Guide to Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Travnik is a small town between Sarajevo and Jajce in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s a town that’s best seen as part of a day trip. Thanks to the proximity of its attractions, you can feasibly see most everything within a few hours at most. 

This fortified town grew into prominence in the 15th century as a capital for Ottoman viziers of the Bosnian kingdom. Today it is a much calmer, humbler town with a few important sites to visit. Here’s our short guide to Travnik.

What to do and see

Travnik Castle

The fortress on top of Travnik is the crowning glory of a visit here. It offers wonderful views of the town and the surrounding valley. The walls and various parts of the fortress are well preserved. You’ll also find a variety of exhibits from ethnographic to art galleries and history within the grounds, plus some souvenir shopping. It’s a wonderful place to visit, larger than Jajce’s fortress. If you can only visit one place in Travnik, this is the top candidate.

Ornamental Mosque

This is another major highlight of Travnik. While this mosque is relatively small, it’s pretty gorgeous. Intricate carving and colors inside and outside the mosque make it worth at least ten minutes of your time. The door on the outside is often closed outside of prayer times, but you can still open it and visit. Definitely go inside. You’ll find out very quickly why it’s called the ornamental or colorful mosque.

Jeni (Hasan Aga) Mosque

Another pretty mosque you can visit before or after visiting the fortress/castle. There’s a cemetery in the inner courtyard which you can also see. It’s not a must-see location in Travnik, but if you’ve got the time, you can certainly visit to snap a few photos. Otherwise, seeing it from a distance gives you a chance to admire its beauty against the landscape and surrounding town.

Old Clock Tower

The old clock tower is actually located in a grassy parking lot. It’s nice for a few photographs but again nothing necessary to visit to understand Travnik. The tower was constructed to inform residents of the town about the times for prayer. See it before or after you trek up to the fortress.

Plava Voda

Plava Voda is surrounded by touristy shops and eateries. It’s an interesting natural springs. You’ll find small ponds around the area filled with fish and some scenic photo ops. Plava Voda is a National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the historic source of Travnik’s potable water. The springs may not seem like much when you visit but they’re the source of the Travnik river and a significant historical and cultural landmark of the city.

Regional Museum

You’ve probably seen many ethnographic and regional museums on offer throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina by now. So you might be familiar with the offerings here. You can find Roman and Ottoman artifacts at the Regional Museum. There is also a photograph exhibit and explanations of how various religious beliefs have blended together in Travnik. Furniture, jewelry, and clothes from the Ottoman era are also on display.

Memorial Museum “Birthplace of Ivo Andrić”

Andrić is a Nobel Prize winner in literature. Rightly so, Travnik is proud of his legacy. The novelist’s home is on display here, along with some biographical information. This museum is worth a short visit if you’re interested in the novelist or just seeing a typical Balkans house museum.

How to get there

Public Transportation

Public transportation is limited here, just like Jajce. It’s possible to get here on a bus line but can be inconvenient. It’s much easier to visit in your own rental car or as part of a tour.

Group Tour

You can find a variety of group tours that will take out to Travnik as part of a larger day trip. Funky Tours and Meet Bosnia are both good companies that offer excursions to the area. As an added benefit, you’ll get guides that will tell you more about the history and cultural impotence of the sites in Travnik and elsewhere.

Rental Car

The most convenient way to get to Travnik is renting your own car. The town is only 90 km from Sarajevo, so it’s relatively easy to visit. Plus it fits in well if you’re headed to or from Jajce. 

Final Tips

• This is a wonderful addition to a road trip between Sarajevo and Jajce. 
• If you’re trying to choose between staying in Jajce or Travnik, I recommend Jajce. Jajce is better built for tourists and just seems a little more lively for an overnight. It’s got more attractions too.
• In the winter, if you’re into skiing, you could fit this into a trip visiting Vlašić for some downhill adventures as well.