"Travel Proud" certified

Palermo, the proud capital of Sicily, is a city of contrasts and diversity. With a history that spans thousands of years and a culture that integrates influences from all over the world, Palermo has developed into a cosmopolitan metropolis that offers a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQIA+ travelers. Here in the Palazzo Vetranoyour LGBTQIA+-friendly vacation apartment, we invite you to experience Sicily at its best and feel at home in a warm, tolerant environment.

"Palermo is a melting pot of cultures and identities, where diversity is celebrated in all its forms - from skin color to sexual orientation, and this makes the city even more special" Balarm.it

As proud owners of the "Travel Proud" certificate we are determined to create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for our guests. This applies not only to LGBTQIA+ travelers, but to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, skin color or cultural background.

Be yourself: Celebrating Diversity, Living Humanity

You call yourself lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, demisexual, genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, agender, two-spirit, omnisexual, graysexual or what do I know? Fine, it's all human, the main thing is to be happy. No matter who you are, where you come from or who you love - just be yourself. Only humanity counts here.

"Then God created man in the image of God: in the image of God, God created them." - God must be a pretty queer, colorful and dazzling personality. Never mind, the main thing is to be happy.

Our aim is not only to provide you with comfortable accommodation, but to make you feel truly welcome - in a city that has not only established itself as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, but also prides itself on being a melting pot of cultures and identities. Palermo celebrates diversity in all its forms and we want to offer you a space where you feel safe, accepted and valued.

Fancy adventure and relaxation in Sicily?

Discover Palermo's nightlife, where secrets, contrasts and stories come to life! 🌃 Experience Palermo by night.
Want to escape the winter? Then spend the winter in the south and enjoy sunshine instead of gray everyday life! ☀️ Learn more.
For all those who value sustainability: Our sustainable vacation apartment in the heart of Palermo's old town offers you environmentally conscious travel without compromise. 🌿 Find out more now.

Check out our travel blog planBwagen for the best tips around Sicily! 🚐 To the blog  | Or experience Sicily in moving pictures with our Sicily playlist on YouTube. 📺 To the playlist

Palermo: An LGBTQIA+-friendly city in transition

"In recent years, Palermo has developed into a cultural center that supports the LGBTQIA+ community"

These words come from Vladimir Luxuriaa well-known transgender activist and politician in Italy. These words reflect the dynamic development that Palermo has undergone. Once a rather conservative city, Palermo is now opening up more and more to the LGBTQIA+ community and is firmly established as one of the most LGBTQIA+-friendly cities in Italy.

Palermo from the perspective of the LGBTQIA+ community

According to the Spartacus Gay Travel Index and GayCities Palermo is rated as relatively safe and tolerant. While the LGBTQIA+ scene is not explicitly visible in all parts of the city, the experiences of travelers who have spent time here are largely positive. Many emphasize the hospitality of the locals and the feeling of acceptance they experience in Palermo.

In Palermo, LGBTQIA+ travelers can not only expect an open-minded attitude, but also discover a rich culture and history that makes the city unique. Franco Grillini, a well-known LGBTQIA+ activist, describes it aptly:

"It is inspiring to see how Palermo in particular has become a city of openness and tolerance."

Palermo's safety: a comparison with other cities

Although Palermo has a higher crime rate in terms of drug offenses (20th place according to the Indice della Criminalità 2024), serious crimes such as murder or sexual violence are comparatively rare. With only four reported murders in 2023, Palermo ranks 79th in this category, far behind other cities. This data shows that, despite its historical reputation as a troubled city, Palermo is safer today than many other Italian metropolitan areas.

A comparison with German cities illustrates this: In terms of sexual violence, Palermo recorded in 2023 7.58 cases per 100,000 inhabitantswhile cities like Berlin with 24.32 cases significantly higher or Munich, which is considered the safest city in Germany, with 6.28 cases, have insignificantly lower figures. These figures speak for the growing safety in Palermo and make the city an attractive destination for LGBTQ+ travelers looking for a safe and friendly environment.

"Palermo today is a symbol of how tradition and progress can combine to create a space of freedom"

As the Sicilian singer and LGBTQIA+ ally puts it Mario Venuti. The mixture of traditional Sicilian culture and modern openness makes Palermo a special place for visitors from all over the world.

LGBTQIA+ hotspots and nightlife in Palermo

Palermo offers a vibrant, if often hidden, LGBTQIA+ scene to explore. Some of the best places to enjoy the city's LGBTQ+-friendly nightlife include:

1. I Candelai - A popular location that regularly hosts LGBTQIA+-friendly events and parties. Here you can dance the night away in a relaxed atmosphere and meet new people.
2. Exit Drinks - A trendy bar in Palermo that is known for its queer clientele. Here you can enjoy excellent cocktails and mingle with the friendly crowd.
3. Mak Mixology - A hip meeting place that offers innovative cocktails in a stylish setting. Queer travelers appreciate the inviting atmosphere and the high quality of the drinks.

These hotspots are perfect places to get to know Palermo's open and diverse community and spend an unforgettable evening. Palermo also offers numerous cultural and social events for the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year.

Palermo Pride: A celebration of diversity

The annual Palermo Pride is a highlight for the LGBTQIA+ community in Sicily. This colorful celebration of diversity usually takes place in June or July and attracts people from all over Italy and beyond. The parade itself is a colorful spectacle, and the best places to watch the action are the Stairs of the Palazzo Postewhere people gather to experience the colorful celebration of freedom and love.

In addition to the parade, Palermo Pride offers a variety of cultural events, concerts and discussions on LGBTQ+ topics. This is a wonderful opportunity to network with other LGBTQIA+ travelers and experience Palermo's vibrant queer culture up close.

"Sicily, especially Palermo, is a region that is slowly but surely beginning to accept its LGBTQIA+ community"

These words are those of the former president of Arcigay, Paolo Patanè. This is Italy's largest LGBTQIA+ organization. This growing acceptance is clearly noticeable during Palermo Pride, when the streets of the city light up in the colors of the rainbow.

LGBTQIA+-friendly restaurants in Palermo

For LGBTQIA+ travelers looking for culinary experiences, Palermo offers a selection of LGBTQ+ friendly restaurants. Here are some of the best places you shouldn't miss:

1. Mille e una Notte - This elegant restaurant in the heart of Palermo offers traditional Sicilian cuisine in a stylish and relaxed atmosphere. Many queer travelers appreciate the hospitality and exquisite cuisine.
2. Buatta Cucina Popolana - An LGBTQIA+-friendly restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of Sicilian home cooking. The friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere make it a popular meeting place for locals and travelers alike.
3. Fud Bocs - A lively, modern restaurant serving fresh ingredients and creative dishes. The relaxed, friendly atmosphere attracts a diverse clientele.
4. Osteria Ballarò - Housed in a historic building, this cozy osteria serves traditional Sicilian dishes with a modern twist. The LGBTQIA+-friendly atmosphere and warm staff make it a favorite with travelers.
5. MEC Restaurant - This innovative restaurant combines modern architecture with upscale Sicilian cuisine. Known for its creative dishes and stylish atmosphere, the MEC is a popular meeting place for gourmetsand art loversinside. The LGBTQIA+-friendly orientation and elegant ambience make it particularly attractive for queer travelers looking for a unique culinary experience.

These restaurants not only offer great food, but also an inclusive atmosphere where LGBTQIA+ travelers can feel welcome.

LGBTQIA+-friendly activities in Palermo and the surrounding area

In addition to the nightlife and culinary delights, there are also numerous LGBTQ+-friendly activities in and around Palermo that you can enjoy during your stay.

1. Queer-friendly beach clubs in Mondello - Just a short drive from Palermo is the beach of Mondelloa popular meeting place for LGBTQ+ travelers. There are several LGBTQIA+-friendly beach clubs here where you can enjoy the sun and sea in a relaxed atmosphere.
2. Trapani LGBTQ+ Film Festival - Another highlight for queer travelers is the annual Trapani LGBTQIA+ Film Festivalwhich takes place on the west coast of Sicily. This festival offers a selection of local and international films with queer themes as well as discussion panels and cultural events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
3. Segesta Festival - Although the Segesta Festival is not specifically an LGBTQIA+ event, it attracts many queer travelers who appreciate the unique combination of ancient history and modern culture. The festival takes place in the ancient ruins of Segesta and features classical Greek theater plays and other cultural performances.

These events and activities offer LGBTQ+ travelers the opportunity to explore not only Palermo but also other parts of Sicily while being part of an open-minded and diverse community.

"Sicily is a place where we can celebrate diversity, even if it wasn't always easy to get there"

Giuseppina La Delfaactivist and founder of Famiglie Arcobalenoan organization that supports LGBTQ+ families. This statement aptly summarizes the development of Sicily as an LGBTQ+-friendly destination.

Palermo as a starting point for your LGBTQ+-friendly trip through Sicily

Palermo is not only an excellent destination in its own right, but also an ideal starting point for exploring the rest of Sicily. Places like Cefalu, Taormina (with its LGBTQIA+-friendly beaches in Giardini Naxos), Syracuse and Marzameni offer queer travelers a wealth of experiences ranging from cultural sights to relaxing beach days.

Whether you want to discover the ancient ruins of Syracuse, explore the charming alleyways of Cefalu or soak up the sun in the LGBTQIA+-friendly beach clubs of Taormina - Sicily has something for everyone.

Our personal journey

We, Torgit and Marcare not members of the LGBTQ+ community ourselves, but our hearts beat for diversity and colorful life. For many years, we have lived in the wonderful city of Cologne a city known for its queer openness and diversity. Cologne was not only our home, but also the place where we celebrated the best parties of our lives - in the company of our queer friends. The warm and open nature of this community touched us deeply and we are grateful for all the valuable experiences we were able to gain.

Our connection to each other and to this diverse society has strengthened and shaped us. We are grateful that we were able to find each other and be part of this world of acceptance and openness, even if we are straight ourselves. This allowed us to learn what we take for granted today: love and friendship should know no boundaries - neither in terms of gender nor identity.

Conclusion: Your LGBTQIA+-friendly accommodation at Palazzo Vetrano

With the Palazzo Vetrano we want to pass on this spirit of openness and acceptance by offering you not only comfortable accommodation, but also a sense of belonging and security. As an LGBTQIA+ friendly vacation rental with the "Travel Proud" certificate we look forward to welcoming you to Palermo and helping you make the most of your trip.

We hope that you will feel at home with us and appreciate Palermo for what it is: a city that is constantly evolving and offers LGBTQIA+ travelers a place of freedom, safety and acceptance.

Palermo, a city that is increasingly establishing itself as an LGBTQ+ friendly destination, is the perfect place for us to create a space where everyone feels welcome. No matter where you come from or how you love - we welcome you!

"It takes no compromise to give people their rights... It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repression." - Harvey Milk

LGBTQIA+-friendly accommodation in the Palermo countryside

Complement your city trip to Palermo with a stay in this LGBTQ+-friendly oasis: Oscar and Stefano's exclusive bed & breakfast on Capo Zafferano near Bagheria and Palermo offers everything your heart desires. The two hosts, friends themselves, create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for travelers from the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. With stylishly furnished rooms, a gorgeous pool and breathtaking sea views, this BnB offers the perfect mix of relaxation and Sicilian charm. After a delicious breakfast, the crystal clear waters of the nearby beaches and the diversity of Palermo, Santa Flavia and Bagheria are waiting to be discovered. Take a look at the accommodation and the surrounding area in the video and get inspired for your next trip: