HOW TO VISIT MONDELLO BEACH FROM PALERMO.
When we landed in Sicily, the first thing I was planning was when and how I would get to the beach. If you’re as much of a seaside devotee as me, then you may want to know more about Mondello Beach. One of the closest sandy beaches to the city.
In this blog post, you can find out more about Mondello – including how to get there from Palermo, and what to do when you arrive.
Does Palermo have a beach?
Palermo is on the sea, so you might expect that it would have a beach. But, unfortunately it does not. There are also no places to swim in the city. Thankfully, there are beaches nearby to Palermo that make taking a day trip to a sandy mecca very easy. Even if you only have a few days in Palermo.
Is Mondello Beach worth visiting?
Whilst it is true that there is plenty to do in Palermo for a few days, if you are a beach lover you may be tempted to take a day trip to Mondello Beach. For anyone looking to relax on warm sand, float in clear water and just generally unwind – I’d highly recommend a visit to Mondello Beach.
The beach is pleasant and the clear calm water is framed by hills to one side and a charming town to the other. We loved the old fashioned and down to earth quality of Mondello.
On the downside, it does get busy here in the summer. So keep that in mind if choosing to visit.
Do you have to pay to enter Mondello Beach?
There’s a bit of mixed information online about whether you have to pay to enter Mondello Beach or not. The short answer is, no you do not. But, I can see why there is confusion!
The beach is divided into private areas – Lidos – and public areas. You do need to pay to enter the Lidos at Mondello Beach, but you do not need to pay to be in the public area.
You can find more on this below.
Lidos at Mondello Beach
If you are visiting Mondello Beach for a full day, or want a little bit of peace and quiet – make a beeline for one of the many Lidos along the seafront. I can’t recommend a specific one, as I’m much more of a towel on the sand kind of girl. But you’ll be able to see from looking, which ones worth the money and which ones are not.
Expect to pay between 20 and 30 Euros for two sun loungers with an umbrella for the day. Many Lidos also offer a half day rate (for the afternoon into evening.)
Just a word of warning, in high summer and on weekends, these Lidos can be busy. Many Sicilians have “season tickets” to a particular Lido, meaning certain beds are reserved. Get there early to avoid disappointment and queuing.
Public areas of Mondello Beach
The public area at Mondello Beach is actually quite substantial. As you walk along the beach, you’ll see gaps between the Lido fences. These are public entrances to the beach. But don’t be alarmed, you don’t actually have to remain in these areas. In fact, much of the public space is found in front of the Lido fences, right by the water.
Personally, we preferred the public area of the beach closer to town. It felt more atmospheric with the backdrop of the harbour, and it was well away from the Lidos.
It’s fair to say that you cannot expect a huge amount of space to yourself, especially on weekends and in August. You’ve got to stake a claim on a little patch of sand. Honestly, I don’t mind this at all, but if this puts you off and you don’t want to pay for a bed in a Lido, it may be best to avoid visiting Mondello during peak season.
Restaurants at Mondello Beach + where to eat
Here’s a short guide to restaurants and where to eat in Mondello Beach.
/ Beach side cafes & kiosks
When you arrive to Mondello, you’ll notice there are ample beach side kiosks. These are great if you want a quick bite to eat – Arrancina (Sicilian rice treats) are served quickly and are inexpensive. You can perch on seats outside kiosks, or take your snacks down to the beach.
If you want something a little healthier, we really loved the little grocery store – Alimentari Schillaci – in town, which has a variety of fruit, sandwiches and refreshments. You can also buy beers or wine and take one of the seats in the piazza outside to enjoy it.
/ Coffee stops
There are plenty of coffee shops in Mondello. Close to the beach, is Touring Cafe. Downstairs is a cafe, with reasonable prices – just avoid going upstairs to the bistro which is very overpriced.
We loved enjoying a quick stand up coffee and patisserie at Bar Antico Chiosco in the centre of Mondello town. For some reason, this place doesn’t have great Google Reviews – but if you fancy a sweet treat and friendly service, we would very much recommend.
/ Restaurants
There are a few “iffy” restaurants in Mondello, that are either overpriced tourist places, or just not great food. A popular choice with good reviews is Osteria Mondello, particularly if you’re after pizza or pasta. For seafood, consider L’Angolo di Mondello Trattoria.
How to get from Palermo to Mondello Beach
There are a few ways to get to Mondello Beach from Palermo. You can drive if you have a hire car or take a taxi, both options will take between 15 and 30 minutes depending on traffic. For a taxi, you can probably expect to pay around 25 Euros one way.
The simplest and cheapest way to get from Palermo to Mondello is to take the bus.
Bus from Palermo to Mondello Beach
The bus from Palermo to Mondello Beach is relatively easy and painless, making it a streess free day out with public transport.
There are two bus lines operating from the city to Mondello Beach – the 606 and the 806. Both buses depart from just outside the Ruggero Settimo district of the city (the modern area with upscale shops). You can walk to this area from the historic centre, or take a connecting bus.
Bus number 806 leaves from Liberta’ Don Bosco, whilst the 606 starts in Artigliere. Both lines run fairly regularly, perhaps every 20 minutes or so during the day.
Supposedly the bus takes 15 minutes, but in our experience this was closer to 30 minutes. Expect to pay 1.40 Euro each way.
Things to know about the bus from Palermo to Mondello Beach
/ You can find up to date times on Google Map very easily, and in our experience this timetable is accurate.
/ The bus does not run late in the evening, so if you want to stay for dinner in Mondello, you’ll need to take a cab back to the city.
/ You’ll need cash – ideally coins – to pay for your trip. The bus drivers don’t accept card payment.
/ On weekends and in peak season (July/ August) the bus is very busy. Get on at the first stop in Palermo and return from the stop nearest to Mondello harbour to get the best chance of securing a seat.
Where to next in Sicily?
We’ve got loads of similar guides to help you explore Sicily more. Find them below:
- One day in Palermo: A guide to seeing the best bits
- Visiting Mondello Beach from Palermo
- One day in Cefalu: A day trip from Palermo
- One idyllic day in Syracuse & Ortigia
- Palermo or Catania: Where should you start your Sicily adventures?
- One day in the city of Catania: An unexpected gem
- Day trips from Catania: 9 of the best
- Best things to do in Modica for the day
- A guide to Ragusa: things to do and where to stay
- Modica or Ragusa – which is better?
- Pozzallo Beach – the traditional sandy beach town dream
- Best things to do in Sutera, Sicily
- Walking in Sicily on the Magna Via Francigena
- A two week itinerary in Sicily – how to travel without a car
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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