A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Timisoara / Temesvar vs. Novalja for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Timisoara / Temesvar or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Timisoara / Temesvar 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.

Where Should I go: Timisoara / Temesvar or Novalja?

Timisoara / Temesvar

A very cosmopolitan city, Timisoara has become the main social, economic, and cultural center in western Romania. It is sometimes called little Vienna due to its impressive architecture from the Austria Empire era and abundance of museums.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Romania, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Romania, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.


Which place is cheaper, Novalja or Timisoara / Temesvar?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Timisoara / Temesvar is $60, while the average daily cost in Novalja is $62. 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 Timisoara / Temesvar and Novalja in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Timisoara / Temesvar $24
    Novalja $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Timisoara / Temesvar $48
    Novalja $68
Compare Hotels in Timisoara / Temesvar and Novalja

Looking for a hotel in Timisoara / Temesvar or Novalja? 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.

Hotels in Timisoara / Temesvar


Hotels in Novalja


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: Timisoara / Temesvar Hotel Prices and Novalja Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Timisoara / Temesvar $25
    Novalja $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Timisoara / Temesvar

Also for Timisoara / Temesvar, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Timisoara Aurel Vlaicu Airport to Timisoara: $55
  • Timisoara Airport transfer to the city: $22

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Timisoara / Temesvar or Novalja?

Prices for flights to both Novalja and Timisoara / Temesvar 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Timisoara / Temesvar $21
    Novalja $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Timisoara / Temesvar

For Timisoara / Temesvar, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Taste Romania - Timisoara's Food Tour : $131

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Timisoara / Temesvar $8.87
    Novalja $6.48

Tours and Activities in Timisoara / Temesvar

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Timisoara / Temesvar.

  • Ecumenical Tour of Timisoara: $11
  • Timisoara: Shared Guided Tour in English: $22
  • Timisoara Downtown Dream Tour: $22
  • City Tour Timisoara: $38
  • Timişoara: Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $43
  • The Classic Tour of Timisoara: $43
  • Private ATV Adventures in Petrovaselo: $44
  • Timisoara City Tour - A Day To Remember: $65
  • Timisoara Grand Tour : $82
  • The Jewish Heritage Tour of Timisoara: $104
  • Discover Timișoara like a Local on the Best Guided Intro Tour: $108
  • The Grand Tour of Communist Ages at Timisoara: $120

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Timisoara / Temesvar $8.25
    Novalja $7.76


When comparing the travel costs between Timisoara / Temesvar and Novalja, we can see that Novalja is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Timisoara / Temesvar Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Timisoara / Temesvar or Novalja?

Timisoara / Temesvar has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Timisoara / Temesvar 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.