How to travel from Trieste to Palermo, Italy

The distance between Trieste and Palermo is around 1,500km (932 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes around 13h 55m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Trieste to Palermo by train, ferry, car and bus. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out PalermoTrieste if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
1
train
+
train
+
ferry
+
train
+

Train and Ferry

Take the train to Venezia Mestre and then to Villa S.Giovanni then take a ferry to Messina Marittima then take the train to Palermo Centrale.

  • Duration13h 55m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    €135($135)
2
bus
+
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Bologna and then to Palermo Via Tommaso Fazello.

  • Duration21hrs
  • Departs6 times a week
  • Typical cost
    €165($165)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+
ferry
+

Car and Ferry

Drive to Civitavecchia then take a ferry to Palermo.

  • Duration19h 35m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    €190($190)
Operated by

Multiple operators

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Trieste and Palermo

There are several options for getting from Trieste to Palermo by train, ferry, car and bus. The cheapest option is to take the train and then take a ferry which costs around €135 ($135) and will take around 13h 55m.

The distance between Trieste and Palermo is around 1,500km (932 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 839km (521 miles)

It takes around 13h 55m to get from Trieste and Palermo by train and ferry.

The quickest way to get from Trieste to Palermo is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes around 13h 55m and will set you back approx €135 ($135).

The cheapest way to travel between Trieste and Palermo is to take the train and then take a ferry which will typically cost around €135 ($135) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Trieste and Palermo. We recommend that you take the train to Venezia Mestre and then to Villa S.Giovanni then take a ferry to Messina Marittima then take the train to Palermo Centrale. instead which will take 13h 55m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Trieste and Palermo. It typically takes around 21hrs and departs 6 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Trieste to Palermo. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Bologna. These services run 6 times a week and will take a minimum of 21hrs.

Florentia Bus, Autoservizi Salemi Srl and FlixBus run regular bus services between Trieste and Palermo. Buses run 6 times a week and take around 21hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Trieste to Palermo. We recommend that you take the train to Venezia Mestre and then to Villa S.Giovanni then take a ferry to Messina Marittima then take the train to Palermo Centrale. instead which will take 13h 55m.

The closest major airport to Palermo is Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO) (PMO) which is approximately 23km (14 miles) from Palermo. Trapani-Birgi Airport (TPS) (TPS) and Comiso Airport (CIY) (CIY) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Trieste to Palermo. We recommend that you take the train to Venezia Mestre and then to Villa S.Giovanni then take a ferry to Messina Marittima then take the train to Palermo Centrale. instead which will take 13h 55m.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Trieste to Palermo is to take the train and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 13h 55m and will usually cost around €135 ($135).

How do I get from Trieste to Palermo

Compare travel optionsbetween Trieste and Palermo

Transport options from Trieste to Palermo
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Ferry
13h 55m
€135($135)
once daily1,512km (940 miles)
Bus
21hrs
€165($165)
6 times a week1,651km (1,026 miles)
Car and Ferry
19h 35m
€190($190)
once a week1,500km (932 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Trieste and Palermo

Bus companies

Ferry operators

Airports near Palermo

The following major airports near Palermo offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Italy and internationally.

PMO
Falcone–Borsellino Airport (PMO)
International Airport
Distance
23km (14 miles) from Palermo
TPS
Trapani-Birgi Airport (TPS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
79km (49 miles) from Palermo
CIY
Comiso Airport (CIY)
Domestic Airport
Distance
166km (103 miles) from Palermo