If you’re planning to visit the Balkans, you must’ve gotten a gazillion recommendations to visit Trebinje and Mostar. But how to plan such a trip?
These adorable towns each have a story to tell. They’ll teach you about their long history, award you with views of fascinating architecture and give you a well-deserved sense of peace.
Since we want to share said stories with you, we’ve come up with a 5-day round-trip from Banja Luka to Mostar and Trebinje. You’ll learn where to get bus tickets, what not to miss in these two towns, and where to eat. This will be useful for those situated in Zagreb since you can catch a flight directly to Mostar.
Day 1: Getting from Banja Luka to Mostar
Mostar is about 230 km away from Banja Luka, so it takes about 4 hours by car. You’ll need a tad more time to get from Banja Luka to Mostar by bus, about 4 and a half hours. According to the schedule, the bus leaves at 1 p.m, so you’ll be at your first destination, Mostar, at half past 5 p.m. You can buy tickets on balkanviator.com.
Day 1 and 2: Sightseeing in Mostar
You’ll get here in the afternoon, probably starving. Here are some restaurant recommendations: try ćevapi in Cevabdzinica Tima or traditional cuisine in Lagero Restaurant or in Food House Mostar. Probably the most famous spot in Mostar is the Mostar Old Bridge. It has a dark past and was ruined multiple times in multiple wars, but reconstructed for the final time in 2004. Fun fact: the ‘most’ in Mostar means ‘bridge’, and ‘Mostar’ would mean ‘bridge guard’. You can learn about its history in the Museum of the Old Bridge.
Right next to the Old Bridge is Kujundžiluk, one of the oldest streets, home to the old bazaar. It’s full of art shops selling traditional antiquities and souvenirs. Next to Kujundžiluk is the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, built in the 17th century in the Ottoman style.
If you walk back, you’ll get a chance to see another beautiful bridge, Kriva Ćuprija – The Crooked Bridge, surrounded by beautiful stone buildings.
Day 3: How to get from Mostar
to Trebinje
Don’t worry, this trip is going to be much shorter. It takes about 2 hours to get from Mostar to Trebinje by car.
If you opt for the bus, you’ll need about 3 and a half hours. Again, the bus leaves in the afternoon – pretty great for a great day spent sightseeing in Mostar, right? Here is the bus schedule and where to buy tickets.
Day 4: What to visit in Trebinje
After a good night’s sleep, let’s start exploring Trebinje.
Start with walking around Old Town, home to Sultan Ahmed’s mosque and Osman-paša Resulbegović mosque. From here, you can walk for 15 minutes to the Arslanagić Bridge, a beautiful example of Ottoman architecture.
Then enjoy a thirty-minute walk to a magnificent monastery, the Hercegovačka Gračanica. It was built in the year 2000, as a fulfillment of Jovan Ducic’s last will. Jovan Dučić was one of the most famous Serbian poets.
By the way, you can see your trip as a lesson in Serbian literature: Jovan Ducic was born in Trebinje, and Aleksa Šantić, another famous poet, in Mostar. Make sure to look up their poems while you’re wandering around their hometowns.
You’ll be hungry by now, get back to the town center and grab a delicious bite in Stara Hercegovina, Studenac, or in Kukurica Vrtovi.
You can spend the afternoon learning about Herzegovina’s history in the Herzegovina Museum, right in the Old Town. Taking a romantic stroll along the Trebišnjica River sounds wonderful too.
And if you’re visiting Trebinje with kids, you can catch a taxi to Grad Sunca, a water and dino park.
Day 5: Back to Banja Luka
Note: did you know it only takes an 1 hour bus drive from Trebinje Dubrovnik? Make sure to read our Dubrovnik guide. You can find the bus schedule to this beloved destination here.
Okay, now let’s really talk about wrapping your trip up. It takes about 6 hours by car, and almost 9 hours by bus to get from Trebinje to Banja Luka.
No matter the means of transportation you choose, make sure to start this trip well-rested. In our experience, when you’re well-fed and exhausted after a trip, falling asleep on a bus is like sleeping on clouds. The bus leaves at 10 a.m, so even if you’re not the type of person that’s asleep at the sound of an engine starting, you’ll be able to enjoy the views.
