Arriving at Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport puts western Sicily within easy reach. Collecting a Goldcar hire car on arrival means you can drive straight out towards the coast or into the city without waiting for public transport. Having your own vehicle lets you move between beaches, ruins and hill towns in a single day and makes carrying bags, shopping or beach gear far simpler than relying on buses.
Goldcar gives UK travellers a clear booking process and a wide range of vehicles at competitive prices. The cars are recent, with modern features, and the desk at PMO offers fast collection services such as Key’n Go on selected bookings. You can add child seats, sat nav or Wi-Fi in advance and choose Full Cover with zero excess for added peace of mind. A 24-hour helpline is always available should you need help during your trip.
Why hire a car at Palermo Airport
Palermo’s centre is best explored on foot, but the island’s real treasures sit beyond the old streets. Cefalù, Segesta, Monreale, Erice and San Vito Lo Capo are all easier to reach with a hire car. Families appreciate the space to load bags between hotels, while couples often use the car to reach remote coves or mountain villages. For travellers on a short break, a car means you can fit more into each day without long waits for buses.
The airport links directly to the A29dir motorway. The city takes about 40 minutes to reach, while Trapani, Castellammare del Golfo and the salt pans near Marsala all lie along the same road. This means you can avoid city traffic at the start of your holiday and head straight towards the coast or countryside.
Vehicle types and available options at Palermo Airport
Goldcar’s Palermo fleet ranges from compact city cars for narrow streets and easy parking, to estates, SUVs and people carriers for families and groups. Convertibles are popular in summer for drives along the coast. Automatics are widely available, and hybrids can be booked on selected dates.
You can pre-book extras such as GPS, infant and child seats, portable Wi-Fi and additional drivers. Mileage is generous across most bookings, so you can tour freely. Young drivers from 21 can rent certain categories with a surcharge.
Where to collect your hire car at Palermo Airport
After baggage reclaim, follow the car hire signs to the rental area. At the Goldcar desk you’ll need your passport, licence, booking voucher and a credit card in the lead driver’s name. If you have chosen Key’n Go, you can collect the keys directly and head to the car park.
The rental car park is a short walk from the terminal. Before leaving, check the condition sheet, confirm the fuel level and get familiar with the controls. For Palermo, follow the E90 signs into the city, or stay on the A29dir to reach Trapani and the west coast. When returning the car, signs for Car Rental Return lead you back to the same area. Petrol stations are located on the approach roads, useful if you are on a full-to-full fuel policy.
Exploring Palermo and surroundings by car
From the city, Monreale is less than half an hour by car. Its cathedral is famous for golden mosaics and hillside views. Mondello beach lies close to the city, popular for swims and seafood restaurants.
Cefalù, about an hour east along the A20, combines a medieval town with sandy beaches and a striking Norman cathedral. West of the airport, the Greek temple at Segesta is set against rolling hills. Continue further and you can reach Erice above Trapani, where cobbled lanes and cool air contrast with the coast below. The salt flats of Marsala make another worthwhile stop, especially at sunset.
Nature lovers can drive to the Zingaro Reserve, entering from either Scopello or San Vito Lo Capo, both reached by car. Castellammare del Golfo is another easy coastal town with guarded car parks by the marina. For mountain scenery, the Madonie Park offers winding roads and quiet villages inland.
Driving and parking tips in Palermo
The historic centre of Palermo is covered by ZTL restricted traffic zones monitored by cameras. Park outside these areas and continue on foot to avoid fines. Blue lines mark pay-and-display spaces, white lines are usually free, and yellow spaces are reserved. Guarded car parks are more expensive but reliable for longer visits.
On Sicilian roads, speed limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on main single carriageways, 110 km/h on dual carriageways and 130 km/h on motorways unless signs state otherwise. Seat belts must be worn by all passengers, and children under 150 cm must use an appropriate seat. The alcohol limit is at 0.5 g/l. Phones can only be used hands-free. Scooters are common in Palermo traffic, so drive carefully and avoid sudden lane changes.
Best time to visit Italy
Spring and early summer bring warm days, wildflowers and lighter traffic, making April to June a pleasant time to visit. September and October are also excellent months, with warm seas, grape harvests and fewer crowds.
July and August are the hottest and busiest, so book early and plan for morning starts and shaded breaks at midday. The Festa di Santa Rosalia in July is a highlight but adds to traffic around the centre. Winter is mild, with Christmas markets, theatre at the Massimo and lower car hire rates.
