Trebinje, a sunny town in Herzegovina, is most often visited on the way, on the way to or from the sea because it is only thirty kilometers from the Adriatic Sea. There are many reasons not only to stop by for a coffee in the famous garden under the plane trees, a trademark of Trebinje, but to stay longer and relax, just like the locals live, visit numerous sights and enjoy its charms. I spent two days in this beautiful city and already at the end of the first day, full of impressions, I wanted to extend my stay and knew that I would surely return soon.

The first reason is certainly the Mediterranean climate and incredible 260 sunny days a year. It is interesting that autumn here is warmer than spring. When the rains and fog start in the continental parts, the weather is still sunny in Trebinje. Whatever season you come, the weather is very likely to be beautiful. I will only tell you that during my visit in early November I wore short sleeves. Snow is rare here.

Rich cultural and historical heritage and a large number of sights make Trebinje the city with the most monuments in BiH and extremely interesting to visit. The Museum of Herzegovina, Old Town or Kaštel, churches, mosques, monasteries in the area, stone bridges are part of what you can visit in Trebinje. The poet and diplomat Jovan Dučić is responsible for the large number of monuments that you can see. He is the initiator of the establishment of the museum, which houses his legacy as well as other numerous exhibits. Dučić's monument is located at the entrance to the beautiful city park, and on the Crkvina hill above the city, there is the Herzegovinian Gračanica and his grave in its crypt. The most beautiful view of the town, Trebišnjica and vineyards is offered from here.

Cold and clear Trebišnjica, which divides the city into two parts, provides refreshment on hot summer days. Along it is a promenade where you can walk from the Stone Bridge to the Perović-Arslanagić Bridge, cross it and return on the other side. From June to October you can also take a boat ride on the Trebišnjica river and experience the city from a different perspective.

The abundance of sunshine is probably also the reason why the people of Trebinje are always in a good mood, bright and tall. From the seller at the market, the waiter in the restaurant or the passer-by whom I asked to take a photo of me or to ask something, everyone is smiling, welcoming and ready to chat.

The gastronomic offer of Trebinje is another reason to try some of the local specialties made from healthy, natural products grown on this fertile land. Do not miss the lamb or veal under the sach with wine from one of the twenty local wineries or the Trvrdoš monastery. Be sure to try the prosciutto, the squeaky cheese that squeaks under your teeth, hence the name and the honey that the bees make from the abundance of Mediterranean herbs that grow here. As the best souvenir from Trebinje, buy some of the local products at the beautiful green market on the main square, the closed City Market or in the Herzegovina House, where you can find natural cosmetics in addition to wine, cheese, prosciutto, honey, teas, jams.

Just 7 km from Trebinje is the City of the Sun, a tourist complex. The largest aqua park in the Balkans, a luxury hotel, an apartment complex, a sports and recreation facility with sports fields, a swimming pool, a hall, a spa center, an ethnic village and Varoš Čaršija, a dino park, a coliseum, a car park... are located on 80 ha.

And to return to the beginning of the text and the plane tree. If you haven't sat down and had a drink in the garden under their tall canopies, it doesn't count as having been to Trebinje. And you can also sit in the garden of the Platani Hotel, where Monica Bellucci stayed during the filming of the movie "On the Milky Way" and enjoy baklava or some other great cake from this hotel, at "her" table.

Everything I mentioned is more than enough to make everyone's stay in Trebinje as varied and unforgettable as mine was. This charming Mediterranean city has only one flaw. You like it so much that you have to come back again and again.

Frequently asked questions and answers


1. What should not be missed when you are in Trebinje?

When you find yourself in Trebinje, you must visit the city center with numerous cultural and historical monuments, the Old Town with the Museum of Herzegovina, religious buildings of all three denominations, each of which has its own story and interest.

It is mandatory to sit down for a coffee under the famous plane trees, or in one of the numerous Trebinje gardens and enjoy the relaxed city atmosphere. On Trg oslobodilaca in the morning hours there is a picturesque town market where you can find authentic Herzegovinian products.

Unmissable locations are Hercegovačka Gračanica and the Tvrdoš monastery, and if you are staying longer, you should not miss the other monasteries around the city either.

Trebinje wineries and restaurants are true little oases of hedonism, so plan a visit to some of them.

2. Who are the famous people from Trebinje?

Trebinje and its surroundings are the birthplace of numerous notable people, among whom Stojan Jovanović, or Saint Vasilije Ostroški, is certainly the most important, then one of the greatest Serbian poets and diplomats, Jovan Dučić, and one of our greatest benefactors. Luka Ćelović Trebinjac. Numerous famous actors and athletes were born or have their roots in Trebinje, such as actors Nebojša Glogovac and Nataša Ninković, basketball players Dejan Bodiroga, Milan Gurović and Predrag Danilović, handball players Grbić brothers and others.

3. Are there any galleries where one could buy some of the art?

If you are looking for a smaller handmade art souvenir, we suggest you visit Hobby Art and Art Špaiz in the Old Town, while you can find larger-format art paintings and sculptures in the Bokić gallery on the river bank or in the Art Studio gallery in the Bregovi neighborhood. The Artem gallery and gift shop in the city center offers, among other things, the works of the Association for Help and Support for Children and Persons with Developmental Difficulties "The Sun is Our Common Sun".

Trebinje has an art academy, so many of the artists who graduate from it stay to create and work in the city.

4. Does Trebinje have a theater?

The city theater is located within the Cultural Center of Trebinje. The most important manifestation is certainly the review of amateur theaters of the former Yugoslavia, which has traditionally been held in Trebinje every summer for over six decades under the name Festival of Festivals. In addition to the City Theater of Trebinje, guest performances can occasionally be found on the stage. For all additional information about the repertoire, you can visit the website of the Cultural Center.

5. Which period of the year is the best to visit the city and its surroundings?

Trebinje is most visited during the summer and major holidays, when traditionally the most numerous guests come from neighboring countries, i.e. the Blakan region. Every year, Trebinje attracts an increasing number of foreign tourists from all over the world. You can read that it is a city for all seasons on our blog in the text entitled: Trebinje, a destination for all seasons, where you will find out what activities and events are related to certain times of the year.

6. Where to eat a good and traditional dish? What are those dishes? What wines? Is there a strange type of food that we won't find elsewhere?

You can try traditional Herzegovinian specialties in one of the restaurants in the city and its surroundings. For meat lovers, there are veal and lamb dishes prepared in the traditional way under the grill or on a spit, which you will find in Konak in Mosk and Stara Herzegovina in Tuli.

In addition to various dishes, the Studenac restaurant offers excellently prepared trout from Trebišnjica.

In the offer of many restaurants you will find cicvara, which with the addition of honey is one of the more unusual delicacies of our region.

With traditionally dried prosciutto, skripavac cheese, mixed cheese or cheese made from olive oil, priganice or prešnac go well. Of course, all of this should be topped off first with a glass of local wine, and then with some good local wine. You can choose from the autochthonous varieties of the Herzegovinian climate, Vranac and Žilavka, or one of the wines of international varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet...

A special interest of the Trebinje region is the famous poljak bean, a type of vetch with an unusual appearance and great nutritional value that you will find in the city market or in the Herzegovina house, and you will recognize it because it resembles colorful pebbles.

7. Where to buy traditional products?

You can find traditional products at the city market, Hercegovina House, monastery shops and local souvenir shops.

8. What do you suggest we take as a souvenir? Do you know someone who makes souvenirs by hand?

The most beautiful souvenir from Trebinje is definitely something that was created in Trebinje. Whether it will be a magnet, a pendant, an artistic photograph, a painting or a sculpture, a bottle of wine or something else is up to you to decide. For handmade art created in Trebinje, visit Hobby Art and Art Špaiz or contact the Facebook page Potka Trebinje (Handicrafts of Trebinje) who make beautiful dolls in folk costumes.