Take a boat down one of the prettiest rivers in Europe from Bajina Basta in Serbia to Višegrad in Bosnia and Herzegovia. The views are extraordinary and it’s not every day you can to enter a country in such a unique way.
If you are looking to travel from Serbia into Bosnia and Herzegovina, I highly recommend you take the boat from Bajina Basta to Višegrad. Enjoy over 50 kilometres of stunning scenery as you follow the Drina River into Bosnia and Herzegovina. You will travel down the third deepest canyon in the world, past waterfalls, hidden caves and incredible untouched nature. The boat ride finishes in Višegrad, home to the second most famous bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Journey Map – Bajina Basta to Višegrad
There are four main steps when travelling from Bajina Basta to Višegrad. I’ve outlined them here. Keep reading for more information.
- Start in Bajina Basta
- Get a lift to Lake Perućac
- Board the boat and follow the Drina River
- Arrive in Višegrad
Bajina Basta
Bajina Basta is a small Serbian town in the Drina River valley. It became famous after a National Geographic photographer took a photo of the house in the middle of the river. The house is located just outside of the town itself. Bajina Basta also serves as the gateway to Tara National Park and is a popular stop before visiting the park. This is also the starting point for the boat trip down the Drina River from Bajina Basta to Višegrad.
How to Get to Bajina Basta
From Belgrade: by bus to Bajina Basta from Belgrade Bus Station.
From Uzice: by bus from Uzice bus station to Bajina Basta.
Check the bus schedules on Polazak.rs
Wandering what to pack for your trip to Bajina Basta? Check out my list of packing essentials.
Where to Stay
There’s only one hostel in Bajina Basta – Mystic River Hostel. I enjoyed my stay here. It’s the perfect spot to relax. They have a large garden filled with fruit and berry trees which you can help yourself to. I also went on a day trip into Tara National Park which was organised by the hostel.
If you’re looking for something more upmarket, there are various hotels available within the town.
Where to Eat in Bajina Basta
These are some of the places I would recommend:
- Bašta u Bašti – Eat with the locals. Reasonably priced, good food and reasonable serving sizes. Is a popular spot for both food and drinks. I ate here more than once.
- Gurman-Bb – Fast and cheap. Fast food, good value and busy.
- Studenac – Dine with a view. The place to go with a view of the house in the river. Sit on the balcony looking out over the river.
What You Need to Know About the Boat
The only boat operator going from Perućac to Višegrad in the region is Tara Tours. Check out their website.
Where it starts: Lake Perućac – see map below.
Cost: 2,600 RSD one way or 3000 RSD return. Pay on the boat. Cash only.
Schedule: Find the schedule here. The boat does not travel every day. It also only operates from the start of March to the end of October.
Required documents: Valid passport.
Duration: 3.5 hours one way (09:00-12:30). But arrive by 8:30 to get your documents checked.
Note: It is not possible to board the boat without a prior reservation.
Lake Perućac and the Drina River
One thing I realised while on the boat is that any information provided about the surroundings will likely be in Serbian. For those that are interested and don’t speak Serbian, I have researched some key information about the lake and river here:
Lake Perućac
The boat starts at Lake Perućac, which is an artificial lake on the Drina River. The Drina River was dammed in 1966 when a hydroelectric power station was constructed, creating Lake Perućac. The lake lies on a natural bend in the river which circles around the edge of Tara Mountain and National Park. It has become a popular summer destination for locals. During the summer you will find many people swimming, sunbathing and fishing.
The Drina River
The Drina River forms a natural border between Serbia from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considered to be one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. It winds through breath-taking mountainous landscapes filled with gorges, canyons, waterfalls, hidden caves, cliffs and forests. The canyon is so deep that is is the third deepest in the world. Additionally, the steep sides of the canyon boast a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There’s even a population of native bears that live in the area. In addition to bears, the Drina River is home to eagles, deer, wolves and rabbits. Taking a boat ride along the canyon is one of the best was to experience this extraordinary landscape.
Taking The Boat
In the following section, I summarise what I was like to travel from Bajina Basta to Višegrad. The boat will take you from Perućac to Višegrad. Skip ahead to my information about Višegrad here.
Bajina Basta to Lake Perućac
There is no public transport from Bajina Basta to Lake Perućac. The easiest way to get there is with a taxi. Ask at your accommodation if they can organise one or if they have a transfer service.
Boarding the Boat
Boarding involved lining up, a welcome speech and then waiting for my name to be called. As I had arrived more than 30 minutes early, I snuck off for a quick swim in Lake Perućac. After swimming, I joined the line. The tour started with the boats captain welcoming everyone to the tour. Unfortunately for me, he spoke only in Serbian and I did not understand a word. The Captain then began calling out the names of each booking. As the name was called everyone would watch as the chosen one made their way across the metal walkway and onto the boat.
Eventually my name was called out and I boarded under the watchful eyes of everyone who’s name had not yet been called. The Captain spoke some English and explained were to sit (anywhere) and how to pay (talk to the crew at some stage during the boat ride). Once on the boat I found a seat on the top deck and waited to get started. The boat also offered refreshments and light snacks to purchase. With everyone aboard we set off.
Sailing Down the Drina River
As this was a tour, the captain provided some information over the boats speaker system as we sailed along. Once again it was all in Serbian. I assumed he was talking about the lake, the river and the national park but it could have been about anything. Once he finished speaking we had rounded the bend and the views were fantastic. We cruised past towering cliffs topped with dense green forest.
At this point, the Captain decided to set the mood. He did this by blasting 80s radio over the boats speakers. There was no escaping it. I have to admit that cruising past beautiful scenery while listening to the Final Countdown was not what I had in mind when I signed up.
Despite the (not so) great music, the scenery was incredible and kept getting better. Imposing cliffs, waterfalls, mountains, forests and hidden caves all passed by. This continued for well over an hour. The water was like a mirror, further amplifying the majesty all around. About halfway into the journey, we arrived at the Stari Brod Memorial Museum.
Stari Brod Memorial Museum
The boat slowed down as we past the memorial, and as expected the Captain hopped back on the microphone to tell us about it. Once again I didn’t understand a word. To try and help you out, I have researched the Stari Brod Memorial Museum and provided a summary here.
Onwards to Višegrad
After Stari Brod, much to my delight, the journey continued to be soundtracked by 80s rock. As we got closer to Višegrad, the valleys slowly started to flatten out into rolling hills and patches of farmland. As we rounded the final bend to Višegrad, first thing I noticed was the glorious historic bridge that crossed the river.
The bridge, the bridge! What would our town be without it?
Ivo Andri – The Bridge on the Drina
The boat pulled up out the front of the Andricgrad in Višegrad where an immigration official checked my documents as I left the boat.
Note: For those on the day trip, you are given two hours free time in Višegrad.
Višegrad – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Welcome to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Višegrad is in Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Republic Srpska. The town lies at the meeting point of the Drina and Rzav rivers and has a population of about 10,000 inhabitants.
Bosnia and Herzegovia but Serbian Flags?
For the more observant traveller you will notice that despite being in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are a lot of Serbian Flags. In fact I counted far more Serbian flags than Bosnian. Here’s a rough tally from one afternoon in Visigrad.
| Flag | Count |
|---|---|
| Serbia | 10 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 |
The reason for this is because Višegrad is within the Republika Srpska. The Republika Srpska is one of two autonomous entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina. For those that are interested, read more about how this came to be and Bosnia and Herzegovia’s history here.
What to do in Višegrad
Višegrad is the perfect location for a stopover before heading on to Sarajevo. There is enough to do here to justify spending the night. Walk around the town, up the hill for panoramic views of the town and valley and across the famous bridge.
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
A UNESCO world heritage site, this bridge was built in 1577 by the Ottomans architect Mimar Sinan. At almost 200m long It has an impressive 11 arches spanning across the Drina River. This bridge is the second most famous in Bosnia, after the iconic Mostar Bridge. The bridge has become famous thanks to Yugoslavian author Ivo Andri’s novel, The Bridge on the Drina which was published in 1945.
“The bridge on the Drina is not just a bridge; it is the heart and soul of our town – a symbol of our resilience, our history, and our hope for the future.”
Ivo Andri, The Bridge on the Drina
Walk to a Panoramic Viewpoint
For 360 degree views over Višegrad and the surrounding valley I recommend walking up to this viewpoint. It’s not a long walk but worth it for views up and down the valley.
Andricgrad
Andricgrad is the newest part of town located on the peninsula between the two rivers. It is dedicated to the Nobel Prize winner and famous author Ivo Andri, the name Andricgrad literally translates to Andrić’s city. Andricgrad was created by film director Emir Kusturica as a set for one of his films. Construction was finished in 2014. The area contains a cinema, restaurants, cafes, shops, offices and an orthodox church.
Walking around Andricgrad has an unusual atmosphere and completely different from the rest of Višegrad. If you wander not far from the main street here you will come across unfinished buildings, churches missing tiles and flooring half complete.
Another Boat Ride?
Various boat rides are available which take you under the old bridge and further up the Drina River. Having had my fill of boat rides already getting to Višegrad, I passed up the opportunity, but if you’re looking for one there’s plenty available.
Where to Eat in Višegrad
There are various restaurants, in the Andricgrad as well as the surrounding town. I ate lunch at a restaurant within the Andricgrad. If you’re up for a little bit of a walk I would recommend:
Restoran Ušće Višegrad – For a more authentic experience head outside of the main town, across the bridge and onto the other side of the river. This restaurant has seating looking over the river and the Andricgrad. The food is reasonably priced and delicious.
Leaving Višegrad
To get out of Višegrad, you will need to get a bus or a taxi. The bus is going to be the cheaper option but unfortunately, there’s not a lot of information on bus times. But they do exist. I found that getbybus had the most relevant information while travelling in the Balkans.
To Sarajevo
Check out the timetable to get to Sarajevo here. You can just buy your ticket on the bus, no need to book in advanced.
I had a lot of trouble locating the bus stop called Višegrad, Cuprija. Fortunately, my accommodation host was able to help out. It’s located here, below the zip-line station at a small shelter. Simply stand on the side of the road opposite the river and wait for the bus to arrive. For me the bus ended up being almost 50 minutes late. Have faith It will (hopefully) come.
Note: Rome2Rio will tell you that you’re going to need to get a taxi to Goražde. This is not correct, there is a bus.
Travelling Elsewhere
Unfortunately, I can’t help you out much if you want to go other places from Višegrad. I’ve looked into it and there’s no much of a connection elsewhere. I would recommend using the getbybus website and asking a local.
Conclusion – Bajina Basta to Višegrad by Boat
Taking the boat from Bajina Basta to Višegrad is an incredible way of entering a new country. This stunning boat ride takes you down the Drina River from Lake Perućac to Višegrad. Sail past imposing cliffs, waterfalls, mountains, forests and hidden caves. Before leaving, take some time in Bajina Basta to make the most of the nearby Tara National Park. Višegrad is home to the second most famous bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is well worth the visit.
Have you travelled from Bajina Basta to Višegrad? Let me know in the comments below if there’s anything else I have missed.
Happy Exploring!
Kieren