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

Should you visit Trento 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 Trento and Novalja can help you decide which place is right for you.

Trento

Trento is a youthful, high energy, and dynamic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and food.

Novalja

Novalja is a wild, energetic, and backpacker-filled town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include nightlife and beaches.

Trento and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Trento or Novalja?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Trento. Although Trento and Novalja are popular destinations, Trento has more sights and attractions for tourists. Trento is very popular for its museums, food, hiking, and shopping, while Novalja attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches. Novalja is more touristy than Trento and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Trento is famous for its beautiful mountain scenery and its historical buildings. It is also well known for Castello del Buonconsiglio.

How is Trento different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Trento offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Perhaps one of the most popular sights is Castello del Buonconsiglio. The Museum of Science is also fun for kids and adults alike and the Duomo is beautiful.

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 Trento or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Trento 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 Trento. The food in the region is influenced by nearby countries such as Austria. Carne salada, which is like corned beef, has a long history in the area. Schüttelbrot is a local flatbread and meraner wurst is a bit like a hot dog. You'll also find salamis and various cheeses.

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 Trento or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is terrific for nightlife. However, Trento is not a good destination for nightlife and partying.

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.

Most people don't head to Trento specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Despite the large student population, there aren't a lot of bars and clubs around town. Most parties are held in private residences, so visitors may find the nightlife scene a bit slow.

Is Trento or Novalja Better for Resorts?

Novalja is adequate for its luxury resorts. However, Trento is not a resort destination.

Novalja has a few resort options worth checking out. 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.

Trento is not a resort destination.

Is Trento or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is great for its beaches. However, Trento is not a beach destination.

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.

Trento is not a beach destination.

Is Trento or Novalja Better for Hiking?

Trento is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Novalja is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Trento. The surrounding countryside has many beautiful hikes and stunning viewpoints that make for a great outing outside of town.

Novalja is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Trento or Novalja?

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

Trento offers some nice shopping areas. Head to the main shopping street, Via Balenzani for boutique shopping. You'll also find artisan shops and other unique vendors 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 Trento or Novalja Better for Families?

Trento 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 Trento. Outside of town you'll find plenty of outdoor adventures that the kids will enjoy. In town, there's history and fun kid-friendly museums.

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 Trento or Novalja Better for Couples?

Both Trento and Novalja are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Trento is a nice destination for couples. The town mixes old and new in a beautiful setting that makes for a great romantic getaway. Nearby there are outdoor adventures and in town there's a beautiful atmosphere and great restaurants.

Novalja makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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 Trento or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Many backpackers frequent Novalja. 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 Trento. There aren't many hostels in town, but there are some fun activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Is Trento or Novalja Better for Students?

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

Many students frequent Trento. It's a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of interesting places to explore in the area.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

Trento and Novalja both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Trento offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The city has a number of bus lines through town.

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 Trento or Novalja a more walkable city?

Trento 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.

Trento is a very walkable city. Much of the city can be explored 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 Trento Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Trento?

How long in Trento or Novalja?

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

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

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

One day in Trento or Novalja?

In Trento, you'll find museums and food. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking 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.

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 Trento or Novalja?

In Trento, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Trento 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 Trento or Novalja?

Trento is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Trento or Novalja?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Trento. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Trento. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Bicycle Tours in Italy, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers 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 Trento and Novalja, we can see that Trento 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 Trento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Trento 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 Trento Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Trento or Novalja?

Trento has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Trento 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.