Banja Luka

Banja Luka
Бања Лука (Serbian)
Grad Banja Luka
Град Бања Лука
City of Banja Luka
Location within Republika Srpska / Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Luka
Location within Bosnia and Herzegovina
Banja Luka
Location within Europe
Banja Luka
Banja Luka (Europe)
Coordinates: 44°46′21″N 17°11′33″E / 44.77250°N 17.19250°E / 44.77250; 17.19250
Country Bosnia and Herzegovina
Entity Republika Srpska
Geographical regionBosanska Krajina
Government
  BodyCity Assembly of Banja Luka
  MayorDraško Stanivuković (PDP)
Area
  City
1,238.91 km2 (478.35 sq mi)
Elevation
163 m (535 ft)
Population
 (2013 census)
  City
185,042
  Urban
138,963
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
78000
Area code+387 51
Websitewww.banjaluka.rs.ba

Banja Luka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бања Лука, pronounced [bǎɲa lǔːka] ) or Banjaluka (Serbian Cyrillic: Бањалука, pronounced [baɲalǔːka]) is the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest city in Republika Srpska. Banja Luka is the traditional centre of the densely forested Bosanska Krajina region of northwestern Bosnia. According to the 2013 census, the city proper has a population of 138,963, while its administrative area comprises a total of 185,042 inhabitants.

The city is home to the University of Banja Luka and University Clinical Center of the Republika Srpska, as well as numerous entity and state institutions for Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively. The city lies on the Vrbas river and is well known in the countries of the former Yugoslavia for being full of tree-lined avenues, boulevards, gardens, and parks. Banja Luka was designated European city of sport in 2018.