Go with a plan.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Palermo at 54/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Italy's national picture overall (67/100 vs 70/100).
City page · part of Italy
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Palermo report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Italy's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
46.1
Safety Index
53.9
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Italy's national page, with crime swapped for Palermo's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Palermo, specifically
- • Palermo is a quite safe city during the day but it can be an intimidating city at night, especially on week days in the winter, when there are not many students, visitors and locals around.
- • During the day just remember to be aware of pickpockets on the streets and city buses as well as motorcycle-riding snatch thieves targeting handbags, wallets and mobile phones.
- • In summer the city centre of Palermo is safe even during the night, as there are hundreds of bars and pubs open all night and many people around. However don't forget to use common sense.
- • Driving and crossing the streets in Palermo is quite dangerous as the rules of the road are not followed.
Legal status (national law)
Legal since 1890 + UN decl. sign.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F / L · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Tipping
Tips (la mancia) are not customary in Italy but are offered when a special service is given or to recognise high quality service. Most restaurants, except those in Rome, have a price for the service coperto and waiters do not expect a tip; however, they will not refuse one. In cafés, bars, and pubs it's not uncommon to leave the change, saying to the waiter or to the cashier tenga il resto - "keep
SIM / Data
The mobile phone market developed in Italy as early as 1993, so reception is guaranteed in the whole of the country, including far off the coast, the tallest mountains, and the smallest villages. 4G internet connectivity is available from all major Italian carriers.
Cash vs. Card
Italy phased out the one- and two-cent coins in 2018, rounding prices to the nearest five-cent increment.
How this compares to Italy
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Palermo at 54/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Italy's national picture overall (67/100 vs 70/100).
See the full Italy page and all receipts →