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

Should you visit Livorno or Novalja?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Livorno or Novalja, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Livorno

Livorno is a waterfront, friendly, and down-to-earth port city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the food, shopping, and nightlife.

Novalja

Novalja is a backpacker-filled, wild, and energetic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches.

Livorno and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Livorno or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Livorno. Although Livorno and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Livorno has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Livorno is more popular for its museums, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Novalja is known for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty. Novalja is more touristy than Livorno and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Livorno is popular for its large port and its great seafood. It is also home to The Waterfront Promenade.

How is Livorno different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Livorno is a port city with a few options for its museums and landmarks. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its historical sights.

Livorno offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The waterfront promenade and New Venice are nice to explore. There's an aquarium in town as well as a fun central market.

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 Livorno or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Livorno 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 Livorno. As a port city, this is the place to try seafood. Many dishes include calamari, shrimp, or freshly caught fish. The city is less touristy than most in Italy, so even the food has an authentic and down-to-earth vibe.

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 Livorno or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife.

Novalja is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Livorno. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship, and depart in the evening, but the city is large and for those that stay the night, there are a number of bars and clubs around town.

Is Livorno or Novalja Better for Resorts?

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

Livorno is not a resort destination.

Is Livorno or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is great for the beach. However, Livorno is not a good destination for its beaches.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Novalja. 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.

Livorno is a good spot to see the beach. The beaches are pebbly or rocky, so you won't really find a long stretch of sandy beach where you can relax. They can also stay very crowded.

Is the Shopping Better in Livorno or Novalja?

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

Livorno offers some nice shopping areas. The main shopping street in town is Via Grande. It's generally filled with major chain stores and familiar brands.

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 Livorno or Novalja Better for Families?

Livorno 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 Livorno. The city has a nice aquarium as well as outdoor recreational activities like cycling and boating. There's a beach and parks where kids can stretch their legs and run around as well.

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 Livorno or Novalja Better for Couples?

Livorno and Novalja are both good to visit as a couple.

Livorno is a good port city for couples to visit. There are some nice museums as well as parks and boat rides that couples can enjoy. There's also an aquarium and a beach.

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 Livorno or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Livorno is not a good destination for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Novalja, as it is a very popular town for budget travelers. 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.

Livorno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this city, so you won't find many hostels around town. It's a relatively affordable place to stay with some fun entertainment options if you do pass through.

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

Livorno and Novalja both offer good public transit to get you around.

While Livorno offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses around town including lines that run from the central train station to the port.

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 Livorno or Novalja a more walkable city?

Livorno and Novalja are good when it comes to walkability.

Livorno is a somewhat walkable port city. Parts of the city are walkable, but if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll want to take a shuttle bus from the port.

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 Livorno Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Livorno?

How long in Livorno or Novalja?

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

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

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

In Livorno, you'll find shopping and nightlife. This port city 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 Livorno or Novalja?

In Livorno, you'll find nightlife 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 Livorno 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 Livorno or Novalja?

Livorno 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 Livorno or Novalja?

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

Which is Bigger, Livorno or Novalja?

Livorno has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Livorno 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.