Deals for cheap flights: How to Reach Palermo with Low Cost Flights
Palermo and Catania, the two main cities in Sicily, are the principal destination for travelers journeying to Southern Italy to discover the mystique and historical legacy of the largest Island in the Mediterranean (9,927 sqmiles, not counting the surrounding islands). The Punta Raisi airport in Palermo (the main capital) and Fontanarossa by Catania are the major starting point for tourists eager to explore Sicily’s many archeological monuments and nature reserves.
A major advantage is that all the best places to see are within driving distance of each other and a couple of hours from Palermo or Catania: a main reason why many tourists prefer to stay in one of the popular Sicilian villas offered for rent by their owners, in order to fully experience in luxury the Sicilian culture and way of life of the the locals.
The best deals for cheap flights to Palermo and Catania from the U.S. can be found on tripadvisor, Airfinder, Volo24, and also google. On Tripadvisor, Airfinder and Volo24 rates for a round trip from New York (JFK) to Palermo start at E 1,048 with AirFrance and Delta, going up to E 1,142 (Iberia and British Airways).
While slightly more expensive generally (E 1,189 minimum with Swiss Airways, Alitalia, Delta up to over E 3,000 with British Airways, Iberia, Vueling) Google also has limited offers for E 1,022 round-trip with Egypt Air and Alitalia. Using the same resources, to Catania the flights are definitely cheaper: E 645 to E 800 and above with Tripadvisor, Airfinder and BudgetAir (Turkish Airways) so if traveling from the U.S. East Coast, Catania is your best bet.
The two cities in themselves are a treasure trove where you can spend weeks just admiring their wonders. The 9th Century Palazzo dei Normanni, the burial chambers of the Catacombe dei Cappuccini, the Opera concerts at the Teatro Massimo, the symmetrical fountains of the Quattro Canti grand piazza and the 12th Century Byzantine mosaics of the Martorana Church are only some of the many things to admire in Palermo, while (things to do) Catania’s proximity to the volcano of Mt. Etna, its 13th Century medieval Castello Ursino, the 1890 Opera house Teatro Massimo Bellini, the Roman Catholic Catania Cathedral and the 18th Century Baroque Basilica della Collegiata make the city a central attraction for visitors.
