Cefalù: Perfect Day Trip from Palermo, Sicily

Cefalù: Perfect Day Trip from Palermo, Sicily

Disclaimer: Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you! Read the full Disclosure policy here.

Palermo, Sicily makes for a great weekend trip, and there are also great spots around the city that you can easily fit into your trip (like Cefalù) especially if you make your visit a long weekend.

I’m so glad that my friend Isabel and I planned for an extra day, which let us enjoy one of my favorite formats for 3-day weekend trips – a city day on each end with the middle day to spend outdoors or doing something active.

Visiting Cefalù involved an active morning followed by a relaxing afternoon swimming and lounging on the beach – and we were still able to be back to Palermo easily in time for dinner. And the hiking, the beach, and the sights in town and in the hills above Cefalù were all quite memorable.

Here’s what we loved doing on this day trip from Palermo:

Things to Do

Around Town

Cefalù Cathedral

Cathedral Cefalu Sicily Italy20150621_131342

The building itself is distinctive, and it looks like a cross between a fortress and a church, with some very unusual architecture. Once you go inside, the interior is like a traditional church, with some beautiful artwork.

A visit doesn’t take long, so it’s worth stopping in even if you only have a few minutes.

Beach

Reward after our hike - beach time!
Reward after our hike – beach time!

After hiking up and down a mountain on a hot day, there’s nothing I like to do more than head to the beach and take a dip.

Cefalù’s beach is easily accessible from the center, and not far from where the hike lets you off in town. And since Sicily is further south than other parts of Italy, it was pleasant swimming weather and a refreshing water temperature already in mid-late June when I visited.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! There is a fair bit of beachfront, so walk a bit if needed to find a good spot. There are also many areas with lounge chairs that you can rent, so find one with spots available.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! If you’re lucky like we were, people will be walking up and down the beach offering massages at discount prices. Especially if you’ve been hiking, it’s a great way to relax tired muscles.

Shopping

Cefalù is enough of a tourist destination in summer that there are many shops lining its medieval cobblestone streets.

All sorts of Sicilian specialties are available, from the traditional blue and yellow tiles to culinary specialties like pistachio pesto and local wine. It’s a great spot to pick up some souvenirs.

Off the Beaten Path

Hike to La Rocca & Temple of Diana

La Rocca Hike Cefalu Sicily Italy 20150621_121855La Rocca Hike Cefalu Sicily Italy 20150621_122634

Besides the beach, this hike above town was the main reason we visited. It is steep enough to have beautiful views at the top, but overall it was not too strenuous, taking around a half hour to reach the top.

Once you ascend, there are spread out ruins and sweeping views of the coast to appreciate as you linger as long as you like.

La Rocca Hike Cefalu Sicily Italy 20150621_115010

Where to Eat – Best Bites

Non Solo Pane

Arrancino Non Solo Pane Cefalu Sicily Italy20150621_130641

This is a great spot to pick up bites to go before (or after) your hike, as it has a lot of portable food and is located near the bottom of the stairs that take you to and from the first section of hiking.

I grabbed some of Sicily’s most portable food – arrancini – stuffed rice balls with different fillings, which are then coated in bread crumbs and fried. There is a reason this dish is a local one!

Ristorante Helios

Pastries Dolci Ristorante Helios Cefalu Sicily Italy20150622_082459

There are savory food options as well, but I can only vouch for the pastries, which were a delicious snack. And let’s be real, the rest was breakfast the next morning.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! Get at least one item with pistachios, which are grown locally in Sicily. You can taste the freshness and flavor of the nut so well.

Obviously with the morning hike and food on-the-go I didn’t end up having any sit-down meals, but there are quite a lot of highly-rated restaurants around town, especially for seafood.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! If you’re looking for an Italian seal of approval, I find Google reviews to be more accurate for places in Italy since locals are more likely to review a restaurant there than on one of the other review websites.

(More) Practical Tips for Visiting

Come by train

Trains run very frequently from Palermo and along the coast in between, and it only takes a little less than an hour to arrive. Unless you’re already renting a car for a road trip around Sicily, the train is the most convenient way to get to Cefalù, and the ride from Palermo is quite scenic.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! Check the schedule ahead of time for your return trip to Palermo, so you have a sense of what your options are.

TRAVEL SAVVY TIP! It’s not unusual for trains to run late in Italy, so leave a bit of extra time if there’s a specific time you need to be back in Palermo.

Avoid August (if you can)

August is peak travel time across Europe, and you’ll have a far more crowded experience if you visit then.

I had a great visit to Palermo and Cefalù in late June – it was warm enough to swim and shops and restaurants were open, but it wasn’t super busy with tourists yet.

Are there any sights around Cefalù that I missed? What other trips from Palermo or around Sicily would you recommend?

Like this post? ‘Pin It’ for later on Pinterest!

How to Spend One Day in Cefalu Sicily Italy - Perfect Day Trip from Palermo

13 thoughts on “Cefalù: Perfect Day Trip from Palermo, Sicily

    1. September will be a lovely time to go! There is always space to store luggage on the train, just keep in mind that you’ll be carrying it up and down some stairs to get on and off.
      Happy travels!
      Lana

  1. I’d recommend a walk around the port area, can take as long or as little time as you like. Climb the hill just beyond to the restaurants that have tables on the cliff top (restaurant across the road) for a glass of wine and if you are there late, watch the wonderful sunset.

    1. Thanks, Mari, that all sounds lovely. Nothing like taking the time to enjoy sunset on vacation!

    1. Hi Leslee, I didn’t do any snorkeling while I was there, but I bet your accommodation can point you in the right direction!

  2. My father and family of 8 brothers and sister all came from Cefalu to America in 1915-1918. They Are all deceased. The name was Ilardo or Elardo or Vilardo. I know very little about my fathers side because they never wanted to talk about it. My name is Sam Elardo. I want to. One day go to Cefalu. Do you know if any of my family is still in Cefalu? My mother family was named Cerrito and they were from Palarmo.
    Thank you, Sam Elardo

    1. Hi Sam, I hope you get to visit Cefalu’ one day as it is a beautiful place. Most Italian towns have a town hall where you can look up relatives and staff that can help you with this, be sure to visit on a day when it is open.

      Best of luck!
      Lana

  3. I’ve stayed in Cefalu a few times. It’s heavenly for me. I’m 77, travel alone and love Sicily. Try the tiny fishermen’s beach in the old town. Because of the Mola going out into the sea the water is clear and like a millpond. Find the tiny cloister garden behind the cathedral. Cannot wait to get back.
    Journey from UK is good. Bus from airport to Palermo train station. Train about an hour to Cefalu. A short 5-10 minute walk into town or I generally get a taxi because by the time I arrive I’m tired. Old Town small, easy to find your way around. Good shops, not tat.

    1. Hi Mary Jean, I’m glad you’ve had such wonderful experiences in Cefalu and thanks for reading. It sounds like you have a great, easy way to get there, so I hope you get to return soon. Italy is a wonderful country to explore on your own. Happy travels!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Privacy/Disclosures Travel Savvy Gal is a participant in several affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Read the site's full Privacy/Disclosure policy here.