Is Capuchin Catacombs worth it?
Worth itUnderrated · +16Corridors lined with thousands of dressed, mummified Palermitans from the 1500s to 1920
Worth it. 4.3 across 16,500+ reviews; most find it fascinating, with lower scores from those disturbed by it or put off by smell.
Hype65How famous and hyped it is
Reality81Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.3 ★ Google · 16,579 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Capuchin Catacombs? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 curious & offbeat travellers vote
One of the most unusual sights in Europe for €5.
Why Reality is 81
Lives up to its fame4/54.3 across 16,500+ reviews; most find it fascinating, with lower scores from those disturbed by it or put off by smell.
Value for money5/5€5 for something you cannot see anywhere else.
Can’t get it elsewhere5/5Nothing comparable in Palermo, or elsewhere, on this scale.
Easy to do3/5About 2 km from the centre with a long midday closure, queues and a strict no-photo policy.
What people loved
Genuinely unique: nothing else in Europe shows mummified townspeople on this scaleCheap at €5 for a memorable, if macabre, visitRosalia Lombardo's preserved face is an unforgettable sightCool underground, a respite on hot days (though some find it stuffy)What wore them down
Graphic and raw; not suitable for small children or the squeamishA 25-minute walk or bus-plus-walk outside the centreCloses for a long lunch break; arriving at midday can mean waiting until 15:00Strict no-photo rule with fines, and an odour in placesParking & getting there
Best by carDriving is reasonable here: the catacombs are outside the ZTL, with street parking on and around Piazza Cappuccini and lots a few minutes away. Just don't route through the old town during ZTL hours.
- Street parking on Piazza Cappuccini / Via Cappuccinistreet · about 1 min walkPrice not publishedMap
- Parcheggio - Green Car Area di Sosta Attrezzatalot · about 6 min walk · ★ 4.5 (456)Price not publishedMap
- Prigo Parcheggio 24Hlot · about 8 min walk · ★ 4.2 (5)Price not publishedMap
- Palermo's ZTL Centrale covers the whole historic centre (Kalsa, Albergheria, Capo/Monte di Pietà, La Loggia) inside Via Cavour, Foro Italico, Via Lincoln, Corso Tukory and Piazza Indipendenza; those boundary roads are free to drive. autovia.it
- ZTL in force Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 all year; extra night hours on weekends (summer 1 May–31 Oct: Fri to midnight, Sat 00:00–06:00 & 20:00–24:00, Sun 00:00–06:00). Check ztl.comune.palermo.it before travel. autovia.it
- Camera gates fine cars without a pass €81–164; rental companies forward your details. A non-resident day pass costs €5 (petrol Euro 3+/diesel Euro 4+), €2.50 hybrid/LPG, free for registered EVs, via the PalerMobilità app, AMAT or ZTL-sign tobacconists, and must be activated for your plate. autovia.it
- City ordinance O.D. 1080 of 17 June 2026 confirms the ZTL Centrale and pedestrian areas and restricts loading access hours inside them. comune.palermo.it
- The catacombs lie about 2 km west of the old town, outside the ZTL; Google lists free and paid street parking and lots nearby. Blue lines mean paid street parking. maps.google.com
Without a car: Bus 109 from Palermo Centrale to Piazza Indipendenza (about 10 min), then a 15-min walk up Via Cappuccini; or a taxi from the centre.
Driving rules in Palermo
Don't drive in Palermo's old town: it is a camera ZTL on weekdays and weekend nights, and the centre is compact and walkable. A car is worth it for day trips to Segesta, Riserva dello Zingaro, Capo Gallo and Monreale. If you do take one into the centre, buy and activate the €5 daily pass first.
- ZTL Centrale (historic centre). Covers the whole old town inside Via Cavour, Foro Italico, Via Lincoln, Corso Tukory and Piazza Indipendenza (Kalsa, Albergheria, Capo, La Loggia); the boundary roads themselves are free to drive. Active all year Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00. Summer (1 May–31 Oct): also Fri 20:00–24:00, Sat 00:00–06:00 and 20:00–24:00, Sun 00:00–06:00. Winter (1 Nov–30 Apr): Fri 23:00–24:00, Sat 00:00–06:00 and 23:00–24:00, Sun 00:00–06:00. Usually suspended over Christmas. sicurauto.it
- Daily ZTL pass. Non-residents can buy a daily pass: €5 petrol/diesel, €2.50 hybrid/methane/LPG, free for electric cars and disabled-badge vehicles. It is not available for Euro 0–2 petrol or Euro 0–3 diesel cars. Buy it on the Comune's online platform, at AMAT offices or ACI, or via Telepass from 4 May 2026. Activate it for your plate before entering, by SMS or the PalerMobilità app. sicurauto.it
- Fines. Camera gates (ANPR) fine cars without a valid pass €81–164. Rental companies forward your details. Garages inside the zone may still require ZTL access, so check with the operator. autovia.it
- Mondello evening ZTL. Trial ZTL in piazza Mondello and nearby streets 20:00–24:00 (to 01:00 before holidays), 8 May–30 Sep 2026. Parts of Viale Regina Elena are pedestrianised (ordinance no. 15 of 6/5/2026). sicurauto.it
- City ordinance. Ordinance O.D. 1080 of 17 June 2026 confirms the ZTL Centrale and pedestrian areas and restricts loading access hours. comune.palermo.it
Know before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: Pay on arrival; expect a short queue and the midday closure.
Entry€5Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HoursDaily 9:00–12:30 and 15:00–17:30 (closed over lunch); reported closed Sunday afternoons in winterSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
PhotographyStrictly forbidden, as is touching exhibits; food and drink not allowed; staff can fine offendersSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HighlightRosalia Lombardo, a two-year-old embalmed in 1920 whose face remains almost perfectly intactSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
ScaleThousands of bodies, dressed and grouped by sex, profession and status (estimates range from about 2,000 to 8,000)Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Time needed30 minutes to 1 hourSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Getting thereAbout 2 km (25 min walk) west of Quattro Canti, outside the old walls; or bus 109 from Palermo Centrale to Piazza Indipendenza, then a 1.1 km (15 min) walk up Via Cappuccini; taxis wait outsideSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:10 PM
In their words
“Fascinating and at the same time creepy. Well worth the visit.”
“I also think it’s not suitable for small children, it’s very graphic and raw.”
“before visiting it's better to ask if your companions really want to visit it.”
“There was a que so be mindful of that and also it closes and has a morning slot and afternoon slot.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
0/400 · no links · posts right away
Questions people ask
How much are the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo?
€5 per person.
Can you take photos in the Capuchin Catacombs?
No. Photography and filming are strictly forbidden, and staff can fine offenders.
Are the Capuchin Catacombs suitable for children?
Reviewers advise against bringing small children; the display of mummified bodies is graphic.
What are the Capuchin Catacombs' opening hours?
Daily 9:00–12:30 and 15:00–17:30, closed over lunch.
How do I get to the Capuchin Catacombs?
Walk about 25 minutes from Quattro Canti, take bus 109 to Piazza Indipendenza and walk 15 minutes, or take a taxi.
Better fits, according to people who went
Sources
- Comune di Palermo Ufficio Turismo – opening hours of main sights (updated 12 Nov 2025)
- Travel365 – Catacombe dei Cappuccini (updated Mar 2026)
- Google Maps – Catacombe dei Cappuccini