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

Should you visit Bucharest or Novalja?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Novalja. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Bucharest

Bucharest is a cultural, charming, and historical city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Novalja

Novalja is a energetic, backpacker-filled, and wild town. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife and beaches.

Bucharest and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bucharest or Novalja?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bucharest than Novalja, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bucharest is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Novalja is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Novalja is more touristy than Bucharest and is known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Bucharest is well known for its wide avenues and longstanding religious institutions. Also, Bucharest is famous for The Palace of Parliament.

How is Bucharest different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Bucharest is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

Bucharest offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The city is rich in landmarks and historical buildings. Popular sights include the Romanian Athenaeum, the Palace of the Parliament, Stavropoleos Church, and Curtea Veche.

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 Bucharest or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bucharest 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 Bucharest. Many Romanian recipes have been passed down through the generations and they still use traditional flavors. You'll see some German or Hungarian influences, but the flavors are still uniquely Romanian. Popular dishes include ciorba (tripe soup), cabbage rolls, and mici (grilled meat rolls).

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 Bucharest or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Novalja is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Bucharest has a few options to choose from. The city has come to life with its party scene, with many bars and clubs that you can choose from. There are rooftop bars, chic dance clubs, and cozy pubs where you can pass the evening. You'll find most of the upscale clubs in the northern part of the city, with a more casual scene found in the downtown areas around Universitate and Romanā.

Is Bucharest or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is a town with a few options for its resorts. However, Bucharest is not a resort destination.

Not known for its high-end resorts, Novalja offers a few options. 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.

Bucharest is not a resort destination.

Is Bucharest or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is well known for the beache. However, Bucharest is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Novalja for it's beautiful 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.

Bucharest is not a beach destination.

Is Bucharest or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

Bucharest is a popular place for its old town. However, Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Bucharest to see the old town. The old town dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries, with much of the historical charm seen in the architecture. Many of the buildings have been restored, but others are still awaiting repairs. This gives the area a sense of authenticity that you often miss in other old towns.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Bucharest or Novalja?

Bucharest is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its shopping areas.

Bucharest offers some nice shopping areas. The residents love fashion, and you'll find many shopping centers around town where you can find a good deal. In addition to the many malls, there are also antique shops, flea markets and boutique clothing stores where you might find a hidden gem.

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 Bucharest or Novalja Better for Families?

Most people don't think of either Bucharest or Novalja as a family destination.

Bucharest doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kid-friendly activities include kid's play areas, museums such as the Museum of the Senses, and water centered activities like rowing in the park or visiting the wellness center Therme.

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 Bucharest or Novalja Better for Couples?

Novalja is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Bucharest is not particularly known for couples.

Novalja makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Bucharest is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The city has some romantic settings such as wandering down Victory Avenue or exploring the historic Cotroceni Neighbourhood. There are also several gardens and a number of nice cafes to explore.

Is Bucharest or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is renowned for backpackers. Also, Bucharest is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Novalja. 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.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bucharest. The city is affordable, but it's often overlooked by backpackers. Part of the charm for many is the sense of authenticity that can often be hard to find in travel these days.

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

Bucharest 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.

Bucharest has some very good public transit options. Public transit options include trams, buses, and trolley buses.

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 Bucharest or Novalja a more walkable city?

Bucharest and Novalja both are notable when exploring on foot.

Bucharest is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the tourist attractions are within a walkable area.

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 Bucharest Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Bucharest?

How long in Bucharest or Novalja?

It's fun to spend time in either Bucharest or Novalja. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Novalja due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Bucharest, and 2-4 days is enough time in Novalja.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Novalja than Bucharest if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Novalja.

One day in Bucharest or Novalja?

In Bucharest, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find nightlife around the town of Novalja. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Bucharest or Novalja?

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

You'll find nightlife around the energetic destination of Novalja. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Bucharest or Novalja?

Bucharest is a great place to explore. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the backpacker-filled town of Novalja. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bucharest or Novalja?

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

Novalja is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, 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 Bucharest and Novalja, we can see that Bucharest 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 Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest 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 Bucharest Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Novalja?

Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 900 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest 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.