Stojan Vranješ for HEDONIST: Goals Are My Fuel
Life
Read more
Five Shores That Make People Travel Across Half the Planet
Travel
Read more
Scents That Changed History
Gastro
Read more
BurgerMania: How Banja Luka Helped Map the Regional Burger Scene
Gastro
Read more
How Panini Created the First Social Network
Life
Read more
Adriana Trujillo: How I Went from Tijuana and San Diego, Through Barcelona, to Banja Luka
Life
Read more
A Step Beyond Fear: The Iron Paths of Kozara and Romanija
Adventure
Read more
Vrbas: A River That Shapes Landscapes and the Rhythm of Life
If there is a river that can change its character several times within just a few hours, more than some cities do in a century, it is the Vrbas. Fast, wild, quiet, then gentle again - all within a single flow. It begins as a mountain stream carving through rock, and ends as a calm river nourishing the plains. Between those two points, the Vrbas draws landscapes that stay with you.
Palermo: Raw, Loud and Irresistible
Wild yet seductive; untidy yet lavish; rough yet warm; raw yet full of charm; old yet relentlessly alive - this is Palermo. If you arrive in Sicily’s largest city expecting the polished elegance of Milan, you will get raw aesthetics instead. If you’re looking for the romantic backdrop of Venice, you’ll find a loud, unfiltered reality. And if you seek the monumental stage of Rome, you’ll get chaos that directs its own scene.
Sutjeska: Raw, Wondrous, Wild
Sutjeska National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, home to one of the last primeval forests in Europe, a place of adventure, and a natural gem of Republika Srpska. The highest peak, Maglić (2,386 m), is also located within the park, making it the highest point in the country.
Tokoname: The Black City That Taught Fire to Speak
At first glance, Tokoname doesn’t seem like a destination that wins you over instantly. There are no spectacular skyscrapers, no restless metropolitan rhythm, nor the tourist buzz that follows Japan’s more famous cities. But it has something else - an atmosphere that doesn’t reveal itself immediately, but unfolds slowly, like a glow beneath a layer of ash.
Una: The One and Only – A River Made for Enjoyment
More than 2,000 years ago, according to legend, a weary Roman soldier, after countless battles, came upon an emerald river and, struck by its beauty, exclaimed: “Una!” One, the only one, the most beautiful among rivers. To this day, the Una carries that unique name.
Springfield: Where Basketball Became the World’s Game
It seems that every American state has a town called Springfield. I haven’t been to the others, but this one in Massachusetts doesn’t impress at first glance. It has no metropolitan skyline, no monumental boulevards, and a wide highway somehow splits the city in two.
Robert Dacešin: How I Got “Stuck” in Cuba
Robert Dacešin, a travel writer from Banja Luka who has explored more than half the world, barely made it back home in 2020. Just as he stepped onto Cuban beaches, the coronavirus began spreading globally. His return to Banja Luka suddenly became almost impossible.
Science in the Service of Hedonism: The Story of a Signature Gin
In the world of fine spirits, where taste is shaped by patience, knowledge, and an eye for detail, few manage to merge science and creativity into a truly distinctive product. That is exactly what Maja Milijaš has achieved - a PhD in Food Technology, assistant professor at the Faculty of Technology, University of Banja Luka, and founder of The Gin brand.
A Banja Luka Craft Story: The Master Craft Brewery
The Banja Luka - based craft brewery The Master Craft Brewery (MCB) is the only one in Bosnia and Herzegovina that produces beer on-site, in its own taproom. Although craft culture is well established across the region, in Banja Luka and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is still in its earliest stage of development.
Banja Luka Ćevapi: A Krajina Delicacy That Has Reached Every Continent
If you find yourself in Sydney, skip the grilled kangaroo. If you wander through the streets of São Paulo, forget the barbecue beef. And if your journey takes you to the City of Light, don’t rush to order a Parisian schnitzel. In all three cities, you can try something far better - Banja Luka ćevapi.
Gastronomy Without Rules: Where Sweet Meets Savory
There are flavors we are used to. And then there are those that surprise us from the very first bite. The combination of sweet and savory was once reserved for the bold, but today it is increasingly becoming the rule rather than the exception. Because it is precisely at that line of contrast that the most exciting gastronomic experiences are created. This is no coincidence. It is a play of balance.
When Mysteries Lose Their Magic: Stories Science Eventually Explained
There is something irresistible about mysteries. They invite us to imagine, to doubt, to believe in the unknown. The world has always been full of stories that defy logic - ships without crews, signals from space, unexplained sounds from the depths of the ocean. And perhaps that is exactly why we love them: they leave room for wonder. But what happens when a mystery finds an answer?
Offline Is the New Luxury: When an App Makes You Put Your Phone Down
There was a time when the goal of digital platforms was simple - keep you there as long as possible. Today, an opposite concept is emerging: apps that want you to leave. Not metaphorically, but literally. To step outside, meet people, and return to a life that doesn’t fit inside a screen.
Zdravko Mamić for HEDONIST: I Spent Two or Three Million Euros on Music
“I have to thank all the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not just here in Međugorje, but everywhere. It’s incredible how kind people are to me. I have a close relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina. I don’t miss Zagreb at all, but I do miss football matches. I’m a ‘match addict’ - I watch everything: the leagues of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and of course European competitions.”
The Night When Europe Speaks Through Its Walls
One night a year, fortresses across Europe stop being silent witnesses of history and become stages once again. The stone that once guarded borders now brings people together. Light replaces darkness, music replaces silence, and the walls, once built for defense, take on the role of hosts.
Branka Katić for HEDONIST: I Was Captivated by the Beauty and Fairytale Charm of Trebinje
“This is my first time in Trebinje, and I am completely captivated by the beauty and fairytale charm of this city. What makes it especially emotional for me is the fact that a young Nebojša Glogovac once ran through these very streets, growing up to become one of the greatest actors our region has ever known. It is a beautiful city - now I understand why Nebojša loved it so much, why he always spoke about it, and why he wanted to return here with his family”.
Unusual Animals of the World: Nature That Never Stops Surprising
Nature doesn’t follow the rules we expect. The longer you observe it, the clearer it becomes that “normal” doesn’t really exist in the animal world. Some species look as if they were created by accident, others like experiments that turned out better than anyone planned.
CIM in Vienna: A City Where Ideas Meet Before They Become Projects
Vienna doesn’t leave much room for improvisation. Everything about it feels precise, almost predetermined. That’s exactly why, when the energy of creative industries enters such an environment, an interesting contrast emerges - a blend of structure and spontaneity, system and idea. In that space, somewhere between history and modernity, the CIM Vienna - Networking Event: The Alchemy of Connection took place. An event that doesn’t try to impress with numbers, but with relationships.
The Little Giant That Refuses to Retire
It has been branded with many slogans: “All cars are driven, only the Fićo is loved,” “Our fathers learned to drive in it,” “The car that motorized Yugoslavia.” It has always remained modest, unique, and unmistakable. Simply put - the Fićo.
Face Art: An Art Form That Erases Boundaries
Flames on the neck. Red peppers, cauldrons, devils. On the face, a river, flamingos, and Eve picking an apple. Angels across the forehead. For her meeting with the HEDONIST magazine team, Mila Prosan from Prnjavor chose to adorn herself with details inspired by the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch.
Zmijanje.design: A Fusion of Tradition and the Contemporary
The Zmijanje.design collection represents a contemporary women’s and men’s fashion line created with the aim of promoting the traditional heritage of the Zmijanje region. It is crafted from 100% natural materials, including cotton, viscose, linen, Indian cloth, and raw silk, with a strong emphasis on a zero-waste philosophy.
The Telephone That Was a World: A Story of Design That Defined Everyday Life
There was a time when communication had weight. Not in words, but in the act itself. In turning the dial, in waiting for it to return, in the silence that comes before a conversation begins. The Western Electric 500 was not just a device. It was the rhythm of an era that valued real conversation over speed.
A Night on the Edge of the Earth: Sleeping on Acatenango Volcano
Some journeys take you somewhere. And some change you. A night spent on the slopes of Acatenango belongs to the latter.
A Night in a Treehouse: An Adventure That Feels Like a Movie
There’s a moment when you realize you’ve truly stepped out of your everyday life. Not because you’re far away, but because everything around you feels different. The road to Japodski otoci isn’t spectacular in itself, but the last few minutes change the rhythm. You leave your car behind and continue on foot, crossing wooden bridges that creak softly under each step. Beneath them, water. Not still, but alive, constantly moving.
Adventures on Water Without the Sea: Where Nature Writes the Most Exciting Stories
When we think of a holiday on the water, most people immediately imagine the sea. Yet true adventure often begins where waves don’t crash against the shore, but where rivers and lakes quietly shape breathtaking landscapes. It is precisely in these places that more intimate, authentic experiences are created - ones that, for many, feel even more exciting than a classic seaside getaway.
Via Ferrata: Between a Walk and an Expedition
Some people conquer peaks. And some want to feel the mountain - without extreme risk, heavy gear, or years of training. Between these two worlds, there is now a perfect middle ground: via ferrata.
A World Beneath the World: The Most Unusual Caves on the Planet
Beneath the surface of the Earth lies a world we rarely think about. While cities, rivers, and forests stretch above us, deep underground, there are kilometers of passages, subterranean rivers, and vast chambers that have been forming for thousands, even millions, of years. Caves are among the last places on the planet where nature still operates almost entirely beyond human control.
What Would Squid Game Look Like If It Were Filmed in Ex-Yugoslavia?
If this global phenomenon were set in the former Yugoslavia, the scenery would change - but the essence would remain the same: tension, strategy, and childhood games that suddenly no longer feel innocent. Instead of futuristic arenas, we’d see schoolyards, concrete playgrounds, grassy fields behind apartment blocks, and abandoned halls. And instead of Korean games, familiar childhood favorites.
A Night to Remember: The World’s Most Unusual Hotels
Travel is often most vividly remembered through cities, landscapes, and the people we encounter. But sometimes what stays with you the longest is the place where you spent the night. Around the world, some hotels are far more than accommodation - they are experiences in themselves: rooms inside cranes, airplanes, lighthouses, or even deep underwater. In places like these, a night’s stay becomes an adventure, and the view from the window turns into a story you never forget.