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

Should you visit Naxos or Novalja?

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

Should I visit Naxos 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: Naxos or Novalja?

Naxos

Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades, is a gem waiting to be discovered. Its blend of stunning landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture make it a perfect destination for all types of travelers. Naxos offers long and flat beaches with clear, turquoise water along with inland mountains full of agriculture and ancient ruins. It has a reputation of being one of the more family-friendly islands for all of these qualities.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Greece, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Greece, The Best 2-Week Tours from Dubrovnik, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Split.


Which place is cheaper, Novalja or Naxos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Naxos is €221, while the average daily cost in Novalja is €73. 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 Naxos and Novalja in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Naxos 75
    Novalja 32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Naxos 150
    Novalja 64
Compare Hotels in Naxos and Novalja

Looking for a hotel in Naxos 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 Naxos


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: Naxos Hotel Prices and Novalja Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Naxos 52
    Novalja 12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Naxos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Naxos:

  • Naxos Private Transfer: $44
  • Private Transfer in Naxos: $67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Novalja

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Novalja:

  • Private Transfer from Crikvenica to Rijeka Airport (RJK): $130
  • Zrce, Private Transfer to/from Zadar Airport: $200

Is it cheaper to fly into Naxos or Novalja?

Prices for flights to both Novalja and Naxos 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
    Naxos 107
    Novalja 34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Naxos

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Naxos.

  • Naxos Old Town Private Food Tour with Dinner and Pickup: $167

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Naxos 40
    Novalja 6.09

Tours and Activities in Naxos

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Naxos are as follows:

  • Cruises to Delos-Mykonos, Santorini and Koufonisi by Alexander : $84
  • Riverbank Adventure in Naxos (Kinidaros - Eggares): $114
  • Half-Day Tour of Naxos Island (up to 7 pax): $143
  • Naxos Villages Private 4 Hour Tour: $164
  • Private Wine Three and Half-Hour Experience: $164
  • Private Full Island 5-Hour Tour: $206

Tours and Activities in Novalja

Here are a few actual costs in Novalja for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Adriatic Sea Diving Experience: $94

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Naxos 30
    Novalja 7.29


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


Which is Bigger, Naxos or Novalja?

Naxos has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Novalja. When comparing the sizes of Naxos 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.