Bike Rental in Palermo

Why rent a bike in Palermo

Our bike rental in Palermo is the best option for active travellers who love their morning ride and don’t want to miss out on their training. Moreover, renting a bike in Palermo allows you to explore the city and its surroundings without having to rent a car. If  you want to go further you can simply ride out along the coast towards Cefalù and return by train.

Is Palermo good for cycling?

The easy answer is yes, as long as you are used to share the road with cars. Palermo has a bad reputation when it comes to traffic but there is a growing cycling community both among the athletes and among the commuters. While bike lanes and cycle paths are still not the state of the art, the city has a steadily growing network of bike lanes. Also, a big portion of the old town is car free so it’s very easy to move around by bike. Apart from the climb to Mount Pellegrino the city is mostly flat, especially the vast area of the old town with its cobbled streets and large squares.

Is cycling popular in Palermo?

There are many cycling clubs and you will easily see pelotons on their daily morning ride, especially on the winding road of Monte Pellegrino. Mountain biking is very popular, too, and if you read further and check out the mountain bike routes in and near Palermo you will understand why. Gravel riding is becoming popular and many locals come by our bike rental in Palermo to try our gravel bikes before buying one.

When to go and how to get there

Cycling is possible all year round in Palermo thanks to its mild climate. That said, you may consider going outside of the peak summer season. Firstly, because it is less expensive in terms of flights or accommodation. Secondly, because the temperatures are pretty high already in the late morning hours, so unless you travel from California or Florida, you may find it pretty hot out there. Palermo Airport is the closest international airport, but you can reach Palermo by ferry or by train, too. 

Where to stay when cycling in Palermo

There are basically two options if you are looking for a good starting point for day tours in and around Palermo. One is the old town of Palermo which is great if you wish to explore the narrow streets, the ancient squares and its coastal districts by bike. The other option is the beach district of Mondello which is within a 30 minutes ride from the city centre and a great place for coastal riding. 

Bike hotels in Palermo

We have selected a few B&Bs and hotels that welcome cyclists and have a safe bike deposit, like the Hotel Cortese or the Holiday Apartment Gebel Grin close to the climb to Monte Pellegrino. Check out our map of Bike Hotels in Sicily for more information about where to stay while cycling in Palermo.

The best road bike rides in Palermo

Find the most popular routes for road cycling in Palermo and learn where locals go for their daily training:

• Monte Pellegrino – Mondello Loop
• Giro degli 80 – the 80 K Loop
• Giro dei 100 – the 100 K Loop

Gravel bike routes in Palermo

See our recommendations for gravel bike routes in Palermo and long-distance routes that start from Sicily’s capital:

• La Favorita, gravel paths among orchards in one of Europe’s largest city parks
• Sicily Divide, a long-distance gravel bike route from Palermo to Catania that we launched in June 2020 with our sister-NGO Ciclabili Siciliane

Top mountain bike routes in Palermo

The most scenic mountain bike rides in Palermo for avid mountain bikers and cross-country lovers and trails only locals know about:

• Monte Pellegrino, click here for the route description
• Monte Catalfano, click here for the route description
• Pizzo Manolfo
• La Rufuliata (currently closed due to rockfall), for trail bikes and experienced riders only
• The Landolina trail (currently closed due to rockfall), a short but nice single track on Mount Pellegrino’s foothills
• Scala vecchia, the ancient cobbled road leading up to the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia on Mount Pellegrino. A tough climb and excellent training but we prefer the ride down on a full-sus