Banja Luka Transportation

This is Banja Luka railway station. It looks more like an airport terminal. But despite the impressive facade, train services are easily eclipsed by bus services from the more modest bus station next door. Nevetheless trains are the most comfortable and relaxing form of transport in the region. They may grind along at a leisurely pace, but it's the way to go when you have the time. There is an all-night service to Belgrade and good connections to Zagreb and Sarajevo, and there are better opportunities for socialising with fellow travellers than on buses.

Bus services throughout the former Yugoslavia are reliable and cheap and Banja Luka has excellent links to other towns within Republika Srpska; also with Zagreb, Belgrade and Sarajevo. Bus services to towns in the other of B-H's two entities are not so good.

Banja Luka is quite a small city - I found it easier just to walk everywhere instead of trying to find public transport or a taxi. Taxis are a bit expensive, public transport quite unavailable, so... Just put your sneakers on and walk, I never walked more than 40 minutes to get from one place to another.

There are only a few trains to Banja Luka, so it makes more sense, generally, to go by bus. The bus and train stations are adjacent to each other, and about a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town. (The toilets at the bus station are the worst I saw in Bosnia, for what that is worth.) The travel information posted at the bus station was not reliable, up to date or accurate, although the staff were friendly enough. (As you would expect, you'll need to speak some Bosnian/Serbian/Croation though...) Information on buses that actually go to Sarajevo itself (as opposed to the so-called "Srpsko Sarajevo", Lukavica, on the hills above the city) is as rare as gold dust.

FROM Sarajevo - there are several buses a day from the main central bus station near the railway station and the Holiday Inn. These take a more direct and more scenic route than those from Lukavica. You pass through historic towns Travnik and Jajce on the way, and some of the scenery along the Vrbas river (which itself flows into Banja Luka) is outstanding. The buses from Lukavica take a slightly more deviating route, mostly through "Republika Srpska".

If you get a bus from Banja Luka to Sarajevo and find that you have ended up in "Srpsko Sarajevo" (which is where you will get a ticket to if you ask for one to Sarajevo at the counter), it is fairly easy, but a nuisance, to get into town. Basically head right out of the bus station and carry on along the road, ignoring all the taxi drivers who will offer their services. In less than 5 minutes (at "Dobrinje") you'll see a bus layby on the right. Get the 31E bus (which starts here) into town, and get off at the road junction of the main road with the side road that leads up to the railway and bus stations (near the Holiday Inn.) Then it's a five-minute walk or so to Sarajevo bus station. Or stay on the bus, which goes right into town.

Nova Gradiska is border pass between Croatia and Bosna and Herzegovina. It is the most convinient pass when coming from Croatia, because from here you can take direction of eastern, central and western parts of the country. Many Croats use it in the summer season as a transit pass to the middle Dalmatia in order to avoid traffic jams.

Bus and train station - located about 2 kms south east of the centre, serves all main locations in BiH, as well as international buses. International trains - despite printed schedule - do not run yet (Oct. 2000) - maybe the railways agree with next timetable...
Airport - flights to Vienna (AUA Group) and Zurich (Air Srpska)
Buses - local transport. Ticket price is 0,80 KM

Banja Luka is very well connected to all major European cities. There is an internatioanl airport 25 km north from the city center which connects Banja Luka with Wien, Zurich and Belgarde.
if you are coming to Banja Luka from Zagreb, take highway E-70 towards Lipovac, and make right on Okucani exit. Continue driving right and after the tollgate make left and drive south for 50 km.
The best way to get around Banja Luka is to use taxi. Taxi is not expensive, and it will take you anywhere you want.
Public transportation is getting better every day. If you want to get from the main station to downtown take one of these buses: #6, #8, #10, #13 and make sure you get off at the post office.