Zeljava Airbase: History and Adventure Tour/Plitvice
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Explore the abandoned military complex of Zeljava Airbase with a local guide. Discover its strategic role during the Cold War and its connection to the fall of Yugoslavia. Wander through massive underground hangars as your guide shares personal stories and employee anecdotes — revealing how rising tensions and the outbreak of war divided colleagues of different nationalities. This tour offers a unique blend of history and adventure.
The tour takes place in all weather conditions because, in the tunnels, we are not affected by rain or high temperatures.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Not recommended for travelers with fear of dark and narrow spaces
What To Expect
Zeljava Air Base
The tour will start in front of an abandoned airplane Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota. This wonderful piece of aviation history welcomes curious visitors open-winged. We will use this rare opportunity to climb ON the airplane and explore inside. We'll then proceed to the runways. As we drive cautiously on the endless runways, we'll try to imitate and imagine what it felt like for pilots to take off. Driving across runways, we begin to catch views of a plane-shaped hole in the hill. Reaching the entrance of the tunnels, we are in front of the highlight of the tour. While checking the flashlights, we will get to know the basic information about the object and the safety rules that we need to follow. During our 3-kilometer walk through dark tunnels, we will talk about construction, operational days and destruction of the base. We will cover personal stories and experiences of employees, relationships, and conflicts. The tour will end back at the airplane.
Options
4:30pm
2pm
11:30am
9am
7pm
What‘s Included
flashlight
Private transportation
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
81 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Impressive tour!
Excursion16740050890,May 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Antonio was our guide. What a top guy that is, many stories from the Yugoslavia times. all the corridors and paths he knows something about. No doubt, just book a tour with Antonio. Antonio, thank you so much for the unforgettable experience!
This was an awesome...
Luka B,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00This was an awesome experience. History is right beneath your feet, and you actually get to see and and touch real pieces of history
A Must Do Experience at Zeljava Airbase
Navigate23146217492,Apr 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I did a private tour of Zeljava Airbase and it was incredible. The site itself is fascinating, but what truly made it exceptional was Antonio. He kindly fit me into his schedule last minute, and it was clear how much knowledge and passion he brings to what he does. His insights, stories, and deep understanding of the airbase’s history transformed the visit into something unforgettable. Absolutely worth it - I can’t recommend this tour highly enough.
Something different
salvadoremanuelg,Apr 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unbelievable. Antonio fully knows the history, curiosities, route within the base. The mix of excitement and adrenaline are worth it. Highly recommended.
Great tour through Željava
Zeljka A,Feb 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Antonio was a great guide — very knowledgeable, passionate, with great humor and a personal touch in tours . Time flew by so fast. This tour was a surprise for my husband, and we were both thrilled that Antonio revealed so many interesting details about Željava!
Unmissable experience in Croatia
bearwhisperer,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Antonio was an incredible guide and this is probably the best tour I’ve been on. He shared and incredible wealth of knowledge on the base and took us on an extensive tour of the entire facility. I learned a lot and would say you can’t miss this experience if you’re in the Balkans.
Great attraction and potential not recognized by the government
Alen K,Oct 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Željava airbase is an incredibly fascinating site, and it's a real pity the Croatian government isn't utilizing it as a tourist attraction. It's a massive complex, likely one of the most expensive military installations of its time. Although it was completely destroyed during the Yugoslav wars, all that remains are ruins and the stories of the people who worked there. Tours are primarily run by private enthusiasts who either know former employees or have gathered their stories. These personal stories were definitely the most interesting part of the tour, even though looking at the ruins themselves started to feel a bit repetitive towards the end.
Tour of airbase with company
Bruno M,Sep 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00If you are going definitely take a tour guide. Makes it much more interesting and easier to go through everything and hear interesting facts.
Don't sleep on the BEST tour in Croatia! Antonio is AMAZING and does Željava right!
Tmenace01,Sep 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the BEST tour we've done in Croatia, and it was definitely one of the more unique tours we've ever done. Yes you can explore the base/tunnels on your own, but Antonio is AMAZING and really humanizes the tour for you with information, stories, and personal accounts of time spent at the base. If you didnt have him, you really wouldn't know what you're looking at or the significance of it, and you'd probably get lost. Our tour was about two hours which was the perfect length, and we had time leftover to explore/play around after. If you do an 8am tour like we did, you basically have the place to yourself and the visibility in the tunnels in great. At 10am, there are people starting to visit and drive around at the entrances/runways. By 2pm, there are a lot of people and there's a lot of fog in the tunnels so the base takes on a creepy vibe. There aren't any toilets on the tour and sadly it's not suitable for the mobility impaired (you could go in the main tunnels, just not into some of the rooms) as you have to climb over broken rock, metal, and debris to get in. Antonio will provide you with good flashlights, but if you want to bring your own, bring the brightest one you can find! Wear warm clothes (it's usually 13°C/55°F) and comfy shoes that you don't mind getting dirty because you absolutely will get dirty!! There's a café at the entrance and two port-o-potties that probably haven't been emptied in 3 months. There's also a small shop that's cash only and sells a few simple Željava souvenirs like tshirts, magnets, hats, etc. Note: There's holes and sharp objects hanging low in the tunnels. Watch your step and mind your head! Yes you can drive on the runways to your heart's content, but DON'T go off the pavement/road as you're literally in a mine field. Also, the Bosnian police patrol the area, so be prepared to identify yourself if the station is staffed on the day you visit. One tiny corner of the runway and a small section of tunnel is actually in Bosnia & Herzegovina! If you're afraid of bats, keep in mind you're in dark tunnels and there are bats everywhere. They'll fly right by your head and whiff you with air as they flap really close to your face. Thank you SO much Antonio! The way you brought Željava to life was incredible and we appreciated every minute we spent with you!!
Great dive into history
jos bH2955GZ,Sep 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting site with a turbulent history. Our guide was very accomodating with providing information and details knowledge.
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