10 Things You Must Do in Trebinje

more than a year ago

This doesn’t need a long introduction, waffling away before getting into the meat of the subject like, oh lord, like Boris Johnson. These are the 10 things you must do in Trebinje, in no particular order. Just get them all done. All of them. Every single one.

Tick off another Mount Rushmore bridge

Not a literal Mount Rushmore bridge, silly. Bosnia & Herzegovina is lucky enough to be blessed with a vast array of stunning stone bridges, four of which stand out amongst the crowds. Trebinje’s Arslanagić Bridge is undoubtedly a member of that quartet and is an absolute must when in the city. The stone stunner is just a short walk from the centre of town, and more than 400 years of regional history awaits. Keep an eye out for the lewd graffiti in the middle, a decent metaphor for how many approach history.

Wander the old town

Come on, this is Bosnia & Herzegovina, we’re pretty sure ‘wander the old town’ can be copy and pasted into any and all articles at this point. Trebinje’s Stari Grad is one of the best, a self-contained beauty full of cafes, charm, mosques and restaurants. The Museum of Herzegovina can also be found here.

Mingle at the market

Trebinje’s central market is a hive of activity, where local folk come to gossip as much as they do engage in the art of commerce. This is the main square in town, a plaza with a tragic history — it was here that Srdjan Aleksić was murdered during the war. Despite that tragedy the square remains the central nervous system of Trebinje today.

Follow in the footsteps of literary royalty

Few regional poets can lay claim to as much importance and influence as Trebinje’s Jovan Dučić, and we’re not just talking about his splendid moustache. Trebinje is Dučić Central and at times the town can feel like one big love letter to the great man.

Hike up to a gorgeous church

Sticking with Dučić, one of his last desires was for his remains to be returned to Trebinje and buried in a beautiful church overlooking the city, a dream that finally came true in 2000. The Hercegovača Gračanica is a stunning monastery on the Crkvina hill, offering incredible views of the city and no small amount of spiritual serenity.

Wine, wine, wine

You’re in wine country now and don’t you forget it. This part of Herzegovina is famous for the quality of its plonk, and Trebinje is surrounded by a seriously impressive collection of wineries. Tvrdoš offers the tranquility of a monastery alongside the wine, while Vukoje and Anđelić produce some of the best wine in the region.

Not an oenophile? Follow the yellow brick road…

There is more to booze in Trebinje than wine, of course there is. You might not associate Herzegovina with quality craft beer but all that is about to change, courtesy of one young chap from Kansas. OZ Craft Beer is one of the best independent brewers we’ve come across, and a trip to the brewery is a must for anyone even vaguely interested in good beer.

Sun, sea, swimming and more sun

Trebinje is known as the ‘City of Sun’, and the city of sun has its very own ‘Sun City’ waiting just outside. It really isn’t as confusing as that hints at, don’t worry. Grad Sunca is a modern development some 10km outside the city, a mass of luxury accommodation and top quality swimming, a hyper popular place in the summer for people of all ages. If you’re looking for a dip in Trebinje, look no further.

Pay your respects

There is a lot more to Bosnia & Herzegovina than three years of conflict at the beginning of the ‘90s, but the recent nature of the war means visitors must at the very least be understanding and aware. The Spomen Soba (Memorial House) is a recent development in the city centre and contains the photographs and details of men and boys who died in the battle for the city.

Get in touch with your spiritual side

The area around Trebinje is home to some gorgeous monasteries, such as the aforementioned Tvrdoš and the Monastery of St. Peter and Paul. Our favourite is the understated Duži Monastery, a picture of serenity surrounded by gorgeous countryside. Duži has long played an important role in the history of Trebinje and its spiritual community and you can learn all about that by visiting the place itself.

Trebinje