At the entrance to Novi Grad, the Sana flows into the Una. The riverfront, cultural history and excursions around the wider municipality offer a range of ways to enjoy your stay. The town quay is a three-kilometre-long stone-built riverside promenade. An avenue of shade-giving chestnut trees and fragrant lime trees characterises this stretch of riverbank.
Cultural History and Collections
The Old Town Hall of Novi Grad was built in 1888 in the pseudo-Moorish style and declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006. Today, it houses the municipal museum and tourism organisation. The museum preserves the collection of ethnologist Milan Karanović. The collection also includes a phototypic edition of the Miroslav Gospel made in 1897. The Gospel is regarded as a significant Cyrillic monument of South Slavic literary culture from the 12th century: the age of the work and the year this edition was produced are therefore far apart.
The town museum also preserves a copy of the 1280 charter of the noble Babonić family of Blagaj; the original is held at the State Archives in Budapest. Another facet of the cultural heritage is represented by Stojan Ćelić’s bequest at the Novi Grad City Gallery. It comprises 41 works: four oil paintings, six drawings and 31 prints. The bequest was declared a national cultural monument in 2005. The Majka Partizanka monument is also part of the town’s history: it was created by Marijan Kocković and erected in 1964.
The National Library of Novi Grad is the town’s oldest cultural institution. Its programme includes literary evenings, book presentations and exhibitions about notable figures; you can check specific dates separately for your planned stay. The former Turski Novi fortress is also part of the town’s historic architecture. It was built from dressed stone beginning in 1726. Historical plans describe walls seven metres high, a moat six metres wide and three metres deep, a complex 200 metres long and 150 metres wide, as well as five bastions and two kapikule, or entrance towers.
Riverfront, Hiking and Events
In the Novska planina area, the Novska Planina mountaineering club has laid out and marked 22 kilometres of hiking trails. As trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check the latest conditions before setting out. Two running events differ considerably in distance: the 14-kilometre Roga nije babaroga trail run has been held in the natural surroundings of Novska planina since 2017. The Branko Ćopić Trail Marathon takes place in late May, with 21- and 42-kilometre courses. Event dates may vary; check the dates for your year of travel.
Water also shapes activities in the town and across the municipality. There are two fishing trails along a one-kilometre stretch. The activities listed are coarse and spinning fishing on the Sana, pike fishing on the Una, and fly fishing from a boat. Permits and access arrangements can change; check the requirements before fishing. The Mlakve sports and recreation centre includes the Sloboda football club stadium, with seating for 6,000 spectators, and a tennis court. Public access arrangements may vary.
Trips in traditional Una boats are available through the municipality of Novi Grad along a quieter stretch of the river. These trips include stops and photo breaks at waterfalls, tufa formations and Una islands. The Una can also be explored by kayak or canoe. The international Una Regatta takes place in two stages: from Blatna to Novi Grad and from Novi Grad to Hrvatska Kostajnica. As event dates may vary, it is worth checking the calendar for your planned trip.
More Experiences Around the Municipality
The Lješljani thermomineral spring is located in the municipality of Novi Grad. Its water is a mineral, highly alkaline sodium chloride water, and the temperature at the spring is 32 to 33 degrees Celsius. There is an outdoor swimming pool at the site. The water temperature refers to the spring, not the pool.
In the Japra Valley, Agrojapra has an ethnographic museum exhibition and an exhibition about cooperatives. As part of Agrojapra’s rural tourism offer, visitors can also take part in flour milling at a watermill in Donji Agići. The offer also includes tastings of cold-pressed sunflower oil and pumpkin seed oil.
The House of PodgrmeÄŤ and Potkozarje opened in Novi Grad on 11 July 2025. Described as a cultural and historical tourism attraction in the town, it was established to sell and promote traditional local agricultural products and handicrafts. If you plan to visit, check the current opening hours and operating status.
Discover more destinations: Bileća, Derventa, Mrkonjić Grad, Laktaši, Tjentište, Donje Vardište, Banja Luka, Dvorovi.
For the broader travel overview: Republika Srpska.
