Italy is home to some of the most beautiful seaside cities and towns in the world, and it’s something many Brits always think about when they look for an easy getaway. Some places are packed with tourists and often feel busy, but others are a lot more relaxed and far less crowded.

If you’re after a trip where you can slow down, eat well and not feel rushed, there are still plenty of spots that offer exactly that. What makes it even better is when somewhere looks incredible but is also easy and cheap to get to from the UK. That’s where this lesser-known coastal city really stands out.

It has everything you would expect from an Italian seaside destination, but without the chaos of the more famous spots.

That city is Bari, located on the Adriatic coast in southern Italy. If you look at a map, it sits towards the bottom of the Italian shoe, and has a completely different feel depending on where you go.

Bari Vecchia, the old town, is a maze of narrow streets on a small peninsula, while the newer Murat quarter has wider roads, shops and beautiful buildings.

One of the highlights is the long seafront promenade, called the Lungomare, which stretches along the coast and is perfect for a relaxed evening walk.

There is also plenty to see, including the Basilica di San Nicola, built to house the relics of Saint Nicholas, and the nearby Bari Cathedral with its underground Roman remains.

The Castello Svevo is another standout. It’s a large fortress with a museum inside.

But what really makes Bari special is what you can do day to day. Walking through the old streets, you will often see local women making fresh orecchiette pasta outside their homes.

Down by the harbour, fishermen sell their catch straight from their boats, with locals stopping to eat seafood on the spot.

Food is a big part of the experience, with simple dishes like focaccia Barese and pasta with broccoli rabe found across the city.

Evenings are best spent in places like Piazza Mercantile, where people gather for drinks and a slow, relaxed atmosphere.

Visitors say this is what sets Bari apart. One person wrote on TripAdvisor: “Bari is stunning. The city also feels safe, the food is incredible, and you don’t feel the pressure to see everything in one day. Highly recommend for a chilled-out week.”

Another added: “If you love food but hate making reservations weeks in advance, come to Bari. We stumbled into so many small osterias in the side streets and had the best pasta of our lives.”

A third wrote: “Unlike some places in Italy, Bari is not a tourist trap city. It’s a living, breathing place where you can actually slow down.”

Getting there is also simple for UK travellers. Direct flights run from London Stansted, London Gatwick and Bristol, with airlines like Ryanair and easyJet operating regular routes.

Flights from Stansted take around two hours and 45 minutes, and in April, there are fares available from as little as £15 one way.