During the Ottoman reign Ilidža got it name (turc.iladž – spa). Even if that area was, and still is very rich with water of all kinds (mineral, thermomineral), as well as with natural environment, during the Ottoman Empire, rather small investment projects have been made.

That area was being used by the wealthy Sarajevo people as a place for relaxation, where they would spent a whole summer. Famous travel writer, Evlija Ćelebi in 1660, while passing here wrote:

“There is excursion site at Vrelo Bosne (Bosna River well). There, people from whole Sarajevo, who know how to enjoy, come, with tents, bigger or smaller, do the trout net-fishing, an ounce in weight. In the end, of it, they make delicious ćevapi.”

The oldest ever written data of such an excursion site is mentioned in books of travel writer Benedict Kuripešić in 1531, when representatives of King Ferdinand, Josip Lamberg and Nikola Jurišić came to Husrev Bey. Ilidža and its surroundings have developed into tremendous and very relaxing area, specially at the time of Austro-Hungarian rule.

After the period of stabilization of new government, Austro-Hungarians have undertaken voluminous operations in order to make this famous excursion site and spa center look good. According to the general plan, in the center of spa complex Ilidža, several hotels have been located there: Hungaria, Austria and Bosna. After the first concept with one building, it appeared that two more buildings will satisfy the need.

So they started to built “Hungaria” and “Austria” hotels. Hotel “Hungaria” was projected by the Carl Panek. In between two hotels, fountain was placed, with the flower garden around it. Hotels have been connected to each other with a roof, as well as the Railway station of Banja Ilidža. Just near, musical pavilion was built, with eight-angled shape and made of wood.

Already in 1892 works have started in order to expand and arrange Velika Aleja (Great Alley). Along the Alley was, with both sides around, formed an area of parcels with villas. Parcels were planned in range from 2.500 to 3.000m2, and even bigger, which individually held different villa basis. Some of the villas from the time have been saved, rebuilt, and today still represent the spirit of Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Still, the greatest project of that time, represent the hotel “Bosna”. Over the time the authorities have realized that two hotels are not enough, so maybe that was a reason, or a need to for a threefold idea of Bosnia together with the Austro-Hungaria (hostel: Austria, Hungaria and Bosna), a new hotel grounds were set, and whose designer was Franz Blažek. Also at the place of old Inn (Han), who stood at the crossroad toward the bridge on River Željeznica, a new hotel, hotel “Igman”, was built, in pseudo-Moorish style. In the wider area of Ilidža, some other interesting objects were erected.

Already in 1895, a new Agricultural center was built. The center was placed in Butmir, at the place where very important archeological remains of highly important Neolithic settlement have been found. And the remains have been found at the time when the Agricultural center construction was about to begin. In the Butmir area, in ideally flat space, between Donji Kotorac, Kasindol Creek and River Željeznica was built an hippodrome, along with necessary facilities.

So, Sarajevo, altogether with other attractive spa-healing facilities, had been given with hippodrome, for horse racing, along, as already said, necessary facilities, roads, and other objects. Raise and development of fine horse kinds, has had a long historical tradition in Bosnia, so horse competitions have had great dose of interest amongst people.

The horse race, were attended by the local people as well as state officers, barons, beys or others. So Ilidža become a place where many competitions (shooting, pigeon hunting, hawk hunting, horse racing, etc.) have been held, amongst which, it is mentioned, some of international kind. The Željeznica River, a tributary of the Bosna, passes through the center of the city. The Bosna itself passes through Ilidžas outskirts.

Its spring, Vrelo Bosne, is found a few kilometers to the west of city center and is a popular national park. A number of smaller streams also pass through the city's area. A number of horticulture projects have been undertaken in the history of Ilidža.

The city is today very rich in trees. The total area of the city's parks is about 50% of that of Sarajevo, which has six times its population. In 1894, an article in a London newspaper called Ilidža "One of the most beautiful places in the world".