Trebinje is the southernmost city in Bosnia-Herzegovina — a compact walled town on the Trebišnjica River, set between karst mountains at the edge of the Mediterranean climate zone. It has an old town (Stari Grad) of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture, a Serb Orthodox monastery with its own winery, and a pedestrian promenade along the river lined with plane trees planted by French soldiers under Napoleon.
Trebinje is 30 km from Dubrovnik. For travellers on the Adriatic coast, it is the most accessible piece of Bosnia. For travellers driving from Skopje, it connects naturally into a circuit with Dubrovnik and Kotor.
Distance and Drive Time
Skopje to Trebinje: approximately 480–520 km
Drive time: 6–7 hours including border stops
Dubrovnik to Trebinje: 30 km | ~40 minutes
Mostar to Trebinje: 135 km | ~1.5 hours
Kotor to Trebinje: 100 km | ~1.5 hours
The Route: Skopje to Trebinje
Via Montenegro (Recommended)
Skopje → Tetovo → Albanian border (Blato) →
Shkoder → Podgorica (Montenegro) →
Trebinje border at Ilino Brdo → Trebinje
Distance: ~480 km | Time: ~6.5 hours | Borders: 2
The approach from Montenegro through the Sutorman Pass is spectacular — the road descends through limestone mountains toward the Trebišnjica valley with Trebinje visible below.
Alternatively, from Kotor, follow the road to Herceg Novi then turn northeast toward the Bosnia border (rather than northwest toward Croatia).
Via Serbia and Sarajevo
Skopje → Tabanovce (Serbia) → Nis → Sarajevo →
M6.2 south toward Foča → Trebinje
Distance: ~580 km | Time: ~8 hours | Borders: 3
This is the route to combine with Sarajevo or Mostar. The mountain road from Foča to Trebinje passes through the Sutjeska National Park region.
Insurance: Green Card Zone 2
Green Card Zone 2 (€70 per rental) covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, and Zone 1 countries (Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria).
This single supplement covers every country in the Trebinje circuit (Skopje → Albania → Montenegro → Bosnia → Croatia/Dubrovnik detour → return).
What to See in Trebinje
Stari Grad (Old Town)
Trebinje's old town is enclosed within 18th-century walls — a rectangular Ottoman fortification built by the grand vizier Osman Resulbegović in 1726. The walls and bastions are largely intact; you can walk along them and look down into the town.
Inside, the architecture mixes Ottoman residential buildings with Austro-Hungarian administrative buildings from the post-1878 period. The main square (Trg slobode) has an 18th-century clock tower and cafes with terrace seating.
The plane trees: In the early 19th century, French soldiers stationed in Trebinje during the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces planted plane trees along the river promenade. The trees — now 200 years old — create a shaded boulevard that is the social center of the city in summer.
Tvrdoš Monastery and Winery
Tvrdoš Monastery (5 km southwest of Trebinje) is a Serbian Orthodox monastery founded in the 4th century, rebuilt in the 15th century. The monks have operated a winery since the medieval period; current production focuses on Vranac (red) and Žilavka (white).
Wine tasting: The monastery winery offers tastings and sells bottles directly. Tvrdoš Vranac has won international awards. The combination of active monastery and functioning winery in a 15th-century stone building is unusual.
Access: Drive 5 km from Trebinje toward Mostar/Nikšić. Signposted. Free entry to the monastery church; winery tastings available most days.
Arslanagić Bridge
The Arslanagić Bridge (also Perovića Bridge) is an Ottoman bridge from the 1574, relocated in 1972 when the Trebišnjica River was dammed. The bridge was dismantled stone by stone and reassembled at its current location — a rare example of a preserved Ottoman bridge with double arches. It spans a minor waterway now rather than the original river course.
Access: 2 km from the city center, signposted. Free access. Best photographed in morning light.
Hercegovačka Gračanica (Crkva na brdu)
On the hill above the old town, the Church of the Transfiguration (built 1999–2000) is an Orthodox church in the style of a 14th-century Serbian monastery. It was built to hold the remains of the Trebinje-born poet Jovan Dučić.
The church itself is architecturally modern-medieval; the views from the hill over Trebinje, the river valley, and the surrounding karst mountains are the primary draw.
Access: Drive up the hill road (5 minutes from center) or walk (30–40 minutes). Small parking area at the top. Free entry.
Combining Trebinje with Dubrovnik
Trebinje is 30 km from Dubrovnik — one of the few combinations in the Balkans where you can visit both an EU coastal resort city and a Bosnian inland town in the same half-day.
From Trebinje to Dubrovnik:
- Cross the Bosnia/Croatia border at Klek or at the main E65 crossing toward Dubrovnik
- 30–40 minutes depending on the border wait
- Croatia requires a vignette (€10 for 10 days)
What this combination looks like in practice:
- Morning: drive from Kotor (or Herceg Novi) to Trebinje via the Montenegro border
- Afternoon: Trebinje old town, Tvrdoš winery, riverside lunch
- Late afternoon: drive to Dubrovnik for sunset on the old city walls
- Evening: return to Trebinje accommodation (significantly cheaper than Dubrovnik) — or stay in Dubrovnik
Kravice Waterfalls Day Trip from Trebinje
Kravice is 100 km northwest of Trebinje (1.5 hours via Mostar direction). The 25-metre wide waterfall cascades into an emerald pool surrounded by poplar and willow trees. In summer, swimming is allowed in the pool.
Practical: Entry fee ~€5. Gets crowded July–August. Go early morning or after 5 PM to avoid the peak of the tour groups. Bring shoes you can get wet; the rocks are slippery.
The Kravice detour can be combined with a Mostar stop on the same day.
3-Day Southern Balkans Circuit
Day 1: Skopje to Kotor Bay (via Albania)
Skopje → Albanian border → Shkoder → Podgorica → Kotor (~380 km, 5 hours)
Day 2: Kotor to Trebinje
Morning: drive Kotor Bay shore road to Perast, then southwest to Herceg Novi. Cross into Bosnia at Ilino Brdo toward Trebinje.
Afternoon: Trebinje old town, Arslanagić Bridge, plane tree promenade.
Evening: Tvrdoš Monastery winery.
Day 3: Trebinje to Dubrovnik, then Return to Skopje
Morning: 30-minute drive to Dubrovnik — old town walls, Stradun.
Afternoon: drive back via Montenegro toward Albania, then North Macedonia. Arrive Skopje ~23:00 (this is a long day — 500+ km return).
Alternative: Return to Skopje via Sarajevo and Serbia, spreading the return over 2 days.
Practical Information
Currency: Bosnian Convertible Mark (BAM). 1 BAM = 0.51 EUR. Euro notes accepted in tourist areas. ATM in Trebinje city center (Hypo Alpe-Adria Bank, NLB Bank).
Accommodation in Trebinje: Significantly cheaper than the Adriatic coast — €30–60 for a double room in guesthouses; €60–90 for hotel. Recommended to book ahead May–September.
Restaurants: Herzegovina lamb (jagnjetina) and Vranac wine are the regional specialties. Cevapi (minced meat in flatbread) is the standard fast-food option everywhere. A full dinner with wine: €10–18.
Speed limits in Bosnia: Motorways 130 km/h, open roads 80 km/h, urban 50 km/h.
Emergency: Police 122, Ambulance 124, Fire 123.
Recommended Vehicle
Any vehicle handles the Trebinje route. The mountain roads approaching from Montenegro or from Foča are good asphalt but have sharp bends and limited guardrails. For mountain detours into Sutjeska National Park or off-road access to remote monastery roads, the Dacia Duster 4x4 is recommended.
Book Your Herzegovina Road Trip
Pick up at Skopje Airport with Green Card Zone 2 documentation. Write "Bosnia/Trebinje" in your booking notes — we prepare authorization letters for every border crossing on the route.
Questions? Call or WhatsApp: +389 71 390 627
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Trebinje from Skopje? Approximately 480–520 km, taking 6–7 hours including border stops. The recommended route goes via Albania and Montenegro (through Shkoder, Podgorica, and into Herzegovina via the Sutorman Pass). Alternatively, approach from Dubrovnik — Trebinje is just 30 km from the Croatian border.
Is Trebinje easy to combine with Dubrovnik? Yes. Trebinje is 30 km from Dubrovnik — one of the rare cases where you can visit a Bosnian city and a Croatian Adriatic destination in the same half-day. Stay in Trebinje (accommodation is 40–60% cheaper than Dubrovnik) and drive to the old city walls for the morning. Return to Trebinje for lunch.
What insurance covers the drive to Trebinje? Green Card Zone 2 (€70 per rental) covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria. The supplement covers every country in the typical Trebinje circuit from Skopje.
Is Tvrdoš Monastery worth visiting? Yes, especially for wine enthusiasts. The monks produce Vranac (red) and Žilavka (white) wines that have won international awards — the combination of a functioning 15th-century Orthodox monastery and a commercial winery is unusual anywhere in Europe. The winery is 5 km from Trebinje and offers tastings most days.
What is Trebinje like compared to Mostar and Sarajevo? Trebinje is quieter and less touristic than both. Mostar has the Stari Most and heavy tourist traffic; Sarajevo has major museums and historical depth. Trebinje offers the Ottoman old town, monastery winery, and proximity to Dubrovnik without the crowds. It rewards visitors looking for a less-visited side of Bosnia.
