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

Should you visit Urbino or Novalja?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Urbino and Novalja can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Urbino

Urbino is a laid back, historic, and undiscovered town. 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 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.

Urbino and Novalja: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Urbino or Novalja?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Urbino. Although Urbino and Novalja are both popular with visitors, Urbino has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Urbino is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping, while Novalja is known for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches. Novalja is more touristy than Urbino and is popular for its crazy beach parties and popularity with the young backpacker crowd. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere. It is also home to Palazzo Ducale di Urbino.

How is Urbino different from Novalja?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Urbino offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

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 Urbino or Novalja? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Urbino 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 Urbino. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

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 Urbino or Novalja Better for Nightlife?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Urbino. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Urbino or Novalja Better for Resorts?

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

Urbino is not a resort destination.

Is Urbino or Novalja Better for Beaches?

Novalja is great for the beach. However, Urbino is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Novalja attract visitors from all over. 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.

Urbino is not a beach destination.

Is Urbino or Novalja Better for its Old Town?

Urbino is a popular place for its old town. However, Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Urbino to see the old town. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Novalja does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Urbino or Novalja?

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

Urbino offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

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 Urbino or Novalja Better for Families?

Neither Urbino nor Novalja are considered to be the most family-friendly destination.

For families, Urbino is not always the best place to visit. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Novalja is not the most family-friendly destination. 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 Urbino or Novalja Better for Couples?

Urbino is a great destination for its romantic activities. Also, Novalja is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Urbino frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

Novalja is a good town 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 Urbino or Novalja Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Novalja is an amazing town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination 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.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Urbino or Novalja Better for Students?

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

Urbino is a very popular town for students and younger travelers. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Novalja is not popular with students.

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

Novalja is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

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.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Urbino or Novalja a more walkable city?

Urbino and Novalja are good when it comes to walkability.

Urbino is a somewhat walkable town. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

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 Urbino Worth Visiting? and Is Novalja Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Novalja or Urbino?

How long in Urbino or Novalja?

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

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

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

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

In Urbino, 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 Urbino or Novalja?

In Urbino, 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 Urbino 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 Urbino or Novalja?

Urbino 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 Urbino or Novalja?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the wild 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 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 Urbino and Novalja, we can see that Urbino 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 Urbino would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Urbino 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 Urbino Expensive? and Is Novalja Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Urbino or Novalja?

Urbino has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Urbino 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.