Sutjeska & Una national parks: the back story

About Sutjeska & Una national parks: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Sarajevo Editorial Team

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the greenest countries in Europe, and its two best-known national parks sit at opposite corners: Sutjeska, with one of the last primeval forests in Europe, and Una, a river that falls over a staircase of travertine.

Sutjeska

Sutjeska, founded in 1962, is the oldest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the mountains along the border with Montenegro. It includes Maglić, the country’s highest peak at about 2,386 metres, glacial lakes and the large Second World War memorial at Tjentište.

Perućica

At its heart lies Perućica, one of the last primeval forests in Europe, with beech and spruce trees over 50 metres tall and the Skakavac waterfall, about 75 metres high. Entry to the reserve is usually with a ranger or guide.

Some of the wildest landscapes in Europe are a few hours from Sarajevo.

Una

Una National Park, established in 2008 in the north-west near Bihać, protects the emerald Una river and its waterfalls. At Štrbački buk, the river crashes over travertine terraces about 24 metres high; at Martin Brod, it splits into dozens of cascades.

Visiting

Sutjeska is about two and a half to three hours south-east of Sarajevo, on the road to Montenegro; Una is about five hours north-west. Both are best visited by car, from late spring to autumn.

Our advice: drive the road to Montenegro via Sutjeska and stop for a guided walk in Perućica; or combine Una with a trip to the north-west and Croatia’s Plitvice. Check park opening times and fees on the official sites.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Sutjeska & Una national parks: the back story before you go.