and may leave those details out of the tour. I would rate him the best guide on our entire trip!”

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14.Walking Tour and street food Tour Palermo / History and Food

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 379 reviews · from $55

Start at Quattro Canti with Palermo-born guide Domenico Aronica, then walk the old town’s churches and squares before sampling Sicilian street food at Ballarò market. Expect history as well as bites: arancini, local pizza, fresh juice and cannoli are listed among the tastings. The small group is capped at 15.

“A fantastic, interesting tour covering both the rich history of Palermo while also trying delicious, local food. Dom is an engaging and hilarious tour guide. One of the best we have ever encountered. Approached the tour with enthusiasm and made it thoroughly enjoyable for our whole group.”

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15.Street Food Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 326 reviews · 3 hours · from $56

Follow a local guide through central Catania for five food stops and tastings of Sicilian street food, with city history along the way. The route starts and ends at the Fountain of the Elephant and passes landmarks including the cathedral and Roman Theatre. Expect a hearty spread, one alcoholic drink, water, and gelato or granita.

“Guiseppe was the best guide your con have if it comes to food. He is a local and he knows everything about Sicilian cuisine. The food at the stops was excellent and we had to give up in the end because it was too much (don’t eat before). We highly recommend him and he was such a nice guide. He made us feel like a group and we were sad to let the others go when the tour ended because we got to know each other during the walks.”

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