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

Should you visit Hannover 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 Hannover 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.

Hannover

Hannover is a dynamic, diverse, and vibrant 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 wild, energetic, and backpacker-filled town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and beaches.

Hannover and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hannover or Novalja?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hannover. Although Hannover and Novalja are popular destinations, Hannover has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hannover is very popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Novalja attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Novalja is more touristy than Hannover and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Hannover is famous for its many parks and gardens as well as its accessibility to the German train system. It is also well known for The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.

How is Hannover different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Hannover offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll see many of the city's sights along the Red Thread Trail in the city center. Make sure you check out the New Town Hall, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, and the Lower Saxony State Museum as well.

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 Hannover or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hannover 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 Hannover. You'll find classic tearooms, food halls, fine dining restaurants, and markets. Try all of the classic German sausages or sample international dishes in this dynamic city.

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 Hannover or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is very popular for nightlife. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Novalja is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.

Hannover offers plenty to do in the evening. There are many students who keep the nightlife scene active. From beer halls to jazz venues, you'll find a diversity of options around town.

Is Hannover or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is adequate for its luxury resorts. However, Hannover is not a resort destination.

Novalja has a few resort options worth checking out. 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.

Hannover is not a resort destination.

Is Hannover or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is a great town for its beaches. However, Hannover 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.

Hannover is not a beach destination.

Is Hannover or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

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

Many people head to Hannover to see the old town. Check out the half-timbered buildings, the old churches, and the charming streets around old town.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Hannover or Novalja?

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

Hannover offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the 14th-century Market Church (Marktkirche) and wander around the nearby streets for some of the city's best shopping. Also make sure you check out the city flea market. In addition to boutiques and independent shops, there are also major department stores and large shopping malls in the area.

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 Hannover or Novalja Better for Families?

Hannover is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Hannover. Like many German cities, there are a number of activities geared specifically to kids. Check out the Sea Life Center or the Hannover Zoo. If you're willing to get out of town a bit, there's also Serengeti Park Hodenhagen or Rasti-Land theme park, which has rides and games.

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 Hannover or Novalja Better for Couples?

Hannover and Novalja both nice destinations for a couple.

Hannover is a nice destination for couples. Romantic settings around town include Herrenhäuser Gärten, Berggarten, and Maschpark.

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.

Is Hannover or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Hannover is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent 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 Hannover. Some people use the city to split up longer train trips. There are a couple of hostels in town if you decide to stay a night or two.

Is Hannover or Novalja Better for Students?

Hannover is a great destination for students. However, Novalja is not popular with students.

Hannover is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a few great universities in town including Leibniz University, which attract international students. There's also a nice nightlife and easy accessibility to the rest of Germany.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

Hannover 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.

Hannover has some very good public transit options. The city has 12 city trains and 38 bus lines.

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 Hannover or Novalja a more walkable city?

Hannover 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.

Hannover is a very walkable city. There are some nice walkable parts to the city.

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 Hannover Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Hannover?

How long in Hannover or Novalja?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hannover than Novalja 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 Hannover.

One day in Hannover or Novalja?

In Hannover, 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.

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 Hannover or Novalja?

In Hannover, 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 Hannover 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 Hannover or Novalja?

Hannover 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 Hannover or Novalja?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hannover. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Hannover. 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Germany, The Best Oktoberfest Tours in Germany, 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 Hannover and Novalja, we can see that Hannover 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 Hannover would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hannover 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 Hannover Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Hannover or Novalja?

Hannover has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Hannover 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.