Every time I visit Trebinje, I miss it the moment we drive past the town sign. Unfortunately, we come here far too rarely - it's a bit of a drive from Sarajevo, but if you're planning a trip to Bosnia, I can't recommend Trebinje enough!
The Small town simply has this relaxed, Mediterranean attitude to life, that you would otherwise find in Italy or perhaps the south of France and a super relaxed atmosphere. Plus: In Trebinje has some really great sights (one of which even narrowly missed UNESCO nomination).
As you can see, there are lots of great things to discover even in the remote south of Bosnia-Herzegovina!
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The most beautiful sights in Trebinje: quick overview
No time to read the whole article?
Here are my Top tips and sights for Trebinje:
☀️ Trebinje ist ein Relaxed, Mediterranean holiday destination - the city with the most sunny days in Bosnia
🧡 Be sure to watch: The cosy old town and the view from Hercegovačka Gračanica at sunset
🛶 Best activitiesHiking, kayaking, wine tasting
🛏️ Best accommodation: Herceg Vila
🛵 Insider tip: You have the best photo motif of Trebinje from the Ivo Andrić Bridge
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Where is Trebinje located?
Trebinje lies in the South of Bosnia and Herzegovinaalmost directly on the Croatian and Montenegrin border - from here it takes around 40 minutes to Dubronvik and around one and a half hours to Kotor.
My favourite city is not only the southernmost city, but also the sunniest in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with around 300 days of sunshine a year!
What can you expect in Trebinje?
- Mediterranean flair: Life moves at a slower pace here, the people are warm, open and relaxed. Every time I'm in Trebinje, I feel as if a piece of stress immediately falls away from me
- Great location: In the country triangle of Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro there is an incredible amount to discover: from Dubrovnik to Kotor to Mostar - and Trebinje is the perfect starting point for exploring
- Few tourists: While you can hardly stroll through the old bazaar in Mostar in summer without pushing your way through the crowds, you can still find a free table for dinner in a restaurant in the old town centre of Trebinje. It really is an insider tip as a holiday destination
- Good wine: The Herzegovina wine region is known for its excellent wine production and there are also numerous wineries in Trebinje - traditional wineries and family businesses where you can taste the autochthonous grape variety Zilavka or the fruity red wine Vranac
How many days should you plan for Trebinje?
I would give you two days for Trebinje recommend - one day to explore the city, perhaps go on a hike or a kayak trip, and one day to simply soak up the Mediterranean, decelerated lifestyle and let yourself drift. If you want to use Trebinje as a base for day trips within Bosnia, but also to Montenegro or Croatia, then you can also use easy five days stayn.
Your sample travel plan could look like this:
- Day 1: Explore Trebinje
- Day 2: Hiking or kayaking
- Day 3: Visit Dubrovnik
- Day 4: Beach day on the coast
- Day 5: Visit Kotor and Herceg Novi
💡 My tip: Do you want to be reachable and also easily navigate to restaurants and spots that I recommend in my article? Then get an eSIM from Airalo. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the EU, which means you can't use your mobile data and roaming is expensive. With a Airalo data plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina but you'll be online as soon as you arrive. You can download the app here.
The most important sights in Trebinje
The city in the southernmost tip of the country is small but mighty! Trebinje only has around 30,000 inhabitants, and you can explore the walled city centre in just a few hours. But there is still plenty to see here in the southernmost city in the Herzegovina region.
Old town of Trebinje
You enter the cute little old town centre through the old town gate Juzna Kapija, and then a wonderful view of sweet, Narrow alleyways, vine-covered houses and mosques with stone minarets. Basically, there are just a few little streets here that you can stroll through at your leisure.
You should take a look:
- Anđelkina kapijathe Angel's Gate, which was made famous by a Yugoslavian television series
- Muzej Hercegovine
- Sultan Ahmed Mosque
- Osman Pasha Resulbegović Mosque
🍧 Lokaler Tipp: The Grk ice cream parlour is an institution in Trebinje and is particularly busy in summer. You can choose from 30-40 different sundaes with fruit or chocolate - a must!
Trg Slobode
If you leave the old town through the Zapadna Kapija city gate, you will find yourself directly in front of Trg Slobode, the square of freedom in the city centre. It is lined with hundred-year-old plane trees, under which the tables and chairs of the Hotel Platani café stand romantically. Jovan Dučić Street, which leads off Trg Slobode, is a great photo opportunity.
Local tipBe sure to check out the small shop Hercegovačka Kuća - here you will find typical Herzegovinian specialities and souvenirs.
Svetog Preobraženja Gospodnjeg and City Park
If you continue walking, you will come to the city park and the Transfiguration Cathedral from the late 19th century. This Serbian Orthodox church, like so many places of worship throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, is an exciting architectural mix of several architectural styles: Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque.
Hercegovačka Gračanica
When visiting Trebinje, a trip (or alternatively a hike) up to the Hercegovačka Gračanica church is a must - ideally during golden hour or sunset, when you can take the most magical photos of Trebinje. From here, you really do have the most beautiful view of the city and the Trebišnjica river.
The Serbian Orthodox church Hercegovačka Gračanica is also really impressive. Although it is built in Byzantine style and appears to be centuries old, it was built in 2000.
Arslanagić Bridge
A few kilometres outside Trebinje, this Ottoman bridge simply stands in the countryside. Why is it outside the old town centre?
The bridge is located outside Trebinje because it connected Bosnia and Herzegovina with Herceg Novi during the Ottoman period, making Trebinje an important hub, mainly due to the salt trade.
In the 1970s, however, a reservoir for a hydroelectric power station was to be built on the site of the bridge. And so the bridge was simply dismantled and rebuilt further down along the river. Unfortunately, because the Arslanagić Bridge is no longer in its original location, it was denied UNESCO status, which only the famous bridge of Mostar in it. Nevertheless, it is impressive.
Tvrđava Strač
This fortress from the Austro-Hungarian era now towers over the town in ruins. You can only reach it on foot via a winding road through the forest and the hills on the eastern bank of the Trebišnjica river.
Unfortunately, the fortress has been completely left to decay and has not been developed for tourism. Like many places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it simply doesn't seem "exciting enough" to the authorities or it costs too much money to rebuild - but if you and many other tourists visit it, then perhaps there is hope that the cultural heritage and history of the country will be protected and preserved here too at some point.
Tvrdoš Monastery
The Serbian Orthodox monastery of Tvrdoš is the oldest wine cellar in Herzegovina. Even before the Ottomans conquered the country, the monks cultivated wine here and continued to do so when Herzegovina was part of the Ottoman Empire. Today, the monastery complex on the outskirts of the city can be visited for wine tastings.
The best photo motif in Trebinje
Here's a little insider tip: the best photo opportunity and the most beautiful view of Trebinje is from the Ivo Andrić Bridge - From here, the city simply looks like a Mediterranean dream. When you cross the bridge and on the other side at the If you walk along the Obala Luke Vukalovića promenade, you will find a few more great photo opportunities of the typical Herzegovinian stone houses in the old town, such as the picture below.
Hiking in Trebinje
There are some exciting hiking trails around Trebinje, not just up to Strač Fortress. You can also hike along the old Ćiro railway line, which connected Bosnia-Herzegovina with Dubrovnik during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or enjoy the views in the Orjen Nature Park.
If you are interested in a guided hike, please contact .Cheyf - the boutique travel agency that my husband and I founded in Sarajevo in 2022 with the aim of offering special cultural and outdoor experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Looking for your dream holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Together with my Bosnian husband, I have 2022 Cheyf a boutique travel agency for mindful travelling in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Our speciality? Customised trips where you can really get in touch with locals and immerse yourself in Bosnia. Contact us for a non-binding, customised travel offer!
The best wineries in Trebinje
In addition to the Tvrdoš winery, you should definitely plan a tasting at the Bojanić brothers, who run a small family winery. Here you will be welcomed like an old friend and Stevo will introduce you to the wine world of Herzegovina with plenty of humour and knowledge - and treat you to delicious antipasti from the region.
Other wineries in Trebinje that I can recommend:
- Vinarija Vukoje: For a great view over the city, more of a restaurant than a real wine tasting
- Vinarija BerakSmall but fine boutique winery
- Vinarija Anđelić: One of the few women-run wineries in the region
The best cafés and restaurants in Trebinje
- Bar & Restaurant "Segreto"
- Botanik Coffee & More
- Bar Undergroud
- Restaurant Humsko
- Restaurant RAS
- Restoran Kukurića Vrtovi
Where to stay in Trebinje: My hotel tips
Without question - the most beautiful accommodation in Trebinje is the Herceg Vila. The Guest House is run by a Bosnian-Canadian couple who are always keen to make their guests feel not only comfortable but also at home.
Each room is individually and cosily furnished, there is a pool and a terrace to relax and enjoy the view. My absolute recommendation for Trebinje!
Looking for another option? Here are a few other accommodations that I can recommend:
- Hotel Nar: Just outside the city, quiet and modern
- Spa & Hotel Studenac: Located directly on the river
- Hotel Humsko: With a delicious restaurant, right in the old town centre
- Hotel Integra: In an old stone house with pool & terrace
💡 My tip: I always book accommodation via booking.com. With Genius Level 3, I get a guaranteed discount - up to 25 per cent for some accommodations - and sometimes there are also great extras, such as a free breakfast or upgrade. For Level 3, you have to make 15 bookings via the platform within 2 years. Level 2 is even available for just five bookings.
Trebinje: Maps with the best sights
Wineries, viewpoints, sights in Trebinje and throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina: I have been collecting 300+ of the best places to visit in the country in an interactive travel guide since 2021 - so you have all the most important sights right on your mobile phone!
How to get to Trebinje and onward travel options
Public transport is available in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is still often limited to buses that stop at every watering can. So your best option is to drive to Trebinje in a hire car. This also gives you the greatest flexibility to get from Sarajevo or Mostar stops along the way.
From Trebinje you can take a great trip to Hercegov Novi in Montenegro and Croatiaespecially Dubvrovnik and the Dalmatian coast. Adriatic coasttravelling on.
