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Banja Luka is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the largest city in the Republic of Srpska with the population of about 300 000. The city is situated on a mountain river Vrbas, surrounded by other smaller rivers, hills, mountains and other natural beauties. Banja Luka is a city of youth and greenery, and numerous city streets are decorated with tree-lined streets, boulevards, parks and picnic areas with large trees. The city is located in the northwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it is characterized by a continental climate with warm summers and colder winters.

On every street corner in Banja Luka there are numerous tourist signs pointing to local tourist attractions, historical and cultural monuments, so getting around the city will not be a problem for you. There are also tourist offices with all the information you might need. Banja Luka hosts many international sports competitions and similar events every year, the most popular so far are the European Rafting Championship 2005, World Rafting Championship 2009 and European Kayak and Canoe Championship in 2011. Numerous night clubs, festival, concerts and parties will make sure that you have an unforgettable time in the city of Banja Luka.

Banja Luka is located at the crossroads of European roads and that is why coming to Banja Luka is not a problem. You can arrive by plane, bus, train, car, bike or on foot.

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More information about coming from other european cities to Banja Luka can be found on the ViaMichelin website.

Getting around in Banja Luka will not pose a problem because there are numerous tourist signs in the city pointing to local tourist attractions, major medical and administrative facilities. Also, there are tourist offices with all the necessary information that may be required.

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Currency
The official currency in Banja Luka and Bosnia and Herzegovina is KM (convertible mark or BOSNIAN CONVERTIBLE MARK - BAM; 1KM = 100 fenings) and your money can be exchanged in exchange offices or in one of the many banks. Banknotes are in denominations of 10KM, 20KM, 50KM, 100KM and 200KM while coins are 1KM, 2KM, 5KM or 10, 20 and 50 fenings. You can check out online currency converter for detailed exchange rates.
Credit cards are accepted at most places in the city, and also there is a large number of ATM’s. 

Bank working hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00 to 19:00
Saturday: 8:00 to 13:00
Sunday is not a working day

Currency Exchange Office
Monday - Saturday: 8:00 to 18:00
Sunday is not a working day

Parking
In Banja Luka, there is a large number of parking spaces in the city center and in the vicinity. On every parking lot there is a parking meter machine where you can buy a parking ticket. The machine accepts coins in denominations of 50 pfennig, 1KM, 2KM and 5KM. Once you have purchased a ticket for parking it is necessary to put it in your car in plain sight as a confirmation that you have paid for parking. Parking meter machine does not returng your change!
Parking is paid by the hour, and the price depends on the proximity of downtown so there are two zones:
Zone 1 (RED ZONE) - in the city center. The cost for each hour of parking is 1KM or for an entire day 5KM.
Zone 2 (BLUE ZONE) - downtown vicinity. The cost for each hour of parking is 50 pfennig or a whole day 3KM.
Payment of parking can also be made via your mobile phone. You need to send SMS message with your licence plate number (without spaces, lines) to the corresponding phone number.

In the area of Banja Luka and its surroundings, one can appreciate a continuous development of human settlements from the prehistoric period until the present time. The area was first settled thanks to its rich natural resources and later due to its suitable geographic, traffic and strategic position. The name of Banja Luka was first mentioned in the chart signed by the Hungarian King Ladislau II Jagellionian in 1494, written in Latin and issued in Buda (present Budapest).It has been assumed that the city bore the same name even earlier.