Cefalu and...?

[RowNine]

We're pretty set on a week in Cefalu this July but normally prefer to tag on a few days in a second location to make the most of the holiday.

Hoping someone who knows Sicily can offer some tips on where to go? Original plan was Palermo but opinions seem very mixed. Going with my husband and our 13 year old. I understand it's a massive island so we need to stay relatively west.

We are off for our second trip to Siciliy at May half term with our (now) 8 year old. The first trip was to the south east (Syracuse/Noto and locality) when DC was tiny and it was wonderful. Now DC is older we are flying to Catania again, having a few days in Taormina for the amphitheatre and the spectacular town (and maybe Etna) then on to Cefalu. We have an apartment with a pool in Taormina but we will be swimming in the sea in Cefalu. We will have our last night in Palermo and fly home from there.

Taormina might be an idea, off to investigate flights into Catania. We're doing sea swimming in Cefalu so I'm sure DC would appreciate a swimming pool. Would you mind sharing where you are staying? Thank you :)

@BeccaBean You made up my mind! I've now booked flights - into Palermo and out of Catania.

Any suggestions on how we should split our time? A week in Cefalu and 3 nights Taormina?

Stay a night in Palermo and explore, then train/drive to Cefalu.

We are travelling straight from Catania to Taormina and staying three nights then four nights in Cefalu and one night in Palermo. Not sure whether we should have done 4 Taormina and 3 Cefalu especially if we go up Mt Etna! Sicily is so lovely - I'm sure the time won't be enough in either place.

Will have to look up the name of the apartment. We knew we wanted a pool and to be a short walk to the historic centre so we put some filters in Booking.com and booked the one at the right budget with good reviews.

I love Cefalu! Stay along the Lungomare (along the sandy beach) and you are a short walk from the old town. You will pay a daily fee for sun loungers and umbrella unless you have a Hotel with a beach (not that many).

Taormina is expensive and touristy, look into Giardini Naxos (very close by), the UNA resort has beach access and pools. Do a day trip to Siracusa if you have enough time.

This place is lovely and has a pool https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/cefalu-sea-palace.en-gb.html

we are going to Sicily again in May, this time Noto and Giardini Naxos. (Visiting Siracusa, Etna, Taormina)

Astro Suites in Cefalu is cheaper and has a smaller pool. It’s small apartments with balcony, breakfast and daily cleaning is included. The Hotel is across the road from the Beach and 10min walk to the old town. They don’t have a private beach though, but have a discount with the closest Lido.

San Vito Lo Capo would be my choice and you should visit Erice/Trapani, Segusta and snorkel off Scopello.

I thought you were looking for a name for Cefalu's sister :)

We stayed there. It was nice that breakfast was included, but we had the freedom of an apartment.

The pool was a bit small though.

We loved Cefalu.

I highly recommend the fresh cannoli.

Ideally you need a pool the beach in cefalu is tiny and in the summer it’s insane. Literally cheek by jowl. Definitely fly to Palermo and have a night or two fun city. Syracuse and Taormina were our high lights we got the train round the island which worked well.

We were planning to stay just by the Duomo in Cefalu and pay for lidos as they seem pretty reasonable. Is this a bad idea then? My DC finishes school at the beginning of July so we able to go then if that makes any difference to crowds?

Think we'll probably fit in Taormina and Palermo and save the other side of the island for a second trip.

I am planning for end of May 2025 and have 2 nights Catania, 3 night Taormina, 3 nights Cefalu, 2 nights Palermo and then 6 nights San Vito lo Capo. Seems alot but my kids love the actual travelling and we will be doing it all by train.
Check out VRBO for accommodation - I started looking at hotels and then found we might want more space, wifi and a washing machine.
You might want to fly home from a different airport that you land into. If doing Taormina and Palermo then it might be easier to fly into Catania, bus to Taormina, train to Cefalu, train to Palermo and fly home from there.

@RowNine that’s fine. It’s a 10-15min walk to the beaches. It will already be busy as Italian schools break up in June and in my experience most tourists in Cefalu are from
other parts of Italy. I like the Lidos, you have access to showers, toilets and a café.
Taormina is not super close, you could also consider a boat trip to Stromboli for example.

We did Catania and Cefalu last Easter (and travelled to Palermo for day trips). We were originally only intending to be in Catania for a night as travelling through but really liked it and so added a few more days at the end of the holiday so we could spend proper time there. It's a working port city but has incredible churches, classical history and ruins and food! Really recommend it.

Cefalu is great and Palermo very easy to get to from there. Do the guided tour of the Opera House! That was amazing!

Really enjoyed Palermo did our research and found the down and dirty bit of town where the locals go amazing food.

Cefalu was almost spoilt by the crowds. If you weren’t on the beach by 10 you literally couldn’t get on the beach. It was insane packed like sardines radios blaring Euro pop. We were there 4 days it was enough. I wouldn’t go again in high season must say

Last summer we visited Palermo (regrettably!), took a day trip to Cefalu (so, so pretty!) and then spent three days in the beautiful San Vito Lo Capo.

Having stayed in Cefalu at the height of the holiday season I would far rather book a hotel that has a pool, which will be far less crowded than a lido or the beach.

The beach was very crowded when we went, but as our apartment was just across the road from the beach I just went there to swim, and I admit it was the best sea swimming I have ever experienced..

Are you sure there is a lido? I don't remember seeing one.

@RampantIvy I have been to Cefalu 3 times and there are lots of Lidos which in Italy means beach clubs with loungers, umbrellas, bar service, toilets and showers. Not an outdoor pool. The sea there is amazing, my children spent all day in the sea and hardly used the Hotel Pool.

https://www.alongdustyroads.com/posts/beach-clubs-italy

Be sure to see the gorgeous Roman theatre in Taormina! We were in Palermo for the big saints day (Santa Rosalia) and loved it.

If I want to sit and read I prefer a quieter hotel pool that is sand free.

Yes fine you do you!