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

Should you visit Imperia or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Imperia 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.

Imperia

Imperia is a charming, undiscovered, and authentic town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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.

Imperia and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Imperia or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Novalja. Although Imperia and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Novalja has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Novalja is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Imperia is known for its museums, food, and shopping. Novalja is more touristy than Imperia and is known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. It is also home to Zrce Beach. Imperia is popular for its access to the Ligurian coastline.

How is Imperia different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Imperia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are several interesting buildings of importance around town.

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 Imperia or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Imperia 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 Imperia. Food ranges from typical Italian dishes to local recipes that use local ingredients. Unique ingredients in the area include trumpet zucchini, flat breads, and anchovies.

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 Imperia or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Imperia. There are some bars and lively restaurants around town where you can spend an enjoyable evening.

Is Imperia or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Imperia 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.

Imperia is not a resort destination.

Is Imperia or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is notable for the beach. However, Imperia 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.

Imperia is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Imperia or Novalja?

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

Imperia offers some nice shopping areas. There are some shopping streets in town that have a mix of local brands and standard clothing shops.

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 Imperia or Novalja Better for Families?

Imperia 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 Imperia. There's some nice walking trails in the countryside that the kids will enjoy.

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 Imperia or Novalja Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Imperia and Novalja make for a good place to visit.

Imperia is a good town for couples to visit. It's a beautiful town with a nice atmosphere that offers a nice break from the tourist crowds.

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 Imperia or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is a must-visit destination for backpackers. Also, Imperia is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Imperia is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Accommodation tends to be affordable and there's an off-the-beaten-path vibe that some backpackers will appreciate.

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

Both Imperia and Novalja offer good public transit options.

Imperia has a few public transit options. There are buses that connect the city to different areas.

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

Is Imperia or Novalja a more walkable city?

Imperia and Novalja both are good when exploring on foot.

Imperia is a somewhat walkable town. Parts of the town are convenient to walk around.

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 Imperia Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Imperia?

How long in Imperia or Novalja?

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

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

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

In Imperia, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Imperia or Novalja?

In Imperia, 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 Imperia 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 Imperia or Novalja?

Imperia 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 Imperia or Novalja?

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

Which is Bigger, Imperia or Novalja?

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