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

Should you visit Giverny or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Giverny 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.

Giverny

Giverny is a inspiring, picturesque, and peaceful town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. 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.

Giverny and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Giverny or Novalja?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Giverny than Novalja, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Giverny is better known for its museums, food, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Novalja is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and shopping. Giverny is more touristy than Novalja and is popular for being the home and inspiration for Claude Monet. Also, Giverny is famous for The Home and Gardens of Claude Monet. Novalja is well known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd.

How is Giverny different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Giverny offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The town is most notable as the home of Claude Monet between 1883 and 1926. Highlights of a visit include visiting Jardin d'Eau (The Water Garden), The Normandy Garden, and Monet's House.

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 Giverny or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Giverny 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 Giverny. There are cozy cafes and charming restaurants in the town. If you visit as part of a tour, a restaurant stop may be included.

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 Giverny or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for nightlife and partying. However, Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy 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.

Giverny is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Giverny or Novalja Better for Resorts?

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

Giverny is not a resort destination.

Is Giverny or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is great for the beache. However, Giverny 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.

Giverny is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Giverny or Novalja?

Novalja is mediocre for its shopping opportunities. However, Giverny 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.

Giverny is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Giverny or Novalja Better for Families?

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

For families, Giverny is not always the best place to visit. The gardens are stunning and the house is impressive, but it's best to prepare younger kids with some activities beforehand. Even the most art-minded children will appreciate a hands-on activity that helps bring the experience to life.

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 Giverny or Novalja Better for Couples?

Giverny is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Giverny frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The setting seeped in romance and the gardens bring art to life. On occasion you may even see a young couple get engaged during their visit.

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 Giverny or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Giverny 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.

Giverny is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Many people, backpackers included, visit the town as a day trip from Paris. It's possible to visit by train and shuttle bus.

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

Giverny and Novalja both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Giverny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. You can reach Giverny by train from Paris. You'll leave from the Gare Saint-Lazare train station in Paris and arrive in the town of Vernon. The trip is about 45 minutes. From there you can take a bus or taxi on to Giverny.

Novalja has a few public transit options. There are local buses around the island or you can rent a personal vehicle like a motorbike or scooter.

Is Giverny or Novalja a more walkable city?

Giverny and Novalja are notable when it comes to walkability.

Giverny is a somewhat walkable place. Many people choose to walk between the town of Vernon and Giverny, both of which are worth visiting. They're separated by about 6 kilometers (3.5 miles).

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 Giverny Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Giverny?

How long in Giverny or Novalja?

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

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

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

In Giverny, 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.

In Novalja, you'll find nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Giverny or Novalja?

In Giverny, 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 Giverny has to offer.

In Novalja, you'll find nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Novalja has to offer.

Five days in Giverny or Novalja?

Giverny 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 great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

A week in Giverny or Novalja?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Novalja. Many people enjoy the nightlife when visiting Novalja. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in France, The Best Adventure Tours to 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 Giverny and Novalja, we can see that Giverny 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 Giverny would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Giverny 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 Giverny Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Giverny or Novalja?

Novalja has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Giverny. When comparing the sizes of Giverny 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.