Located in the middle of the north coast of Sicily, at the foot of La Rocca Mountain, the picturesque town of Cefalù was once a lively fishing village. Now it is considered one of the best resorts towns in Sicily, with its charming port and beautiful sandy beaches loved by locals and tourists alike.

Cefalù is also one of the prettiest and most photogenic towns in Sicily, with its beautiful, and charming old town, so during the high season the town (and beaches) can be a bit crowded, but this should not keep you from visiting this full of character place.

Climb to the top of La Rocca Mountain, from which you can admire beautiful views of the old town, wander the streets, or just simply enjoy the sea and sun on one of the beaches..

Going on a road trip around Sicily, we knew that Cafalù would be one of the more popular places we would visit during this trip (besides Palermo, Catania and Taormina) however, once there, we understood why this place is so beloved.

First of all the charming Piazza Duomo, secondly the long and sandy beaches. In some places, in high season, renting a sunbed can be a bit expensive, but Cefalù also offers beaches where you can easily spread your towel and enjoy the sun, the sand and the refreshing water.

And let’s not forget our favorite places in Cefalù, namely Porta Pescara and Porto Vecchio where jumping into the water from the molo is a must-do when visiting the town.

#1 Visit Duomo Di Cefalù

Start your sightseeing of the Cefalù with Duomo Di Cefalù – the most important and biggest cathedral in the city. The building was built between the 10th and 20th centuries, and it stands proudly in the middle of the main square in the city. It has two main towers, which you can climb to admire the city from above, and high stairs which are leading to the entrance of the cathedral.

This is one of the city’s must-do sightseeing spots! Before visiting duomo, check the opening hours, as it is closed for several hours during the day. Entrance to the cathedral is free.

#2 Grab breakfast, lunch or dinner at Piazza Duomo

In front of Domo you will find a large square full of restaurants, bars and cafes. It comes alive after sunset, when it gets a bit cooler, but is also an ideal place for breakfast or lunch.

If you’re visiting the city on a hot day, Piazza Duomo is a perfect place to grab something to drink while exploring Cefalù. In the afternoon, the place becomes a popular spot among locals for passeggiata, the traditional evening stroll and conversation among locals.

#3 Shop Cefalù ceramics

Cefalù is known for its exceptional ceramics, especially for its beautifully crafted pots – Maura’s heads. This is one of the most characteristic symbols of Sicily, which you will encounter walking through the streets of Cefalù, Trapani, Catania or Taormina. The distinctive heads will stare at you from many balconies. However, there is a rather drastic legend behind these beautiful pots.

Once upon a time, during the Arab domination of Sicily, in Palermo lived a girl of exceptional beauty who loved to grow plants on her large terrace. Once upon a time a Moor (Arab) passed by her house who, having seen the girl on the balcony, momentarily fell in love with her. The beautiful Palermian quickly reciprocated his warm feelings, and then they spent several wonderful days together. Unfortunately, it turned out that Maur had to return home to his wife and children.

The Palermian woman, upon learning this, was furious with her lover, so she waited when the boy fell asleep and cut off his head during the night, thus keeping him forever for herself. She set his severed head on the terrace and planted basil in it, which, watered by the girl’s tears, grew beautifully.

Jealous neighbors, wanting to have equally lush basil, started imitating pots resembling Maura’s head.

Nowadays the Teste di Moro are made of both male and female heads and are widely recognized and associated with Sicily, even outside of Italy. It’s an ideal souvenir for you or your loved ones.

However if you don’t have enough space in your luggage for even the smallest pot, the ideal alternative for you would be magnets or another symbol of Sicily, namely the trinacaria, which you will find absolutely everywhere, even on the Sicilian flag.

The fearsome head with three legs around it refers mainly to the triangular shape of the island and is represented by its three outer points – Capo Peloro near Messina, Capo Passero near Syracuse and Capo Boeo near Marsala.

The head in the middle belongs to Medusa, who can turn everyone to stone with her gaze. However, the Sicilians believe that her Trinaceria, smiling from ear to ear, brings good luck and is a talisman that protects against all evil, which is why this symbol can often be found on the houses of the island.

There are also pine cones, which can be found on many gates and railings. Pine cones guarantee fertility and the favor of the gods, which is why they are a common gift for people newly married in Sicily.

Whichever ceramic you choose, they should be part of your souvenirs from Sicily.

#4 Take a look at Lavatoio Medievale

Walking around Cefalù stop by Lavatoio Medievale, a medieval wash house nestled between narrow streets, just a few meters below street level. Back in the days women used to come here to wash clothes, but nowadays it is one of the tourist attractions in Cefalù.

It can get a bit crowded in the afternoon, especially since the place is closed during the day for several hours, so check the opening hours before visiting.

#5 Admire Porta Pescara

Walking a little further toward the Porto Vecchio Beach, don’t forget to visit Porta Pescara, a gate which was used by fishermen for entering the city with fresh catch after a day at the sea.

Nowadays this place is not only a great option for photographers, but also one of the favorite places for locals to hide a bit in the shade while they enjoy the beach in front of the gate.

#6 Relax at Spaggia del Porto Vecchio

Right next to the gate lays the Spaggia del Porto Vecchio Beach, a tiny but one of the most popular beaches in Cefalù. You’ll encounter only a few deck chairs and umbrellas here, so if you want find a spot for yourself be here early enough.

However if you will not be able to do that – don’t worry just a few steps away is the Molo di Cefalù. This is the place where mostly locals love to bask in the sunshine, and jump into the refreshing water. From here you can admire the typical Sicilian houses and La Rocca Mountain in the background. This is the best place to change into bikini and swim trunks and jump into refreshing water after all the sightseeing.

#7 Enjoy the Spaggia di Cefalù beach

After all the sightseeing, head to Spaggia di Cefalù, one of the most popular beaches in the region. This huge 1.6 km beach offers not only clean, yellow sand, but also crystal clear and refreshing water. It’s the perfect place to take a dip during the hot days in Sicily.

The beach is divided into zones where you can rent both sunbeds and umbrellas, but since it’s a very popular place to relax, prices can be a bit high and how much you end up paying for a sunbed depends on the row you rent it in.

Prices in the first row reach the amount of $70 (€65) for two sunbeds and an umbrella in high season. However, a short distance away (closer to the city) there is a public beach where you can easily spread out your towel and umbrella.

#8 Climb the La Rocca Mountain

Towering over Cefalù – La Rocca Mountain, offers an incredible view of the city from above and the endless blue of the sea. At the top of the mountain are the ruins of the Castello di Cefalù and the Tempio di Diana. Both are are well worth a visit, although not much remains of them.

But before you get there, about halfway up, there is a lookout point that offers a beautiful  panoramic views. To get to La Rocca Mountain, you’ll have to take a hike that takes a few hours, but is fairly easy.

It is advisable to wear good shoes for this hike, as the road up the mountain can be a bit bumpy. Also remember to bring enough water, as there are no places to refill bottles along the way. The climb takes abot 2-3 hours, so plan your time to avoid going up or down when the sun is at its strongest.

The entrance ticket is €5 and can be purchased with cash (exact amount will be deducted) or credit card. Tickets are checked on the way down, so don’t lose yours!

Walking through the streets of Cefalù you will find many cafes, restaurants and snack bars offering Sicilian delicacies. The gastronomic base of the city is not only rich but also delicious, offering traditional Italian dishes such as pizza and pasta.

But also Sicilian specialties full of fresh ingredients and flavors, like Pasta alla Norma, Arancini or delicious appetizer, Caponata. If you’re looking for a delicious restaurant for dinner, try the Lilies Club in Cefalù.

By Airplane

The closest airport, which is about an hour’s drive from Cefalù, is the Palermo airport, which is the most convenient option if you are traveling to Cefalù from abroad.

By Car

If you’re on a road trip around Sicily, Cefalù is only an hour’s drive from Palermo. For the same reason, it is also an ideal option for a day trip.

Remember, however, that you must keep your eyes on the road when traveling around Sicily, as Sicilian drivers are not the best.

If you want to rent a car in Sicily we strongly recommend you to book with Sicily by Car company. During our trip in Sicily we didn’t have the slightest problem neither with the car nor with the car provider.

By Train

The train is an equally good option if you want to get to Cefalù from a larger city such as Palermo, it is a fast and very budget-friendly means of transportation, and trains to Cefalú from Palermo run many times a day.

The city of Cefalù is definitely best explored on foot, firstly because it is not large, so you can literally walk everywhere in 15 minutes, and secondly because car traffic around the city is limited.

You can walk to the old town as well as to the beach or the pier of Cefalù. All the things mentioned above in this blog post, are easy accessible by strolling around.

To soak up the amazing atmosphere of the old city and the beachfront promenade in Cefalù, the best months to visit the city will be the warm months of European spring and early autumn.

The months of April and May will be ideal months for sightseeing, as temperatures in Sicily will not yet be too high. The same goes for the autumn months of October and even early November, although these months can be a bit rainier.

If you want the perfect time to go to the beach, choose the months of June and September, when the temperatures will be perfect and both the city and the beaches will not be too crowded.

The months of July and August, are the busiest months of the year, temperatures in Sicily can be extreme, which can make sightseeing a bit more difficult, the beaches very crowded, and hotel and B&B rental prices definitely higher. This is peak season in both Europe and Sicily.

Since Cefalù is a popular destination, the hotel base in the city is very rich, ranging from beautiful hotels, B&Bs or Airbnb. The old town offers slightly more expensive accommodations, but thanks to its central location you will be able to get everywhere on foot.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, the new town of Cefalù will be perfect for you. It is only a 20-minute walk on the promenade from the old town, and prices are more affordable.

A larger city not far from Cefalù would be Palermo, which would also be a good option for accommodation if you only want to visit Cefalù on a day trip.

Cefalù is an ideal destination for a beach vacation, so the number of days spent in the city depends only on how much time you have. If you are planning a road trip around Sicily and just want to visit the city and go to the beach, one full day is certainly enough to do it.

However, if Cefalù is your main vacation destination, you can spend even a few days here, as the beautiful town of Cefalù has amazing shoreline and charming old town, so you definitely won’t be bored here.

The city is also a great place to visit on a day trip from Palermo, as it is only an hour away by car or train.

The prices are per person, except for the accommodation and sunbeds, which we rent for 2 people.

Accommodation: $100+ / night

Restaurant: $16 – $30 / meal

Pleasure: $11 – $18 / event

Rental car: $50+ / day

Sunbed:  free – $70 / day

Activity:  $3 – $6 / event