Novalja is a city in the island of Pag. With approximately 3,350 inhabitants, Novalja was known as a popular family resort due to its pristine beaches and clean sea, but recently it has been nicknamed "The Croatian Ibiza". Reason behind that is the beach Zrće, declared as the #1 spot in Croatia, with its numerous clubs popular among Croatian celebrities and affluent youth.
Novalja has a reputation of being a very safe city, however, party lifestyle has its consequences. First of all, drug presence on the beach Zrće is extremely high, so the police often patrols around there. Because of the beach’s high reputation and fame in Croatia, many young people who cannot afford to stay in Novalja come for a weekend and sleep in the car, drink in the car and then go to party. Picking a fight is possible with them, so don’t respond to provocations.
The earliest settlers on the island were an Illiric tribe that came to the region in the Bronze Age; traces of their settlement could still be seen around Pag. In the 1st century B.C. brought the arrival of the Romans, who left numerous archeological and cultural artifacts behind. The Croats arrived in the 7th century along with the great migration and settled in the area. The island was for some time under the rule of the Croatian kingdom.
PLACE TO VISIT
Important: Novalja is a small city, and everything important is in the three main streets, all well connected, so you won't find any addresses here.
The Roman aqueduct. It was manually chiselled out in solid rock and is 1042 m long, about 60 cm wice and its height varies. There are 9 ventilation holes along its route and the highest is at 44 m above the level of sea. Aqueduct provided with drinkable water the locality and various artisan workshops situated in it as well as ships stopping by. For many centuries it was out of function and was rediscovered in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century it was again used for three short periods. Nowadays the aqueduct can be visited in about 150 m length and local authorities constantly work on its further revitalization.
Gajac is a planned apartment community 2 kilometers away from Novalja. It has a long beachfront sidewalk ideal for jogging or walking, scenic parks for relax and picnic, and very clean beaches. It's also very quiet so it's ideal for families.
Stara Novalja is an old bay village 3 kilometer away from Novalja. Features a public (but often overcrowded) beach and many private accommodation. A great number of real estate development is in Stara Novalja, but be careful, prices are often sky high. Sometimes, during the strong adriatic wind bura, car ferries operate through a port just at the end of Stara Novalja (just follow the road direction north, it gets you straight there) but this occurs rarely. The western part of the bay is unpopulated so there are many small beaches accessible only via boat which are great if you enjoy nudism.
Zrće is a beach located 2 kilometers from Novalja, right across the crossing for mentioned Gajac. It features three main clubs, Papaya, Aquarious and Calypso. During the day it's a normal beach with many things to do (bungee jumping, jet ski...) The party starts somewhere after 3 PM, with the so called "After beach party", which can include foam and other themed parties. Then, after midnight, it gets out of control. As mentioned above, Zrče enjoys high media coverage so it's popular among Croatian celebrities, and many Croatian popular singers open the summer season right there. The clubs host internationally acclaimed DJs, and many electronic and house music events are held there. The beach has its own parking lot, but avoid it if you can, because it can get extremely crowded. If possible, walk to the beach or use the shuttle. There is really no rule when does the party end, but all-day partying is not unusual.
Caska is a beach a bit smaller than Zrće, but more suitable for families. Basically, the two beaches are in the same bay and you can walk from one to another if you don't mind the sharp rocks bordering them. There is also a urban legend about ruins below the sea surface near Caska but no one has ever seen anything yet, although some claim that the top of the lighthouse is still visible when the sea level is low.
WHAT TO DO
Besides party, Novalja and its surroundings offer interesting sights. Beach Ručica in the village Metajna is a prime example. It gives a feeling of being in a canyon, and it has crystal clear water and pristine sand. Look for other hidden beaches (they often have a sign) but be careful, most of the roads leading to them are in poor condition. North of Novalja is a small village of Lun, great for getting away from the party hustle.
HOW TO REACH
By car - If coming from north or Zagreb, take the A1 highway and follow the direction Split. The highway has two major tunnels, Mala Kapela and Sveti Rok, both over 5 kilometers long. In tourist season, delays are often in front of the tunnels, so be patient, but don't worry, Croatia's tunnels are among the safest in Europe. When you pass the tunnel Sveti Rok and the Maslenica bridge, look out for Pag/Novalja exit. Follow the signs saying Novalja or Pag. If you're coming from Istria, you can use the A1 highway, but use the D8 (better known as Adriatic Highway - Jadranska magistrala on Croatian) and follow the sign to Pag (50 km after Senj). You can use the ferry or drive 60 km souther and access it via bridge. Listen to HRT-HR1 or HRT-HR2 (the only difference is that the second one plays more up-to-date music) because every hour traffic information is given in English, German and Italian.
By bus - There are several bus lines from Zagreb or inland to Novalja, but some of them operate only in tourist season. However, Zadar is 60 km away from Novalja, and it's connected to it via bus.
By boat - There is a catamaran line between Novalja and Rijeka, it's very fast (2,5 hours) and very comfortable.
