National park · Italy
Madonie Regional Natural ParkParco Naturale Regionale delle Madonie
Visit Madonie Regional Natural Park: pay the entry fee (≈ €5), drive 30 min from Cefalù to the main gate, hike the Pizzo Carbonara trail in May–June for clear paths and mild weather.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
162 km² (63 sq mi)63 sq mi (162 km²)
approximate
Established
1989
Best months
Apr–Jun
UNESCO
Biosphere
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
- Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
- Italy ↗Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Italy ↗Historic centres are ZTL limited-traffic zones: cameras fine any unauthorised car that enters, often months later through the hire company. Park outside and walk in.
- Italy ↗Regional train tickets bought on paper must be validated in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital tickets carry a time and need no stamping.
- Italy ↗Venice charges day-visitors an access fee on selected peak days; check the city's official site if you are not sleeping there.
At a glance
- Country
- Italy
- Area
- 162 km² (63 sq mi)63 sq mi (162 km²)
- The park covers roughly 162 km² according to official data; some maps show slight variations in the boundary (check).
- Established
- 1989
- Best months
- Apr–Jun
- Permits
- For some areas
Madonie Regional Natural Park protects Sicily's highest mountains, extensive beech forests and cultural villages, offering wildlife, geology and historic sites within a 162 km² protected landscape.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · 2015Member of the European Geoparks Network and UNESCO Global Geoparks.
Size and age
162 km² (63 sq mi)63 sq mi (162 km²) · national park since 1989
The park covers roughly 162 km² according to official data; some maps show slight variations in the boundary (check).
Why go
- Explore the highest Sicilian mountains, including Pizzo Carbonara (1 979 m).
- Walk through Europe’s southernmost beech forest and see rare Nebrodi fir.
- Spot wildlife such as fallow deer, wild boar, red fox and Bonelli’s eagle.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCold but clear; lower trails accessible.
- FebCool, fewer hikers.
- MarSnow melt, trails opening.
- AprMild temps, wildflowers.
- MayStable weather, full trail access.
- JunWarm, dry, good for high peaks.
- JulHeat, occasional thunderstorms.
- AugHot, fire risk.
- SepCooling, still good for hikes.
- OctCool, autumn colours.
- NovCold, some trails may close.
- DecCold, occasional snow.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallow deer, wild boar, red fox, Bonelli’s eagleAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Nebrodi fir, beech, oak speciesMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Cefalù
Drive north on SS 113, 30 km (19 mi) to the park gate; parking available.Drive north on SS 113, 19 mi (30 km) to the park gate; parking available.
≈ 45 min
From Palermo
Take the A29 highway to Cefalù (≈ 1 h), then follow SS 113 to the gate.
≈ 1 h 30 min
From Messina
Drive south on A20, then A20/SS 113 to the park gate.
≈ 2 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main gate – Visitor centre | Ticket office, map shop, information desk, short introductory trails. | Open daily, entry fee required. |
| High mountain area | Pizzo Carbonara, Pizzo Fior di Rocca, beech forest. | Trail access with entry ticket; no guide required. |
| Cultural villages | Castelbuono, Polizzi Generosa, traditional stone houses. | Open to public; parking nearby. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre of the park.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | EUR 5–7 (≈ US$6–9) | person | Paid at the main gate; covers access to marked trails. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Pets
- Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
- Camping
- Only permitted in designated campgrounds; wild camping prohibited.
- Fire
- Open fires are not allowed; use designated BBQ areas only.
- Guides
- No guide required for marked trails, but recommended for high mountain routes.
- Drones
- Not allowed without special permission.check
Where to stay
Near the park
Feudo San Giorgio agriturismo
Farmhouse B&B, 40–45 € per night, close to park trails.
Near the park
Castelbuono town
Various hotels and guesthouses within 10 km (6.2 mi) of the park gate.Various hotels and guesthouses within 6.2 mi (10 km) of the park gate.
Safety
Heat on high peaks medium
Sudden thunderstorms in summer high
Wild boar encounters low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centre reachable by car with short paved paths.
- High mountain trails are steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in locally owned B&Bs to support the community.
- Stick to marked trails to protect fragile habitats.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Madonie Regional Natural Park?
The entry fee is about €5–€7 per person, payable at the main gate.
What are the best hikes in Madonie Regional Natural Park?
Top hikes include the Pizzo Carbonara summit (hard, 4–6 h), the beech‑forest loop near the visitor centre (moderate, 2–3 h), and the cultural trail through Castelbuono (easy, half‑day).
When is the best time to visit Madonie Regional Natural Park?
May to June offers mild weather and full trail access; April and September are also good with fewer crowds.
Can I camp inside the park?
Camping is allowed only in designated campgrounds; wild camping is prohibited.
Is a guide required for any trails?
Guides are not required for marked trails, but are recommended for the high‑mountain routes like Pizzo Carbonara.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Madonie Regional Natural Park
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