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Cefalu or ? As a Day Trip From Palermo

Posted by (Portland, OR) on

I am beyond excited because we leave in three weeks for our Best of Sicily tour!!!! And our guide is Alfio!

I have a question regarding our time in Palermo. We arrive at 2pm the day before the tour starts (although we will have been in Spain for a week already- so jet lag won't be a concern). We will spend that afternoon and evening poking around Palermo. We are thinking of heading over to Cefalu for the morning and early afternoon the day that our tour starts. For those that have been there before, is this a recommended day trip and if so should we take the train or is a private driver recommended? We are also open to other ideas for a short day trip before the tour starts. I think that our main interests for this day are low key, scenery, food and wine.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

Posted by
28453 posts

Cefalu is certainly worth the time you have. I don't see any reason to look for private transportation as long as the Trenitalia schedule suits you. Print out a map of Cefalu and rake it with you to help with orientation upon your arrival.

The train schedule is sort of gappy; occasionally there are 90 minutes or 2 hours between departures, so you'll need to be careful about getting back to Palermo on time. Take a lookat trenitalia.com.

Posted by
1540 posts

You will love your guide Alfio - he is wonderful.
I took the tour several years ago when it was "Best of Southern Italy"
and included several days (over 8 days) in Sicily and then up the "boot"
and ended in Rome.
Too bad they shortened the tour.... but Yes, be sure to Visit Cefalu.
I'm sure the train will work for you. If you can spend at least one day
in Cefalu - it is wonderful. (our tour stayed 2 or 3 nights there)
In the other direction from Palermo there is a nice beach town/national park.
Zingaro - lovely beaches..... I haven't checked to see if the train goes there or not.

Posted by
15798 posts

I really enjoyed Cefalu but I spent 2 nights there. I took the train after a full day's sightseeing in Palermo, had one full day for the sights and then a morning train back to Palermo. I remember vaguely that I walked down to the beach around 9.30-10.00 am and there were only a couple of people there, then the shops were just starting to open up. So I'm not sure how much it's worth going there early and leaving early afternoon. Would you consider going straight to Cefalu for the afternoon/evening and then a quiet walk on the beach and then to Palermo for the afternoon? I enjoyed Cefalu in the evenings much more than evenings in Palermo.

Posted by
1133 posts

That's a great idea Chani. I agree with the evening idea because if we go the day of the tour, we would have to come back on the 1:06pm train and I know that Italians are as into an early lunch as they are into an early dinner. :) Looks like the train ride is only 50 minutes and there are several choices.

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