A Travel Price Comparison for Croatia Rijeka vs. Novalja for Nightlife, Backpackers, Beaches, and Families

Should you visit Rijeka or Novalja?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Rijeka and Novalja can help you decide which place is right for you.

Rijeka

Rijeka is a accessible, diverse, and slow-paced town. 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 backpacker-filled, wild, and energetic town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches.

Rijeka and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rijeka or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Rijeka. Although Rijeka and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Rijeka has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Rijeka 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 Rijeka and is known for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Rijeka is popular for being a transportation hub in Croatia with a ferry and cruise ship port. It is also home to Trsat Castle.

How is Rijeka different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Rijeka offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Historical sights around town include Trsat Castle, the Petar Druzic Stairway, and Our Lady of Trsat. There are also museums such as PEEK&POKE Computer Museum and the Governor's Palace and Maritime and Historical Museum.

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 Rijeka or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rijeka 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 Rijeka. It's known for its Mediterranean cuisine which includes more than seafood. There are local vegetable specialties in the area as well including asparagus and white truffles. Codfish stew and cuttlefish risotto are also popular.

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 Rijeka or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Rijeka is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit 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.

Rijeka has a large number of nightlife venues. The city center has plenty of bars and clubs. Restaurants also stay open late and are popular places to hang out for locals and tourists alike.

Is Rijeka or Novalja Better for Resorts?

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

Rijeka is not a resort destination.

Is Rijeka or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is a well-known place for the beach. However, Rijeka is not a good town for its beaches.

Novalja is a very popular place to visit for its 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.

Rijeka is a good spot to see the beach. There are pebbly and gravelly beaches in the area, with the best beaches to the west of the city. You'll need to take a public bus to reach most of them.

Is the Shopping Better in Rijeka or Novalja?

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

Rijeka offers some nice shopping areas. There are many shopping centers, retail stores, and souvenir shops around town.

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 Rijeka or Novalja Better for Families?

Rijeka is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Novalja is a town with minimal options for its kid-friendly activities.

Rijeka is a very kid-friendly town. The city has a number of outdoor activities for kids like nature parks and nearby beaches. There's also a puppet theater as well as the Astronomical Center of Rijeka.

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 Rijeka or Novalja Better for Couples?

Both Rijeka and Novalja are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Rijeka is a good town for couples to visit. It's a gateway to the Croatian islands. Many couples enjoy walking down the waterfront promenade or dining at a nice local restaurant. There are also beaches, parks, and historical sights to explore.

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 Rijeka or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is renowned for backpackers. Also, Rijeka 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Rijeka. There's no shortage of affordable hostels around town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Is Rijeka or Novalja Better for Students?

Rijeka is a popular place for students. However, Novalja is not popular with students.

Rijeka is popular with students. It's a laid back seaside city that makes a nice semester abroad destination. As a gateway to the Croatian islands, it also offers transportation connections to other points of interest.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

Both Rijeka and Novalja offer good public transit options.

Rijeka has a few public transit options. KD Autrolej buses provide transit throughout the city.

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 Rijeka or Novalja a more walkable city?

Rijeka and Novalja both are good when exploring on foot.

Rijeka is a somewhat walkable town. Parts of the city are more walkable than others.

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 Rijeka Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Rijeka?

How long in Rijeka or Novalja?

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

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

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

In Rijeka, 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.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the destination of Novalja. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Rijeka or Novalja?

In Rijeka, 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 Rijeka has to offer.

Novalja is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Rijeka or Novalja?

Rijeka 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Novalja. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Rijeka or Novalja?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of Novalja. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Croatia, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Croatia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Croatia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Croatia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rijeka and Novalja, we can see that Rijeka 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 Rijeka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rijeka 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 Rijeka Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rijeka or Novalja?

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