Mondello Beach (Spiaggia di Mondello)

The basics

Mondello Beach is often a hive of activity, with beachgoers buzzing around the art nouveau pavilion and liberty-style villas, and boats zipping around the bay. It’s part public beach (spiaggia libera) with private sections (lidi) that typically offer beach chair rentals and the use of showers and changing rooms for a price.

To visit, you can take a bus from Palermo, charter a private boat from La Cala, Palermo’s smaller port, or try tours that include free time at the beach after making the sightseeing rounds. To make a day of it, you can take a short hike along the Capo di Gallo seafront trails and then hit the beach.

Things to know before you go

• You’ll find a number of waterside restaurants, cafes, and shops along the beach. Bring cash to shop at food stalls and at beach shops.

• The art nouveau pavilion toward the north side of the beach is also a restaurant.

• Keep in mind that the free area of the beach is usually the first to fill with crowds.

How to get there

The easiest and most affordable way to reach Mondello Beach from Palermo is to take the AMAT bus #806, which runs from Piazza Francesco Crispi near Piersanti Mattarella Park straight to the beach in just under an hour, barring traffic. If you plan to take the bus, remember that it can get very crowded during the summer, and it doesn’t typically run after 10pm.

When to get there

On summer weekends Mondello Beach (Spiaggia di Mondello) can quickly fill with crowds—arrive early, preferably before 9am, and consider reserving a spot in a private lido. Spring through fall brings good beach weather to Palermo, and the World Festival On The Beach, an international gathering for water sports, which usually takes place in May or June.

Make a visit to Mondello Beach’s historic bathhouse

Officially called the Antico Stabilimento Balneare di Mondello, the Liberty-style art nouveau building on the piers toward the north end of Mondello Beach is one of Palermo’s most curious landmarks. Originally designed as a sort of fanciful bathhouse, it’s famous for having served as military headquarters for both Axis and Allies during World War II, and it currently houses a restaurant and piano bar named Alle Terrazze.