Mondello ★ 4.5
Famous for: Belle Epoque seafront, beach lunch seafood and granita
Mondello 12km north of Palermo is the city's Belle Epoque seafront, with Bye Bye Blues on Via del Garofalo (Patrizia Di Benedetto's former Michelin-starred.
Food destinations within easy reach of Palermo. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Worth the trip
Bagheria ★ 4.8
Famous for: Baroque villas plus one-Michelin-star Limu
Bagheria 15km east of Palermo is a baroque-villa town and the home of Nino Ferreri's one-Michelin-star Limu inside Torre Ferrante (1565), plus the Aspra.
Cefalu ★ 4.2
Famous for: Norman cathedral, fishing-village seafood, granita
Cefalu 70km east of Palermo is the Norman-era seaside town and UNESCO site, with the medieval Cathedral, the Lungomare fishing-village restaurants.
Monreale ★ 4.0
Famous for: Norman cathedral mosaics, ravioli alla monrealese
Monreale 8km south of Palermo is the Norman cathedral and cloister town, with the world's most complete Norman-Byzantine mosaic cycle and the local ravioli.
Trapani and Erice ★ 4.3
Famous for: Couscous trapanese, Marsala wine, Erice genovese pastry
Trapani 100km west of Palermo is the home of couscous trapanese (with fish broth, the Sicilian Arab dialect cousin) and Marsala DOC. Booking recommended.
Etna wine country ★ 4.6
Famous for: Etna Rosso, Carricante, volcanic vineyards
Etna wine country 200km east of Palermo is Sicily's volcanic-vineyard region, with Nerello Mascalese (Etna Rosso) and Carricante (Etna Bianco) from producers.