Everything you need to know about traveling to Cefalu, Sicily
Located along the north coast of Sicily, and less than an hour by train from Palermo, Cefalu is a must visit destination for any traveler who visits Sicily.
Cefalu is noted for its beautiful beach, historic Norman Cathedral, The Rock, and a beautiful historic town center.
We put this guide together so you know all the best things to see and do in Cefalu.
Let’s get to it!
Cefalu Sicily location and geography
Parts of the discussion on this page are derived from the Wikipedia page for Cefalu.
Cefalu is located on the north coast of the island of Sicily. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and is one of the five autonomous regions of Italy.
The island of Sicily is also the southernmost region of Italy. The east coast of Sicily is located right at the toe of the boot of Italy.
Cefalu is located on the north side of the island, less than an hour by train to the east of Palermo, the capital of the region of Sicily and the province of Palermo.
The town is small by population size, with a permanent population of about 14,000 people. However, the town itself is contained within about 25 square miles.
Despite its small size, millions of tourists flock to Cefalu every year.
History of Cefalu
Cefalu appears to have originally been settled by Sicels, who began to inhabit the eastern portion of Sicily during the Iron Age.
At the top of Rocca di Cefalu (The Rock), which sits behind and above the village, there are the remains of an ancient Greek temple.
Over time, the town has been under the rule of the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, various feudal families, and then it finally became part of the Kingdom of Italy upon unification in 1861.
Cefalu Sicily climate
Cefalu has a mild Winter climate and a somewhat hot Summer climate that benefits from breezes off the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The average high temperature by month bottoms out in January and February at 59 degrees. Temperatures never drop to freezing levels, and rarely drop below 40 degrees.
July and August are the warmest months with average high temperatures of 87 and 88 degrees respectively.
Unlike some other areas in Sicily, Cefalu does have an extended wet season, from about September into April.
November and December are the wettest months of the year with just under 3 inches of rain on average, and about ten days of rain.
The summers are more dry, with rainfall of well under one inch per month on average from May through August. As a result, the area can be susceptible to wild fires, as was the case in 2023.
What you should know before you go to Cefalu Sicily
Here are some tidbits that you should know before traveling to Cefalu.
Currency: Euro
Language: Italian of course. Because Cefalu is a busy tourist town with many travelers from Europe, English is more widely spoken here than in other parts of Sicily. With that said, we highly recommend that you learn some Italian before you go. Many Sicilians will appreciate the effort. Rosetta Stone is a popular app for learning Italian.
Visa Requirements: For stays under 90 days, you do not need a Visa, but you will need your passport.
Electricity: Europe has different electrical outlets than what we have here in the US, so you will need an adapter.
Car Rentals: If you are only visiting Cefalu, and/or staying in the province of Palermo, you won’t be in need of a car, unless you are traveling with young children or with a lot of luggage. While the best way to get around all of Sicily, this is not the case if Palermo and Cefalu are your primary destinations. You can get to Cefalu from Palermo by train in under an hour.
The train station is about 1/2 mile to the west of the edge of the old town area, and just a few blocks south of the beach. Therefore, it may even be possible to walk from the train station to your hotel.
If you are touring other areas of Sicily away Palermo and the north coast to Messina, then you will definitely want to rent a car. In order to rent a car, you’ll need an international driver’s permit along with your driver’s license. If you do not have an international driver’s permit, head on over to your nearest AAA office.
For finding the best deals on rental cars, check out Discover Cars.
If you don’t intend to rent a car, and need transportation too, check out Kiwi Taxis.
Flying to Sicily: There are two main airports on Sicily. The Palermo airport is actually about 35-40 minutes from Palermo by car, and is located northwest of the city. This is the most logical airport for flying to Sicily if you will primarily be staying on the western half of the island. The other major airport is located in Catania along the east coast. You’ll want to fly to the airport closest to where you are staying initially. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to either airport from the U.S. Check out our tips for flying to Italy.
If you don’t intend to rent a car, and need transportation to your hotel, check out Kiwi Taxis. They provide service from both airports.
The Trains: The train experience in Sicily is quite different than on the mainland of Italy. There are no high speed trains. The intercity trains do allow assigned seats and have fewer stops. Unfortunately, these do not run as often as the regional trains. If you are traveling between cities on the east coast, simply schedule your trips so that you can ride the intercity train.
The regional trains are crowded, and the experience is like getting on a New York subway at rush hour. Therefore, travel on these trains with a lot of luggage is not recommended.
Travel Insurance: Anytime you plan on a trip overseas, you should consider purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance can cover the cost of medical emergencies, lost baggage, unexpected trip cancellations, etc.
Travel Insurance Master can help you find the coverage you need for your trip.
When is the best time to go to Cefalu?
While Cefalu has some historical significance and sites you will want to see, it IS most definitely a beach town. In fact, it is one of the 7 best beach towns in Sicily.
Cefalu literally receives millions of visitors each year, and many are heading there for the beach, as it is absolutely one of the best, if not THE best beach in Sicily.
With that in mind, July and August will be crazy busy.
If the beach is your priority, consider visiting after mid-September into about the middle of October, as the water will still be pretty warm.
If the beach is not a priority, then just about any time besides the summer months is a great time to visit Cefalu, as the Winter temperatures are mild.
What to do in Cefalu
Piazza in Cefalu
The three best things to do in Cefalu are…
- Go to the beach
- Wander through the old town
- Hike to the top of Rocca di Cefalu
The primary architectural site in Cefalu is the Norman Cathedral of Cefalu, constructed in the 12th century. Construction of the cathedral began in 1131 and ultimately completed by 1240.
The cathedral is noted for its two large towers. The building sits at the top of the town, and just below the Rocca di Cefalu.
The historic part of town is not that large, but it is truly a joy to walk the old cobblestone streets. Some of the streets are lined with small shops and restaurants, while others are simply residential streets.
Starting from the Cathedral, you can walk down any of these streets and end up down at the beach by the old part of town.
Cathedral
One of the most photogenic parts of the town is at the end of the wharf, where you can look back at the old town and The Rock behind it.
While you hang out in town, take the time to get a drink or a bite to eat at the Piazza in front of the Cathedral.
If you have the opportunity and are physically able, you’ll definitely want to hike to the top of The Rock. At the top you will find the remains of an old Greek temple and a small fortress.
The path to the top of The Rock begins at the end of Via Pitre at the south side of the old section of Cefalu, less than a quarter mile from the Cathedral.
You will also enjoy walking along the promenade along the beach. There you will find some restaurants, shops and bars, and it’s a great place to just enjoy the evening and sunset.
Cefalu Beach
Where to stay in Cefalu
We recommend staying at the Artemis Hotel. The hotel is within a couple blocks of the beach and the train station, and about 1/2 mile from the edge of the historic town center.
You can literally walk everywhere from this hotel. The staff was excellent, our room was quite large and comfortable, and they offered us a free cocktail during our stay.
The hotel is in the newer section of Cefalu, where many of the residents live. It is convenient to grocery stores, pharmacies and other necessities.
If you want to stay closer to the historic center, use the search form below for your best options.
