Summer is almost here, and I have already been dreaming of beautiful places and crystal clear water for some time now. Cefalù, a quaint village on the island of Sicily, is the destination that has it all and is a well-loved destination for many who want a relaxing seaside holiday. It is located 1-hour east outside of Palermo, which makes it easy to get to more ‘action’ and a bustling city if you want it.
How to get there and where to stay
The trip to get to and from a destination in addition to where you stay can make all the difference for your holiday experience.
Lucky for us in the UK, Cefalù is easy to get to. You can, for example, fly directly into Palermo from London Heathrow and take a 56-minute train from Palermo Centrale station to Cefalù.
To make your stay all the more comfortable, it is highly recommended and quite common amongst visitors to rent a villa for a more private and authentic Sicilian experience. A holiday in Sicily can be surprisingly affordable and accommodation is not as high as one might expect and there are many villas in Cefalù like the ones on Wishsicily for example, that can be rented at really great prices.
What to do and see
The village of Cefalù is nestled between ‘La Rocca’, a granite mass, and a natural bay amongst the sea on the North Coast. Though it may be small, there is plenty to do and see in Cefalù between your days of relaxing on the seaside, enjoying local foods and having a gelato or drink with a view.
Here are a few ideas:
- Make your way up 270 meters for stunning views from the top of La Rocca
- Visit the Cefalù Cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site)
- Visit Lavatoio, the medieval wash house
- Visit the town museum called Mueso Mandralisca. At the bottom of the stairs, a poem written by Vincenzo Auria reads: “Here flows Cefalino, more salubrious than any other river, purer than silver, colder that snow.”
- Simply take a nice stroll through town and wander your way down to the crystal clear water
- Go shopping on the main street, Corso Ruggero II
- Experience the nightlife, especially in July and August
- Attend the Sherbeth Festival – International Festival of Artisan Ice Cream in September
- Go on an excursion to the Aeolian Islands
Best beaches in Cefalù
The town itself might be small, but the surrounding seaside has many beaches that you can choose from for your days of soaking up the sun, swimming in the clear water and playing on the seaside.
Il Lungomare is the main 5-kilometer beach, with its gold sand and fairly shallow water.
There is also Mazzaforno Beach located 3 kilometers from the Cefalù center. Mazzaforno Beach has services, including a beach bar in the summer, showers and other amenities.
Settefrati Beach is a lifeguarded beach with all the services you could want for a day at the seaside. It is a popular choice amongst visiting and local families.
Cefalù is a gem located on the Sicilian coastline. It is definitely high on my bucket list, just as it is on the “Most Beautiful Villages in Italy” list.
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