Day One: Visit the Cathedral and Church in the Morning:
The best way to start the first day is with a cup of coffee. And what can be better than a strong black Bosnian coffee? Caffe Vegas, on Bulevar Zivojina Misica, is a five-minute walk from central Banja Luka and makes a good spot for inexpensive morning drinks and breakfast.
Follow the street west and head to the gold and brown, Byzantine-style Cathedral. Christ the Saviour Cathedral is Banja Luka’s main attraction and centrepiece, with the giant golden dome dominating the city’s skyline. Inside, you can admire the colourful frescoes of saints and religious icons decorating the walls. Expect to spend at least 45 minutes enjoying the manicured lawns and taking photographs of both the interior and exterior of this massive structure. Visiting here is one of the best things to do in Banja Luka.
Banski Dvor, the palace of the former governor of the kingdom of Yugoslavia, is opposite Christ the Saviour. The white Renaissance structure is now a cultural centre. Regular exhibitions and concerts take place here, so it may be a good idea to check what’s happening when you’re visiting.
Continue walking northwest from the Cathedral and Banski Dvor to Banja Luka’s most photographed attraction, the Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure. The sci-fi-like church has a curved roof forming the central tower with the bell tower reaching 42 metres (138 feet).
As lunchtime approaches, you have a choice between grabbing a burek from one of the bakeries. Or head to one of the nearby cafés (either CoMBo, Dionis or Barcelona) for a light lunch and drink.