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

Should you visit Stuttgart or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Stuttgart 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.

Stuttgart

Stuttgart is a dynamic, modern, and authentic city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. 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. It's also popular because of the nightlife and beaches.

Stuttgart and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Stuttgart or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Stuttgart. Although Stuttgart and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Stuttgart has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Stuttgart is popular for its many automobile museums including the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. It is also home to The Mercedes-Benz Museum.

How is Stuttgart different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Stuttgart offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The city's influence over the car industry is reflected in the museums in town. You can visit both the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. Also check out Schlossplatz, the Ludwigsburg Palace, and Altes Schloss and Landesmuseum while you're in 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 Stuttgart or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart. The city blends traditional German flavors with modern twists. You'll find much more than the standard bratworsts that so many people associate with German cuisine. One favorite dish is maultaschen, which is like a ravioli. Also make sure you try spätzle, zwiebelrostbraten (roast and onions) and flädlesuppe (soup with long pasta).

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 Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Stuttgart is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Novalja has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

Stuttgart is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene stays active late into the evening. You'll find no shortage of clubs, bars, music venues, and beer gardens. You'll meet a combination of locals, tourists, students, and expats at many venues.

Is Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is a decent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Stuttgart 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.

Stuttgart is not a resort destination.

Is Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is a very popular place for the beach. However, Stuttgart 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.

Stuttgart is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Stuttgart or Novalja?

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

Stuttgart is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is filled with pedestrian shopping streets as well as flea markets and major shopping malls. The main shopping street in town is Koenigstrasse, where you'll find many upscale boutiques. For a local food market head to Markthalle Stuttgart. The flagship store of the Breuninger chain is also found in Stuttgart.

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 Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Families?

Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart. Like many German city's, there's a great zoo to explore. There's also some unique museums like the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. Kids will also enjoy taking in the view from the top of the Fernsehturm.

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 Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Couples?

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

Stuttgart is a good city for couples to visit. The city is large enough to have some nice romantic hotels, spas, luxury restaurants, and other activities that make for a great date night.

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 Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Stuttgart is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

Stuttgart is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's not on the backpacker circuit for most people but there are still plenty of hostels and affordable accommodation options. You'll also find plenty of activities and affordable restaurants to choose from.

Is Stuttgart or Novalja Better for Students?

Stuttgart is a great destination for students. However, Novalja is not popular with students.

Stuttgart is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's an international city with great universities and a friendly and central location. There's also a lively nightlife and plenty of things to do.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

Stuttgart is a great destination for its public transit. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Stuttgart has some very good public transit options. The city's transit system includes buses, the U‑Bahn and the S‑Bahn. The U-Bahn is a denser train system in the city center and the S-Bahn covers more distance and reaches into the suburbs with stops that are more spread out.

While Novalja offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are local buses around the island or you can rent a personal vehicle like a motorbike or scooter.

Is Stuttgart or Novalja a more walkable city?

Stuttgart and Novalja are good when it comes to walkability.

Stuttgart is a somewhat walkable city. There are parts of the city that 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 Stuttgart Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Stuttgart?

How long in Stuttgart or Novalja?

It's fun to spend time in either Stuttgart or Novalja. In our opinion, Stuttgart has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Stuttgart than Novalja. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

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

Because Stuttgart is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find nightlife around the town of Novalja. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Stuttgart or Novalja?

Because Stuttgart is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. 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 Stuttgart has to offer.

You'll find nightlife around the wild destination of Novalja. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Stuttgart or Novalja?

Stuttgart 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the wild town of Novalja. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Stuttgart or Novalja?

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

Novalja is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Berlin, The Best 10-Day Tours from Berlin, 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 Stuttgart and Novalja, we can see that Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Stuttgart 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 Stuttgart Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Stuttgart or Novalja?

Stuttgart has a larger population, and is about 290 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Stuttgart 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.