5 Days Foodie Itinerary for Cefalu and Beyond: Exploring Palermo and Catania Too!

  • Day 1: Breakfast at Pasticceria Costa
    10 minutes (0.6 miles) from Cefalu Beach

    Start your morning with a sweet treat at Pasticceria Costa, famous for their mouth-watering cannolis and other traditional pastries. The café has been around since the late 1800s, and it's still run by the same family who created the recipes.

  • Day 2: Sightseeing in Palermo
    50 minutes (40 miles) from Cefalu

    Head over to Palermo for a day of exploration. Start with a visit to the stunning Teatro Massimo, one of the largest and most famous opera houses in Europe. Then walk to the nearby Mercato di Capo for some authentic street food. End the day at Caffè del Kassaro, a historical café that has been open since the early 1900s and serves coffee, cocktails, and delicious snacks.

  • Day 3: Mount Etna and Street Food in Catania
    1 hour 15 minutes (66 miles) from Cefalu

    Take a day trip to Catania, starting with a visit to Mt. Etna, an active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then head to the Fish Market for some of the best seafood in Sicily, fresh from the Mediterranean Sea. End your day with a visit to Savia, a historic pastry shop that has been open since 1897 and is known for their arancini and cannolis.

  • Day 4: Relaxation and Local Cuisine in Cefalu
    5 minutes (0.2 miles) from Cefalu Beach

    Take a break from your adventurous itinerary to relax on the beach for a bit. Afterward, fuel your appetite with some typical Sicilian dishes like pasta con le sarde, caponata, and pane cunzatu at Osteria Bacchus. End the day with some late night gelato at Il Covo dei Briganti.

  • Day 5: Cooking Class and More Food in Cefalu
    10 minutes (0.5 miles) from Osteria Bacchus

    Start with a cooking class at Sicilian Flavor Cooking Class where you’ll learn to make handmade pasta and other Sicilian specialties. Then have lunch at Ristorante La Brace, famous for their grilled meats and seafood. Finally, end the day with a visit to La Giudea, a Jewish bakery that has been open for over a century and serves delicious traditional pastries like cuccidati and biancomangiare.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • Pasticceria Costa (30 min, 4€)
  • Teatro Massimo (2 hours, 10€), Mercato di Capo (1 hour, 5€), Caffè del Kassaro (1 hour, 10€)
  • Mount Etna (6 hours, 100€), Fish Market (2 hours, 15€), Savia (30 min, 3€)
  • Cefalu Beach (3 hours, Free), Osteria Bacchus (1 hour, 20€), Il Covo dei Briganti (30 min, 5€)
  • Sicilian Flavor Cooking Class (4 hours, 70€), Ristorante La Brace (2 hours, 25€), La Giudea (30 min, 3€)
  • Total Estimated Costs: 262€

Transportation

Transportation options include walking, taxis, or rental cars. Taxis are convenient but can be expensive, and rental cars provide more freedom but can be challenging to navigate in Sicily. Budget approximately 200€ for transportation costs, which include a rental car for one day.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, consider adding a visit to the ancient Greek temple of Segesta, the historical town of Erice, or a relaxing day at the beach town of Cefalù. If you have less time, consider skipping the day trip to Catania or taking a shorter cooking class.

Airports

The Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO) is the main airport in Sicily and located 69 km (43 miles) from Cefalù. The Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is another option and located 112 km (70 miles) from Cefalù.

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