Cefalù is a seaside town on Sicily's northern (Tyrrhenian) coast, about 70 km east of Palermo, set beneath a rocky promontory known as La Rocca. A medieval old town, a Norman cathedral, a sandy town beach and plenty of places to eat are all within a few hundred metres of each other, which makes Cefalù one of the easiest places in Sicily to enjoy on foot. Our holiday apartments are right in the middle of it.
Begun in 1131 under King Roger II, the Norman cathedral is the town's landmark. Its apse is decorated with a famous Byzantine-style mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. The cathedral is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalù and Monreale”.
The rock rises about 270 m above the town. A path leads up to the remains of fortifications and the so-called Temple of Diana, with wide views over the old town and the coast. Go early in summer and bring water.
Cefalù's sandy beach sits right beside the old town. From Nella's Holiday the seafront is a 5-minute walk, and our guests get 10% off at the Angeli del Mare beach club on Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina.
Wander the medieval lanes, see the medieval washhouse (Lavatoio medievale) and visit the Mandralisca Museum, home to Antonello da Messina's “Portrait of an Unknown Man”.
Boat excursions leave from the new port (Porto Nuovo) between April and October, with swimming stops in coves such as Baia del Kalura. Our guests get 10% off Popeye Excursions.
Try granita with brioche, arancine, cannoli and cassata, and fresh fish. Guests can also join a street-food tour or a Sicilian cassata cooking class with a local pastry chef at a discount (see our guest discounts).
Palermo is about an hour away by train, with the Cappella Palatina and the cathedral of Monreale nearby. Inland, the hill town of Castelbuono and the Madonie Natural Park are easy to reach by car.
Cefalù station is on the Palermo–Messina line. Regional trains from Palermo Centrale take roughly an hour. The station is 300 m (4 minutes on foot) from Nella's Holiday.
Palermo Falcone-Borsellino airport is about 65–70 km from Cefalù. By public transport, take the airport train to Palermo Centrale and change for Cefalù; by car it is roughly an hour's drive on the motorway.
Catania airport is about 170 km away, around two hours by car.
Parts of the old town are restricted-traffic zones (ZTL). The guarded, paid Coop. Nadino car park is less than 100 m from our apartments, with €1 off each hourly rate for our guests.
The beach season runs roughly from June to September. April–May and late September–October are milder and quieter, and boat trips run from April to October, while guided tours are available from March to November.
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Write or call us: we reply quickly, in Italian and English.
WhatsApp +39 348 498 8306Yes. The beach, the old town, the cathedral and the railway station are all within walking distance of each other, so most visitors do not need a car in town. A car is useful for the Madonie mountains and inland villages.
Two to three nights is enough to see the cathedral, climb La Rocca, enjoy the beach and take a boat trip. A week works well if you also want day trips to Palermo and the Madonie.
Nella's Holiday offers two self-catering apartments, Turi's Room and Lalla's Room, each for up to 4 guests, 300 m from the railway station and 350 m from the seafront.
Nella's Holiday has two bright 50 m² apartments for up to four guests each, with air conditioning, a kitchen, washing machine and free Wi-Fi, a few steps from the station and the seafront.
