Travnik's old town and fortress above the Lašva valley
DarBosnia Official DarBosnia account Sarajevo

Central Bosnia

Travnik travel guide

Region
Central Bosnia Canton
From Sarajevo
95 km · 1 h 30 min
Best time
April–October (Vlašić for snow in winter)
Time to allow
Half a day

Quick answer

Travnik is about 95 km from Sarajevo — roughly an hour and a half by road. From 1699 to 1850 it was the seat of the Ottoman viziers of Bosnia, and the compact old town still shows it: a painted mosque, vizier tombs, clock towers and a fortress above the cold Plava Voda springs. Half a day is enough; most visitors pair it with Jajce.

The town of the viziers

For a century and a half, Travnik was where the Ottoman governors of Bosnia lived and ruled, and European consuls followed them here. The town grew along the narrow Lašva valley, with mosques, tombs of viziers and clock towers on one long street and the fortress watching from above.

Travnik's old town below the fortress
Travnik

Today it is a quiet, friendly stop. Walk from the Colourful Mosque up to the fortress, then down to Plava Voda, where the springs run cold even in August. Travnik cheese and grilled meat are on every menu.

Travnik pairs naturally with Jajce, about an hour further west, and features in our 7-day highlights on the way back to Sarajevo.

Explore

What to see

#PlaceWhat it isTime neededGoogle Maps
1The Colourful Mosque (Sulejmanija)Mosque30–60 min
Google Maps Directions
2Travnik fortressFortressAbout 1 h
Google Maps Directions
3Plava Voda springsSprings & restaurants1–2 h
Google Maps Directions
4Ivo Andrić's birth houseMuseum30–60 min
Google Maps Directions
5Vlašić mountainSki & mountain resortHalf a day
Google Maps Directions
All these places in one routeGoogle Maps ↗

  1. The Colourful Mosque (Sulejmanija)

    Named for the painted decoration on its walls, the Colourful Mosque stands on the main street above a row of small shops — one of the most photographed mosques in Bosnia.

    Google Maps Directions

  2. Travnik fortress

    The medieval fortress, later strengthened by the Ottomans, has walls and a tower you can climb for a view over the old town and the Lašva valley.

    Google Maps Directions

  3. Plava Voda springs

    Cold, clear springs rush out below the fortress through a shaded valley of small bridges and restaurants — the classic place for lunch, grilled trout or Travnik cheese.

    Google Maps Directions

  4. Ivo Andrić's birth house

    A small museum about the Nobel Prize-winning writer, born near Travnik in 1892, whose novel "Bosnian Chronicle" is set in the town of the viziers.

    Google Maps Directions

  5. Vlašić mountain

    The mountain above Travnik has ski slopes in winter and meadows in summer, and gives its name to the famous white sheep's cheese of the region.

    Google Maps Directions

Practical notes

  • The old town is small and walkable; parking is easiest near Plava Voda.
  • Mosques welcome visitors outside prayer times; dress modestly.
  • In winter, roads up to Vlašić need winter tyres and sometimes chains.
FromToDistanceDrive time
SarajevoTravnik95 km1 h 30 min
JajceTravnik55 km1 h 5 min
TravnikVisoko62 km1 h 5 min

Road distance and drive time without stops, calculated with OSRM on OpenStreetMap data (October 2026). Mountain roads, weather, border queues and photo stops add time.

Prices, timetables and entry rules change. We checked the facts on this page on the date shown; confirm time-sensitive details before you travel.

Top places

Places to see in Travnik

See all places on the map

  • Central Bosnia95 km · 1 h 30 min from Sarajevo

    Travnik and Plava Voda

    The old town of the Ottoman viziers, with its fortress, painted mosque and the cold springs of Plava Voda.

    • History & heritage
    • Great for families
    Read the guideDirections

Questions travellers ask

Is Travnik worth a stop?

Yes — it is on the way from Sarajevo to Jajce, and the old town, the Colourful Mosque and lunch at Plava Voda fit into two or three hours.

How far is Travnik from Sarajevo?

About 95 km, around an hour and a half without stops. Many visitors combine it with Jajce in one long day with a car and driver.

What is Travnik famous for?

For being the seat of the Ottoman viziers of Bosnia, for the writer Ivo Andrić, and for Travnik (Vlašić) cheese.

Sources and further reading

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