Flights from Palermo to Spain from 19EUR*

Travel to Spain from Palermo

Palermo has direct Vueling flights to 18 Spanish destinations, with Barcelona around 2 hours away. From there the Mediterranean coast, Andalusia, the islands and the Atlantic north are all within reach.

The Mediterranean mainland has summers as hot and dry as Sicily’s, although dinner starts even later. Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza let you swap one Mediterranean island for another, while the green north and the volcanic Canary Islands are something else entirely.

What documents you need to travel to Spain

Spain and Italy are both members of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so Italian and other EU citizens only need a valid national ID card or passport. No visa is required.

Even though there are no border checks between the 2 countries, you must carry your documents with you throughout the trip, and make sure they have not expired before you book. Children travelling with you each need their own documents. Public healthcare during your stay is covered by the European Health Insurance Card. If you hold a passport from a country outside the EU, check what applies to you on the travel documents page.

What to know when you land in Spain

Getting to the centre. Spain’s main airports are well connected, so a pre-booked transfer is not necessary. Landing in Barcelona from Palermo, you can be in the centre in under half an hour on metro line 9 Sud or the Aerobús. In Málaga the commuter train runs to the city centre and the Costa del Sol, while in Palma a shuttle bus runs the 8 km from the airport to the old town.

Mealtimes. Lunch in Spain is served between 14:00 and 16:00, and dinner starts from 21:00, even later than in Sicily. Many kitchens do not open before then, so on your first day it pays to plan around local hours.

High-speed rail. The AVE gets you from Barcelona to Madrid in around 2 hours and 30 minutes, the most practical way into central Spain from Palermo, and lines run from Madrid to Málaga, Seville and Valencia. Stations sit in the heart of each city, which makes it easy to combine 2 or 3 destinations without going back to the airport.

Climate by region. The Mediterranean mainland is quite similar to Sicily, with hot, dry summers. The north, from Bilbao to Galicia, is damp and green all year round, while the interior tops 40°C in August. The Canary Islands enjoy mild temperatures through the winter.

Spain uses the euro, with type C and F plugs at 230V.

What to do in Spain

Barcelona and the Catalan coast

Barcelona, around 2 hours from Palermo, has the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter, plus the Boqueria market on the Ramblas and a city beach. To the north, the Costa Brava adds coves and fishing villages an hour away by car, along a coastline that recalls Sicily’s but has a character of its own.

Andalusia

Seville, a little further than Barcelona from Palermo, has the Real Alcázar, tiled courtyards, the Giralda and flamenco in Triana, and is at its best in spring or autumn, when temperatures are milder. Granada has the Alhambra and the Generalife, and Málaga the Picasso Museum, the Costa del Sol and the Alcazaba.

The islands

Leaving one Mediterranean island for another makes sense when the sea itself changes character. Palma de Mallorca pairs a Gothic cathedral on the seafront with the Serra de Tramuntana, a World Heritage Site, while Ibiza brings the coves and the nightlife. Tenerife, with Mount Teide, and Gran Canaria belong to another ocean.

The green north

This is the Spain least like Sicily: Atlantic, rainy and green all year, and few regions can match its concentration of acclaimed restaurants. Bilbao pairs the Guggenheim with the pintxos of the Casco Viejo, and Santiago de Compostela is where the Camino ends.

Luggage for your flight to Spain

The fare you pick at booking sets how much luggage you can take. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

For a city weekend, cabin luggage is usually enough. For a week on the coast, a family trip or if you are coming home with shopping, you will need more space and may have to check a bag. See the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.