Ilidža: Nature, Culture and Thermal Attractions

Ilidža combines a distinctive waterscape with walking paths, archaeological remains and thermal attractions. If you are looking for a hotel in Ilidža, you can plan your trip around these interests: Vrelo Bosne and the Velika Aleja are ideal for nature and outdoor activities, Butmir and Rimski Most add historical interest, and the Thermal Riviera offers pools and programmes.

Springs, Lakes and Avenues

Vrelo Bosne is the source area of the Bosna River. There are six springs and numerous watercourses there, which converge to form a single stream called Mala Bosna. The names refer to different parts of the waterscape: Vrelo Bosne is the source area, and Mala Bosna is the watercourse that flows from it.

Purpose-built walking paths in Vrelo Bosne provide access to lakes inhabited by swans. The area has facilities for spending time in nature as well as a children's playground.

The Velika Aleja is ideal for walking, jogging and cycling. It is one of the avenues Velika and Mala Aleja, laid out in 1893. A total of 3,000 chestnut and plane trees were planted along both avenues.

Take the Tram to the Velika Aleja

You can reach Vrelo Bosne by tram to the last stop in Ilidža. From there, it is about a ten-minute walk to the start of the Velika Aleja. This time estimate applies only to the walk from the stop to the beginning of the avenue. The Velika and Mala Aleja are 3.5 km long combined; this figure refers to the length of the avenue complex, not the walking time from the stop. For your planning, you should therefore consider the walk to the start and exploring the avenues as separate parts of your trip.

Archaeology and History

The Butmir archaeological site lies on the right bank of the Željeznica, not far from the modern settlement of Butmir. It is the oldest and best-known archaeological site in Ilidža; the prehistoric settlement of Butmir is designated a National Monument. The Plandištu Bridge, known as Rimski Most, is another protected cultural monument.

Settlement in Ilidža began as early as the 1st century AD. A Roman settlement developed around sulphur springs known for their healing properties. The ancient settlement flourished most in the 3rd century, by which time it had already attained the status of a colony. The early beginning of settlement and the later period of prosperity are distinct chronological reference points in Ilidža's history.

Thermal Attractions

The Ilidža Thermal Riviera offers visitors indoor and outdoor pools as well as numerous water-based and entertainment programmes. This offers a different focus from walking paths and archaeological sites: here, the emphasis is on pools and programmes, while the other attractions are about outdoor activities and history.

Discover more destinations: Umoljani, Trnovo, Vrančići, Ljubovčići, Ilijaš, Faletići, Garež, Vogošća

For the main travel overview: Sarajevo Canton.