Mondello Beach, Palermo
9 / 10This is our favorite beach in Sicily, and it's not a close call. Just north of Palermo, Mondello is a long crescent of soft, pale sand framed by two headlands, with that postcard turquoise water that almost looks fake until you're standing in it. The sea is calm, shallow, and ridiculously clear — brilliant for a long swim or just floating around with a drink in hand. What really sells it for us, though, is the whole package: the service is genuinely friendly, the beer is always properly cold, and the beach pizza is the best we've had in our lives. We don't say that lightly — we eat a lot of pizza in Sicily. You'll pay a bit more here than at Mazzaforno (it's the glamorous Palermo crowd's beach, after all), but it's still cheaper than Cefalù, and worth every cent. Lidos rent sunbeds and umbrellas, there's a free public stretch too, and the Art Nouveau bathing pavilion out on the water is gorgeous at sunset. The only reason it's not a perfect 10 is that in peak summer it gets busy — come early or out of August and it's pure magic.
▶ Watch: Pizza at Mondello Beach is awesome
Directions
Mondello sits about 11 km north of central Palermo, tucked between Monte Pellegrino and Monte Gallo. From the city, follow signs for Mondello via Viale Regina Elena — it's a 20–30 minute drive. Parking near the seafront is limited and pricey in summer, so many locals take the bus (lines 806 / 615 from central Palermo) or a taxi. Arrive before mid-morning to grab a spot.