Published:
January 30, 2026
Last updated:
August 30, 2026
Palermo, Sicily’s energetic capital, and Agrigento, home to the famous Valley of the Temples are two of the island’s most popular places to visit. But what is the best way to get from Palermo to Agrigento, or vice versa? There’s no shortage of options so let me share with you the top choices based on my own direct experience and local knowledge in this short guide.
Some of the best preserved Greek temples in southern Italy are within easy reach of Sicily’s capital Palermo
Transport options between Palermo and Agrigento in Sicily
I’ll cut to the chase as you’ve likely ended up on this page because you need a direct answer about the best way to get from Palermo to Agrigento (or vice versa) for your travel itinerary – this guide covers:
- Driving routes, timings, general tips and information about taxis
- Buses and coaches between Palermo and Agrigento
- Using Sicily’s train network to travel between Palermo and Agrigento
- Slow and green travel options: hiking and cycling from Palermo to Agrigento
- FAQs about travelling between Agrigento and Palermo in Sicily
- One final option to consider for your visit
Driving from Palermo to Agrigento
Straight out the gates, I would recommend driving to Agrigento from Palermo as this is the most efficient/direct option. The trade off is that this is the most expensive option, where you will need to consider the potential costs of fuel and parking if driving yourself, or taxi fees – more on this below.
With a travel distance of around 135km from the center of Palermo to the Valley of the Temples, this journey takes, on average, 2 hours when following Google Maps when allowing for routine traffic. If you are travelling to Agrigento from Palermo airport, the journey is a little longer at around 160km/2.5 hours.
There is a large car park for visitors to the Valley of the Temples located at the site entrance
Naturally, travelling with your own vehicle is the most convenient option, but if you are looking to rent a car you’ll find no shortage of hire agencies in both Palermo and Agrigento. My go to rental car company for any travel or destination is AVIS – their Palermo office and pickup location can be found at Via Umberto Giordano 1.
Another option is to take a taxi, but owing to the travel distance and journey time the cost is pretty steep (more on this below). You will need to book your ride in advance with a local firm, or a service such as WelcomePick-ups as a local driver at a rank is unlikely to commit to a long trip without advance notice.
Driving in Italy isn’t half as bad as some of the stereotypes make out. By understanding a few fundamentals you can explore this incredible country by car, without the stress. Find out everything you need to know about getting on the road in Italy in my detailed guide here:
Generally the quickest and most direct route between the cities by car is by following the SS189 and SS121 roads (‘SS’ referring to strada statale, or state road). An SS road is a major artery for traffic meaning they are generally well-maintained and easy to navigate even for first-time drivers in Italy.
Along these roads you’ll find small reststops with simple bars and bathrooms. As an SS road is not a freeway/motorway, these are signposted particularly well, so be sure to keep an eye out for ‘BAR’ or ‘WC’ if you need a break when travelling.
There are no tolls to pay on state roads in Italy, but if you leave or enter Palermo via any of Sicily’s autostrade (freeway/motorway equivilant) you may need to pay a small toll.
Driving yourself or taking a taxi are my top recommendations as all other travel methods take longer and will eat in to your time in Sicily but comes at a premium. You should budget the following:
- Driving: 20€ for fuel, 5€ for tolls (if applicable) each way (doubled for a round-trip) + 50-100€ per day for a rental car
- Taxi: 200-250€ each way, 400-500€ total
However, if you are travelling without time constraints or are looking for lower cost options, let’s review next the public transport options available.
Buses between Palermo and Agrigento
After driving, I believe taking a bus/coach to and from Palermo/Agrigento to be the most convenient option. You can depart and arrive centrally in both cities, spend little and maybe most importantly, can sit back and relax with a journey time averaging two hours.
Are you ready for Palermo?
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Reserve your entrance to Palermo’s cathedral, Norman Palace and Botantical Gardens, or join expert-led cuisine tours to indulge in the city’s famous food and drink:
Insider Tips
Benefit from our many years of Sicily travel experience, making the most of our insider knowledge to save you time, money and stress when travelling
Are you ready for Palermo?
Best Hotels
Find your perfect base in the Sicilian capital, whether near the energy-filled markets or at one of the city’s luxury, old-world hotels. Book with confidence with Booking.com
Top Attractions
Reserve your entrance to Palermo’s cathedral, Norman Palace and Botantical Gardens, or join expert-led cuisine tours to indulge in the city’s famous food and drink:
Insider Tips
Benefit from our many years of Sicily travel experience, making the most of our insider knowledge to save you time, money and stress when travelling
The journey via bus is around two hours, and there are multiple departures daily with Autoservizi Cuffaro who operate a fleet of coaches between the cities (and select other towns in Sicily).
These buses feature air conditioning and garanteed seats for ticket holders, picking-up and dropping-off at the following locations:
- Palermo: Piazzetta Cairoli, Palermo Centrale Station (Central Station)
- Agrigento: Piazzetta Rosselli
These spots are clearly sign-posted and centrally located, making them well placed to enable you to continue your journey.
While timetables are generally fixed and reliable, these services are suspended on holidays and at other specific points of the year. I would recommend looking closely at the official website here for up to date timetable information.
”"The most beautiful city of mortals."
Pindar5th-century BC Greek Poet, about Agrigento
The cost of the Cuffaro bus is around 9€ for a one-way ticket, or 14€ for a return journey, per person. Children (under 18 years old) under 1m in height travel free, and those over 1m pay half the normal cost.
You can buy tickets on the bus itself on your day of travel in euro cash, or in advance via the official website if you have an Italian codice fiscale (tax code).
You can bring two bags onboard without additonal cost, a small ‘cabin’ bag or backpack, and a larger suitcase weighing no more than 20kg. You can also add a third bag for a cost of 3€ extra, but are not permitted any more than three bags in total.
The frequency of the buses between Agrigento and Palermo, as well as the low cost makes this a great option for getting between the Sicilian cities for budget-savvy travellers and those with time available.
Travelling via train
Rail travel between these cities is comparable to opting for a bus. Train journeys to Agrigento take around 2 hours (the same for the return journey) and the end locations are equally as convenient (varying slightly depending on the exact train stations required for your travel).
The cost is also almost identical each way compared to travelling by bus, but the main difference is however, that there are less rail options between Agrigento and Palermo than there are buses, with timetables that vary depending extensively on the time of year. Take a look at your available options here on Trainline, my go-to platform for booking train tickets for travelling in Italy.
I would only recommend this option if you are not driving through Sicily, and the bus is fully booked/unavailable for any reason.
To find out more about using Italy’s efficient and reliable rail network, including tips on booking tickets, navigating major train stations and the key operators, read my detailed guide here:
Slow/green travel options – hiking and cycling
Full disclosure, I have neither hiked or cycled to Agrigento from Palermo, but can see from various sources online that these are viable options if one, or both, of these are your preferred travel methods.
I would recommend researching extensively the best routes based on when you plan to come to Sicily for any journey on foot or via cycle. Fixing a cost on this travel method is more difficult compared to the others detailed previously, but this could well be the cheapest approach if you are arriving with all of the gear you need are intending on camping en route.
Take a look at the following links as a starting point to planning a hike or cycle between Palermo and Agrigento:
Hiking-focus:
Cycle focus:
I do not bear any responsibility for information available via these third party websites.
Getting up close and personal with the temples of Agrigento is the only way to really appreciate them
Frequently Asked Questions about travelling between Palermo and Agrigento
If the information above hasn’t quite covered your questions about travelling between Agrigento and Palermo, here are answers to more common questions:
Should you visit Palermo or Agrigento first during a Sicily trip?
My personal preference is generally to visit Palermo first as the Sicilian capital can be pretty hectic, and then take it slower in Agrigento, enjoying the peaceful countryside and ancient ruins.
But this is just my take and again and there is no right, or wrong way to visit the two cities when it comes to order. In whatever sequence you choose to visit Palermo and Agrigento will have no bearing on the transport methods available or the transit costs.
Is there anything to see or do between Agrigento and Palermo?
There are no major archeological sites or famous towns between the two cities if you follow the direct routes, but Sicily is a region overflowing with interesting small sites and picturesque villages.
Choosing to travel via train or bus will mean of course that you won’t be able to detour, but if you’re travelling by road, here are a couple of points of interest en route:
- The Arab-Normal Baths of Cefalà Diana, a medieval bathing complex dating back to the period when Sicily was under Islamic control
- Aragona, a small, traditional Sicilian country town where local life has been undisturbed by mass-tourism
Can you day trip to Agrigento from Palermo, or visa versa?
In theory you could take a day trip to Agrigento from Palermo, or visa versa, based on the average travel times between the cities.
However, I’d advise against this unless you’re prepared for a long day. To maximise your time in Agrigento/Palermo you’d need to leave your accommodation very early, and anticipate getting back quite late. Coupling this with the fact both locations require energy to visit – Palermo with its busy streets and major landmarks, Agrigento with its ancient temples in the vast park – travelling for 4-5 hours could be quite draining.
I would recommend staying overnight in each location if you plan to explore both to ensure you don’t run out of steam, and can approach both of these incredible places properly.
Another way of getting to Agrigento from Palermo
Another easy and stress-free option for getting to Agrigento from Palermo, on the basis you are looking to visit the Valley of the Temples, is to book a tour with a pick-up and/or drop-off in the Siclian capital.
Many tour operators offer combination experiences which cover transport and site entrance, with a guided tour of the famous temples, making it a straightforward day trip option from Palermo.
If this option sounds like something you might be interested in, take a look at your options here for tours including transportation:
Private Tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
Step back into ancient Sicily on a private tour of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, home to some of Italy’s best-preserved Greek ruins.
Private Tour of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento
Step back into ancient Sicily on a private tour of Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples, home to some of Italy’s best-preserved Greek ruins.
Considering the average journey time by road, you should allow most of the day for the whole trip, especially if you are not planning on staying in Agrigento. As a sidebar, I’d recommend considering staying at least one night so you can enjoy some of the area’s famous scenery such as the Scala dei Turchi beach with its renowned crystal clear waters on Sicily’s south coast.
To summarise
Getting to Agrigento from Palermo is straightforward if you follow the guidance above. And while getting around Sicily is less straightforward when compared to much of Italy, there are plenty of options available. If you have any questions about travelling in Italy, contact me here – I’m here to help you explore this incredible country.
