Banja Luka Travel Forum

My wife and I will be flying into Rijeka and then hiring a car to drive down to Banja Luka.

Can anybody please suggest a route that will get us there quickly? As much as I would like to take my time and see the sights we are on a tight schedule.

How long will the journey take?

Many thanks,
Ken

Hi Ken, I've just seen zour query. Hope my reply will be in time to help.

There is only one way to go, which is via Zagreb, crossing the river (and border) at Bosanski Gradiska. I've done the journey a few times but with stops and distractions along the way, no I've never taken close account of the time it takes. My guess is about two hours to Zagreb, another hour-and-a-half to B. Gradiska and then an hour to Banja Luka.

From Rijeka follow signs for Zagreb, and you will find your way on to a toll road (not expensive). Near Zagreb you will see signs for Slavonski Brod. Follow these rather than those for Zagreb. After skirting the south side of Zagreb you will be on the main Zagreb-S.Brod route, another toll road. Eventually you need to turn off to the right for B.Gradiska, but in Croatia there seems to be some reluctance to put this town (and even Banja Luka) on road signs, presumablz because it's in B-H. You might see signs to Okucani instead (same turn-off).

You could be delayed for maybe 30 minutes getting through customs. If you're behind a truck, be alert for someone waving you forward. The truck could be there for hours. Beyond customs, sheer anarchy rules in Gradiska's narrow roads. Your route is likely to be blocked at some stage by oncoming cars and even buses, squeezing past the queued trucks. You just have to fight your corner and be brave!