Vrelo Bosne Park Tour

Vrelo Bosne: the Source of the Bosna River

Vrelo Bosne is where the Bosna river, which gives the country its name, springs from the ground at the foot of Mount Igman. Dozens of cold, clear springs rise between rocks and meadows and join into streams, small lakes and waterfalls, crossed by wooden footbridges. The park has been a protected natural monument for decades and is one of the most loved green spaces around Sarajevo.

Swans and ducks glide on the pools, and in summer the shade of the old trees keeps the park cool even on hot days. Plan about an hour to walk the paths slowly and take photos. If you are asking whether Vrelo Bosne is worth visiting, the answer is yes, especially for a calm break from the city.

The Great Avenue and the Spa Town of Ilidža

Vrelo Bosne lies at the end of the Great Avenue, a straight road of about three kilometres lined with tall plane and chestnut trees, laid out in the late 19th century during Austro-Hungarian rule. It links the park with Ilidža, a spa suburb whose warm sulphur springs were already used in Roman times, when a Roman spa settlement stood here.

The avenue is closed to most traffic and is loved by walkers, cyclists and the horse-drawn carriages that carry visitors to the springs; the carriage ride is optional and paid separately. Your guide explains the history of Ilidža and why the Habsburgs turned it into a fashionable resort. Knowing how to get to Vrelo Bosne from Sarajevo is easy with our pickup.

Stojčevac Park at the Foot of Mount Igman

Close to the springs, Stojčevac is a forested park on the lower slopes of Mount Igman, one of the mountains that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Paths wind through beech and pine woods, past meadows and small streams, and the air is noticeably fresher than in the city below.

It is a favourite with Sarajevo families at weekends and a good place for a short walk with your guide, who points out the local flora and the stories of the area. The best time to visit Vrelo Bosne and Stojčevac is from spring to autumn, when the meadows are green; in winter the park takes on a quiet beauty under snow.

The Roman Bridge over the Bosna

The last stop is the Roman Bridge, a stone bridge over the young Bosna river near Ilidža. Despite its name it was built by the Ottomans between 1530 and 1550, reusing stone blocks from the nearby Roman remains, some of which still show Latin inscriptions. Its graceful stone arches make it one of the oldest surviving bridges in the Sarajevo area.

Today it is a protected national monument surrounded by fields and trees, and a peaceful place for photos away from the crowds. Your guide shows you the reused Roman stones and explains how the bridge served the old road towards the Adriatic. After the visit you return to your hotel, about four hours after pickup.