Have you heard of Cefalù? Cefalù is a charming coastal destination on the northern side of Sicily. It is only 66km (41mi) from Palermo, making it the perfect day trip destination. Of course, more days spent in Cefalù would have been a great idea, but a day trip was all I had time for in this itinerary.
We spent 1 day in Cefalù during our July trip to Sicily which also included 2 Days in Malta! (Full Sicily guide coming soon!)
When I think about some of my favorite travel days, the day trip to Cefalù is high on the list. I think it may have been the stunning sunset on the beach to conclude the day, but more of that below!
Traveling to Cefalù:
There are over twenty daily direct trains from Palermo Centrale to Cefalù each only 45-60minutes one way and costing only about 10€ each way!
We actually got a late start to the day trip and took a late morning train, but we were on the beach by one-o’clock!
Lots of people had the same idea to visit Cefalù! We had a packed train on way there!
Friendly reminder to validate your train tickets before boarding TrentAltaia if you are using a paper ticket!
What to Pack:
For your day trip don’t forget your beach day essentials:
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Sunblock
- Bathing suit and cover-up
- flipflops
It is a popular beach destination which means there are plenty of vendors and stores to buy essentials if you need anything!
Beach Day:
The public beach is just a short 0.8km (0.5mi) walk from the train!
In July, the public beach was crowded, but we still had plenty of room to lay out towels and relax. There are many private beach clubs where you can spend the day and purchase chairs and umbrellas! (Not necessary if you are trying to stay within budget)
Walk along the Molo di Cefalù:
Iconic pier with stunning views at the end of Via Bordonaro in Cefalù’s Old Town Area and next to the public beach.
Take a look at the beautiful arches that you can see from the Old Town!
Admire the Coast:
We took a stroll along the street, “Via Porta Giudecca”and admired the coast and turquoise water.
Pizza and Vino for Lunch:
I believe this specific restaurant is no longer open, but I am sure you will be able to find a delicious alternative!
Shop in Old Town:
The main street in Cefalu is “Corso Ruggero” and you can find a number of shops, boutiques and restaurants in the Old Town.
Beach Time:
Time to relax and swim in the sea until dinner time!
Dinner at Porta Ossuna:
This restaurant had the best view and was right up the stairs from where we were sitting at the beach! We had delicious seafood and drinks at Porta Ossuna. The meal was great but the sunset was the star of the show!
Sunset in Cefalù:
Admire the sun going down before catching the last train back to Cefalù!
More activities to consider:
If you are only spending one day in Cefalù, you will likely want to spend most of your day relaxing at the beach. In case you are looking for something more to discover you can consider:
Duomo di Cefalù:
- Founded in 1130 and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale
Rocca di Cefalù:
- 268m (879ft) high cliff looking over Cefalu and the coast
- A steep trail that takes about 1.5-2 hours to complete and will cost 5€ to enter the route
- (I would have loved to complete this hike on this trip to see the stunning view, but it was a day trip meant to relax at the beach!)
Lavatoio Medievale:
- Visit Lavatoio Medievale or Medieval Washhouse in English. Located in Old Town, Lavatoio Medievale is a communal wash-house that dates back to Medieval times and is free to visit
Hope this guide helps inspire you to take a day trip to Cefalù while you are exploring Sicily! Enjoy and thank you for reading!
Getaways with Gabby 
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