Best time to visit Palermo
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart recolours live for your heat & sea limits 27°C · sea 29°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Default 29 °C is the Beach Climate Index "bathtub" line (Morgan et al.) — where the sea stops being refreshing and starts feeling like a warm bath.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Palermo
17 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.
- 1
Palermo Original Street Food Walking Tour by Streaty - 2
Original Night Street Food Tour of Palermo with Local -by Streaty - 3
Private Boat Tour on the Palermo Coast - 4
Palazzo Conte Federico - 5
Cooking class in a villa with Palermo view - 6
Cook Like a Sicilian in Palermo: Pasta & Tiramisu Class - 7
Palermo: Taste the Tradition on a Food Tour by Do Eat Better - 8
Cooking class in Palermo city center - 9
Share Your Pasta Love in Local's Home in Palermo - 10
Sicilian Cooking Class - 11
Discover Palermo in 3 hours. Art, history, markets and street food - 12
Palermo's Delight: Unleash the Secrets of Pizza and Gelato Making - 13
Palermo Sicilian Street Food Tour: Small Group by Do Eat Better - 14
Palermo No Mafia walking tour: discover the Anti-mafia culture in Sicily - 15
Palermo Food Tour: 10+ Tastings of Arancini, Cannoli, Wine & More - 16
Palermo Walking Tour and Street Food - 17
Palermo Half Day Boat Tour with Palermo Experiences
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Similar climatesMondello99% · Altavilla Milicia98% · Naples93%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Palermo (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Palermo's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9–15 | 13 | 11 | 135 | 12.3 | 71% | 17 | 183 | 2 | Quiet | 7 |
| Feb | 9–16 | 14 | 6 | 83 | 13.8 | 67% | 16 | 198 | 3 | Quiet | 8 |
| Mar | 10–16 | 14 | 12 | 154 | 12.8 | 68% | 17 | 227 | 4 | Quiet | 7 |
| Apr | 12–19 | 17 | 8 | 93 | 11.6 | 64% | 16 | 233 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| May | 16–23 | 23 | 9 | 87 | 9.7 | 66% | 14 | 276 | 7 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jun | 20–27 | 29 | 4 | 42 | 10.5 | 60% | 13 | 296 | 8 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jul | 23–31 | 33 | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 53% | 12 | 322 | 9 | Quiet | 6 |
| Aug | 24–31 | 34 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 54% | 14 | 295 | 8 | Peak | 6 |
| Sep | 21–28 | 30 | 10 | 95 | 9.5 | 61% | 14 | 248 | 6 | Busy | 7 |
| Oct | 18–24 | 25 | 10 | 109 | 10.9 | 64% | 14 | 214 | 4 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | 14–20 | 20 | 14 | 158 | 11.3 | 69% | 16 | 183 | 2 | Busy | 7 |
| Dec | 11–17 | 15 | 11 | 144 | 13.1 | 71% | 17 | 173 | 2 | Moderate | 7 |
UV Index in Palermo by Month
UV index in Palermo peaks at 9 (very high) in July, dropping to 2 (low) in January. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
June
9/1020–27°C (feels 29°C) · 4 rain days (42h) · 296 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 8 (very high)
May
9/1016–23°C · 9 rain days (87h) · 276 sun hours · 66% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
February
8/109–16°C (feels 14°C) · 6 rain days (83h) · 198 sun hours · 67% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
7/109–15°C (feels 13°C) · 11 rain days (135h) · 183 sun hours · 71% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
March
7/1010–16°C (feels 14°C) · 12 rain days (154h) · 227 sun hours · 68% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 6 (moderate)
April
8/1012–19°C (feels 17°C) · 8 rain days (93h) · 233 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (high)
July
6/1023–31°C (feels 33°C) · 2 rain days (25h) · 322 sun hours · 53% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)
August
6/1024–31°C (feels 34°C) · 4 rain days (35h) · 295 sun hours · 54% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (very high)
September
7/1021–28°C (feels 30°C) · 10 rain days (95h) · 248 sun hours · 61% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 6 (high)
October
8/1018–24°C · 10 rain days (109h) · 214 sun hours · 64% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
November
7/1014–20°C · 14 rain days (158h) · 183 sun hours · 69% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
December
7/1011–17°C (feels 15°C) · 11 rain days (144h) · 173 sun hours · 71% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 2 (low)
Comparisons people search for
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Frequently asked questions about visiting Palermo
When is the best time to visit Palermo?
June is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 20–27°C (4 rainy days). The top three months by score are June, May, February.
What is the worst time to visit Palermo?
August is the lowest-scoring month (6/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 24–31°C (4 rainy days).
Is Palermo too hot in summer?
3 months (July, August, September) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Palermo?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in February and peaks in August. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Palermo have good weather but fewer tourists?
May (climate 9/10, crowd index 13) and June (climate 9/10, crowd index 15) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Palermo by month?
UV peaks at 9 (very high) in July and is lowest in January at 2 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 2, Feb 3, Mar 4, Apr 6, May 7, Jun 8, Jul 9, Aug 8, Sep 6, Oct 4, Nov 2, Dec 2. June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Palermo in July?
July is the peak UV month in Palermo, with a daily-peak UV index of 9 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Palermo on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. May is the worst case: typical days average UV 7 (high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 8 (very high) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, March, April, May, November. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Palermo bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 4 months: March, July, September, October. The worst month is March with a typical-day mean of 10 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 17 µg/m³ (unhealthy for sensitive) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.