Is La Zisa worth it?
Skip itLives up to the hype · −312th-century Arab-Norman summer palace with a fountain hall and a small Islamic art museum
Usually not worth it. 4.0 on Google is low for Palermo's UNESCO sites; common themes are 'faded glory', restoration works and sparse rooms beyond the fountain hall.
Hype44How famous and hyped it is
Reality41Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4 ★ Google · 6,453 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to La Zisa? 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 history buffs vote
One of the few intact Arab-Norman secular buildings, with a clever medieval cooling system.
Why Reality is 41
Lives up to its fame2/54.0 on Google is low for Palermo's UNESCO sites; common themes are 'faded glory', restoration works and sparse rooms beyond the fountain hall.
Value for money3/5Cheap ticket, but recent reviewers repeatedly call the interior mediocre and the fountains dry.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5The palace type is unique in the city, but the Arab-Norman look is shown off far better at the Cappella Palatina and San Giovanni degli Eremiti.
Easy to do3/5No queues or booking, but it's a bus ride or 25-min walk west of the centre and closes early on Sunday and all Monday.
What people loved
Rare surviving Arab-Norman palace; the ground-floor fountain hall with muqarnas vaulting is the highlightFascinating 12th-century passive cooling design; reviewers say it is genuinely cool inside in summerRarely crowded, a quiet break from the old-town sightsCheap ticket compared with the Cappella Palatina or MonrealeWhat wore them down
Interior is sparse and 'faded glory'; several reviewers say it's underfunded and badly needs restorationParts were under restoration and the garden fountains were dry during recent visitsOut of the way in the western suburbs; more effort to reach than the centro storico sightsIndifferent staff and limited accessibility above the ground floorParking & getting there
Driving is possibleThe Zisa sits west of the old-town ZTL, so driving is possible, but there's no dedicated visitor car park; look for street spaces or small private lots nearby, or take bus 124 from Politeama.
- Area parcheggio Piazza Principe di Camporealelot · about 4 min walkPrice not publishedMap
- Parcheggio Salernolot · about 12 min walk · ★ 3.7 (14)Price not publishedMap
- Green Car Area di Sosta Attrezzatalot · about 13 min walk · ★ 4.5 (456)Price not publishedMap
- Don't route through the old-town ZTL on the way (Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00 plus weekend nights; cameras, fines €81–164 without a daily pass). autovia.it
Without a car: Bus 124 from Piazza Ruggero Settimo (Politeama) or bus 122 from Stazione Centrale to Lascaris Zisa, then ~200 m walk; or walk ~25 min west from Quattro Canti.
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: Buy tickets at the door; no timed entry.
Entry€6 full, €3 reduced (cards accepted)Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HoursGoogle lists Tue–Sat 9:00–18:30, Sun 9:00–13:00, closed Monday; check before going as regional-museum hours changeSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
HistoryBegun c. 1165 under William I by Arab craftsmen, finished 1189 under William II; built with a natural air-circulation cooling systemSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
UNESCOPart of the Arab-Norman Palermo World Heritage Site (2015)Source · Checked Oct 17, 2026
InsideMuseum of Islamic Art; next door are the Cantieri Culturali della Zisa arts venuesSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Getting thereNo metro; bus 124 from Piazza Ruggero Settimo (Politeama) or bus 122 from Stazione Centrale (stop Lascaris Zisa, ~200 m walk). About 2 km west of Quattro Canti: ~25 min on foot or 15–20 min by busSource · Checked Oct 17, 2026
AccessibilityOnly the ground floor is wheelchair accessibleSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Time needed45 min–1 hourSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 17, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
In their words
“Even though parts of the palace were under restoration during our visit, it was still absolutely worth seeing.”
“It is a beautiful building from the outside but from the inside is is mediocre except the room downstairs which is quite beautiful.”
“Really old palace that hasn’t been restored. It’s an impressive building but only if you’re already in the area.”
“It’s a faded-glory that absolutely needs and deserves a complete renovation.”
Tips from people who went
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Questions people ask
How much is the ticket to La Zisa?
€6 full and €3 reduced, per ESN Palermo; cards are accepted at the door.
Is La Zisa open on Monday?
Google lists it as closed on Monday and open only until 13:00 on Sunday.
How do I get to the Zisa from the centre?
Bus 124 from Politeama or bus 122 from the central station, or walk about 25 minutes west from Quattro Canti.
Is the Zisa worth visiting?
For Arab-Norman fans yes, mainly for the fountain hall; many visitors find the rest sparse and in need of restoration.
