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Banja Luka is a picturesque city in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the administrative capital and the largest city of Republika Srpska, and the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By Bus

There are direct bus connections from Banja Luka to:

Bosnia

Sarajevo, Šipovo, Prijedor, Bosansko Gradiška, Bosansko Grahovo, Trebinje, Prijedor, Teslić, Banja Vrućica, Novi Grad, Gornji Graci, Višegrad, Bihać

Serbia

Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Sombor, Zrenjanin, Niš, Subotica

Croatia

Zagreb, Makarska, Pula

Austria

Vienna, Linz

Montenegro

Igalo, Podgorica

[1] [2]

official site of the busstation: http://www.autoprevoz.org/engleski

[edit] By plane

• Banja Luka International Airport [3] (IATA: BNX) (ICAO: LQBK), 23km (14.3 miles) from the city. Flights from Zurich with BH Airlines [4] twice per week. Jat Airways [5] flies few times a week to Belgrade, offering connection to most cities in Europe.

Note: Charter flights do occur mostly in the summer season, BH Airlines, the airline of Bosnia and Herzegovina, do charter flights to Sarajevo, Zurich, Belgrade and Istanbul.

[edit] By train

The train (and bus) station is located about 2 kms southeast of the center. Connections to: Doboj and Sarajevo, Zagreb and Ploče (Croatia) and to Belgrade (Serbia). There are only a few trains passing the station each day..

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bike

You can have your bike fixed á la minute at the Shimano Sport Shop, in the Ul. Krajiškog Korpusa bb.

[edit] Language

The official language in B&H is referred to as "Bosnian" in the Muslim parts of the Federation, "Croatian" in Croat-controlled parts and "Serbian" in the Republika Srpska. In short, notwithstanding different dialects it is one and the same language. A large number of locals (predominantly the younger generation) also speak English, German or Italian. Alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet and The Cyrillic alphabet.

Special Pronunciations c - as the "ts" in "cats" ć - as the "tch" in "furniture" č - as the "ch" in "chop" đ - as the "dy" in "verdure" dž - as the "j" in "just" j - as the "y" in "young" lj - as the "lli" in "million" nj - as the "ny" in "canyon" š - as the "sh" in "hush" ž - as the "s" in "pleasure"

[edit] Money

The local currency is the Convertible Mark (KM), which is tied to the Euro at a rate of 1KM to 0.51129E (at the time of press). Convertible Mark coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 pfenings and 1, 2, 5 Marks while banknotes come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Marks. Many establishments (especially hotels) accept Euros (notes only). ATMs are all over the place with MasterCard, Visa and other offshoots being accepted. Credit Cards such as Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club are readily accepted by larger establishments all over the country. When changing money, it is best to ask for small bills as shops often are hard-pressed for change. Traveler cheques can be readily changed at Raiffeisen and Zagrebačka Banks.

[edit] Tipping

It is not compulsory to tip in Banja Luka, though a reward of about 10% for good service in restaurant or bar is always appreciated.

[edit][add listing] See

There are many historic things to see in the city of Banja Luka.

• Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure Built in 1887, a 1969 earthquake leveled the church. The current cathedral was built in 1974.

• Banski Dvor (Governor’s Palace) in center of the city. Built in 1930's. A concert hall, gallery and restaurant. This is the main cultural center.

• Monastery of Gomionica from 16th century near Banja Luka. Monastery has the collection of ancient icons from 18th century.

• Ferhat-Pasha Mosque (Serbian/Bosnian/Croatian: Ferhat-pašina džamija), (also called Ferhadija mosque) This example of Islamic 16th century architecture was built during the time of the Ottoman occupation. Built in 1579 it has a central fountain called Shaderwan, stone and iron fence. It is built in the classical Ottoman style. Ferhadija was listed as a cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1950. Later it was protected by UNESCO until destroyed in 1993. The site and the remains of the mosque today are a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is now under erection, therefore remains are not easly visible.

• Kastel fortress with history up to Roman ages.

And contemporary things:

• Gospodska street Actually Veselin Masleša street, is the main street of city with shops, offices and cafes (on bottom) alongside. Recommended time to visit, because of its liveliness, is during day on Saturdays whole day, and between 12h and 14h on workdays. During evenings visit on Fridays and Sundays or each day in the case of nice weather.

[edit][add listing] Do

Banja Luka is a city with the rich night life. The best place for night occasion is Kruna club [6] at the top of merchant building in Gospodska street. Others are Padrino in basement of hotel Bosna [7], cafe Focus in bottom of Gospodska street.

• Boom Boom Room, Veselina Maslese 15-17(Gospodska ulica), ☎ +387 66 610 000, [8]. In a town where folk music is a general trend,Boom Boom Room is the first and the only club in Banja Luka offering unique,world-like atmosphere,playing exclusively DJ electronic music. Located in the very heart of the city,open Wed-Sat  edit

[edit] Events

In September 2009, was held for the first time Pitchwise [9], a festival that offers debates, lectures, exhibitions, concerts, parties, and movie screenings. The festival's main theme is feminism.

[edit] Traditional Food

If you like meat, you'll love Banja Luka. Meat is a standard for any meal. However, there is still lots of interesting meals you can make do if you are a vegetarian.

Here is a list of the most popular traditional dishes:

Ćevapi - small meat sausages of lamb and beef mix. They are usually served with fresh onions and pita bread on the side. Ćevapi usually come in pointer finger size sausages and are offered by five or ten pieces.

Teletina - is veal, usually served in cutlets. Veal in B&H is not produced by locking calves in a cage to ensure softer meat.

Janjetina - lamb grilled over an open fire.

Musaka - a meat pie made of minced beef, very similar to shepherds pie.

Filovane paprike - fried peppers stuffed with minced meat and spices.

Pršut - air dried ham, similar to Italian proscuitto.

Suho Meso - dried meat, either beef or pork.

Sarma - meat and rice rolled in cabbage or grape leaves.

"Ispod Sača" - similar to Dutch oven. A metal dish is placed on hot coals, the food is placed in the dish and covered by a lid which is then completely covered in hot coals and left to bake.

Vlašićki Sir - similar to Travnički cheese. It is a highland cheese from the mountain villages on Vlašić Mountain in central Bosnia.

Mladi Sir - literally means young cheese. There isn't an equivalent to it in English. It has a soft texture and is unsalted. Often times it is served with a cream sauce on top. It is very healthy.

Kajmak - is the most difficult of all cheeses to translate. It is the top layer skimmed from milk, it is creamy and extremely tasty. Kajmak and Uštipak (doughnut type roll) is a wonderful appetizer.

Iz mjeha - sheep milk poured into a specially sewn sheep skin 'bag'. After a time the dry cheese is taken out of the skin container and the result is a strong, dry cheese that resembles real Parmesan.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Restoran Master, [10]. Mexican Food.

• Restoran Sirano

• Restoran Ognjište, Josifa Pančića br.2, tel/fax: 00387 (0)51 436 333, [11]. Ethno Food, Serbian Nacional Food, Ethno Shop.

• Restoran Borac, Vidovdanska 53 at Football stadium, tel: +387 51 328 530, [12].

• Restoran Lovački Bar, Slatinska 37, [13].

• Restoran Obala,Jesenjinova 26 on the River Vrbas, tel: 051/219 652, [14].

• Kod Muje, grill near Kozara cinema, is by many, the place with best ćevapčići in city.

[edit] Splurge

• Kazamat (Kазамат) [15] in one of the cellars of the old Tvrdjava Kastel, with English menu's, decent wine, several vegetarian alternatives (only part of the Tropic Club-chain!) tel.: 051/224-466, 051/224-460. approx. 50 Km for three course meal with drinks. Open daily 11-23h.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Cezar Hotel Banja Luka, Mladena Stojanovića 123, tel: 00387 51 326 400, [16].

• Hotel Palace , Karadjordjevića 60, tel: 051 218 723.

• Hotel Bosna, Karađorđevića 97, tel: +387 51 215 775, [17].

• Hotel Atina, [18].

• Hotel Grand, Subotička bb, tel: +387 51 380 105, [19].

• Hotel Talija, 9 Srpska Street, tel: +387 51 349 200, [20].

• Hotel Vidovic, Ul. Jevrejska, +387 51 211 100, [21].

• Elit Motel Dragana, [22].

[edit] Get out

• Ex-Yu Rocks Festival[23] This is the Woodstock of Banja Luka taking place on the banks of the beautiful Vrbas river at "Krupa na Vrbasu", about 4 kilometres out of that town, 20 km south of BL. Strictly punk, rock and heavy metal bands, one can enjoy a possibly painful head-banging experience or just chill out at the festival's camp-site with a beer and a bonfire.
• Climbing: 24km south of Banja Luka and 5km north of Krupa na Vrbasu is a nice climbing site; the 'stone bridge' (Kameni Most, Камени мост). More information you can for example get at "Extreme Banja Luka" climbing club.
• Rafting: At Karanovac, 15 south on the main road from Banja Luka is a rafting club from where you can go rafting through the Vrbas canyon. In the Vrbas-canyon, together with the Tara-canyon near Foča (Srbinje), the world championships of rafting were held.

[edit] Climate

Banja Luka has a continental climate, with harsh winters and warm summers. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 21.3 C (70 F). The coldest month of the year is January, when temperatures average near freezing at 0.8 C (33 F). Annual precipitation for Banja Luka is about 988 mm. Banja Luka has an average of 143 rainy days a year. Due to the city's high latitude, it snows in Banja Luka almost every year as well. Strong winds come from the north and northeast.

[edit] Alcohol

Rakia or Rakija is considered to be a national drink. Its alcohol content is normally 40%, but home-produced rakia can be a tongue burner, typically 50 to 60%! Frequently used as a common drink at all celebrations, birthdays, holy holidays, slava (Orthodox christian custom of honoring a certain saint) and even funerals. Common flavors are slivovitz, traditionally made from plums and lozova, which is made from grapes. But, you can also distill from pears, peaches, apricots, apples, figs and cherries. Plum and grape rakia are sometimes mixed with other ingredients, such as herbs, honey, sour cherries and walnuts after distillation.