River
Una River
Running through Bosnia's largest national park, the Una is known for its emerald-green water and Štrbački Buk, a wide, dramatic waterfall along the route.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
The Una flows through Una National Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest, in the country's far northwest. It's famous for water so green and clear it barely looks real, and for a chain of travertine waterfalls that give the river its character.
The best known is Štrbački Buk, a wide, roaring cascade with wooden viewing platforms, while at Martin Brod the river breaks into dozens of smaller falls around a quiet village. Rafting and kayaking trips run Class II-III sections through forested gorges, with swims in calm pools between rapids. Every summer the Una Regatta brings hundreds of boats down the river in one of the region's longest-running river festivals. For harder whitewater, head east to the Vrbas near Banja Luka.
Bihać is the main base, around three hours from Sarajevo and close to the Croatian border, so the Una combines easily with Plitvice Lakes. Park entry fees apply at the main waterfall sites inside Una National Park. Spring brings the fullest falls, while June to September offers the warmest water for swimming.
When to go
April through October, with Class II-III rapids staying consistent for most of the season.
Getting there
Bihać is the main base, in Una National Park in northwestern Bosnia, roughly a 3-hour drive from Sarajevo.
Plan your visit
What it costs, how long to allow, and where to base yourself.
Rafting from €75, park entry included
Full day; 2 days with the park
Bihać
Zagreb, 2.5 hrs
Where to stay for the Una River: Bihać and the falls
Stay in Bihać, the main base for the Una and the gateway to Una National Park, around three hours from Sarajevo. Hotel Paviljon sits on the riverbank in the centre for a budget-friendly stay, while Hotel Kostelski Buk is right beside the waterfalls at Kostela for a quieter night outside town. Bihać is also close to the Croatian border, so one stay can cover the river and Plitvice Lakes.
Hotel Paviljon
Hotel
Price Range:
Budget
Central hotel on the bank of the Una, so the river and the town are on your doorstep after a day on the water.
On the Una in Bihać centre
Hotel Kostelski Buk
Hotel
Price Range:
Mid-range
Hotel and restaurant right beside the Una waterfalls at Kostela, a quieter base outside town for river days.
8 km from Bihać centre
Hotel Opal Exclusive Bihać
Hotel
Price Range:
Upscale
Quiet riverside hotel on the Una with a free gym and a restaurant terrace. The upscale pick in Bihać.
By the Una in Bihać
Who it's for
Best for: Anyone who wants rafting and waterfalls in the same day, and travellers linking Bosnia with Plitvice in Croatia. The Class II-III water suits families and first-timers, with swims in calm pools between rapids.
Skip it if: You want big whitewater, which the Vrbas or the spring Tara deliver instead, or you are short on time, since the northwest corner of Bosnia is a long way from Sarajevo.
Nearby places
Easy to combine on the same trip.
Una River questions
What makes the Una's water look different?
It's known for its distinctive emerald-green color, a result of the limestone riverbed and mineral content.
What is Štrbački Buk?
A wide, dramatic waterfall along the Una, one of the river's signature landmarks and a popular photo stop.
Is the Una good for a scenic, less intense trip?
Yes, it runs through Bosnia's largest national park, with untouched forest making the scenery as much the draw as the whitewater.
How much does it cost to visit the Una?
The river is free to see from the road, but national park entry fees apply at the main waterfall sites. Guided rafting from Štrbački Buk starts around €75 with park entry, transfers and gear included. Gentler family trips start around €49.
Can I see the waterfalls without rafting?
Yes. Štrbački Buk has wooden viewing platforms reachable on foot, and Martin Brod's cluster of smaller falls is free to walk around, so you do not need to get on the water.
Is the Una worth visiting?
Yes. The water is some of the cleanest and greenest in Europe, and Štrbački Buk is a genuinely dramatic waterfall that sees a fraction of Plitvice's crowds despite being close by.
Can I swim in the Una?
Yes, in the calm pools between rapids, and swimming is part of most rafting trips. The water is cold even in August, and swimming is not allowed directly at the main waterfalls.
Can I combine it with Plitvice?
Yes. Plitvice Lakes is around an hour and a half away across the Croatian border, so the two combine easily in one trip. Bring your passport.
Ready to raft the Una?
4 to 5 hours from Bihać, starting at Štrbački Buk and rafting down through the national park. Park entry, transfers and gear included. Ages 12+.
