Which place is cheaper, Bled or Novalja?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Novalja or Bled?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Novalja or Bled? 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: Novalja or Bled?
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.
Bled
Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, The Best 2-Week Tours from Split, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNovalja $62Bled $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Novalja is $62, while the average daily cost in Bled is $112. 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 Novalja and Bled in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNovalja $34Bled $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNovalja $68Bled $120
Compare Hotels in Novalja and Bled
Looking for a hotel in Novalja or Bled? 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: Novalja Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Novalja $12Bled $37
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled
Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
- Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Novalja or Bled?
Prices for flights to both Bled and Novalja 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 dayNovalja $21Bled $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled
For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Novalja $6.48Bled $13
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Rafting$99
Tours and Activities in Bled
For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
- Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
- Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
- Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
- 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $65
- Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
- Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
- Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNovalja $7.76Bled $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:
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Bottle of Champagne$19
Sample the Local Flavors in Bled
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:
- Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
- Wine Tasting Bled: $62
- 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
- Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Novalja and Bled, we can see that Bled 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 Bled would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bled 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 Novalja Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Novalja or Bled?
Bled has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Novalja and Bled, 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.