Cefalù
A small coastal town on Sicily's north coast, where a Norman cathedral and a rocky headland rise above a long sandy beach.
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Cefalù is a small coastal town on Sicily's Tyrrhenian coast, about 70 km east of Palermo. About 13,800 people live there, yet millions of visitors come each year from across Sicily, Italy and Europe. The town sits at the foot of a rocky promontory, and the Rocca and the cathedral shape its skyline. The Greeks called the settlement Kephaloídion, from the Greek word for head, because of the headland above the sea.
The Norman cathedral, begun in 1131, is one of the Norman monuments UNESCO lists alongside Palermo and Monreale. Its apse holds a Byzantine-style mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. The Museo Mandralisca holds Antonello da Messina's Portrait of a Man, the painting that made the town famous. The Gibilmanna sanctuary in the hills and the Madonie mountains make good day trips inland. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons; summers are hot, and the scirocco wind is not rare in July and August. A full day covers the cathedral, the old town and the beach.
Cefalù in five
- Take the train from PalermoRegional trains run along the coast and the station is a short walk from the old town. Check Trenitalia for the current Palermo-Cefalù timetable and buy the cheap regional ticket, not a pass.Palermo travel guide
- See the cathedral before the beach crowdsThe Norman cathedral has Byzantine-style mosaics in the apse. Check the opening hours and any entry fee on the cathedral's official site, and go early in summer.
- Climb the Rocca at the cooler hoursThe path to the Rocca headland has steps and no shade. Go early or at sunset, carry water and check the local site for any seasonal or weather closures.
- Beat the August crowdsThe beach and the narrow Corso Ruggero fill in July and August. June and September give a warmer sea, easier parking and shorter restaurant waits.Best time to visit Italy
- Park outside the old townThe old center is a limited-traffic zone with enforcement. Use the public car parks at the edge and walk in, or leave the car in Palermo and take the train.
Things to do in Cefalù
See all attractions in Cefalù
Need to know
- Airport
- Palermo (PMO), about 1 hr by train or car
- Getting there
- Regional train or car from Palermo; buses from the coast
- Getting around
- Old town and beach on foot
- Best base
- Old town for one or two nights
- Time needed
- Half a day to 2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy daysHigh13°Low10°Mild, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Spring, greenMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 104 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Easter, walksAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Easter, walks
- MayClear7 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, calmMayClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low18°Mild, quieterOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Rain returnsNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Cefalù, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cefalù
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 93%
- Wind
- 33 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Cefalù
11:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°11°100%Monday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue16°10°100%Tuesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed18°10°14%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Thu17°13°35%Thursday: Rain. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Fri19°13°43%Friday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sat18°12°10%Saturday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun18°13°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 11:23 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Palermoabout 1 hour by trainMarkets, mosaics and street food in Sicily's capital.Read the guide
- Ennaabout 2 hours by carHilltop city in the island's interior, higher than anywhere nearby.Read the guide
- Madonie villagesabout 30–60 min by carMountain villages above the coast, reached by narrow roads.
Before you go to Cefalù
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Rules for Cefalù, checked
- Italy is in the Schengen area, and many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays. Check the rules for your passport on vistoperitalia.esteri.it before you book.Source
- Schengen rules require a passport valid for at least three months after you leave the area. Carry it on day trips, since hotels and police may ask to see it.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Tipping is not required. Restaurants may add a coperto (cover charge) to the bill, so check before you leave a tip.
Plan around Cefalù
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guidePalermoSicily's capital, an hour to the west
Read the guideEnnaHilltop city in the island's interior
Read the guideCataniaEast coast base for Etna and Syracuse
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRail, buses and when a car pays off
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeCity taxes that show up at checkout
Read the guideCefalù FAQ
Is Cefalù worth visiting?
Yes, for the cathedral, the old lanes and the beach in one small place. It is crowded in midsummer, and it is not a destination for a long stay.
Can you visit Cefalù as a day trip from Palermo?
Yes. The train takes about an hour, and the station is close to the old town, so a day trip works well. Leave early to avoid summer heat on the Rocca climb.
How many days do you need in Cefalù?
One day covers the cathedral, the Corso and the beach. A night lets you see the old town after the day trippers leave, which is the real reason to stay.
Does Cefalù have a good beach?
Yes, a sandy beach sits right under the old town, which is rare in Sicily. It gets busy in summer, and facilities are mostly beach clubs, so go early for free space.
Do you need a car in Cefalù?
No. The old town, beach and station are walkable, and trains link Palermo. A car helps only for the Madonie mountains and inland villages.