Places / Europe / Bosnia & Herzegovina
Banja Luka
Visited in April 2017
At a glance
- Country
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Region
- Republika Srpska
- Population
- 185,042
- Best time to go
- May to September
- Main airport
- Banja Luka International (BNX)
- Coordinates
- 44.78°N, 17.21°E
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Overview
Banja Luka is the second city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the main city of Republika Srpska. It is a relaxed, leafy place of tree-lined avenues and riverside cafés, set where the Vrbas river emerges from its canyon.
Much of the old town was lost in an earthquake in 1969, so it is less of a historic showpiece than Sarajevo or Mostar. The appeal is everyday life, good food and the outdoors, with rafting, canyons and old water mills on its doorstep.
Things to see
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Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 Ferhadija Mosque
A sixteenth-century Ottoman mosque destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt stone by stone, reopening in 2016.
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Photo: Vasyatka1, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kastel fortress
Riverside walls of a fortress built on Roman foundations, now a park and venue for summer concerts.
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Photo: Saša Knežić, CC BY-SA 4.0 Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
A Serbo-Byzantine Orthodox cathedral in the city centre, rebuilt after the original was destroyed in the Second World War.
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Photo: Budzak2, CC BY-SA 4.0 Gospodska Street
The pedestrian main street of cafés and shops, busiest in the early evening.
Things to do
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Photo: Aigars Mahinovs from Riga, Latvia, CC BY 2.0 Raft the Vrbas
Run the rapids of the Vrbas canyon just south of town, which has hosted international rafting championships.
Find tours -
Photo: Indir Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 Krupa na Vrbasu
Visit the waterfalls and wooden mills of this village in the hills, a short drive from the city.
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Banja Luka ćevapi
Try the city's own style, served as a block of joined ćevapi in somun bread with kajmak.
Where to stay
City centre
Close to Gospodska Street, the cathedral and the fortress; the best choice for a short stay.
Hotels in City centreAlong the Vrbas
Riverside guesthouses and small hotels with a quieter feel.
Hotels in Along the Vrbas
Getting around
The centre is flat and walkable. Taxis are cheap and easy to call.
The airport is about 25 kilometres north of the city, around 30 minutes by taxi. Buses connect with Sarajevo, Zagreb and Belgrade.
When to go
Late spring and summer are best for rafting and riverside evenings. Autumn is mild and colourful, while winters are cold.
Plan your trip to Banja Luka
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.