6 Strong Reasons to Visit Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina

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These days the Balkans seem to be ever-growing in popularity and yet many don’t feel the urge to visit Sarajevo. Sure, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina isn’t off-the-beaten-path or anything, but it doesn’t seem to have the same allure as other Balkan capitals. Even its fellow city of Mostar seems to be more popular, thanks to the droves of day-trippers from Croatia.

Sarajevo was my first real taste of this part of Europe, and ever since, the Balkans have drawn me back repeatedly. As such, it’s often the place I compare other Balkan destinations to. It may not be my favourite city in the entire region or maybe even Bosnia and Herzegovina, but I remember it fondly nonetheless. Hopefully, the following reasons will help you realise that it certainly is worth visiting Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

How to get to Sarajevo

Sarajevo sits close-ish to the center of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This makes getting there from other parts of the country fairly easy, especially with lots of bus connections and the occasional train to places such as Mostar, Jajce, and Tuzla. You can find public transport timetables and prices here on Balkanviator.

But it lacks good connections with neighbouring countries. Buses from Belgrade and cities in Croatia, such as Zagreb and Split, are most common.

Driving to Sarajevo in a rental car comes with its own challenges, not the least learning the flow of traffic in Bosnia and Herzegovina or finding parking in the inner city.

Travellers coming from farther away have the option of flying into Sarajevo Airport. Ryanair offers the most routes, but some airlines have routes here from Europe, Türkiye, and the Middle East.

Once you arrive in Sarajevo, get around the city on foot, or by tram and bus.

 

Where to stay in Sarajevo

With a city like Sarajevo, it’s worth carefully deciding where you want to stay.

The city is stretched out by hills and its river, so if you stay in the wrong area, it will mean a lot of back and forth when sightseeing. Ideally, choose somewhere close to the Old Town, as that is where you’ll want to start sightseeing most likely.

Also, keep in mind that Sarajevo is a hilly city, so pick somewhere with a good view, and you may have to walk up a hill at the end of the day.

That said, you won’t have trouble finding accommodation when visiting Sarajevo, as the city offers a good range of hotels and guesthouses to stay in.

I like staying in the Vratnik area, but you can do better than the basic hotel I used. Here are some of the well-rated alternatives:

• Hotel Sana
• Hotel Aziza
• Hotel Baškuća Sarajevo
• Guest House Time Out

 

Why Sarajevo is worth visiting

Looking at the different Sarajevo attractions you can visit when sightseeing, several clear themes emerge. These things to do in Sarajevo together highlight a bunch of reasons why the city is so fascinating to visit.

When sightseeing in Sarajevo, you can either explore independently or take advantage of the many different historical, cultural, and culinary tours that reveal the city’s depths. But these reasons why you won’t regret adding Sarajevo to your next Balkans trip remain the same.

 

It’s the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Let’s start with a pretty simple reason to visit Sarajevo – it’s the largest city and capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Together that makes it the perfect first step into exploring Bosnia Herzegovina for visitors. Whereas venturing out into the nation’s countryside comes with its own set of challenges, Sarajevo is easily accessible and straightforward to navigate.

Sarajevo presents you with an easy entry point into the country’s culture, history, and way of life. By visiting, you’ll sooner be ready to head off and delve further into what makes Bosnia Herzegovina a fascinating country. Much like Mostar, you can start somewhere where tourism is commonplace and then move on to slightly more obscure destinations like Jajce and Trebinje.

 

Sarajevo is deeply historic

To say that Sarajevo has a complex past is a colossal understatement. While the area has a history dating back before the Romans, Sarajevo as a city owes its existence to the Ottomans of the 15th century. Since then, the city has been through quite a lot. It’s no surprise that most of the things to do in Sarajevo relate to this history.

Most immediately is the city’s archaic Old Town, which, along with the riverfront, is where most of Sarajevo’s sights are found. Centred on the Old Bazaar known as Baščaršija, the whole area feels trapped in the time of the Ottomans and makes for a wonderful spot for sightseeing. Other important landmarks include the Emperor’s Mosque and the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque from the 15th and 16th centuries, respectively.

Jumping ahead in history, one spot most Western visitors make sure to see is the bridge where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place. It was in Sarajevo in 1914 where the Austrian royal was killed by anarchists, setting off the chain of events that led to World War I.

Lastly, there’s also the tragic history surrounding the Balkan War of the 1990s.

In the city, you can still find buildings that bear the scars of bullet holes from this dark period, including the Sarajevo War Tunnel that serves as a visceral museum to this bloody history.

To me, the starkest reminder of the Balkan War in Sarajevo is the Sehidsko Cemetery. Both beautiful and full of dismay, this Muslim cemetery is for those who were killed during the conflict. It’s particularly chilling to see so many people, often young people, killed in such a short period.

 

It offers unbelievable views

Now for something more upbeat. Some cities are known for their epic views and overstimulating cityscapes. And I think Sarajevo should be one of them.

On both evenings of my visit, I deliberately walked up through the Sehidsko Cemetery to the top of its hill. While the Yellow Bastion here presents the ultimate view, even just from the top of the cemetery offers a wonderful view.

Even without the magical colours of the sky, the city view includes plenty of detail to catch your eye. From the nearby Old Town to the distant modern skyscrapers, Sarajevo’s different elements are at their most obvious from above. You also get to look out to neighbourhoods of Sarajevo that you might not otherwise visit.

 

The city is culturally complex

Bosnia Herzegovina is often known as one of Europe’s few Muslim countries but things are much more complex. No surprise then that this religious complexity is best seen in Sarajevo.

Throughout the city, you can find houses of prayer of multiple religions, often within the same neighbourhood. A mosque by a catholic church, a short walk from a synagogue and an Orthodox church, you get the idea.

This meeting point of beliefs naturally stems from the city’s history of ever-changing influence. The jumble of faiths has led to Sarajevo’s nickname, the “Jerusalem of the Balkans“. This level of coexistence can be heartening for those who aren’t used to such integrated societies.

 

Try tasty Balkan food

Now, if food is a big motivator for your travels, then Sarajevo has got you covered.

That’s because you have all of the delicious flavours of this Balkan cuisine right at your fingertips. Go almost anywhere in the Baščaršija and you’ll find places to enjoy Bosnian dishes. Sure, there are similarities in the food from other Balkan countries, but each has its subtleties. It’s all delicious anyway, regardless, right?

If you’re looking for somewhere to start your culinary journey, then cevapi and pljeskavica are both personal favourites. Served in slightly different forms, they’re both minced meat, grilled and served onion, spicy ajvar sauce and pita bread or chips. There are also plenty of familiar kebab places, and the stuffed flaky pastry known as burek is also everywhere. Oh, and it’s all pleasantly affordable, like a lot of things in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As for an actual restaurant recommendation, I quite liked Nanina Kuhinja right in the centre. Given its location, you’d think it would be touristy and overpriced, but it felt fairly reserved in that regard.

 

Search for surprising architecture

People often have a fairly grim mental image of Sarajevo in mind before they go. I know I did at least.

But while, yes, there are some brutalist soviet-era buildings, Sarajevo has quite a mix of architectures, among which are some shining gems. For starters, there’s the Ottoman style found throughout much of the Old Town, in direct contrast to the cold concrete found in places like the Railway Station.

Then there’s the modern elements of the city, like the Avaz Twist Tower and the Sarajevo City Centre buildings.

My favourite though are the eclectic remainders from Sarajevo’s days as part of Austro-Hungary. There’s the exquisitely grand, riverfront Academy of Fine Arts Sarajevo seen above and the surprising neo-Moorish National Museum as well. This diversity reflects Sarajevo’s past and present perfectly, which is exactly what a city’s look should do.

 

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If you’ve been, why do you think people should consider visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina? What things to do in Sarajevo most appeal to you? Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

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