Which place is cheaper, Novalja or Coimbra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Coimbra or Novalja?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Coimbra 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: Coimbra or Novalja?
Coimbra
Coimbra is located in Central Portugal in the Centro Region. It's the third largest city in the country with about 460,000 people living in the entire region. It is also where you'll find the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest universities in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese speaking world. During the High Middle Ages, Coimbra served as the nation's capital and there are archaeological structures that date back to the Roman era.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Portugal, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in 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 dayCoimbra €103Novalja €58
The average daily cost (per person) in Coimbra is €103, 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 Coimbra and Novalja in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCoimbra €44Novalja €31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCoimbra €88Novalja €62
Compare Hotels in Coimbra and Novalja
Looking for a hotel in Coimbra 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: Coimbra Hotel Prices and Novalja Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Coimbra €11Novalja €12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Coimbra
Also for Coimbra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Fátima Private Transfer to/from Lisbon: $147
- Transfer Viseu - Porto: $157
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novalja
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:
- Zrce, Private Transfer to/from Zadar Airport: $170
- Private Transfer from Crikvenica to Rijeka Airport (RJK): $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Coimbra or Novalja?
Prices for flights to both Novalja and Coimbra 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 dayCoimbra €48Novalja €20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Chanfana: Cooking Traditional Portuguese Cuisine Experience: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Coimbra €18Novalja €6.07
Tours and Activities in Coimbra
For Coimbra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $3.21
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.21
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $5.45
- Coimbra's Historical Highlights: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historical Highlights: $6.99
- Tomar: Unveiling the Templar Order with a Self-Guided Tour: $7.62
- Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $7.65
- Coimbra Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Tomar Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Discover Coimbra's Legacy through a Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Portugal dos Pequenitos entry ticket: $16
Tours and Activities in Novalja
Here are a few actual costs in Novalja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Metajna/Pag Bay Guided Sea Kayaking Tour: $49
- From Kolan Bike Tour: $47
- From Svetojanj Bike Tour: $47
- Kayak and Via Ferrata Adventure: $71
- Bungee Tower Ticket with Zrce Beach Panoramic Views: $32
- Glowing Standup Paddleboard Guided Night Tour: $58
- Pag Island Light-Up Kayak Night Tour: $62
- Standup Paddleboard Guided Tour: $47
- Zrce Beach Bungee Jumping Experience: $74
- Zrce Booze Cruise - Novalja Boat Party: $52
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCoimbra €12Novalja €7.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Coimbra
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Coimbra:
- Wine Tasting Experience in Portugal: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Coimbra and Novalja, we can see that Coimbra 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 Coimbra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coimbra 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 Coimbra Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Coimbra or Novalja?
Coimbra has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Coimbra 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.