Sarah & Kyle
Sarah & Kyle
Travel + Lodging
Palermo Airport
PMO is the closest airport to Cefalù. Many major European and Italian cities fly into Palermo everyday during peak season, so you should have no problem finding a flight to accommodate your schedule.
It takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to get to Le Calette (our wedding hotel) from the airport by car. There is also the option to take the train (bus + train, to be more precise) or hire a driver. Both options are explained on this page.
Car Rental
If you're renting a car, we recommend Sixt! It can get pretty crowded in the rental car section of the airport (especially in August/early September) and in my many case studies, I've found Sixt to be the best service and the shortest lines!
Important! Make sure you indicate if you need an automatic transmission or else you'll be getting acquainted to Sicilian driving in a very gnarly/quick way!
Also important! If you're exploring Sicily after our nuptials (we sure hope you are!), then you could choose a pick up location in Palermo and a drop off in Catania (or vice versa). This is not a lot extra and well worth it so to see all of the island's beauty.
Driving: Outside of the small winding roads in town the Sicilian countryside is very fun to drive through. On the road you may notice someone tailgating you all the sudden. Don't worry they will pass. Driving around slower cars and crossing over the lane is common practice, you will do it too. But it's Sicily, there is no rush!
Parking: If you plan on traveling after the wedding its good to find out if the the places you are staying have parking. Understanding the street signs will be important. Most of the time overnight parking works on side streets outside of the old town, but it's different everywhere.
Train to Cefalù
Another option is taking the train from PMO airport to Cefalù. This is best if you're a light traveler, a big adventurer, staying in Old Town (City Center), or don't mind a bit of a walk. We've taken the train from Cefalù to Palermo city center and it was really fun! You're cruising next to the Mediterranean Sea the whole way!
Here's how you do it: Take the train from Punta Raisi (that's the airport's town, and the station is in the airport, you will see signs once you clear baggage claim) to Palermo Centrale. It will take about 30 minutes. Once at Palermo Centrale, you will transfer trains to Cefalù. This will take about 40 minutes. The whole shebang will cost less than 20 euros per person. Buy your tickets ahead of time for ease of mind.
Bonus for train-takers: The very best cannoli and cartocci are right next to the Cefalù train station at a pasticceria called Cangelosi! Make sure you get one of each. The perfect Sicilian welcome.
NOTE: Punching your train card at the station kiosk before getting on the train is important! and can be a little tricky! Let us know if you plan on taking the train and we can send you photos how to do it.
Hire A Driver
If you're interested in hiring a driver to take you from the airport to Cefalù, please email us and we'll help arrange. We're coordinating group transfers with our trusted driver, Alessandro, so let us know as soon as possible. He has blocked out Thursday, August 31st and Friday, September 1st for our wedding. Also: feel free to contact Alessandro directly if you'd like to plan another excursion (tell him you're going to Sarah Pachelli's wedding) before or after, and anywhere in Sicily.
Hotel Le Calette
Our wedding ceremony and reception on Saturday, September 2nd will take place here. Most rooms have already been booked, but if there is an opening, please use code Wedding Corea/Pachelli for a 10% discount. (The hotel can arrange taxis as needed to Old Town, as well as to and from the airport.)
Note: Le Calette is a solid 20 minute walk to old town. When on foot, you would exit at the base of the hotel property by the water. Then you will walk through a parking lot by the marina and up the road following the waters edge. Keep right because cars will come around the bend.
Hotel Kalura
A stone's throw from Le Calette, Kalura is a moderately-priced, family friendly hotel with stunning views. It is a 30 minute walk into Old Town for Friday's events and a 5 minute walk to Le Calette for our ceremony and reception. (The hotel can arrange taxis as needed to Old Town, as well as to and from the airport.)
Blue Bay Cefalù
We haven't personally stayed at Blue Bay, but it is also very close to Le Calette and offers a private beach and affordable accommodation. It is a 30 minute walk into Old Town for Friday's events and a 5 minute walk to Le Calette for our ceremony and reception. (The hotel can arrange taxis as needed to Old Town, as well as to and from the airport.)
Old Town
Alternatively, you could decide to book an AirBnB in Old Town Cefalù! This will put you in spritz-spitting-distant to our Friday events (Lungomare and Bastione), but you’ll need a ride to the wedding venue on Saturday. Let me rephrase: you absolutely can walk to Le Calette from Old Town (weve done so a thousand times), but since our nuptials are a black tie affair, I highly doubt you want to walk 30 minutes (albeit downhill) in your Sarahs finest. But do you, boo. Silver lining: we’re arranging a shuttle service to to- and fro- our outlier friends to the wedding. You will, however, be at the whims of that timing... As always, please ask us if you have any Qs about rentals. We (aka Sarah) know(s) this area like the back of our (her) hand.
Note: If you are lucky some airbnb's will face the beautiful sea, but most will be inland. Cefalù's streets are small and it is typically quiet at night. But September will still have a lot of tourists and late night activity, be mindful of your choice because if you happen to be above a bar you may end up listening to bad euro music all night.