City break Tuzla

Tuzla at a glance

Best neighbourhoods in Tuzla

• City centre (Trg Slobode and Korzo) The heart of Tuzla with Freedom Square, the undulating Austro-Hungarian facade of the town hall and the pedestrian street Korzo full of terraces and cafes. A coffee on a terrace costs about 1.50 BAM, a beer about 2 BAM.
• Pannonian Lakes (Panonsko jezero) The unique salt lake complex right near the centre, the most popular spot in the city in summer. Beach access about 3 to 5 BAM (May to end of September); free in autumn.
• Mejdan Historic neighbourhood north of the centre with older buildings, small local bars and a more local character. Good for a neighbourhood walk away from the touristy Korzo.
• Stupine Larger residential area with good bus connections. Handy if accommodation in the centre is full; city bus to the centre costs about 1 to 1.50 BAM.
• Slatina Quieter western neighbourhood towards the outskirts. Here you find local markets and a more relaxed pace than the centre.

Top 5 attractions in Tuzla

• Pannonian Lakes (Panonsko jezero) Three artificial salt lakes in the heart of the city, unique in Europe. In summer a popular swimming and leisure spot. Swim zone admission: about 3 to 5 BAM (1.50 to 2.50 euros) in season; free outside swim season.
• Caarsijska dzamija (Charshiya Mosque) A 16th-century mosque with a distinctive pyramid roof in the historic centre. Free to visit; a donation of 1 to 2 BAM is customary. Respect prayer times.
• Sarena dzamija (Colourful Mosque) The oldest mosque in Tuzla, rebuilt in 1888 and named after its colourful interior. Close to the centre and free to admire from outside.
• Trg Slobode (Freedom Square) and Korzo The finest Austro-Hungarian architecture in the city: the town hall with undulating facade, the Chersonese passage and the pedestrian zone full of kafanas and terraces. Free; a coffee on the square costs about 1.50 BAM.
• Museum of Eastern Bosnia Collection covering local history, archaeology and culture of the region. Relatively small but well-documented. Opening times and price: check the website for current information before you go.

Flights and transport from the Netherlands to Tuzla

Wizz Air is the only airline that flies direct from the Netherlands to Tuzla. The flight departs from Maastricht/Aachen Airport (MST), about 70 kilometres south of Eindhoven. Flight time: about 2 hours 5 minutes. Frequency: typically 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) in summer (April to October); check the current timetable on the Wizz Air website before you book.

No direct flight from Eindhoven or Amsterdam? Alternatives: fly with Wizz Air or Ryanair to Sarajevo (SJJ, about 80 km from Tuzla, bus about 2 hours) or to Zagreb (ZAG) and take the bus to Tuzla (about 4 to 5 hours). Sarajevo is also a wonderful destination to combine with Tuzla.

From Tuzla Airport to the city centre: taxi about 15 to 20 BAM (7 to 10 euros), journey about 10 minutes. There is no regular city bus from the airport.

Within Tuzla: the city bus (GASPD) runs on all major routes for about 1 to 1.50 BAM per ride (about 0.75 euros). A taxi within the city costs 3 to 8 BAM (1.50 to 4 euros).

When is the best time to visit Tuzla?

May to September is the ideal period: pleasantly warm (25 to 32 degrees) and the Pannonian Lakes are open for swimming. June and July are the warmest months; August can exceed 35 degrees.

April and October are more comfortable (15 to 20 degrees) with lower flight prices. December to February can be cold (average 2 to 5 degrees), but the Christmas atmosphere on the Korzo is cosy and prices are at their lowest.

What does a city break in Tuzla cost?

Tuzla is one of the cheapest city breaks from the Netherlands. A hostel bed costs about 15 to 25 euros per night; a double room in a mid-range hotel about 40 to 70 euros. Food is cheap: a coffee on the Korzo about 1.50 BAM (0.75 euros), a traditional meal (cevapi or pita) about 5 to 10 BAM (2.50 to 5 euros), a restaurant meal about 15 to 25 BAM (7 to 13 euros). A long weekend (3 nights, flight, hotel and food) costs realistically about 250 to 350 euros per person.