Palermo Travel Forum

We are reaching Palermo at 6:30 am by ferry, and are planning to spend half a day in the city before moving on in a rented car. Since we have read in this forum that driving in the city is not advisable, we have the option of (1) keeping our luggage at the ferry docks and picking it up around lunch time along with the car, or (2) hiring the car at the docks, and parking it, with the luggage, while we take public transport for moving around in the city. Which of these options is more feasible? If 1, are there lockers at the docks, where our luggage can be kept safely? And if 2, can you suggest the best location of the parking lot?

I have not visited Palermo docks for some time, but I do recall that on my last visit there were no left luggage facilities. This may have changed and perhaps someone could enlighten you on this.
In the meantime - do not, under any circumstances, leave luggage in a car in Palermo.
A solution would be to catch a taxi from the docks to Palermo Centrale(the train station). Here, there is a left luggage office, where you could leave your bags while you tour the city. The journey time from the docks to the station by car takes about 5 minutes and is very direct.
On finishing your tour, just grab your bags and take a taxi back to the car hire
company.

2) is certainly not feasible, unless perhaps you find a guarded parking garage e.g. at a hotel, but then you might anyway consider taking a hotel room, and moving on the next day: Palermo is worth a full day. Or, if your first destination is close by, go there directly, leave the bags at the hotel, and double back to visit Palermo.

For heaven's sake, don't go leaving all your luggage sitting in a parked car!