Banja Luka/Бања Лука or Banjaluka/Бањалука (pronounced "bania louka") has a population of about 151,000, 89% of whom are Bosnian Serbs. It is the capital of the municipality of Banja Luka (population 190,000) and the capital of the entity of the Bosnian Serb Republic. The city is 71 km north of Jajce(via the Vrbas Valley), 159 km east of Bihać(via Bosanski Petrovac), 165 km northwest of Tuzla(via Doboj), 188 km southeast of Zagreb (Croatia) and 190 km northwest of Sarajevo(via Travnik). Connections: see bus station, train station and airport.Without much charm (it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1969) and subject to cold winters, Banja Luka has nevertheless some assets to put forward. First of all, its numerous restaurants, some of which are among the best in the country. This makes it an interesting base for exploring the surrounding area (the town of Jajce, the Vrbas valley, the Kozara national park...). Another good point is that it is a "big city": with nearly 200,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest agglomeration in the country behind Sarajevo and Tuzla, and its rather small center makes it the second largest city in Bosnia. A Serbian nationalist bastion, it looks like a small, clean capital with its ministries, its large buildings and its mini-international airport linked to Brussels and Basel-Mulhouse all year round. But its numerous festivals, its lively student population and its rich nightlife make it a much more dynamic city than many tourist destinations in the rest of the country.

What to visit Banja Luka?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Banja Luka
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Banja Luka travel inspiration

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Pictures and images Banja Luka

Pêcheurs sur la Vrbas, près de Banja Luka. evronphoto / Shutterstock.com
Nouvelle cathédrale orthodoxe du Christ-Sauveur, à Banja Luka. Joyt - iStockphoto
Send a reply