The 7 best things to do in Cefalu
If you're planning a trip to Sicily and looking for things to do in Cefalu, you're in the right place. I first visited Cefalu on an amazing tour around Sicily. Cefalu sits on the north coast of Sicily, between Palermo and Messina, right on the coast.
It has a lot of history, founded by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. It then went through various cultures such as the Romans, Arabs, and Normans. Whether you're staying for one day or a couple of weeks, I hope you get some value from my guide. My picture below is a sneak peek of what to see in Cefalu.
There are so many things to do in Catania, here are the top ones:
1. Explore the Cathedral of Cefalù
The cathedral has quite a lot of history. It was created in 1131 and finished in 1240. Inside, you can see mosaic decorations and figures of the Virgin Mary, plus angels and a few other things. On the outside, it looks like a fortress that can be seen from quite a long way away.
The Cathedral of Cefalu is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can spend about an hour there. It is a great thing to see in Cefalu. You can enter the cathedral for free. However, if you really want to learn about the history, you can book a tour. Just a note, the opening hours for the Cefalu Cathedral are from 8:30 AM to 1 PM, and then from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. So plan accordingly when looking at what to do in Cefalu.
2. Take a hike up the Rocca di Cefalu
Next up is La Rocca di Cefalu, which is known for its hiking. If you look at my picture below, it's that huge rock on top of Cefalu. The height itself is about 270 metres, but the view once you get up there is absolutely breathtaking.
When I went, it was summer and it gets quite hot. So I recommend going up to La Rocca di Cefalu early in the morning. From the top, you'll be able to see all of the ocean, Cefalu, and the mountains. There is an entry fee of €5. I'd advise bringing cash and small notes, because sometimes they might not have change.
You can walk from the city to get there, or you can drive as they have a car park very close by. I would plan to spend a few hours there, as there are a few other trails, such as to the Castello di Cefalu or the Temple of Diana, which is one of the oldest structures in Sicily from the 5th century BC.
The opening hours to buy tickets are from 8 AM to 8 PM. I wouldn't really go after 6 PM or you'd be rushing up and rushing down. Going up to La Rocca is one of the best things to do in Cefalu if you're into views and fitness.
3. Visit the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna
Next up is the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna. This is in a small village in Cefalu. The sanctuary sits at about 800 metres in altitude. It has a lot of history inside. It was commissioned around 590, but it stopped and was left in ruins, and was eventually finished in 1623.
The new church was given quite a lot of artwork, such as the Madonna, a statue of the Virgin, and a Crucifix. The architectural style is very similar to the Cefalu Cathedral. The drive up there is quite twisty, but you get some incredible views and it has been very well maintained. A good thing to do if you have a bit of time when visiting Cefalu.
4. Visit & Hike the Madonie Mountains
Keeping on the theme of hiking, you also have the Madonie Mountains. The Madonie Mountains are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you really want a challenging hike, the highest peak in the Madonie Mountains is Pizzo Carbonara, which is 1,979 metres high. It's 8 kilometres and will take about 4.5 hours there and back.
The views are just incredible. Something to bear in mind is it will take about an hour and 10 minutes to actually get to the Madonie Mountains, so plan it into your day and leave very early in the morning. At just under 2,000 metres, it's a great challenge.
You can also go in winter where you'll see snow. Just be careful and check the weather on the day, as it can get very foggy up there. The mountain is quite an easy hike if you're used to hiking.
If you're not up for a challenging hike, you can also book a half-day hike in the Madonie National Park
5. Visit the Water Park in Cefalu
If you're with your family and looking for things to do in Cefalu, about 20 minutes west towards Palermo is a huge water park called Acqua Verde. They've got pools, whirlpools, slides, and a canyon river. You don't have to worry about taking food as they have a food court.
If you're a quite large family, they also have an on-site spa and lounges to just relax. It's a brilliant thing to do in the summer. The only thing I'll note is they're only open from June to September, last time I checked, so I just managed to get in. In terms of ticket prices, they differ across the different seasons. Late July, August, and September are the most expensive.
They have tickets for the whole day from around 9:30 until 6:30, or an afternoon option from around 2 PM until 6:30. To give you an idea, the most expensive ticket per person would be €20 in peak season for the whole day. Children are usually half price.
6. Relax on the beautiful beaches of Cefalu
This is one of the main things to see in Cefalu and actually the main reason I came here. Cefalu Beach is beautiful. It's really sandy with really clear blue waters. What I really liked is that it was very shallow. So in the summer, if you don't like going in, you can just walk around in the really shallow water and see all the fish. That is the Cefalu main beach.
My picture below was taken at the beach of the old port. With this one, you can rent chairs. It's a really nice beach and you've got a view of Cefalu's main beach and the port. However, you will have to pay. Last time I checked, the price was €40 for 2 chairs. As it's quite a small area, it can get a bit packed. It's a nice beach if you want some loungers, but I prefer the main beach as it's less crowded.
If you're looking for more snorkelling, there's also Caldura Beach, which is really nice with turquoise waters. It is pebbly, though, so I'd recommend bringing some reef shoes. You'll see lots of people snorkelling and diving here. They do have deck chairs you can rent at €40 in high season. You'll probably want to go early in the morning as it can get quite packed.
It is pretty far from the main town, so you can either take a nice long walk or drive there. Walking takes about 40 minutes, or you can drive there in about 10 minutes. For more on the best beaches in Sicily, check out that guide.
7. Eat the Cefalu food
Cefalu has some of the best restaurants in Sicily, and you can read more in my best restaurants in Cefalu guide. But just as a brief overview, there are quite a few Michelin rated places. If you want to take a drive outside of Cefalu, there's a place called Palazzacio. It's about a 30 minute drive, but it's a Bib Gourmand restaurant, which basically means good food at great prices. Make sure to check out that blog. Eating well is one of the great things to do in Cefalu.
Here are some planning tips for your trip to Cefalù
Just some tips when you're planning a trip to Cefalu. The sun can be very strong in summer, so I would consider bringing SPF 50, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
I also have a travel essentials blog that you can read. If you're into hiking, bring appropriate footwear depending on whether you're going in winter or summer.
Definitely bring hiking shoes if you have enough space in your bag or suitcase. I'd also say booking a local tour guide would be great so you can really understand a lot of Cefalu's history. There are things you can never see on a plaque that you learn from guides.
I hope you enjoy my guide on the top things to do in Cefalu. If you've been to Cefalu and visited anything else, please drop a comment in the box below so I can share it with our readers. Enjoy your trip to Cefalu!
FAQs about what to do in Cefalu
What are the best beaches in Cefalu?
You've got the main beach, which I loved for relaxing. It has shallow waters and is great for just wandering in. However, if you want to do some snorkelling and see some fish, head over to Caldura Beach. Just bring some reef shoes.
How many days in Cefalu do you need?
I spent 3 days in Cefalu and that allowed me to visit all the different places and do all the things to do in Cefalu that I've put in my blog above, except for the water park and the hike to the Madonie Mountains. If you want to do those, I'd put your trip at at least a week.
What to do in Cefalu for a day?
If you're in Cefalu for only one day, I would say hike up to La Rocca di Cefalu, go to the Cathedral of Cefalu, and then spend the afternoon at one of the beaches in Cefalu. That would be enough for one day.
What are the free things to do in Cefalu?
There aren't that many free things in Cefalu, as a lot of the entrance fees cover the cost of renovations around the historical sites. But there are some free things, such as the Cathedral of Cefalu, though I usually put in a donation. The Madonie Mountains is also free. And last time I checked, the Sanctuary of Gibilmanna is free too.