Located in the Una River valley, this northwestern Bosnian city has a restored Ottoman quarter, a 16th-century bridge, and the hilltop Bihać Fortress overlooking the emerald Una waters.
Bihać lies in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Una River running through its center. You'll find the Gothic Fethija Mosque and Captain's Tower in the old town, while just outside the city, the 24-meter Štrbački Buk waterfall crashes into the Una River. Small islands and rapids dot the river's course through the city, where you can swim and go rafting in summer.
Getting to Bihać
You can reach Bihać by bus from Zagreb (155 km) or Sarajevo (428 km). The nearest major airport is in Zagreb, Croatia, about 170 kilometers away. If you're coming from Plitvice Lakes National Park, take a bus from Grabovac - the journey takes around 45 minutes including border crossing.
Una National Park and Activities
Una National Park stretches across 350 square kilometers around Bihać. The Štrbački Buk waterfall drops 24 meters into clear pools where you can swim during summer months. At Martin Brod, water cascades over a 54-meter high travertine barrier. Walking trails follow the river's edge and wind through pine and beech forests.
Food and Local Life
Restaurants cluster along the Una River's banks. In Ripač village, you can eat on wooden platforms suspended above the rushing water - try the locally caught trout and carp. Most bars serve locally brewed Preminger beer. During winter, the smell of roasted chestnuts fills the streets from vendor carts.
Daily Life and Culture
People gather at riverside cafes throughout the day for Bosnian coffee and conversation. In summer, locals cool off at swimming spots along the Una River. The city's location near the Croatian border makes it a transit point on the Balkan migration route.
Historical Buildings
The Fethija Mosque began its life as a Catholic church in 1266 and is now the oldest Gothic building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Inside the Captain's Tower, built in the early 18th century, you'll find exhibits documenting the city's development. Both buildings survived the 1992-1995 siege of Bihać during the Bosnian War.
