PALERMO GUIDE
Palermo’s ZTL and parking in the centre: how it works
Palermo’s historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) watched by cameras. It is not complicated, but it pays to know the rules before you set off: here are the hours, passes, fines and where to leave the car.
Where the ZTL is
The ZTL covers the heart of the historic centre: according to AMAT, Palermo’s transport company, it runs from Piazza Giulio Cesare (Central Station) to Via Cavour and from Porta Nuova to Porta Felice. The streets along its edge can be driven freely.
Hours
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 to 20:00.
- Friday and Saturday nights (night ZTL): 20:00 to 6:00 the next morning from 1 May to 31 October, 23:00 to 6:00 from 1 November to 30 April.
- Sundays and public holidays: no restrictions.
The daily pass
You need a pass to drive in during active hours. A daily pass costs €5 for petrol or diesel cars and €2.50 for hybrids; electric cars enter free once the plate is registered. Diesel cars older than Euro 4 and petrol cars older than Euro 3 are not allowed. The pass is sold online, in the official app or at AMAT outlets and must be activated before you drive in. Since 2026 you can also pay through the Telepass app.
Driving in without a pass means a fine of €81 to €164, depending on how polluting the car is. With a rental car the fine goes to the rental company first, which often adds an admin fee.
Staying at B&B Carella, Palazzo Carella or Appartamenti Carella
Via Cavour is the edge of the ZTL: you can drive there without a pass, as long as you do not turn into the streets inside the zone. Nearby you will find:
- blue-line paid parking (€1 an hour until 20:00, free between 14:00 and 16:00);
- free parking on Via Castello, about 400 m away;
- two covered, guarded garages about 300 m away, open 24 hours, typically €18–25 a day depending on the car: Garage Welcome and Garage Maggio.
Staying at Dimora Carella
The Dimora is inside the ZTL. For the pass, ask us: send us your number plate on WhatsApp before you arrive. There is free parking around the building, but spaces are limited, so we recommend one of the private car parks nearby (Car park 1, Car park 2). In return you are in the middle of the historic centre, an 8-minute walk from the Central Station.
The simplest advice: once you arrive, leave the car and explore on foot. From our properties you can walk the whole historic centre.
Frequently asked questions
What are the ZTL hours in Palermo?
Monday to Friday 8:00–20:00; on Friday and Saturday also at night (20:00–6:00 from May to October, 23:00–6:00 from November to April). There are no restrictions on Sundays and public holidays.
How much is the daily ZTL pass in Palermo?
€5 for petrol or diesel cars, €2.50 for hybrids. Electric cars enter free once the plate is registered.
Do I need a ZTL pass to reach Via Cavour?
No: Via Cavour is on the edge of the ZTL and can be driven freely.
Can my B&B get me a ZTL pass?
Accommodation inside the ZTL can register their guests’ cars. If you are staying at Dimora Carella, ask us before you arrive.