What to do in Palermo on marathon weekend?

Bib, Politeama, sunshine: what to do in Palermo before the race? 🎫

In November, Sicily offers a rare luxury: Italian mildness and a summer-holiday feel ☀️ . The Palermo Marathon kicks off its weekend as early as Friday, November 13, 2026. The Maratona Expo welcomes you at Piazza Castelnuovo on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; on Sunday, it is open only from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., for exceptional cases.

Foreign runners almost all choose the non-competitive category: no medical certificate, no Runcard, just a simple liability waiver signed when you pick up your bib. You still get an official time and share the starting pens with the competitive runners.

On Saturday, check out the Teatro Politeama on Piazza Ruggero Settimo, which is both the start and finish of your race 🎭 . After that, give your legs a rest: Palermo is best discovered by strolling from palace to square.

The organizers offer the marathon, the marathon as a relay, the half marathon and non-competitive versions. Everyone finds their distance, whether they are aiming for a time or a guided tour in running shoes.

Two loops, one city: how does the race unfold? 🔁

The start is given on Sunday, November 15 at 8:30 a.m., at Piazza Ruggero Settimo, for the marathon, the relay and the half marathon. Marathoners complete two laps of the city, while fans of the half marathon treat themselves to the same loop just once. The time limits are set at 5:30 for the marathon and 2:50 for the 21 km.

A small hill warms you up until km 5, before the Favorita Park: you run around it between the Chinese Palace and the Villa Niscemi. Further on, Palermo brings out its very own Statue of Liberty 🗽 . A long straight stretch heads toward the Palchetto della Musica, then the route skirts the Teatro Massimo and the Palace of the Normans before heading back to the Politeama.

Every edition promises a festive atmosphere: people shout loudly, sing at every turn, and supporters compete in fervor 🏆 .

The team relay changes the game: with four runners, each covers about 10 km, and everyone crosses the line together as a team, hand in hand.

City of Delights: what to do in Palermo after the finish? 🍨

Medal around your neck, Palermo lives up to its nickname, the "City of Delights." On the menu: arancini, panelle, cannoli and the brioche stuffed with gelato, enough to wipe out your burned-calorie count 🍴 .

As for monuments, the list is dizzying: the Palermo Cathedral, the Piazza Pretoria, the Palace of the Normans, the Zisa Palace or Monte Pellegrino, which watches over the bay. These exceptional monuments can be visited on foot, as long as you go easy on your calves.

The race slogan, "A city of a thousand contrasts!", takes on its full meaning: lively alleys, solemn squares, the Tyrrhenian Sea on the horizon 🌊 . After the finish-line pizza, a walk along the seafront serves as a cool-down.

Want to extend your stay? Explore Sicily, or go back to hunting for bibs in Italy