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

Should you visit Chartres or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Chartres 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.

Chartres

Chartres is a grand, spectacular, and historic town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. And you can't forget about the food and museums.

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. Visitors also love the nightlife and beaches.

Chartres and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Novalja?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Novalja than Chartres, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Novalja is better known for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is more popular for its museums, food, and small town charm. Novalja is more touristy than Chartres and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Also, Novalja is famous for Zrce Beach. Chartres is well known for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Chartres different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Chartres offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most visitors make the trip to see the spectacular Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It was completed in 1220 and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.

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 Chartres or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chartres 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 Chartres. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

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 Chartres or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Novalja is a world class 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.

Chartres is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Chartres or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is adequate for its luxury resorts. However, Chartres 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.

Chartres is not a resort destination.

Is Chartres or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is great for the beache. However, Chartres is not a beach destination.

Novalja is considered a top beach destination. 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.

Chartres is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Novalja?

Novalja is mediocre for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Novalja Better for Families?

Neither Chartres nor Novalja are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

For families, Chartres is not always the best place to visit. The main attraction in town is the cathedral, but the surrounding area is also filled with history. This may not keep your kids entertained for long, so you can also check out the Stained Glass Museum, La Tanière (a zoo), or one of the parks around town.

Novalja is not the most family-friendly destination. 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 Chartres or Novalja Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chartres and Novalja make for a notable place to visit.

Chartres makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Novalja is a good town for couples to visit. 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 Chartres or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Novalja is extremely popular 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.

Chartres is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's easy enough to visit as a day trip from Paris, so backpackers and other tourists typically allow themselves a few hours to explore.

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

Chartres 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.

Chartres has some very good public transit options. There are trains that leave Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 every half hour and travel to Chartres. The trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

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 Chartres or Novalja a more walkable city?

Chartres is a great destination for its high level of walkability. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Chartres is a very walkable town. It's easy to see the sights around town on foot.

Novalja is a somewhat walkable town. 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 Chartres Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Novalja?

It's fun to spend time in either Chartres 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 Chartres, and 2-4 days is enough time in Novalja.

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

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

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

The beautiful town of Novalja offers nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Chartres or Novalja?

In Chartres, you'll find museums and food. 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 Chartres has to offer.

Novalja is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Novalja, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Chartres or Novalja?

Chartres 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.

Novalja is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Chartres or Novalja?

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

Novalja is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, 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 Chartres and Novalja, we can see that Chartres 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 Chartres would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chartres 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 Chartres Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Novalja?

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