We have one remaining night and day in Sicily before we catch a plane out of Palermo. We will have already spent 3 days in Palermo so we are looking for an interesting town to spend our last night and most of the last day before we catch our plane out of Palermo. The three towns we are considering are Monreale, Mondello and Cefalù, all of which seem close enough to the airport. We will have a car which we can drop off on the last day. We would like some opinions about which town to pick. Thanks so much.
Posted by
North Italy
401 posts
Hi,
Monreale is a must for the cathedral but you could have a half day trip from Palermo using the 806 bus.
Mondello is for the beach, clean and transparent water if you want to spend time relaxing and swimming. I was amazed to find such really really beautiful clean sea so near Palermo but it is so. You can also get to Mondello by bus from Palermo in about 45 minutes. Mondello is actually part of the municipality of Palermo.
Cefalù is very full of tourists but also worth a visit for the attractive historical centre, magnificent duomo and nice beaches. It's easy to reach Cefalù by train from Palermo. Parking in Cefalù in season is difficult and expensive.
To have a car in Palermo is a waste of time and money, the traffic is terrible and parking a problem. So one option could be to drop the car off before and spend 3 nights instead of 4 in Palermo to visit both Mondello and Monreale as half day trips or Cefalù for a full day.
Posted by
Hampshire, UK
407 posts
I've stayed in Cefalú several times, and it is a bit of a favourite of mine - BUT to get to the airport you have to drive through Palermo - which can be "Challenging", so you do not want to be there anywhere near rush hour.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7268 posts
Mondello is closest to the airport especially if you have an earlier flight. You’d avoid all the Palermo traffic. Monreale would be 2nd, but you’d still hit some Palermo traffic. The Duomo in Monreale is very nice. Cefalu would be a long commute just to get to the airport, and as TimW said, you’d hit all the Palermo traffic.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2191 posts
Consider Scopello. A scenic little seaside village maybe 45 minutes from Palermo airport — on the southwest side, so you wouldn’t need to go through the city. You could visit Zingaro nature reserve. Stay at B&B Talia & eat at Bar Nettuno.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
I second Scopello. In general you want to be close to the airport and not having to drive through Palermo on your way out. Staying to the west does that. Scopello is a cute town, nice seaside areas.
Monreale Cathedral is a must-see, but I don’t know that the town is a very interesting place to stay. It’s an easy partial day from Palermo by cab or bus.
Or rearrange your itinerary so you do your Palermo visit at the end. That way you can return your car, spend the final few days (however long you plan) in Palermo, and then go to the airport in a bus or taxi. Saves time to END in your departing city.