Event Dates
From: Friday, June 23, 2023
To: Sunday, June 25, 2023
As the capital of Sicily, Palermo hosts the island’s annual gay pride parade and festival in June
As the capital of Sicily, Palermo hosts the island’s annual gay pride parade and festival in June. Along with Rome, Palermo Pride is one of Italy’s most important pride celebrations.
- Are you visiting Palermo? Stay at the Palazzo Natoli Boutique Hotel a 4-star hotel rated “Exceptional” by guests. The hotel is 400 m from Palermo Cathedral and close to all the city’s top attractions.
Events start the week before the main pride parade, with several cultural events, parties and exhibitions planned before the culmination of events on the final Sunday of the weekend program.
Palermo Pride Parade
- Sunday, June 25th – (Note, the 2023 route has yet to be confirmed) The parade kicks off at 3.30 pm at Foro Italico. It continues through the streets of Palermo via Corso Vittorio Emanuele, turning onto Via Roma and through Via Cavour. Finally, the parade makes its way to Via Pignatelli Aragona, which leads to Piazza San Francesco di Paola. The march ends at Villa Filippina.
Palermo Pride After Party.
- Celebrations continue after the pride parade at Villa Filippina at Piazza S. Francesco di Paola, a beautiful 18th-century villa in central Palermo, recently renovated inside and out, hosting live shows, DJs and performers throughout the evening.
Gay Palermo and Sicily
Sicily is a stunning island with a unique vibe. Over the past decade, it has become an under-the-gaydar hotspot with gay visitors attracted by the island’s fine restaurants, delicious street food, iconic architecture and famous nudist beaches.
Palermo’s Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque palaces and churches are iconic and set a tone of grandeur that genuinely sets this city apart! If you want to be close to all of the city’s main attractions, the best area to stay in Palermo is the city centre Centro Storico (Old Town) and Politeama/Libertà (Downtown). The Vía Ruggiero Settimo is Palermo´s main shopping street. The city centre also offers a great selection of gay and gay friendly bars and restaurants.
Stay at the Hotel Politema, a 4 star hotel rated “Superb” by readers and close to all the city’s attractions.
The main beach in Palermo is Mondello, and is a 10 minute taxi ride from city centre. Many people combine a trip to Palermo with a stay by the beach in Modello
Gay Beaches
- Sicily’s gay-friendly nude beach, Barcarello, is in the town of Sferracavallo, just a 30 min drive from Palermo. The sea is crystal clear, and there is a lot of privacy. The beach has several rocks for quiet sunbathing and rocky ravines in front of a crystalline sea, typical of Sicily.
Gay Venues in Palermo
- Exit Drinks is a popular dance party with drag shows and live performances on Saturday nights during the Summer Season. The party takes place at Fabric Rise Up Club.
- Pop Shock hosts a regular monthly party at I Candela, a live music club.
- Maximum Time has dry & steam saunas, a Jacuzzi, and a busy cruise area.
Other Gay Cities
- Taormina is Sicily’s most gay-friendly destination and has long been an escape for gay visitors from the mainland. Locals are very friendly towards the LGBT community. The town’s picturesque landscape makes it the perfect getaway destination for gay couples and honeymooners. The city is a three and a half-hour drive from Palermo.
- Catania is another gay-friendly destination in Sicily featuring several gay bars and venues. The city is a two and a half-hour drive from Palermo.
Getting to Sicily
Sicily is accessible by plane and boat, with many of its most popular cities on the beautiful coastline. The city’s most important historical sights and best beaches are dotted across the island, so renting a car is your best way to explore the island or take one of the many guided tours by Jeep, scooter or eBike.
Where to stay?
Here are the hotels we recommend that have good reviews and keep you close to all the action
Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes, Palermo In Suite, Hotel Principe di Lampedusa, Artemisia Palace Hotel
Where to stay close to all the gay bars
Our top 4 selections with the best rates.
Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes It is our
preferred hotel close to the gay bars
For further information and advice on
Palermo Pride, visit The Website
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Expedia
We have chosen hotels in Palermo that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Along with a fitness center, this smoke-free hotel has a bar/lounge and a snack bar/deli. Free buffet breakfast. Other amenities include a coffee shop/café, valet parking, and coffee/tea in a common area. All 61 soundproofed rooms feature free WiFi and 24-hour room service. TVs come with satellite channels, and bathrobes & slippers.
Along with a bar/lounge, this hotel has a snack bar/deli and a coffee shop/café. Valet parking, a business center, and concierge services are onsite. All 93 soundproofed rooms feature free WiFi and minibars. For a bit of entertainment, guests will find LCD TVs with satellite channels, room service and premium bedding.
Along with a snack bar/deli, this smoke-free guesthouse has self parking and concierge services. Additionally, a library, express check-in, and express check-out are onsite. All 3 shared rooms feature free WiFi and room service. Guests can enjoy deep soaking tubs, and other standard amenities include dining areas, sitting areas, and LED TVs.
A rooftop terrace, self parking, and concierge services. Free continental breakfast. Laundry facilities, a free grocery shopping service, and express check-in. Each apartment features a kitchen with a refrigerator and a stovetop, plus free WiFi and a Smart TV with Netflix. Comforts include a pillowtop bed and Egyptian cotton sheets
Highlights of the previous pride parade.
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Palermo that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Grand Hotel Et Des Palmes is an elegant Art Nouveau building, right outside the restricted traffic area. It is a 5-minute walk from Palermo’s Massimo and Politeama Theatres. The property has classically furnished rooms decorated with traditional furniture and fine fabrics. Each has air conditioning, satellite TV and a minibar.
Offering city views and free WiFi, Palermo In Suite Aparthotel offers accommodation conveniently located in the centre of Palermo. Fitted with a balcony, the units offer air conditioning and feature a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with shower and bathrobes. There is also a kitchen in some of the units equipped with a microwave
Situated in Palermo and with Fontana Pretoria reachable within 400 metres, Features concierge services, allergy-free rooms, a bar, free WiFi throughout the property and a shared lounge. This property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and luggage storage
Artemisia Palace Hotel is an early 20th-century building close to the Politeama Theatre. Palermo historical centre is 15 minutes’ walk away and you will be close to the harbour. Décor is elegant and rooms are modern at the Artemisia Palace. All rooms have free Sky TV, a minibar, air conditioning and free toiletries.