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

Should you visit Pisa or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Pisa 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.

Pisa

Pisa is a iconic, world-famous, and classic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, 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.

Pisa and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pisa or Novalja?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Pisa than Novalja, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Pisa is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Novalja is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches. Pisa is well known for its iconic Leaning Tower, its beautiful squares, and its lively atmosphere. Also, Pisa is famous for The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Novalja is well known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

How is Pisa different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Pisa offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is more than a one hit wonder. In addition to the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, you'll find many beautiful buildings and museums. Popular places to visit include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Campo Santo (Sacred Field), and Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.

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 Pisa or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pisa is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Pisa. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the city's maritime roots. You'll find many seafood dishes as well as local classic recipes that have been passed down through the generations. A quintessential local dish is Bordatino alla Pisana, which is made with beans, cabbage, and cornflour. Also popular are Pasta e Ceci (chickpea pasta), Palette (a local polenta), and Trippa alla Pisana.

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 Pisa or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Novalja is a must-see 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.

Pisa offers plenty to do in the evening. Head out to an aperitivo bar for an early drink, then head to one of the area's best nightlife neighborhoods. For the biggest party scene, go about 10 kilometers out of town to the Versilian coast. This area has the most popular clubs. If you decide to stay in town, there are still plenty of places to catch live music and dance.

Is Pisa or Novalja Better for Resorts?

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

Pisa is not a resort destination.

Is Pisa or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is a great town for the beache. Also, Pisa is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the beach.

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.

Many people head to Pisa to enjoy the beach. Many people forget that there are beaches near Pisa, but the city is close to the sea. Some of the closest beaches include Marina di Vecchiano and Marina di Pisa.

Is Pisa or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

Pisa is a great destination for its old town. However, Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Pisa. The old town is where you'll find the city's classic charm and many of the best sights.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Pisa or Novalja?

Pisa is a great destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its shopping areas.

Pisa is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. There's a great mix of traditional markets, high end stores, and indoor shopping malls where you can find anything that you might need. Corso Italia is one of the most popular shopping areas, but also worth checking out are Centro Commerciale Pisanova, Borgo Stretto and Borgo Largo.

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 Pisa or Novalja Better for Families?

Pisa 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 Pisa. It's a lively city with beautiful squares and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Kids will enjoy hanging out in the city center, visiting Parco Don Bosco, Giardino Scotto Park, or Marina di Pisa. If you have a car and are willing to venture a bit further away, there's the Piccolo Mondo Amusement Park and Parco Preistorico Peccioli.

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 Pisa or Novalja Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Pisa and Novalja make for a notable place to visit.

Pisa makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It's an iconic Italian destination that offers so much more than its most famous landmark. The city is filled with charming squares, beautiful architecture, and plenty of fun activities that couples can enjoy.

Novalja is a good city 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 Pisa or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Pisa is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Most backpackers pass through on their way to other towns, but for those that linger, there are plenty of hostels and a lively social scene.

Is Pisa or Novalja Better for Students?

Pisa is very popular for students. However, Novalja is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Pisa. Many study abroad students flock to Italy for its beautiful culture, art, and architecture. Pisa makes a nice base for international students, and it offers easy access to other parts of Italy. It's also home to an internationally acclaimed university, Scuola Normale Superiore, which was founded in 1810.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

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

While Pisa offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses through town with the most popular lines being the Red and Green Lines.

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 Pisa or Novalja a more walkable city?

Pisa 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.

Pisa is a very walkable city. The city is a great place to explore on foot.

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 Pisa Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Pisa?

How long in Pisa or Novalja?

It's fun to spend time in either Pisa or Novalja. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Novalja due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Pisa, and 2-4 days is enough time in Novalja.

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

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

One day in Pisa or Novalja?

In Pisa, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Novalja. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Pisa or Novalja?

In Pisa, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pisa has to offer.

Novalja is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the nightlife. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Pisa or Novalja?

Pisa is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. 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.

You'll find nightlife around the backpacker-filled destination of Novalja. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Pisa or Novalja?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pisa. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Pisa. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

The backpacker-filled town of Novalja offers nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Italy, The Best Bicycle Tours in 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 Pisa and Novalja, we can see that Pisa 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 Pisa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pisa 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 Pisa Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Pisa or Novalja?

Pisa has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Pisa 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.