- Must visit
Galleria Regionale della Sicilia - Palazzo Abatellis
Important Sicilian art museum in Palazzo Abatellis, with medieval and Renaissance works including Antonello da Messina’s celebrated portrait.
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Messina to Palermo
Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 18 Sept
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£15
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£16
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
2 h 52 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
2 h 53 m
Trains on 18 Sept
31
Distance
192 km
Cheap tickets
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Messina to Palermo is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Messina to Palermo will cost around £16 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £15.
Fast trains
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 31 trains from Messina to Palermo, including 18 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 192 km distance in an average of 2 h 53 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 52 m .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 54 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
Regionale 21686 · Regionale Veloce 536313:463h43Fiumara Gazzi17:29Palermo Centrale£151One-way1 change- Regionale Veloce 536314:372h52Messina Centrale17:29Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale Veloce 536314:372h52Messina Centrale17:29Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale 535910:432h54Messina Centrale13:37Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale 12853 · Regionale 128635:013h49Messina Centrale8:50Palermo Centrale£151One-way1 change
- Regionale Veloce 536314:372h52Messina Centrale17:29Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale Veloce 536314:372h52Messina Centrale17:29Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale 536917:142h53Messina Centrale20:07Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale 536917:142h53Messina Centrale20:07Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
- Regionale 535910:432h54Messina Centrale13:37Palermo Centrale£151One-way0 changes
Travel Information
Compare train and coach for Messina to Palermo
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Messina to Palermo among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £12 For those with little time, consider booking a coach, which has an average total journey time of 3h 50m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.1 - 0.2kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £12, while a train costs an average of £15.
Distance: 192 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£15 Average Price | £12 Average Price Cheapest | £44 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 51m Average total duration 3h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 50m Average total duration Fastest 3h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 34m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.5kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
The cheapest way to travel from Messina to Palermo is a coach with an average price of £12.
This is compared to other travel options from Messina to Palermo:
A coach is £3 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Messina to Palermo costing on average £15.
The fastest way to travel from Messina to Palermo is by coach with an average journey time of 3h 20m.
Other travel options to Palermo take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 21m.
Ferry takes on average 5h 23m.
It's helpful to compare your options as there are 2 ways to travel between Messina and Palermo including taking a train and coach.
Take the train. On this route, it beats driving on both time and money.
The journey is about 13m faster (3h 21m by train vs 3h 34m by car) and roughly £29 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£15 vs £44). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Intercity, Regionale.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
Messina to Palermo train times
The table below shows live departures for Messina to Palermo trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
Last updated at
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regionale 5355 | 7:56 Messina Centrale | 3h03 | 10:59 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5355 | 7:56 Messina Centrale | 3h03 | 10:59 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 21684 · Regionale 5359 | 9:18 Fiumara Gazzi | 4h19 | 13:37 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 5359 | 10:43 Messina Centrale | 2h54 | 13:37 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5359 | 10:43 Messina Centrale | 2h54 | 13:37 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5361 | 12:27 Messina Centrale | 3h00 | 15:27 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5361 | 12:27 Messina Centrale | 3h00 | 15:27 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 12885 · Regionale 21887 | 12:32 Messina Centrale | 3h34 | 16:06 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 12885 · Regionale 21887 | 12:32 Messina Centrale | 3h34 | 16:06 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 21686 · Regionale Veloce 5363 | 13:46 Fiumara Gazzi | 3h43 | 17:29 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale Veloce 5363 | 14:37 Messina Centrale | 2h52 | 17:29 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale Veloce 5363 | 14:37 Messina Centrale | 2h52 | 17:29 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
Regionale 21688+ Intercity 723 | 14:56 Fiumara Gazzi | 4h08 | 19:04 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Intercity 723 | 16:00 Messina Centrale | 3h04 | 19:04 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Intercity 723 | 16:00 Messina Centrale | 3h04 | 19:04 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 21690 · Regionale 5369 | 16:44 Fiumara Gazzi | 3h23 | 20:07 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 5369 | 17:14 Messina Centrale | 2h53 | 20:07 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5369 | 17:14 Messina Centrale | 2h53 | 20:07 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 21692+Intercity 729 | 17:48 Fiumara Gazzi | 5h10 | 22:58 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 21692 · Regionale 12903 · Regionale 12911 | 17:48 Fiumara Gazzi | 4h15 | 22:03 Palermo Centrale | 2 changes | |
| Regionale 12903 · Regionale 12911 | 18:05 Messina Centrale | 3h58 | 22:03 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 12903 · Regionale 12911 | 18:05 Messina Centrale | 3h58 | 22:03 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Intercity 729 | 19:50 Messina Centrale | 3h08 | 22:58 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Intercity 729 | 19:50 Messina Centrale | 3h08 | 22:58 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Friday 18 September | |||||
| Regionale 5351 | 4:49 Messina Centrale | 2h59 | 7:48 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5351 | 4:49 Messina Centrale | 2h59 | 7:48 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 12853 · Regionale 12863 | 5:01 Messina Centrale | 3h49 | 8:50 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 12853 · Regionale 12863 | 5:01 Messina Centrale | 3h49 | 8:50 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Regionale 5353 | 6:38 Messina Centrale | 2h58 | 9:36 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 5353 | 6:38 Messina Centrale | 2h58 | 9:36 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
| Regionale 21680 · Regionale 5355 | 7:11 Fiumara Gazzi | 3h48 | 10:59 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Messina to Palermo by train or coach
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Journey information
Overview: Train from Messina to Palermo
ItalyItaly
Trains from Messina to Palermo run on average 20 times per day, taking around 3h 21m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £11 but you can travel from only £9 by coach.
There are 11 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:53, the last at 22:17. The fastest train covers the 192 km distance in 2h 52m.
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £9
Distance 192 km |
Average train duration 3h 21m |
Cheapest ticket price £11 |
Trains per day 20 |
Direct trains 11 |
Fastest train 2h 52m |
First train 0:53 |
Last train 22:17 |
Cheapest Month Jan |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 28 days |
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £9
Train companies: Regionale, Intercity from Messina to Palermo trainsRegionale, Intercity trains will get you between Messina and Palermo from £9. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Regionale
About
Regionale is the regional train service of national carrier Trenitalia connecting all of Italy. It is the most convinient way to travel to both big cities and the smallest villages all over the Italian country. The regional trains have different names depending on the region they serve, such as Treno Regionale Veloce (TRV) and Treno Regionale Lento (TRL). Treno Rock and Treno pop are the two new trains part of Trenitalia regionale fleet. Trenitalia Regionale offers a variety of ticket types, including single tickets (economy and standard), return tickets, and season tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and power sockets. The most popular routes for Regionale are between Rome and Milan, Naples and Florence, and Turin and Venice.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Regionale Duration
2h 52m
Cheapest Regionale Price
£15
Regionale frequency
10 a day
Luggage included
Free hand luggage allowance included in ticket price
Luggage storage
Overhead racks and designated luggage areas between seats
Cancellation Policy
According to ticket conditions
Refund
Full refund provided
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Bar service available on some trains with snacks and beverages
Seat reservation
Seat reservation included in ticket price for most services
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces and assistance available for passengers with reduced mobility
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Larger dogs require paid ticket and muzzle
Quiet zone
Intercity
About
Trenitalia Intercity is a high-speed train service operated by the Italian national railway company, Trenitalia. It operates throughout the country, with services running from early morning to late evening. The Intercity trains come in two types: the Intercity Plus, which is the fastest and most comfortable, and the Intercity, which is slightly slower but still offers a comfortable journey. Onboard facilities include air conditioning, power sockets, Wi-Fi, and a bar service. There are several ticket types available, including Standard, Super Economy, and Business. The most popular routes for Trenitalia Intercity are from Rome to Milan, Naples to Florence, and Turin to Venice.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Intercity Duration
3h 8m
Cheapest Intercity Price
£11
Intercity frequency
1 a day
Luggage included
2 pieces of luggage up to 30kg total
Luggage storage
Overhead racks and designated luggage areas at end of carriages
Cancellation Policy
According to ticket conditions
Refund
Full refund provided
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Restaurant car with hot meals and snacks, trolley service in some trains. But do not count on the presence of a buffet car. So if having access to food and drink on the train is important to you, it’s best to bring your own refreshments onboard.
Seat reservation
Seat reservation included in ticket price for most routes
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets available
Pets
Small pets in carriers allowed free, larger dogs require paid ticket
Quiet zone
Complete guide to Palermo
Things to do in Palermo
Discover the best of Palermo — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Palermo trip today.
- Recommended
Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonino Salinas
Archaeological museum with Greek, Roman and Etruscan finds, coins and sculpture. A strong choice for understanding Sicily’s ancient past.
- Recommended
GAM - Galleria d'Arte Moderna
Modern and contemporary art museum in a restored monastery complex. Visit for Italian art, changing exhibitions and a central historic setting.
- Must visit
Quattro Canti
Monumental square at the junction of Palermo’s historic main streets. A classic meeting point with theatrical Baroque façades and constant street life.
- Recommended
Piazza Verdi
Elegant square beside Teatro Massimo, popular for strolling and people-watching. A useful base for exploring central Palermo on foot.
- Recommended
Mercato del Capo
Historic market district with layered architecture, lively lanes and everyday city life. Best for atmosphere, street scenes and local character.
Arancine
Fried rice balls filled with ragù, peas and cheese. A Sicilian street-food classic, especially beloved in Palermo for its hearty, portable character.
Pane ca meusa
Soft sesame-topped roll stuffed with spleen and lung, often with ricotta or caciocavallo. A distinctive Palermo sandwich with deep working-class roots.
Pasta con le sarde
Pasta with sardines, wild fennel, raisins and pine nuts. It captures Palermo’s Arab-Norman culinary heritage through sweet-savoury flavours.
Osteria Ballarò
Traditional restaurant serving Sicilian seafood, pasta and Palermo classics in an elegant but relaxed historic-centre atmosphere.
Nni Franco U Vastiddaru
Historic market stall famed for pane ca meusa and other Palermo street-food staples in a lively, no-frills setting.
Ke Palle
Long-established informal spot known for arancine, panelle and other classic rosticceria specialities popular with locals.
Euro (€)
Moderate for Italy: street food and buses are cheap, while central hotels and seafood restaurants cost more in peak season.
Average meal costs
- Budget
- €8-12 for street food or a simple meal.
- Mid-range
- €20-35 per person for a restaurant meal.
- Fine dining
- €60+ per person for upscale dining.
- Coffee
- €1.50-3 for espresso or cappuccino.
Tipping culture
Service is often included or modest. Round up or leave €1-2 in cafés, 5-10% for very good restaurant service, and round up taxi fares.
PalerMobilità
Get the appOfficial public transport app
Prices
- Single ticket
- €1.40
- Day pass
- €3.50
To the city centre
Palermo Centrale -> Piazza Politeama, Palermo
- Distance
- 2.4 km
- Travel time
- 20 min
- Buy and validate AMAT bus and tram tickets in the official PalerMobilità app before boarding; on-board bus tickets cost more than the standard fare.
- Contactless card acceptance on Palermo public transport was not confirmed from the official sources checked, so carry a valid ticket or use the official app.
FAQs: Messina to Palermo train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Messina to Palermo by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Palermo, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
The cost of a train ticket from Messina to Palermo can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £11, while the average price tends to be around £15.
The train journey from Messina to Palermo covers a distance of 192 km and takes approximately 2h 52m. Trains run 20 per day.
The train distance from Messina to Palermo is 192 km.
The first train from Messina to Palermo leaves at 0:53.
The last train from Messina to Palermo departs at 22:17.
Trains from Messina to Palermo run approximately 20 times per day.
Currently, there is no high-speed train service from Messina to Palermo.
Yes, there is a direct train between Messina and Palermo. The service operates 11 times per day, provided by Intercity, Regionale.
To get from Messina to Palermo, you can choose from several travel options including train and coach.
Yes, there is a night train from Messina to Palermo.
The train station in Messina that goes to Palermo is Messina Centrale, and it arrives at Palermo Centrale.
The cheapest way to get from Messina to Palermo is by coach, costing approximately £9.
Booking trains from Messina to Palermo in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.
The train journey from Messina to Palermo offers scenic views of Sicily's rugged coastline, charming villages, and the picturesque Tyrrhenian Sea, making it a visually appealing experience for travellers.
A day trip from Messina to Palermo is not feasible as the journey takes 2h 52m. However, there are 15 trains per day covering the 192 km distance.
In Palermo, you can explore the Capuchin Catacombs, an eerie yet fascinating underground cemetery with mummified remains. Visit the bustling Ballarò Market to experience local Sicilian produce and culture. Discover vibrant street art in the Vucciria district and take a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Sicilian dishes. Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Foro Italico promenade. Don't miss the stunning Palermo Cathedral, Teatro Massimo, and the historic Palazzo dei Normanni with its exquisite Palatine Chapel. Visit the Baroque square Quattro Canti and the lush Orto Botanico di Palermo.
To fully explore Palermo's key attractions, culture, and cuisine, spending 3 to 4 days would be ideal. This allows time to visit historical sites, enjoy local markets, and take a day trip to nearby areas.
Yes, you can take the train from Messina to Palermo.
Most popular train connections from Messina
More options for your journey from Messina to Palermo
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains to and from Palermo and Messina
Most popular train connections to Palermo
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