Situated on the island of Pag, just off the Croatian Coast, the town of Novalja has become renowned as a party people’s hotspot – home to the infamous Zrce Beach, with its raft of fabulous beach clubs and lively night spots. It’s even earned the nickname of the ‘other Ibiza’, with numerous music festivals and party events throughout the year – and it’s a title that’s very well-deserved!
But even though the majority of people do come here to party, at least to some degree, Novalja is no one-trick pony. Because, while it’s a no-brainer that you’re going to spend your evenings dancing and drinking until dawn, if you want to wring every last minute out of this wonderful place, there’s plenty to keep you interested during the day, as well.
It’s up to you to find the perfect balance between culture and cocktails, but here’s a few of the town’s other highlights.
The Olive Gardens
It might sound like an unusual attraction, but visiting the Olive Gardens of Lun really is an amazing experience – and a great way to blow away the cobwebs of the night before. Situated about 20 minutes out of town, in the north of Pag, the gardens are home to the oldest olive trees on the planet, with some of them estimated to be an incredible 2,000 years old. As you wander around you can almost feel the history emanating from the soil, and these wild, beautiful trees. They symbolise many things in the local culture, including health, learning, wisdom, devotion, peace and health. Once you’ve finished exploring the gardens (and purchased some of the olive oil, it’s a must!), you can head to the gorgeous beach they nestle behind to cool off.
Explore the Bike Trails
The unusual mix of strange, lunar-like landscape and lush greenery of Pag is a major part of its appeal, and if you’d like to see more, heading out to explore by mountain bike or quad bike will give you two very different, yet equally fun experiences. There’s a superb 20 km mountain bike trail that takes you from Novalja through some wonderful scenery all over the island, or you can join a quad bike tour led by an expert guide. Either way, this is one of the best ways to cover quite a lot of the island in a short amount of time.
The Aqueduct
If you want to impress the folks back home (you know, the ones who think you’ve just come to Pag to party your socks off), a visit to the Roman aqueduct will furnish you with some pretty impressive historical knowledge. Dating back to the 1st century AD, Talijanova buža, as it’s known, is an incredible feat of Roman engineering that, at more than a kilometre in length, was once the sole water supply for the town. You don’t need to go far to find it, as the entrance sits inside the town’s museum, and if you really want to get the full experience you can arrange for a tour to walk along its many passageways.
Walk on Mars
What? No, really! Taking a walk along the so-called Life on Mars Trail is one of the most fun and picturesque hikes you can do in Novalja. The trail is well signposted and you should expect to work up a sweat (it’s a moderate grade) in the four hours you’ll be hiking. The scenery is simply spectacular with its pockmarked, Mars-like landscape, and it includes numerous fantastic viewing points, as well as two gorgeous beaches where you can stop for a dip. You will need to ensure you’re well-prepared before you set off, though, and take plenty of snacks, water and sunscreen. (If you’re inexperienced, it’s highly recommended you hire a local guide to go with you.)
As you can see, you’ll be spoiled for options when it comes to getting out and about – even if you do sleep late after drinking and dancing all night! Make sure you take advantage of all the wonderful things to see and do around the island, so your getaway to Novalja is memorable for all the right reasons.
Where to Stay
Liberty Hotel: Looking to stay close to the action? The Liberty Hotel is in the ideal spot, right on the beachfront and only about 500m from the town centre. With its own private beach, an outdoor pool, comfortable air-conditioned rooms, and free Wi-Fi, it’s the perfect place to base yourself for a few days of partying and fun in the sun.
Apartment Vidas: This lovely beachfront property features large, air-conditioned accommodation with private bathrooms, TV, and free WiFi. Perfect for groups of friends, you can choose an apartment with a terrace and sit outside and soak up the sunshine until it’s time to go out and party! Clean, quiet and very affordable.
Holiday Home Nova: With an unbeatable location close to the beach, countryside and town amenities, this peaceful beachfront property is air-conditioned and offers free Wi-Fi. With two generous bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, large living spaces, and a terrace with magical sea views, you’ll feel right at home – only better!
How to Get There
The best way to get to Novalja to begin your holiday is by flying into Zadar Airport (ZAD), which is approximately 2.5 hours from various destinations in the UK. There are a few airlines that service the direct route to Zadar, with the most popular and reliable being Ryanair and EasyJet. The cheapest flights start at around £74.
If you want to save yourself time, money and stress, pre-booking a Novalja transfer with Shuttle Direct will get you the rest of the way to your accommodation in the easiest and most comfortable way. For those looking for the most cost-effective way to get there, a shared shuttle will suit, but you can also lash out on a luxury private transfer if you want a door-to-door service.
Overview
UK to ZAD Flight Time: 2 hours 32 minutes
ZAD to Novalja Distance: 87 kilometres
Shuttle Direct Transfer: 90 minutes approx.
Types of Transfer
Shuttle Direct understands every traveller is different and all have varying budgets, so they offer a range of options to get from Zadar Airport to Novalja, spending on how much you want to spend and how you like to travel. One of the services below will suit you.
Booking an affordable, convenient shuttle bus is a great way to get from Zadar Airport to Novalja if you’re looking to save money and don’t mind sharing with other people. Even though it’s highly cost-effective, you don’t need to compromise on safety, comfort and reliability – and you might even make some new friends along the way.
If you’d prefer to travel on your own, the perfect way of not having to stand around in long queues with everyone else, is to pre-book a taxi with Shuttle Direct to get you from the airport at Zadar to Novalja. When you exit the terminal a friendly driver and taxi will be waiting to take you straight to your accommodation.
Looking for the ultimate ride, where you won’t have to concentrate on anything except enjoying the views? One of the luxury private Zadar transfers is the ideal way to get your holiday started. Your friendly driver will be waiting for you inside the terminal, then you’ll be taken to the door of your hotel or apartment in a comfortable, luxurious vehicle – no waiting, no queuing, no hassle.
If you’re holidaying with a group of friends or a larger family group, you might want to consider booking a minibus for your airport transfer. Not only is this a budget-friendly option, it also means everyone can travel in the same vehicle and there’s no worries about luggage not fitting.
Choosing the Right Transfer
The two main things that will determine your choice of Novalja transfer are cost and convenience. Determining your priority in those departments will help you make the right decision when it’s time to make your booking.
Convenience: If a door-to-door service is imperative, and you don’t mind paying accordingly, then a pre-booked taxi or luxury private service to get you from the airport at Zadar to Novalja is going to suit you the best. All the logistics are taken care of and you just need to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride straight to your accommodation.
Cost: If saving money is your priority and you don’t mind sharing your transport with other people, a shared shuttle bus is a very affordable option while still being comfortable and convenient. For these services you’ll meet at a designated location at the airport and be taken to a central drop-off point. They’re much cheaper than a private airport transfer but don’t have the door-to-door aspect.
About Shuttle Direct
As one of the most popular and established providers of onward airport transfers,
Shuttle Direct services a huge range of destinations all over the world. We offer a reliable, safe and cost-effective way of getting from the airport to your accommodation, and back again, with both shared and private services available. No matter what your needs or budget, we’ll help you get wherever you need to go quickly and without any hassle. Pre-book with us and we’ll take care of the rest!
