A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bremen vs. Novalja for Nightlife, Backpackers, Families, and Food

Should you visit Bremen or Novalja?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bremen and Novalja can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bremen

Bremen is a colorful, lively, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Novalja

Novalja is a backpacker-filled, wild, and energetic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches.

Bremen and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bremen or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bremen. Although Bremen and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Bremen has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bremen is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Novalja is known for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches. Novalja is more touristy than Bremen and is known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Bremen is popular for its beautiful historic center and its role as a cultural hub in Germany. It is also home to The Historic Marktplatz.

The Historic Marktplatz

How is Bremen different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Novalja and Bremen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bremen or Novalja?

Bremen is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

Bremen offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the city's landmarks are located around the famous Marktplatz. You can tour the Bremen Town Hall or wander around the Medieval Schnoor Quarter. Also make sure you check out the Cathedral of St. Peter.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Novalja. It's a beach and party destination, not somewhere you go for museums or historical sights.

Is the Food Better in Bremen or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bremen is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Bremen. The food is hearty and filling with many meat heavy dishes. Vegetarians may struggle to find local options. Traditional regional dishes include Kohl und Pinkel (kale and sausage), Labskaus (meat and stew), and fried smelt.

Novalja may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find a lot of places to grab a quick bite to eat or a cheap meal around town. There are pizzerias, fast food, and some nicer bistros to choose from.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Bremen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Novalja has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. This is a party island, and you'll find most of the action around Zrce Beach, which is about a 20 minute drive from town. The party scene appeals to the young, backpacker crowd and there's live music, DJs, and parties that last well into the morning. Zrce Beach has a huge number of bars and clubs including three clubs that are listed on the Top 100 DJ's Magazine Best Clubs List.

Bremen has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a variety of evening activities including cocktail bars, trendy clubs, and fine dining restaurants. Head to the Viertel District for some of the most lively clubs.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Bremen is not a resort destination.

You might not think of Novalja as a resort destination, but it has a few places. Most of the accommodation is in the form of apartments or hostels. There are also some hotels on the island, but because the number is limited they can be quite expensive.

Bremen is not a resort destination.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is notable for the beach. However, Bremen is not a beach destination.

Novalja is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. You'll find a mix of beaches near town including hidden gems that feel remote and undiscovered as well as wild party beaches like the famed Zrce Beach. Many beaches are pebbly or have coarse sand with turquoise blue waters.

Bremen is not a beach destination.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

Bremen is very popular for its old town. However, Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Bremen has a world-famous historical area. The old town is beautiful with its charming streets and beautiful buildings. There's a main market square which is filled with many landmarks and tourist sights.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bremen or Novalja?

Bremen is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its shopping areas.

Bremen is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city offers a mix of historic shopping areas and large shopping malls. Some of the biggest shopping malls include Karstadt Bremen, Lloyd Passage, and Weserpark.

Shopping in Novalja can be found for those interested. This isn't the place to go shopping for clothing or local items. You will find some beach and souvenir shops around town though.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Families?

Bremen is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Bremen is a very kid-friendly city. Kids will appreciate a Sunday visit to the Bremen Town Musicians play which performs popular fairy tales. If the season isn't right, there are many other kid-friendly activities around town including Bürgerpark, the puppet theater, or visiting the beach at Café Sand. Popular museums in town for kids include Universum and Bremer Geschichtenhaus.

For families, Novalja is not always the best place to visit. While there are family-friendly places to visit like some beaches and waterparks, at its heart this is a party destination that is known for its wild parties and crazy crowds.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Couples?

Both Bremen and Novalja are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Bremen is a good city for couples to visit. From its beautiful old town to its many great restaurants and shopping streets, couples will enjoy a romantic trip away in this beautiful city.

Novalja is a nice destination for couples. Stunning beaches, blue waters, and surreal landscapes make this a one-of-a-kind place to visit. But romance isn't on most people's minds, as this is first and foremost a party destination.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for backpackers. Also, Bremen is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Novalja is a very popular town to visit for backpackers. Famous for its wild parties that attract backpackers and young travelers, this island destination has become a hotspot for backpackers and party-goers. There are hostels around town that offer a cheap place to crash.

It's common for backpackers to visit Bremen. Backpackers love the old town and lively atmosphere. There are enough tourists around that you'll find a decent social scene and the atmosphere makes for a great visit.

Is Bremen or Novalja Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bremen is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Bremen has some very good public transit options. The city has both trams and buses that offer easy accessibility to most of the tourist areas.

While Novalja offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local buses around the island or you can rent a personal vehicle like a motorbike or scooter.

Is Bremen or Novalja a more walkable city?

Bremen is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Bremen on foot is easy. It's one of the most walkable cities in Europe.

Novalja is a somewhat walkable city. In town, you can reach most places on foot, but if you want to explore further you'll need to find another way to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Bremen Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Bremen?

How long in Bremen or Novalja?

It's fun to spend time in either Bremen or Novalja. In our opinion, Bremen has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bremen than Novalja. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bremen than Novalja. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bremen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bremen than Novalja. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bremen that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Bremen or Novalja?

In Bremen, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Novalja. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bremen or Novalja?

In Bremen, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bremen has to offer.

Novalja is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Bremen or Novalja?

Bremen is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Novalja. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Bremen or Novalja?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bremen. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Bremen. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the backpacker-filled destination of Novalja. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Music Tours in Germany, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bremen and Novalja, we can see that Bremen 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 Bremen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bremen 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 Bremen Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bremen or Novalja?

Bremen has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Bremen 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.