Kiseljak

Kiseljak is a town in Central Bosnia. It is in a mountainous area near the Sarajevo Region and famous for its natural mineral waters.

Kiseljak is a small town, surrounded by hills with the Lepenica river running through the center of the town, which makes it a perfect place for escaping crowded urban areas. Beside the M-5 main road, it is a quiet town with green spaces next to the riverside in the center.

The name Kiseljak literally translates to "sour water" (mineral water). The town is known for its history as a rich source of natural mineral water, healing thermal waters and home of the company Sarajevski kiseljak, a famous brand of bottled water in former Yugoslavia operating since 1891. Kiseljak is also known for the Kiseljak pogača bread. Both products, the mineral water and pogače, are an important part of the town's culture, history, tradition and identity.

The absolute majority of the town's population are predominantly Roman Catholic ethnic Croats (around 80%), while Bosnian Muslims make the largest minority group. In 2013 the population of the Kiseljak municipality was 20,722. The town itself had a population of 3,554.

Kiseljak is around 13 km from Visoko and 34 km from the country's capital Sarajevo, a journey of around 35 minutes by car.

Daily bus departures from Sarajevo and Zagreb, Croatia. As of 2026, there are two daily international bus lines between the two capital cities Sarajevo and Zagreb with an official stop in Kiseljak, while other direct bus lines between these cities are not passing through or stopping in Kiseljak. The main operators are Croatia Bus and Centrotrans Sarajevo and more information can be found on their websites. A bus ticket from Zagreb may cost around 50 € (close to 100 BAM) in one direction.

Keep in mind that regional and long-distance busses between Kiseljak and Sarajevo, Visoko, Busovača or Travnik operate less frequently on weekends and public holidays.

Kiseljak is located on the M-5 magistral road (main road), which is part of the European route E761 between Bihać and Višegrad via Jajce and Sarajevo. The regional road R-443 connects Visoko and Kiseljak and leads also to the A1 motorway intersection.

Kiseljak has no train connection and is not directly reachable by rail. The nearest railway station is located in Visoko, which is around 15 km from Kiseljak (15 to 20 minutes by car). Arriving in Visoko, you would have to use a bus or taxi to reach Kiseljak.

The nearest international airport is located in Sarajevo, around 35 km away.

Because of it's size, Kiseljak is walkable. Other destinations are reachable by car.

Kiseljak has multiple taxi stands, one next to the bus station and another one in front of the main post office building in the center. As in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, all legitimate taxis have a TAXI-sign on top, licence plates with starting with "TA" and a taximeter.

Religious sites

• St. Elijah prophet church, located on the top of a hill above the town.
• The main mosque, located next to the school

Parks and memorials

• Jozo Penava memorial
• Memorial to the Croatian homeland war veterans, located in the center next to the Croatian culture center
• Taščin brijeg, a necropolis with 14/15th century tombstones (stećci), located near the elementary school
• Josip Bać park, which also contains the Kiseljačić drinking fountain and medival stećci tombstones
• General Josip Filipović park with a reconstructed Austro-Hungarian memorial

Both parks are in the center on the opposite of eachother and next to the Lepenica river.

The Kiseljak pogače can be bought at local bakeries, while the naturally carbonated bottled mineral water from Kiseljak is being sold in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina and also exported to other countries.

Kiseljak has a good local supply. There are multiple retail stores in the town, open from Monday to Saturday. The biggest are two Konzum supermarkets, one Kort and Robot hypermarket, both with a caffe and a Bingo hypermarket. As of June 2026, a Lidl store and retail park are under construction.

The main road and riverside have multiple cafés, bakeries and a few restaurants, largely serving Bosnian dishes and grilled food.

Some restaurants in Kiseljak are:

• Konoba Fijaker
• Kamin
• Restoran Vatra

• The Bank, a pub near Hotel Bank along the Lepenica river

• Hotel Bank is the only operating hotel in the centre of Kiseljak, as of Oct 2026.
• Hotel Dalmacija is being renovated and not open for guests, as of Oct 2026.

There are still many minefields and unexploded ordnances in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Sarajevo, easy reachable by a direct bus connection.
• Visoko, the closest city, around 12,5 km from Kiseljak
• Fojnica
• Travnik
• Kreševo