Trebinje was one of them biggest surprises on our trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina – in a good way! We liked the city at the southernmost tip of the country from the first moment. The barren landscape, the mountains on the horizon, the beautiful location by the river – it just clicked between us and Trebinje.
Trebinje is not nearly as exciting as Sarajevo or as picturesque as Mostar, but scores with one pleasant calmness. If you are looking for a travel destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina off the beaten track, you have come to the right place.
In this blog article we will tell you what you can experience in Trebinje and which sights you should not miss. Curtain up for ours personal tips for Trebinje.
1. Trebinje in Bosnia: Interesting facts & first travel tips
Where is Trebinje and how do I get there?
Trebinje ist die southernmost town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The borders towards Montenegro and Croatia are only about 20 kilometers away. Popular travel destinations such as Kotor (Montenegro) or Dubrovnik (Croatia) can be reached in 1 to 1.5 hours.
It is a good idea to visit Trebinje as part of a Balkan road trip. In this respect, it is common to arrive by car. Shouldn’t you with that own car of course you can have one when you are on the go rental car book (e.g. in Sarajevo). We are happy to use this Sunny Cars.
Important if you are traveling with your own car: Because Bosnia is not part of the EU, you need the to enter the country “Green Insurance Card” for your car. This is also checked frequently. If you don’t have it with you, you may have to take out additional insurance for your car at the border.
Die roads in Bosnia are generally well developed. (“Broadly speaking” because potholes are not uncommon and you can unexpectedly end up on a gravel road.) Most of the time you drive on ordinary country roads. Motorways are currently under construction and some sections have already been opened.
More tips We will tell you how to drive in Bosnia in this article: Bosnia travel tips
What can I expect in Trebinje?
- Untouristy travel destination
We admit it: before our trip to Bosnia we had never heard of Trebinje. We were all the more surprised when we arrived. Such a nice little town and hardly any tourists. If you want to get to know Bosnia and Herzegovina from its authentic side, you’ve come to the right place.
- Great location
Trebinje is beautifully situated in the valley of the Trebišnjica river and surrounded by spectacular mountains. Although Trebinje is located in the barren hinterland of Bosnia (and therefore a few kilometers away from the sea), we immediately felt like we were on holiday. This may also be due to the fact that Trebinje is a well-known wine-growing region and there are numerous vineyards on the hills around the town.
- Surprisingly impressive sights
We were also very enthusiastic about the great sights. The Hercegovačka Gračanica monastery deserves special mention here. We would never have expected such an impressive building in Trebinje.
- Surprisingly impressive sights
How many days should I plan for Trebinje?
The old town of the 30,000-inhabitant town of Trebinje is comparatively manageable. At one day you can easily explore the most important sights. We would definitely recommend staying the night.
If you also want to head for a few excursion destinations in the area or pay a visit to a winery, then it is a good idea to do it right away two to three nights to stay.
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2. Overnight stays in Trebinje: our hotel tip
We never expected that we would find one of the most beautiful accommodations of our Bosnia trip in Trebinje. But we have! The beautiful Prince Vila we can only warmly recommend for a stay in Trebinje.
It is run by a Canadian-Bosnian couple. You can tell from the first moment attention to detail. (And that is unfortunately still a rarity in the accommodations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.)
Die Zimmer are very comfortable and cosily furnished with many extras. We had a room with a view of the river, which of course was particularly nice. The hotel’s own pool, which is ideal for a refreshment, is also great.
The extremely friendly staff deserves a very special mention, especially the Canadian boss. Not only did she have great tips ready, her every wish was read from your lips.
Our conclusion: A little insider tip in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We would not hesitate for a second and stay here again. Highly recommended!
Here you can book the hotel: Prince Vila
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3. Sights in Trebinje
Gracanica, Herzegovina
The most important and probably also most impressive sight in Trebinje is the Serbian Orthodox monastery Hercegovačka Gračanica. It is enthroned on a hill above the old town and cannot be overlooked. One should definitely not leave Trebinje without having been up here once.
We have to disappoint anyone who suspected a historical building: The monastery dates from the year 2000 Still, it’s impressive, no question about it. The monastery was built in the Byzantine style as a tomb for the poet Jovan Dučić. The Gračanica monastery in Kosovo served as a model.
Definitely worth even a short one View inside to throw, but we personally found the outside view and of course the view down towards the city particularly impressive.
From up here, Trebinje lies at your feet – really awesome panoramic view. You should definitely go a few steps further in the direction of the open-air theater. From there you can see great down towards the Arslanagić Bridge.
Arslanagić-Brücke
One of the most famous sights in Trebinje is the Arslanagić Bridge. The medieval stone arch bridge spans the Trebišnjica River about a kilometer north of the center.
The bridge comes from 16th Century. It originally stood at a different location (about 5 kilometers away) and was relocated in the 1970s, i.e. dismantled and rebuilt.
You can reach the bridge from the old town in about 15 minutes walk. On the east bank you can walk all the way along the river.
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Serbisch-Orthodoxe Kirche („Church of the Holy Transfiguration of God“)
one of the most important sacred buildings is the Serbian Orthodox Church called “Church of the Holy Transfiguration of God”. It is located in the extensive, very well-kept and worth seeing park of Trebinje.
The Church United several architectural styles. Its construction was completed at the beginning of the 20th century. It is definitely worth visiting the interior of the church as well.
Altstadt & Trg Slobode
Within the historic city walls is the old town of Trebinje. It is accessible via several gates and, in addition to many cafes and bars, is also home to the two most famous mosques in Trebinje.
- Osman-Pasha Mosque
- Sultan Ahmed Mosque
The stretches out in front of the gates of the old town extensive trg slobode (“Liberty Square”), so to speak the main square of Trebinje. In the cafés in the shade of the gigantic plane trees, locals and holidaymakers enjoy their coffee. In the morning there is a farmer’s market at Trg Slobode.
Kloster Tvrdoš
About five kilometers outside of Trebinje, another attraction awaits you that you should not miss: Das Serbian Orthodox Monastery of Tvrdoš.
The monastery was founded in the 15th century. The plant is not too extensive and consists of several buildings. The church with its magnificent interior is particularly worth seeing.
The monastery is famous for its wine growing – it is wonderfully idyllic in the middle of grapevines. If you are interested in wine, you could have one Cellar tour and tasting be of interest.
Important: pay attention appropriate clothing (shoulders and knees covered). If necessary, towels are also provided on site to pull over. In the adjacent Souvenir-Shop you can buy wines and spirits from our own production. (Unfortunately, the olive oil came from Greece, otherwise we would have taken it with us.)
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4. Eating & drinking in Trebinje: tips for cafes and restaurants
Restaurant Kukurića Vrtovi: A great, highly recommended restaurant located right on the riverbank, just outside the centre. Bosnian cuisine is served – lots of meat and fish, but also some vegetarian dishes. Make a reservation, the restaurant is very popular.
Botanical: A surprisingly hip cafe near the old town of Trebinje. Here you will find a wide variety of coffee specialties and homemade cakes. At the time of our visit, you were allowed to smoke indoors (as is unfortunately often the case in Bosnia), but fortunately there is a wonderful green inner courtyard.
Leotar Bakery: A nondescript bakery, but perfect for a quick burek on the go (e.g. on the return trip from the Old Town to Arslanagić Bridge).
Herzeg House: Looking for culinary souvenirs to take home? Then we can warmly recommend the Herzeg House. Here you can find honey, jam and many other delicacies.
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5. Map: All sights and tips at a glance
For a better overview, we have marked all the sights and tips for Trebinje on this interactive map. A little tip: If you click on the rectangle at the top right, you can download the card to your Smartphone (Google-Maps-App) save on computer. (Important: Bosnia is not part of the EU and therefore there is no free roaming. Either organize data volume in advance with your network provider or buy a local SIM card locally.)
Transparency: Affiliate links
This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we will receive a small commission. For you, this does not change the price at all. A thousand thanks from both of us!
