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.
Get in
By Bus
There are direct bus connections from Banja Luka to:
; Bosnia: Sarajevo, ?ipovo, Prijedor, Bosansko Gradi?ka, Bosansko Grahovo, Trebinje, Prijedor, Tesli?, Banja Vru?ica, Novi Grad, Gornji Graci, Vi?egrad, Biha?
; Serbia: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Sombor, Zrenjanin, Ni?, Subotica
; Croatia: Zagreb, Makarska, Pula
; Austria: Vienna, Linz
; Montenegro: Igalo
[http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com/en/terminal.aspx?k=148&d=070] http://picasaweb.google.com/bdambrine/BusBL
By plane
'''Banja Luka International Airport''' [http://www.banjaluka-airport.com/] ({{IATA|BNX}}) ({{ICAO|LQBK}}), 23km (14.3 miles) from the city. Flights from Istanbul & Zurich with BH Airlines [http://www.bhairlines.ba/]. Jat Airways [http://www.jat.com/] 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.
By train
The train (and bus) station is located about 2 kms southeast of the center. Connections to: Doboj and Sarajevo, Zagreb and Plo?e (Croatia) and to Belgrade (Serbia). There are only a few trains passing the station each day..
Get around
By bike
You can have your bike fixed a la minute at the [mailto:shimanoshop@blic.net Shimano Sport Shop], in the Ul. Kraji?kog Korpusa bb.
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_fs 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-pa?ina d?amija), (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 Masle?a 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.
Do
Banja Luka is a city with the rich night life. The best place for night occasion is '''Kruna''' club [http://www.clubkruna.com] at the top of merchant building in Gospodska street. Others are '''Padrino''' in basement of hotel '''Bosna''' [http://www.hotelbosna.com/uslugee.html], cafe '''Focus''' in bottom of Gospodska street.
Boom Boom Room. eselina Maslese 15-17(Gospodska ulica). 387 66 610 000. ww.boomboomroomclub.com , . 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
Buy
Eat
'''Restoran Master''', [http://www.restoran-master.com/]. Mexican Food.
'''Restoran Sirano'''
'''Restoran Ognji?te''', Josifa Pan?i?a br.2, tel/fax: 00387 (0)51 436 333, [http://ognjiste.rs.sr/stranice_ENG/3d/3dtura.htm]. Ethno Food, Serbian Nacional Food, Ethno Shop.
'''Restoran Borac''', Vidovdanska 53 ''at Football stadium'', tel: +387 51 328 530, [http://www.catering-r.com/].
'''Restoran Lovacki Bar''', Slatinska 37, [http://www.lovackibar.com/uvod.htm].
'''Restoran Obala''',Jesenjinova 26 ''on the River Vrbas'', tel: 051/219 652, [http://www.restoran-obala.com/].
'''Kod Muje''', grill near '''Kozara''' cinema, is by many, the place with best ?evap?i?i in city.
Splurge
'''Kazamat''' (''K_p_x_p_}_p__'') [http://www.kazamat.mapabih.com] 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.
Sleep
'''Hotel Cezar''', Mladena Stojanovica 123, tel: 00387 51 326 400, [http://www.hotel-cezar.com].
'''Hotel Palace ''', Karadjordjevica 60, tel: 051 218 723.
'''Hotel Bosna''', Kara?or?evi?a 97, tel: +387 51 215 775, [http://www.hotelbosna.com].
'''Hotel Atina''', [http://www.hotelatina.com].
'''Hotel Grand''', Suboti?ka bb, tel: +387 51 380 105, [http://www.hotelgrandbanjaluka.com].
'''Hotel Talija''', 9 Srpska Street, tel: +387 51 349 200, [http://www.hoteltalija.com/english/].
'''Hotel Vidovic''', Ul Jevrejska, +387 51 211 100, [http://www.hotelvidovic.com/indexe.html].
'''Elit Motel Dragana''', [http://wwww.moteldragana.com].
Get out