Useful links
General information
Entry requirements
To enter Italy, EU visitors need a national identity card or a passport, valid for six months after the date of the arrival. All other visitors need a valid passport. For visits over 90 days, a visa is necessary. Drivers need an international licence (domestic licences for EU nationals), car documents and a Green Card, providing insurance.
Money matters
Italy is a member of the European Union, and the currency is the Euro. The south of Italy is supposed to be less expensive than the north, but it depends on where you go in Sicily. To exchange money use an exchange office where you see the sign cambio, as their service is far simpler than that of a bank. They are quicker although they do take a substantial percentage. An ATM, called Bancomat is the easiest way to obtain currency with your credit card. Make sure that you always have enough cash. Sometimes the ATMs in Cefalù get empty, for example on Saturdays, and new money is not provided before Monday. In most restaurants and shops credit cards are accepted, but this can vary and we recommend you to always check first if you wish to pay with a credit card.
Business hours
Food shops and markets open around 07:30AM, closing for lunch around 12:30PM. Shops reopen in the afternoon around 16:00PM or later, and they are usually open until at least 20:00.In Cefalù you will find some small shops that are open even during the siesta time, but it is quite expensive to buy things there.
Time difference
The time in Italy is GMT plus one hour in the winter and GMT plus two hours in the summer. Thus, when it is 12 noon in London, it is 13:00 in Sicily.
Communication
Post: The mail service can be slow in summer with the influx of tourist mail. Stamps for postcards and letters can also be bought from tobacco shops, that are open longer than La posta. For packages and other mail, please go to the Post office in Via Vazzana, a crossing street from Via Roma and Lungomare. Opening hours: 8:00-17:30, open during siesta.
Telephones: Public phones are found in streets, at post offices and in bars and restaurants. These are operated by coins and prepaid schede or carte telefoniche that are available at newsstands, in the post office and tobacco shops.
Internet: There are some internet points in Cefalù, for example one in Piazza Duomo and one at the restaurant/bar La Galleria (see under restaurants below), located close to Piazza Duomo.
Important numbers
If you get robbed, report the incident immediately to the Carabinieri (military police), tel. 113 (at their caserma) or to the Polizia (civil police) at the questura.
For fire emergencies call 115 and for emergency assistance on the road 116.
For health emergencies and ambulance 118.
Palermo airport: for domestic flights: 0039 091 6019111; for international flights: 0039 091 591275;
Catania airport: 0039 095 536170
Trenitalia 24h-number: 0039 892021; www.trenitalia.it
Taxi Cefalù: 0039 0921 422554
CEFALU.it Office Via G.Matteotti 20 tel. 0921.422354
Good to know
General information
Entry requirements
To enter Italy, EU visitors need a national identity card or a passport, valid for six months after the date of the arrival. All other visitors need a valid passport. For visits over 90 days, a visa is necessary. Drivers need an international licence (domestic licences for EU nationals), car documents and a Green Card, providing insurance.
Money matters
Italy is a member of the European Union, and the currency is the Euro. The south of Italy is supposed to be less expensive than the north, but it depends on where you go in Sicily. To exchange money use an exchange office where you see the sign cambio, as their service is far simpler than that of a bank. They are quicker although they do take a substantial percentage. An ATM, called Bancomat is the easiest way to obtain currency with your credit card. Make sure that you always have enough cash. Sometimes the ATMs in Cefalù get empty, for example on Saturdays, and new money is not provided before Monday. In most restaurants and shops credit cards are accepted, but this can vary and we recommend you to always check first if you wish to pay with a credit card.
Business hours
Food shops and markets open around 07:30AM, closing for lunch around 12:30PM. Shops reopen in the afternoon around 16:00PM or later, and they are usually open until at least 20:00.In Cefalù you will find some small shops that are open even during the siesta time, but it is quite expensive to buy things there.
Time difference
The time in Italy is GMT plus one hour in the winter and GMT plus two hours in the summer. Thus, when it is 12 noon in London, it is 13:00 in Sicily.
Communication
Post: The mail service can be slow in summer with the influx of tourist mail. Stamps for postcards and letters can also be bought from tobacco shops, that are open longer than La posta. For packages and other mail, please go to the Post office in Via Vazzana, a crossing street from Via Roma and Lungomare. Opening hours: 8:00-17:30, open during siesta.
Telephones: Public phones are found in streets, at post offices and in bars and restaurants. These are operated by coins and prepaid schede or carte telefoniche that are available at newsstands, in the post office and tobacco shops.
Internet: There are some internet points in Cefalù, for example one in Piazza Duomo and one at the restaurant/bar La Galleria (see under restaurants below), located close to Piazza Duomo.
Important numbers
If you get robbed, report the incident immediately to the Carabinieri (military police), tel. 113 (at their caserma) or to the Polizia (civil police) at the questura.
For fire emergencies call 115 and for emergency assistance on the road 116.
For health emergencies and ambulance 118.
Palermo airport: for domestic flights: 0039 091 6019111; for international flights: 0039 091 591275;
Catania airport: 0039 095 536170
Trenitalia 24h-number: 0039 892021; www.trenitalia.it
Taxi Cefalù: 0039 0921 422554
CEFALU.it Office Via G.Matteotti 20 tel. 0921.422354
Good to know
- The traffic in the old town center is limited and parking is prohibited. You are only allowed to go by car from 05:00AM-09:30AM and 13:00PM-16:00PM. During the rest of the day you will have to go around the Rock to get around the town center. Tourists that have just arrived can take the car to their apartment and drop their luggage of and then park the car outside the town center.
- The tap water in Cefalù is drinkable. It does not always taste good, but you will not get sick from drinking it.
- After lunch, from about 13PM-16PM the Italians have their siesta. During the siesta most shops are closed, but restaurants are usually opened until at least 14.30PM.
- There are two supermarkets in Cefalù; a big Iper-Sidis in Via Vazzana (next to the post office), a crossing street from Via Roma, and a smaller one called Giardina that is located in Via Roma. The Iper-Sidis is open everyday from 08:30-12:30/16.30-20:30, except for Sundays when it is only open in the morning.
- On Saturdays there is a market, mercato, where you can buy food, vegetables, clothes, etc. The market is located in the same road as Hotel Al Pescatore (see description and indications above), and it is open from 08:00 to 13.00.
- In July and August it can get really hot in Sicily, especially around midday and the early afternoon. We remind you that it is important to drink water, and if you feel heat or faint do not expose yourself to the sun. If you are travelling with children, make sure that they drink water and protect their eyes from the strong sun. It is also important to use sun screen, especially during the first days of your stay.
- There is some public transport in Cefalù, consisting of three bus lines. It is cheap to take the bus, but they leave unfrequently.