| Destination | Distance (km) | Drive time* | Highlights | Ideal car |
| Jajce & Pliva Lakes | 72 | 1 h 25 min | Medieval fortress, 21 m waterfall, lake mills | Compact |
| Una National Park | 120 | 1 h 55 min | Štrbački Buk falls, rafting | SUV |
| Kozara National Park | 50 | 55 min | WW2 memorial, hiking loops | Economy |
| Krupa na Vrbasu | 25 | 35 min | Monastery, wooden watermills | Any |
| Teslić & Banja Vrućica Spa | 87 | 1 h 20 min | Thermal pools, forest wellness trail | Automatic |
1 Jajce & the Pliva Lakes
Route (M-16 ➔ E-661) Exit Banja Luka south, follow M-16 along Vrbas canyon—spectacular at sunrise. Fuel note: the last 24-h station before Jajce is Nestro Jezero (KM 2.75 / l diesel).
To-do list
- Pliva Waterfall (09:30) – KM 10 entry, pay cash at kiosk; best light hits the falls until 11:00.
- Citadel Fortress – free street parking on Ulica Hrvoja Vukčića; KM 5 ticket via QR code.
- Lunch – river trout at Kod Asima, KM 22 set menu.
- Pliva Lake mills – 6 km west; free parking, wooden huts from 17th c.
Parking tip The “Vodopad” lot fills by 11:00 in July; overflow signed P2 adds 600 m walk.
Time budget6–7 h round-trip.
2 Una National Park & Štrbački Buk
Route (E-661 ➔ R-408) Border crossing at Ostrožac (Bosnia ➔ Croatia ➔ Bosnia) – Green Card required; included with all rentals, free in TotalCover.
Key stops
- Štrbački Buk viewpoint – KM 20 park ticket covers all trails.
- Raft Una – book 48 h ahead (KM 95 pp, cash or card).
- Kulenvakuf Ottoman bridge – sunset photo, no fee.
Road note Last 20 km are single-lane asphalt; pot-holes fixed April 2025 but still rough—take an SUV.
3 Kozara National Park
Route (M-4 ➔ R-477) – newly resurfaced 2024.
- Park entry KM 4.
- Mrakovica WW2 monument – climb 394 steps for 360° view.
- 6 km “Staza Zdravlja” loop—gentle, shaded, ideal for families.
Food Lodge restaurant dishes KM 12–18; try venison stew.
4 Krupa na Vrbasu Half-Day Escape
- Monastery (13th c.) – free, modest dress.
- Wooden watermills – restored 2022; locals grind corn weekends.
- Ćevapi at Krupa Inn – KM 10, riverside deck.
Leave Banja Luka at 15:00; back by 20:00—perfect post-meeting unwind.
5 Teslić & Banja Vrućica Thermal Spa
Why goNatural 36 °C mineral water, new forest-hammock trail (opened May 2025).
- Day-pass KM 30 (includes sauna world).
- Secure indoor parking KM 2 /h.
- Electric charging (22 kW) free for spa guests.
Before you drive
- Fuel prices – diesel KM 2.75 / l, petrol 95 KM 2.60 / l (July 2025).
- Emergency – WhatsApp +387 61 123 456 responds in English/Bosnian 24 h.
- Border docs – digital Green Card in your Glovebox email; print not required.
- Road tolls – only on E-661 into Croatia (A1), pay €15, card OK.
Need wheels?
Pick an automatic or an SUV straight from our Fleet or schedule a 10-minute airport pickup.
Jajce & Pliva Lakes