A calm border town on the Sava River with a well-preserved 18th-century fortress and an active riverfront market. The town has strong cultural ties to Croatia.
Brod, a riverside town in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Posavina region, welcomes visitors with its 2-kilometer waterfront promenade along the Sava River. Here you'll find local cafes, ice cream stands, and fishing spots where residents gather in the evenings. The town connects to Croatia through its recently rebuilt bridge, making it a common stop for travelers crossing between the two countries.
Riverside Activities
Walk along the Duško Trifunović promenade to watch cargo ships and personal boats navigate the Sava River. The paved pathway includes several covered rest areas with benches and informational panels about the river's ecosystem. In summer, the riverside cafes extend their seating onto the promenade, where you can try local specialties like fresh fish soup and grilled river fish. Children enjoy the small playground near the bridge, while anglers gather at designated fishing spots along the riverbank.
Town Center and Markets
The main square hosts a daily produce market where local farmers sell seasonal fruits and vegetables. Several bakeries around the square make traditional Bosnian pastries, including burek and sirnica. The central mosque, with its distinctive white minaret, dates from 1870 and remains active today. You can visit during non-prayer times to see its interior decorations.
Local Industry and Surroundings
The NESTRO oil refinery, visible from many parts of town, processes petroleum products and employs many local residents. Twenty-three smaller settlements surround Brod, each with its own character. Take a local bus to Sijekovac to see traditional farmhouses and agricultural practices, or visit Gornji Klakar for its riverside walking paths. Archaeological sites throughout these communities contain artifacts from Stone Age settlements and the Roman period, though most aren't open to visitors.
Getting Around
Regular buses connect Brod to other major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Local buses run between the town center and surrounding settlements every hour from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The border crossing to Croatia's Slavonski Brod operates 24 hours daily, with separate lanes for pedestrians and vehicles.
