Naples and Palermo is a genuinely rewarding southern Italy combination, but be clear-eyed about the logistics before you book: this is not a simple train hop. Getting between the two cities requires a flight or an overnight ferry, and the journey time is measured in hours, not minutes. If you're willing to plan around that, you get two of Italy's most distinctive and underrated cities in one trip.

Why This Combination Works

Both cities are loud, layered, and historically complex in ways that northern Italian cities aren't. Naples is the Italian south's great metropolis: ancient Greek foundations, Roman ruins, baroque churches, and the best pizza in the world. Palermo is the capital of Sicily, with an Arab-Norman architectural heritage that is unique in Europe, a street food culture centred on Ballarò and Vucciria markets, and a pace and character that feel genuinely different from mainland Italy. Together they tell a coherent story about the Mediterranean south.

For 8 nights, do 3 nights in Naples and 4-5 in Palermo. Palermo rewards extra time because Sicily is large and day trips to Monreale, Agrigento, or Cefalù are worth building in if you have the days. For 6 nights, 3 nights in each is the right balance. Don't try to rush Palermo onto a short trip unless you're prepared to leave feeling like you barely scratched the surface.

Getting Between the Cities

There is no direct overland route. Your options are:

Flight: The most practical option. Direct flights from Naples Capodichino (NAP) to Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (PMO) take around 1 hour. Ryanair, Volotea, and ITA Airways all serve the route. Book ahead and you'll pay £30-80; last-minute can be double that.

Overnight ferry: Grimaldi Lines and GNV both run overnight ferries from Naples to Palermo, taking around 10-11 hours. A couchette cabin costs £60-120 per person depending on season and class. It's slow but an experience in itself, and it saves you a hotel night. Book in advance, especially in summer.

There is no fast train option between Naples and Palermo.

Which City to Visit First

Start in Naples. It makes geographic sense if you're flying into Rome or Naples first, and it means Sicily functions as an extension of the trip rather than a detour. Palermo as a finale also works well: it's the more relaxed pace of the two cities, and winding down a trip in Sicily is no hardship.

What Each City Adds to the Trip

Naples

Naples delivers the Museo Nazionale Archeologico (the finest collection of Roman antiquities in the world), the Spaccanapoli, the underground Greek and Roman tunnels beneath the city, and the pizza. Pompeii is 35 minutes away by Circumvesuviana regional train and justifies a full day. The city is intense and not always easy, but that's also what makes it memorable.

Palermo

Palermo brings the Cappella Palatina, an Arab-Norman masterpiece of mosaic and architecture that genuinely has no equivalent in Europe, the Palazzo dei Normanni, the Cathedral, and the Ballarò street market for breakfast and lunch. The Vucciria district comes alive at night. Sicilian cuisine is its own thing: arancini, pasta alla norma, caponata, and fresh fish from the market all feature. Monreale Cathedral, 8km outside the city, is an essential half-day trip.