My wife and I are planning to go to Sicily for the first time this year.
1st week in June for 7 nights.
Where would be best, Cefalu, Taormina or Mondello?
We like bars and restaurants with good a atmosphere and we try to eat and drink where the locals eat and drink.
What are your opinions on these destinations?
Thanks
All are good.
Get a good Sicily guidebook for all the info you need. Cefalu is charming and the Norman cathedral’s mosaics are stunning. There is a small beach if that is something you want. If you have a car lots to see and do in the area. Mondello has the beach and restaurants and there is hiking in a nearby park. Taormino is lovely but gets crowded during the day. However it gives good access to Mt. Etna, vineyards, a Greek/Roman theatre with stunning views on all sides which offers concerts and plays, for a beach you have to head down the hill in the cable car. If driving there is a multi storey car park at the foot of the hill, no cars allowed in the town.
I wouldn’t want to spend more than a couple nights in either.
I enjoyed Taormina, but not the crowds when the cruise ship(s) was in port. Cefalù was more casual and felt more authentic Sicilian since it had fewer tourists when we were there. It too has hiking areas. Neither town is very large and the sites can be seen in 1-1.5 days. I haven’t been to Mondello. Whether you have a car might influence which town you choose.
Will you have a car and are you planning to stay in one of these places as your base (the whole time) or are you asking which of these to visit?
Also, where are you flying in?
Mondello will likely be least touristy and will have mainly Italians. As other have said, there is plenty of dining and some hiking.
Cefalu’ will have more tourists and has hiking and a great church.
One option is to stay at Mondello or Cefalu’ and then visit the other. From Mondello, you could also day trip, easily to Palermo and Monreale. Really you could also do this from Cefalu’, too, with a little more effort.
Taormina is nice also but probably the most touristy. It does have nice views and is not far from Mt. Etna.
Depending on where you are flying in, your travel preferences, and whether you are comfortable moving around, you could do both. 4 nights near Palermo and 3 near Taormina. This, without knowing where you are flying in/out and if you have any other plans.
Personally, I like the western part of the island best and I like the chaos of Palermo so I am a bit biased.
Thanks all.
We will be flying in from London.
I quite like the idea of a two-part holiday and want to experience Palermo too. Not sure if I need a car for the full week, but will probably get one for a few days.
I like the sound of Cefalu and the fact it is less touristy and more Sicilian. Is there a good buzz in the evenings in Cefalu in bars and restaurants?
Thanks again
