Which place is cheaper, Novalja or Braga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Braga or Novalja?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Braga or Novalja? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Braga or Novalja?
Braga
Located in the Cavado Valley of Northern Portugal, Braga is a medium sized city with both historical and modern characteristics. There is a university in town, known as Universidade do Minho, which gives the city a young feel with a lot of life. There are also many bars, clubs, and activities around to keep you entertained.
Novalja
Novalja is a Croatian town in the north of the island of Pag in the Adriatic Sea. Novalja is known internationally as party central because of the infamous party beach, Zrce, which boasts 4 clubs open around the clock. The pumping house/techno music and dance parties typically start at around 4 pm and continue well past 2 in the morning. During the summer, many well-known DJs and groups from around the world, including Benni Benassi, Jamie Jones, and Swanky Tunes, host concerts in these nightclubs. Zrce is not just for party-goers though. Many families lay out their towels for a day at the beautiful stone beach. This Novalja beach has cafe-bars and restaurants so you can easily grab a bite to eat or quick drink at your convenience. In addition to Zrce, Novalja offers tourists a number of other gorgeous beaches. Cista and Babe and both are perfect if you're looking for a calmer location. Both of these beaches have a lot less activity than Zrce, making for a relaxing afternoon, and their waters tend to be a bit warmer too.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Porto, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBraga €112Novalja €58
The average daily cost (per person) in Braga is €112, while the average daily cost in Novalja is €58. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Braga and Novalja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBraga €54Novalja €31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBraga €108Novalja €62
Compare Hotels in Braga and Novalja
Looking for a hotel in Braga or Novalja? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Braga Hotel Prices and Novalja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Braga €20Novalja €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Braga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Braga:
- Airport Transfer Porto> Viana do Castelo: $94
- Braga Private Transfer:To/From the Oporto Airport: $102
- Private Car Transfer from Braga to Lisbon with 2 hours for sightseeing: $279
- Traditional Vinho Verde Tour in Bowl with Private Transfer (Porto and Braga): $131
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novalja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:
- Private Transfer from Crikvenica to Rijeka Airport (RJK): $74
- Zrce, Private Transfer to/from Zadar Airport: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Braga or Novalja?
Prices for flights to both Novalja and Braga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBraga €40Novalja €20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Braga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Braga.
- Small-Group Braga Food Tour With A Local Guide: $84
- Small-Group Braga Food Tour With A Local Guide: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Braga €16Novalja €6.07
Tours and Activities in Braga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Braga are as follows:
- Casa dos Coimbras ( Chapel and Tower ) ticket & drink: $5.35
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Braga Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tourer Hunt: $7.86
- Tuk Tuk City Tour: $16
- Tree and Slide Adventure in Lamas de Mouro at PNPG: $24
- Paintball Experience : $33
- Private Stand Up Paddle Experience in Vila do Conde: $35
- Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $42
- Small-Group Braga Half-Day Tour with Bom Jesus: $43
- Guimarães Old Town Private Walking Tour: $54
- KAYAK TOUR I Descent of the River Lima in Kayak: $54
- Stand Up Paddle Tour: $54
Tours and Activities in Novalja
Here are a few actual costs in Novalja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bungee Tower Ticket with Zrce Beach Panoramic Views: $32
- From Svetojanj Bike Tour: $47
- Standup Paddleboard Guided Tour: $47
- From Kolan Bike Tour: $47
- From Metajna/Pag Bay Guided Sea Kayaking Tour: $49
- Zrce Booze Cruise - Novalja Boat Party: $52
- Glowing Standup Paddleboard Guided Night Tour: $58
- Pag Island Light-Up Kayak Night Tour: $62
- Kayak and Via Ferrata Adventure: $71
- Zrce Beach Bungee Jumping Experience: $74
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBraga €21Novalja €7.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Braga
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Braga:
- Wine Tasting & Lunch | Quinta de Santa Cristina Vinho Verde: $50
- Green Wine Region-Small Group Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings, from Porto city: $142
- Douro Valley - Régua-Pinhão - with wine tasting: $147
- Douro Valley Private Tour from Lunch & Wine Tour: $288
- Vinho Verde Private Wine Tour: $535
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Braga and Novalja, we can see that Braga is more expensive. And not only is Novalja much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Novalja would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Novalja and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Braga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Braga than you might in Novalja.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Braga Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Braga or Novalja?
Braga has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Braga and Novalja, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.