Cefalù Beach (Spiagge di Cefalù) is a beautiful white sand beach located in the town of Cefalù in Sicily. In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting Cefalù Beach. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect during a visit. We’ll also talk about the best beaches near the town of Cefalù.
We hope you find this travel guide helpful for your trip planning. To find out more about the best beaches in Sicily, read our guides about Mondello Beach, Spiaggia San Vito lo Capo, Capo Bianco, Zingaro Nature Reserve and Favignana.
About Cefalù Beach (Spiagge di Cefalù) in Sicily
Cefalù Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Sicily. Given most beaches in Sicily are pebble beaches, sandy beaches in Sicily, such as Cefalù Beach, are often touted as the best. If you’re looking to explore the best beaches in Sicily, then definitely add Cefalù Beach to your beach hopping list. Below, we’ll look at exactly where the beach is located in Sicily.
FYI – in Italian, Cefalù Beach is called Spiagge di Cefalù. To keep things simple, we won’t use the term Spiagge di Cefalù too often in this guide. We’ll stick to the English name!
Where Is Cefalù Beach?
Cefalù Beach is located on the north coast of Sicily. Feel free to click on the image below to access an interactive map of the beach on Google Maps.
Visiting Cefalù Beach
Visiting Cefalù Beach is a must if you’re visiting the town of Cefalù. Whether you’re holidaying in Cefalù or just visiting on a day trip, a stop at Cefalù Beach should be on your itinerary. But, there are a few useful things to know before visiting the beach. By the same token, this information is also relevant and useful to know when it comes to visiting other popular beaches in Sicily (or Italy for that matter).
Beach Free Access Areas
Similar to all beaches in Sicily, Cefalù Beach has free public areas and private paid areas called lidos. Essentially, all beaches in Italy, including Sicily, are privately owned by the government. In turn, businesses rent spaces on the beach, turning these areas into profitable lidos (AKA beach clubs). To use these spaces, which usually have facilities such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, toilets and showers, you’ll need to pay an entry fee. If it’s a popular beach, such as Cefalù Beach, you may even need to book in advance. But, by law, each beach has to offer a public section, free of charge to visit.
So, what’s best at Cefalù Beach – a beach club or a free access area? Well, at the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. Although, it’s important to note that beach clubs in Sicily only tend to operate in the peak season, usually between May and September. Personally, Beck and I visited Sicily in late March, so we simply visited the quiet beach, free of charge without any beach clubs around.
But, visiting popular beaches in Sicily, during the peak season in summer is a completely different story. The small free-access areas quickly become overcrowded as the beach clubs tend to occupy most of the space on the sand. Because of this, we recommend considering a beach club if you visit Cefalù Beach in the peak season.
Cefalù Beach Lidos (Beach Clubs) and Services
Using one of the Cefalù Beach clubs may be a smart call, especially if you’re visiting during peak season. After all, paying for access to a lido is all part of the Italian summer experience fun! By doing so, you’ll get your own sunbed and personal space (relatively speaking).
You’ll find numerous lidos at the beach, all offering something very similar. Because the lidos weren’t operating when we visited, we can’t recommend one over another. But, when it comes to prices for Cefalù Beach clubs, you’ll be looking at around €15 per person. The price actually depends on when you arrive, your length of stay and what amenities and services are on offer. For instance, some lidos have associated bars and restaurants with increased services for ordering food and drinks.
FYI – Cefalù Beach gets very busy in the peak season. So, it’s even possible for the lidos to be at full capacity, particularly on the weekends. So, it may be best to book a reservation at a Cefalù Beach club in advance, securing a reservation online to guarantee a spot. Or, at the very least, arrive very early on the day!
How to Get to Cefalù
Now you know what to expect at Cefalù Beach (and other beaches in Italy), let’s look at how to get to Cefalù. Hiring a car in Sicily is often a popular choice for tourists. Certainly, it’s possible to drive yourself to the beach.
If you don’t have your own set of wheels, we recommend hiring a car using Rentalcars.com. You’ll find a variety of cars on Rental Cars, which are very easy to book online. Personally, Beck and I picked up our car hire from Catania International Airport. For an automatic car, we only paid around €7 ($7USD) per day!
Getting From Palermo to Cefalù Using Public Transport
Many people visiting Cefalù will do so from Palermo. From Sicily’s capital city, it’s quite easy to get to Cefalù. If you don’t have your own vehicle, it’s best to catch a train from Palermo to Cefalù. You can catch a roughly 45 minute train from Palermo Centrale to Cefalù. From the Cefalù train station, it’s only a 5–10 minute walk to the beach.
We recommend using Trainline to reliably book your train tickets in advance and to also check departure frequency, times and prices.
Cefalù Beach Parking
Honestly speaking, parking in Cefalù is a bit of a nightmare. Specifically during the peak season, you’ll find limited spaces to park in town. Thankfully, one of the best places to park in Cefalù is next to the beach, where you’ll find more parking spaces and opportunities. Next to the beach, on Lungomare Giuseppe Giardina, you’ll find reasonably-priced street-side parking for around €1/hour.
If there isn’t any street-side parking, you may need to settle for a private parking space. The Cefalù Beach Car Park is a large car park, which costs around €5 for half-day parking or €8 for full-day parking. Of course, prices are subject to change. Please let us know in the comments below if the prices for parking were different during your visit.
Best Beaches Near Cefalù
When it comes to the best beaches in Cefalù, technically there is just one beach to choose from – Cefalù Beach! But, there are plenty of nice beaches near Cefalù. Certainly, if you’re wanting to explore more of the nearby coastline or want to escape the hustle and bustle of Cefalù, then heading to another beach, other than Cefalù Beach, may suit you better. To that end, please find below a brief overview of the best beaches near Cefalù.
Kalura Beach
Kalura Beach is one of the closest beaches to Cefalù Beach, located on the outskirts of Cefalù. Certainly, if you’re looking for an alternative to the main beach, then head to Kalura.
Caldura Beach
Located near Kalura Beach, Caldura Beach is another beach located on the outskirts of Cefalù. By all accounts, it’s a small beach with beautiful scenery. But, we’ve heard it’s quite difficult to access. So, we don’t necessarily recommend visiting Caldura Beach during your Sicily trip.
Sant’Ambrogio Beach
Located around 6km east of Cefalù, you’ll find Sant’Ambrogio Beach (AKA Spiaggia di Sant’Ambrogio). You won’t find any lidos at this beach. So, enjoy the freedom to explore the roughly 3km pebble beach without any access restrictions.
Mazzaforno Beach
This is one of the most underrated beaches along the north coast of Sicily. Mazzaforno Beach (AKA Spiaggia di Mazzaforno) features a rugged coastline and the usual mix of lidos and free-access areas.
Spiaggia di Capo Plaia
Located near Mazzaforno Beach, Spiaggia di Capo Plaia is a more secluded beach, compared with some of the other beaches listed in this guide. You won’t find any lidos there. Refreshingly, the beach doesn’t get too rammed, even during the peak season.
Finale di Pollina
Especially for locals, this is often a popular alternative to the busy Cefalù Beach. Featuring a long pebble beach, you’ll certainly find fewer people visiting Finale di Pollina.
Lampare Beach, Castel di Tusa
Located in Castel di Tusa, Lampare Beach is a stunning beach with Blue Flag Award status. Located around 25km east of Cefalù (approx. 30 minute drive), Lampare Beach is certainly one of the best nearby beaches, featuring turquoise-coloured waters.
Accommodation in Cefalù
Cefalù is one of the most popular places in Sicily for visitors and locals alike to spend their holidays. Despite being a relatively small town, Cefalù has plenty in the way of accommodation. Below, we’ve handpicked the best budget, mid-range and luxury Cefalù Beach hotels and similar accommodation options.
- Budget – Residence Cala Grande: featuring a pool, garden and equipped kitchenette, Residence Cala Grande is the best budget find in town.
- Mid-range – Dolce Vita Bed and Breakfast: the family-run B&B is one of the most popular mid-range options in Cefalù. At Dolce Vita Bed and Breakfast, although breakfast is provided, the B&B also includes a kitchenette, whilst having a lovely furnished terrace.
- Luxury – Victoria Palace Cefalù: there are many gorgeous beachfront hotels lining Cefalù Beach. At Victoria Palace Cefalù, you’re guaranteed an excellent stay. Certainly, it’s by no coincidence that this accommodation option is one of the most highly rated in town.
Places to Visit After Cefalù
After visiting Cefalù Beach and other nearby beaches, where will you head next? Indeed, there are plenty of things to do on the north coast of Sicily. Without a doubt, you’ll want to visit Palermo and its surrounding coastline whilst you’re on the north coast of Sicily. Personally, Beck and I visited Monte Pellegrino and Mondello Beach, near Palermo. Whilst, further east of Cefalù, before Messina, you’ve got Milazzo, which is well-known as the location to get ferries to the Aeolian Islands. But, visiting Capo Milazzo and the epic Pool of Venus is worth a visit in its own right.
What to Wear and Pack
These are our gear essentials for visiting Cefalù Beach.
- Swimming gear
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Osprey Skarab 30L Day Backpack: a great backpack for hiking, which has plenty of space to store your gear.
For a longer gear list, read our 66 Travel Items You Must Travel With. For a list of everything else you’d need for travelling around the world, read our Packing Checklist.
Bonus Tips
- Sightseeing in Cefalù: after visiting the beach, simply wander the charming streets of the town. Of course, for the best views of the beach, you should definitely hike up Rocca di Cefalù.
- Get used to crowded beaches in Sicily during summer: to avoid the crowds, visit outside of peak season or visit one of the other nearby beaches mentioned in this guide.
- Day trip from Palermo: visiting Cefalù from Palermo is a popular day trip option.
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