Vila Vrbas

Banja Luka


Twelve rooms with high ceilings, starched sheets, glossy woodwork and high-pressure showers are slightly marred by paintings of writhing or blurry nudes. Riverside rooms have glimpses of the Kastel fortress through the foliage of mature plane trees, as does the long-established terrace restaurant downstairs.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Banja Luka attractions

1. Kastel Fortress

0.11 MILES

The chunky walls of this large, squat riverside fortress enclose mainly unremarkable parkland. It's thought there's been a fort here since Neolithic and…

2. Ferhadija Mosque

0.21 MILES

The standout sight in Banja Luka is this small but gorgeous mosque, built in 1579 at the behest of Ottoman district commander Ferhat-paša Sokolović. It…

3. Museum of Republika Srpska

0.31 MILES

This large museum walks visitors through local history, from archaeological relics to a graphic display on the horrors of the Ustaše concentration camps…

4. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

0.51 MILES

Banja Luka's Serbian-Byzantine–style Orthodox cathedral is an impressive structure of layered gold-brown and crab-pink stones rising to golden domes and…

5. Ljubačke Dolina Ethno Village

6.95 MILES

This small but charming 'village' of around 30 rescued and reconstructed historical rural buildings is packed with rustic artefacts and layered up a…

6. Krupa Waterfalls

10.55 MILES

Secluded in the Vrbas River valley, between Banja Luka and Jajce, these exceedingly pretty cascades are rendered even more photogenic by a set of log…

7. Pliva Lakes

29.01 MILES

These two idyllic lakes, west of Jajce, reflect the surrounding wooded mountains in their clear waters, and are popular for boating and simply strolling…

8. Jajce Fortress

29.54 MILES

Jajce's fortress ruins have a powerful aspect when seen from afar, but inside is mostly bald grass. The ramparts offer sweeping views of the valleys and…