10 Day Sicily .Which would be a better base for last 2-3 days: Palermo or Cefalu?

What’s the rest of your itinerary?

Are you flying home from Palermo?

Your post sure sounds like you’d prefer staying in Cefalù. This is your trip, so go where you want to go, and enjoy your time!

You could always go to Palermo for a day trip ( easy one hour train ride) and see the sites that interest you most.

Wishing you a wonderful trip!

I have been to both places twice. The last time I stayed in Palermo six nights and was always busy with lots to see and do including two daytrips and still didn't get to see all that I was interested in. Just as you described it, I too would use the adjective “vibrant” for Palermo. I also spent two nights in Cefalu, and yes it is smaller, lovely and more laid back. I would not want to stay there more than two nights unless I was planning on specific daytrips in the area. If this is your first trip to this area, then I would most certainly choose Palermo as my base. Two nights in Palermo does not give you much time to see the city sites, much less all the possible daytrips from there. You said you want to relax after a week of travelling. How fast paced is your trip those days and where are you coming from? What are your must see sites?

if you ask me, palermo. i spent 6 days there and it was wonderful - so much to see! i am not a beach/resort type so a day trip to cefalu to see the cathedral was enough for me.

If you fly out of Palermo you must stay in Palermo at least the last night, unless your flight is in the afternoon. In any case I would stay in Palermo regardless. I’d consider a night in Cefalu if I had at least 3 or 4 more to spend in Palermo.

Cefalu isn’t that interesting. If you want to rest in Sicily, do it in Taormina, which also has great walks/hikes/swimming. You can fly out of. Catania as easily as Palermo. Lots to see in Siracusa. Ragusa, Modica, Noto, as well as Aetna.

Without knowing your itinerary and what your particular interests it is hard to offer advice. For me it would be Palermo as I prefer the vibrancy compared to hanging around a resort type town. It's an easy day trip to Celefu from Palermo. We did that but unfortunately it was raining that day so we didn't get the full experience there. Still there didn't seem much for us. Also as another person pointed out ,if you ate flying out of Palermo you will want to stay there unless you have a late flight.

Personal preference, but if you’re flying home from Palermo it would be easier to stay there the last night since the airport is still 40 minutes away. Cefalù would add another hour to that trip. To me, Cefalù is worth a full day by itself, walking around and walking in the nearby hills. If you’re driving and want to take a day trip, Caccamo has a nice castle one can visit. I could relax just as easily in either location.