Banja Luka · City · Ottoman heritage · History
Banja Luka City Center
Near: Vrbas Canyon Rafting
Bosnia's second-largest city on the Vrbas river. The Kastel fortress, the rebuilt Ferhadija Mosque, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and more.
- Time needed
- Half a day for the center
- Region
- Banja Luka
Banja Luka is the second-largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a green, relaxed city of tree-lined streets along the Vrbas river. Its main sights are close together:
- Kastel fortress: Riverside fortress walls in the center, used for summer concerts and festivals.
- Ferhadija Mosque: A masterpiece of 16th-century Ottoman architecture, built in 1579. It was blown up in 1993 during the war, rebuilt using much of its original stone recovered from a landfill, and reopened in 2016.
- Cathedral of Christ the Saviour: A large Serbian Orthodox cathedral with golden domes on the main square, rebuilt in the 1990s and 2000s after the original was destroyed in WWII.
- Gospodska Street: The main pedestrian street, lined with cafés and Austro-Hungarian buildings.
Food
Try Banja Luka ćevapi, served in joined blocks of four, often with kajmak.
Practical info
- Entry
- Free to walk around. The mosque and cathedral are open to visitors outside services
- Getting there
- About 3 hours by car from Sarajevo. Banja Luka has its own airport
- Pairs with
- Vrbas rafting, Krupa na Vrbasu and Kozara
FAQ
What is there to see in Banja Luka?
The Kastel fortress, the Ferhadija Mosque, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Gospodska street and the Vrbas river.
Was the Ferhadija Mosque rebuilt?
Yes. It was destroyed in 1993 and reopened in 2016 after being rebuilt with original stone.
Also nearby
Kozara National Park and Mrakovica Near Prijedor
A forested national park near Prijedor and the giant 1972 WWII monument at Mrakovica by Dušan Džamonja. History, hiking and how to visit.
Krupa na Vrbasu Near Banja Luka
Small waterfalls, working watermills, a medieval monastery and a 1735 wooden church, 25 km from Banja Luka.