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

Should you visit Caltagirone or Novalja?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Caltagirone and Novalja can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Caltagirone

Caltagirone is a quaint, friendly, and charming city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

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.

Caltagirone and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Caltagirone or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Caltagirone. Although Caltagirone and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Caltagirone has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Caltagirone is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Novalja is known for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Novalja is more touristy than Caltagirone and is known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Caltagirone is popular for its pottery and ceramic industry as well as the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte staircase. It is also home to The Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte.

How is Caltagirone different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Caltagirone offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors come to see the famed Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte, which is a 142 step staircase that connects the upper and lower parts of the city. The staircase highlights the city's ceramic and pottery industry, as every step is decorated with tiles.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Caltagirone 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 Caltagirone. There are some great local restaurants that serve seafood and other local specialties.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is terrific for its evening party scene. However, Caltagirone is not particularly known for nightlife.

Novalja is a must-see party destination. 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.

Caltagirone doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Many people visit as a day trip and the town isn't known for its nightlife scene.

Is Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is a town with a few options for its resorts. However, Caltagirone 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.

Caltagirone is not a resort destination.

Is Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Beaches?

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

The beaches at Novalja attract visitors from all over. 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.

Caltagirone is not a beach destination.

Is Caltagirone or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to Caltagirone to see the old town. It is known for its pottery and ceramics, which have been incorporated into many of the architectural elements around town.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Caltagirone or Novalja?

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

Caltagirone is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Pottery and ceramic shopping is a highlight of a visit to town.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Families?

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

Caltagirone doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. Kids may enjoy running up and down the famous Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte staircase. The town also hosts some fun festivals throughout the year, and if you're traveling with kids, these would be the times to visit.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Couples?

Both Caltagirone and Novalja are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Caltagirone is a good city for couples to visit. Pottery shopping and exploring the town make this a nice option for a day trip or overnight visit.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is terrific for backpackers. However, Caltagirone is not particularly known 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.

Caltagirone is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Many people pass in and out of the town on a day trip or stopover, so you won't find many hostels.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Caltagirone and Novalja.

You'll find some public transit in Caltagirone, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Buses travel in and out of town.

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 Caltagirone or Novalja a more walkable city?

Caltagirone and Novalja both are good when exploring on foot.

Caltagirone is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the town are steep, but many people choose to explore on foot.

Novalja is somewhat walkable. 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 Caltagirone Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Caltagirone?

How long in Caltagirone or Novalja?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Novalja than Caltagirone 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 Caltagirone or Novalja?

In Caltagirone, you'll find museums 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.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the wild town of Novalja. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Caltagirone or Novalja?

In Caltagirone, 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 Caltagirone has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of Novalja. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Caltagirone or Novalja?

Caltagirone 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.

The wild town of Novalja offers nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Caltagirone or Novalja?

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

Many people enjoy the nightlife when visiting Novalja. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people visit for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy, The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, 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 Caltagirone and Novalja, we can see that Caltagirone 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 Caltagirone would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Caltagirone 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 Caltagirone Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Caltagirone or Novalja?

Caltagirone has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Caltagirone 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.