Hoping to head to Italy for a quick city break this year? We’ve put together some info on three great cities to visit, packed full of arts, culture and opportunities to sample that famous Italian cuisine. 

So, whether you’ve got your sights set on the sunny south, to the likes of beautiful Bari... or a visit to picture-perfect Florence, or fancy exploring the historic city of Sorrento, there’s an option for every kind of city-breaker! 

For museums aplenty, great food and stunning architecture, try Florence 

Florence is a year-round destination, with a wealth of fantastic food to try in its restaurants, covered shops should you need them, come Autumn and wet weather. In the summer the city shines, with plenty of piazzas and incredible viewpoints to see the magical city skyline from, bridges to wander over and outdoor cafes to lounge in. 

Things of note to visit in this elegant, art-filled city in Italy’s Tuscany region, are a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, to see works by Botticelli, Carravaggio and Leonardo di Vinci, and a visit or even a climb up to the heady heights of the famous Brunelleschi's Dome of the Florence Cathedral. 

For other incredible views of the city’s rooftops, and to see the river Arno winding through the city, or just for a fantastic sunset spot, take a short climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo. This lively city also has a number of rooftop bars and restaurants to visit, to gain other perspectives of this city. 

Florence is a great, walkable destination, perfect for a weekend visit or even a longer holiday, with many other beautiful spots to visit as daytrips from there, in the region. Many tourists use Florence as a base to see the wider Tuscany region, head on wine tours or visit the small cities of Siena, Lucca or Pisa, the latter of which is of course home to the iconic Leaning Tower. 

For a laidback beach break, with incredible seafood and a less touristy feel, head to Bari 

A lesser-known Italian city break spot is the gorgeous southern seaside city of Bari. This city is a popular spot for locals to holiday in, and is a working port city, so it has a more authentic, less polished visitor-focused feel to it. With a charming Old Town to explore, bars and bakeries galore to sample the highlights of southern Italian cuisine like focaccia barese, panzerotti and many seafood dishes, it’s a great spot to visit, especially for a summer city break. 

Bari is home to Italy’s longest seafront promenade, the approximately 15km long Lungomare of Bari, which offers fantastic views of the Adriatic. This seaside esplanade is perfect for an evening lamp-lit saunter, past lively bars and gorgeous architecture. 

In the city’s Old Town, Bari Vecchia, you can find numerous beautiful basilicas, like the Basilica di San Nicola, piazzas like Piazza Mercantile, and the 12th century castle, Castello Svevo di Bari, to walk around. 

As the largest city in the Puglia region, visitors often use Bari as a base for daytrips to other places of interest in the region, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site town of Alberobello, to see the famous 14th century limestone conical roofed houses. Some tourists also take the opportunity to visit the hillside city of Matera, featured in several recent films, and home to another UESCO World Heritage Site, The Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches of Matera.  

For fresh lemon sorbet, colourful harbours and sunsets overlooking the Gulf of Naples, check out Sorrento  

In the heart of southern Italy, in the region of Campania, you can find the gorgeous sun-soaked seaside city of Sorrento. A popular spot, and for a reason, the city boasts views of the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Naples, the scent of fresh lemons in the summer, and colourful buildings line the coastline. 

Whilst in Sorrento, visitors can sample delicious seafood dishes, stroll through the city’s Old Town, head to the colourful main fishing harbour and sample fresh seafood and delicious Sorrentine lemon-based desserts. 

Sorrento has something for everyone, from the beautiful black sand beach of Marina Piccola to stunning hiking trails like the ‘Path of the Gods’, an approximately 5km hike with dramatic views of this gorgeous coastline. 

If you’re planning to use Sorrento as a base to explore the wider Campania region or the nearby Amalfi Coast, a great trip to take is the 30 minute ferry ride across to the island of Capri. There, you can explore the pebble beaches like Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, and swim in the turquoise waters, or take a stroll around the many shops in Capri town. Visiting the historical city of Naples, on the doorstep of Mount Vesuvius, home to a number of fascinating museums and famed for its pizza, is also an easy day trip, as it is only a 45 minute ferry ride or a 50 minutes’ drive around the bay. 

Got big Italian city break plans... but not yet packed your travel insurance? 

Packed your bags already, but forgotten to protect your adventures with travel insurance? Travel insurance might be the last thing on your mind whilst you’re excitedly planning your city break itinerary and booking your tickets, but it’s very useful to have.  

Should you encounter flight delays, cancellations, or require medical assistance whilst abroad, travel insurance can help protect you against any unexpected costs you might face from these. 

Whether you're just after cover for a single trip or plan to pack the rest of the year with more holidays in Europe or further afield, and need annual cover, Multitrip.com has different cover types to protect different types of trips.  

Heading on your Italian city break with your family? Check out our family travel insurance. 

Have a read of some of our other recent articles, such as the results of our survey on holidaymakers and the cost of living crisis or our Spain city breaks guide.