Federal Sarajevo attractions. Sights of Sarajevo - what to see. A complete guide to iconic places. What to buy from souvenirs
Last modified 02/11/2019
If you are just arriving in the city, then you can get off closer to the center, before reaching the final stop.
Railway Station Sarajevo is located 3 kilometers from the city center, where you can get there by tram number 1.
Station address: Put života 2, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
But this type of transport is better used for traveling within the country.
Sarajevo International Airport is located six kilometers southwest of the city.
Sarajevo International Airport
Address: Kurta Schorka 36, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
From the airport to the city you can take shuttle buses that run on schedule.
The nearest public transport stop, Dobrinja škola B, is one kilometer from the airport.
Trolleybuses 103 and 107 go to the city center. Tickets must be purchased at kiosks. The driver's tickets are more expensive.
Route to the main square of Baščaršija on the map
Nowadays it is becoming increasingly popular to travel in rented cars across several countries. A great option is to come to Sarajevo, get to know the city and move on. The service for finding travel companions also works. I myself used the Blablacar website to get from Belgrade to Sarajevo.
Where to stay in Sarajevo
You should definitely look for housing in the old town. The prices are very reasonable and do not differ from prices in new areas (in case you think you will save money). Hotels, hostels, guest houses - the choice is huge. Traditionally, we look for accommodation on Hotellok or Booking
You can also find an apartment or room for rent on www.airbnb.ru. And if staying in hotels is cheap, then renting an apartment is even more affordable.
Important! Be careful, you can’t pay by card everywhere, even if it says on the website that they accept credit cards. When I arrived in Sarajevo, I encountered exactly this. Euros were not accepted either. I didn’t have any local money yet. But while I was settling in, the hotel administrator herself went and changed the required amount of money for me and brought it along with the check. What a service!
What to see in Sarajevo
The main attractions are located within walking distance in the Old Town.
Bascarsija Bascarsija
Address: Baščaršija 1, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The main square of the Old Town. It is also called “Pigeon” Square.
Sebil
This is a drinking fountain on Bascarsija Square. Perhaps the main symbol of the city, the image of which is found more often than other attractions.
Be sure to take a walk along the embankment of the Milacka River.
The walk will be especially magnificent in the evening, when the lights are turned on. There are 35 bridges across the river. Some of them are worth focusing your attention on.
It was here that Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed. From 1918 to 1992 it was called Principov Bridge.
Has the shape of a loop. This is a modern bridge, opened in 2012.
There are benches installed on it where you can sit and heed the advice: sit and enjoy the beautiful views.
Local residents believe that this bridge was designed by the same Gustav Eiffel, whose tower has long been a symbol of Paris.
The main Catholic cathedral of the country, built at the end of the 19th century.
The main mosque of the country, built in the 16th century. There is a legend that Gazi Khusrev-beg hid a treasure with gold coins in one of the walls.
There are as many of them as were spent on the construction of the mosque. And, if the mosque is destroyed, the treasure will be enough to restore it to its former grandeur.
Bascarsi Mosque
The mosque is located in the very center of Bascarsija, the old town of Sarajevo. You won't pass by.
Zemal Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest museum in the country was founded in 1888. By visiting it, you will learn about the history, nature and culture of the country. Opening hours, ticket prices and address can be found on the official website.
Museum Sarajevo 1878—1918
The museum is located at the infamous Latin Bridge. It is small but meaningful. The museum covers the period when the country was under the rule of Austria-Hungary.
And, of course, a detailed story about the murder of the Austro-Hungarian heir is presented. There are personal belongings of Franz Ferdinand, his wife Sophia and Gavrila Princip. All the necessary information can be found on the website
A pedestrian street that runs from Liberation Square to Bascarsija.
This is where you can feel the whole flavor of the city! A great variety of shops, cafes, old houses, a market and much more! Walking through it once will definitely not be enough.
Marshal Titus Avenue
Main Avenue of Sarajevo. The avenue runs parallel to Ferkhadiyya Street.
Tunnel Museum
The museum is located next to the airport. The tunnel was built during the occupation of Sarajevo in 1992-1995. residents of the city. The necessary cargo was delivered through it and evacuation was carried out.
The length of the tunnel was 720 meters. Now 20 meters are open to visitors. The museum is open to visitors every weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of course, such a museum is not intended for entertainment. But it is necessary to visit it and once again feel that war is the most terrible evil.
Olympic venues
In 1984, the XIV Winter Olympic Games were held in Sarajevo and its surroundings. Many facilities were built specifically for the Olympics. But the war of the 1990s destroyed most of them.
They did not restore them. What was not destroyed stood abandoned for a long time. The most famous object with such a fate is the bobsleigh track. Since 2014, restoration work has been carried out by volunteers, and training has recently resumed on the track.
Where and what to eat
My favorite part of this trip. You can see the sights in a day or two, but how can you try all the local food? And besides, it is very tasty! So, let's begin.
The first thing to do when you arrive is to run to Chevadzhinitsa. There are a great many of them in the Old Town. Order cevapi. These are fried sausages made from minced meat, served with a huge amount of onions in a large flatbread (called somun). Most often they are sold in portions of 5, 10, 15 pieces. I advise you to start with 5. Cevapi are very filling. Prices are approximately the same everywhere, approximately € 1.5 for five pieces, € 3 for ten.
Most famous Chevabdzhinitsy:
- Željo at the address: Kundurdžiluk, 19,
- Mrkva at the address: Bravadžiluk, 13,
- Specijal at the address: Ćurčiluk veliki, 11.
Don't look at the situation. Most often in such establishments it is quite modest. The main thing is how it is prepared.
Next, there are the equally famous and delicious Buregdžinica, which specialize in bureks, puff pastry pies with meat, potato, cheese and other fillings. There is nothing in common with the pies we are used to. Very tasty and very filling! Locals eat them with a light fermented milk drink, reminiscent of drinking yogurt.
The best Buregginits:
- Sač at the address: Bravadžiluk mali, 2
- Buregdzinica Bosna at the address: Bravadžiluk, 11.
The establishments are small and if you come and everything is busy, don’t rush to leave. It's worth the wait.
Restaurants and cafes serving local cuisine are easy to find on Bascarsija and Ferhadija Street. For example, the famous restaurant Dveri (Prote Bakovica, 12) or Nanina kuhinja (Kundurdžiluk, 35).
Well, if you still have some strength left, then take a look at the famous brewery. It was founded back in 1864. Next to the brewery there is a restaurant “Pivnitsa”, where you can try freshly brewed beer. And if you come before 18 o’clock, you can go to the museum, which tells about the history of Sarajevo brewing. Details can be found on the website
What else should I try?
Kaymak. A dairy product that is usually spread on bread, like the butter we are used to.
Uštipki in Bosnian and ushtipki in Herzegovinian. Bosnian ones are similar to donuts, compact and fluffy, while Herzegovinian ustipki are elongated and flat.
Baklava is the local baklava. Usually they are with walnuts.
What local dishes should you order in restaurants?
Bosanski lonas - stewed meat and vegetables cooked over an open fire
Güvec-Bosnian pilaf
Zhaprak cabbage rolls
Beya's soup - delicious vegetable soup with veal
Moussaka - eggplant with potatoes, baked in the oven with minced beef.
Sujuk - smoked meat sausages.
Sogan dolma - onion stuffed with minced meat.
Sarma cabbage rolls wrapped with minced meat, rice and spices in sauerkraut leaves.
Klepe - local dumplings
And much more. If you find it difficult to choose, then take Sarajevo Sahan - it is a mix of several dishes.
What to buy from souvenirs
Of course, for souvenirs you should go to the indoor Turkish bazaar in the old town. Here you can find anything: from cheap T-shirts, magnets, handbags and ceramics to handmade carpets, copper sets and quality leather goods.
Also, be sure to grab a jar or two of fig jam. Locals love figs in any form.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an unpopular country among our tourists. To be honest, I don’t know a single person who was there, and there are a lot of travel lovers among my friends and acquaintances. And in vain! The country is impressive! As a result, I can say that Sarajevo reminded me a little of Turkey. So I didn’t understand whether I visited Europe or the East, but I took with me many new and pleasant impressions. And definitely a couple of extra pounds.
Some photos of this wonderful trip:
Despite its favorable location, mild climate and many attractions, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a long time could not compete with its more famous tourist neighbors. But in recent years, this small country has been attracting more and more visitors.
Tourists from all over the world are attracted by ski resorts, wonderful beaches of Neum, picturesque landscapes and original local cuisine. Bosnia and Herzegovina is deservedly called the easternmost European state. Catholic and Orthodox churches here peacefully coexist with mosques, and medieval buildings and streets coexist with new buildings in recent years.
Fans of philosophical reflection should definitely visit the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the Latin Bridge and the fortified bunker of Marshal Tito in a cave near Drvar.
As a souvenir of your visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can bring very beautiful embroidered textiles, leather clothes and shoes, as well as a variety of delicacies - baklava, sujuk cookies, strong fruit brandy or local wine.
Popular hotels and inns at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles/day
What to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.
In the Old Town of Mostar, many examples of medieval architecture are perfectly preserved. The Muslibegovits house-museum deserves special attention, where visitors are introduced to the way of life of a Turkish family in the 19th century. The picturesque mosques of Koski Mehmet Pasha and Karadoz Bey are open to everyone.
The unusually picturesque Neretva River flows through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Middle Ages, river pirates operated here, and in 1943, one of the most important Balkan battles took place on Neretva, during which partisan detachments managed to disrupt the Wehrmacht operation. The most expensive Yugoslav film, “The Battle of Neretva,” was shot about this in 1969.
The picturesque park is located on the territory of the state entity Republika Srpska. The relict forest of Peručica, Lake Trnovač, Mount Maglić, and the memorial complex “Valley of Heroes” are some of the attractions of these places. The park was formed in 1962. You can walk along the mountain paths and look at the three-hundred-year-old pine trees by coming here from the nearest town of Foča.
The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, is located at the crossroads of ancient trade routes, so it is no wonder that its main square has always been used as a place for trade. Today, on Marcale Square there is a market where you can buy a lot of delicious goodies.
This is perhaps the most infamous bridge in the world. Here on August 28, 1914, the event that caused the outbreak of the First World War took place. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed by pistol shots from Serbian student Gavrilo Princip. In its current form, the bridge has been preserved without much change almost since the end of the 18th century. There is a museum dedicated to the bridge nearby.
The waterfall is located 40 kilometers south of Mostar on the Trebižac River. Its height is about 25 meters and its width is approximately 120 meters. Kravice is a very popular holiday destination in the spring and during the summer. During the tourist season, small cafes operate around the waterfall and picnic areas are organized. Nearby there is a beautiful grotto with stalactites; there is also an interesting old, no longer working water mill.
The oldest mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina, named after Suleiman I, is also called the Royal Mosque. It was built in the 15th century, and upon completion of the work it was almost completely burned down in a severe fire. Work to restore the building was completed only in the 16th century. Today the Royal Mosque is open to everyone.
The pedestrian Old Bridge over the Neretva, built by the Turks for defense back in the 16th century, connects the two parts of the city of Mostar. In 1993, the Old Bridge was destroyed. For its restoration, all the medieval elements that were recovered from the bottom of the Neretva River were used.
The perfectly preserved Moricha Khan caravanserai was built in the 16th century to provide safe accommodation for traders traveling from the country to the Adriatic and back. Today there are several cafes with national cuisine and souvenir shops, and the rooms and galleries of Moricha Khan are open to tourists.
The picturesque Vrelo Bosne Park is located in the center of the state. It was founded during the time of the Austro-Hungarians, but the military conflict of the 20th century caused significant damage to the park. And only thanks to the caring public, Vrelo Bosne was restored in 2000. Here you can ride a horse-drawn carriage, take pictures against the backdrop of wooden bridges or visit a local open-air restaurant.
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is famous for its extensive collections of exhibits. It also houses stečki – carved tombstones, which are a national treasure of the state. The building that houses the National Museum was built in 1888.
This is a mountain near Sarajevo, the slopes of which are covered with a meter-thick layer of snow from October to May. Thanks to such wonderful natural conditions, a world-famous ski resort is located here. Hotels and chalets for every taste, red slopes and nine ski lifts - Jahorina has everything you need for comfortable skiing.
The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is called the European Jerusalem because it seamlessly combines the eastern buildings of the Old City and the western buildings of the Austro-Hungarian period. Pigeon Square with a fountain, located in the Bascarsija district, is considered the heart of Old Sarajevo.
The private museum, created by the Kolar family, includes 20 meters of a special tunnel. It was used by residents of besieged Sarajevo for the exit of civilians and the supply of food during the recent military conflict. In the past, this military tunnel was more than 700 meters long and took about six months to build.
The small village of Medjugorje became famous in the 20th century when six local children saw the image of the Virgin Mary on a hill. And although this phenomenon was not officially recognized by the church, more than a million pilgrims regularly visit the local Hill of the Apparition. Also noteworthy is the Church of St. James, built in the classic Balkan style, and the Park of Candles, where believers thank the Mother of God for helping them fulfill their wishes.
The Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque was built in the 16th century and is a perfectly preserved example of buildings from the Ottoman period. The mosque received its name in honor of the philanthropist Gazi Husrev Bey, who actively participated in the construction and development of Sarajevo. Anyone can visit the mosque, you just need to wait until the prayer ends.
The heart of Sarajevo is its main shopping area. Built in 1462, Bascarsija Square is still the cultural and historical center of the capital. There is a clock tower, the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, as well as a market where tourists can buy original souvenirs to remember their visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Climbing Mount Maglic is a popular tourist route. Majestic landscapes, clean air and the relative simplicity of local mountain trails attract outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world. The height of the mountain is 2387 meters and is the highest point in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not far from Maglic there is a very beautiful glacial lake Trnovacko.
A famous example of Turkish engineering from the Middle Ages, the Visegrad Bridge over the Drin River was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2007. This structure, which is also called the Mehmed Pasha Bridge, consists of 11 stone spans and connects both parts of the city of Visegrad. The Mehmed Pasha Bridge was immortalized in a book published in 1945 by Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.
From November to April, the town of Kupres, located in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, becomes a center of ski tourism. If there is not enough natural snow, all four local ski slopes are maintained in excellent condition with the help of special snow cannons. There are also several hotels and inns in Kupres to suit every taste.
The main Catholic church of Sarajevo, which is located in the central quarters of the city, was built in 1889. Architect Josip Vancas built this cathedral in the neo-Gothic style based on Notre Dame de Paris. The interior of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is decorated with elegant stained glass windows.
Tito's Refuge is a famous cave near the town of Drvar, where Yugoslav Marshal Josip Broz Tito hid during World War II. To capture and destroy Tito along with the Supreme Headquarters of the Liberation Movement, the Germans carried out Operation Resselsprung, during which Tito took refuge in a cave near Drvar and then fled. In 1944, the cave was turned into a museum.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an amazing and colorful country due to the mixture of Eastern and Western cultures, cuisines, and traditions. I will continue to talk about our trip, the first report, and the second. In the photo you see the inscription under Natasha’s feet - "Sarajevo meeting of culture". Behind her is a pedestrian Fehadia street with European architecture, but her gaze is directed towards the Turkish old part. If you turn 180 degrees at the sign, you will be stunned by the difference in construction.
We happened to be on Sarajevo City Day April 6, but there was no wild celebration, except for laying flowers at the Eternal Flame and a children's party. We decided not to use a car for a day to take a break from the road, so we settled in the historical part of Sarajevo - in the Bascarsija area. In the morning we took the standard tourist route, through Viečnica, where we saw the project for the future cable car. By the way, Vijećnica because of the holiday it was closed, but I wanted to see its restoration, let me remind you that in the 90s Serbian troops burned it with the huge library of Sarajevo inside
Compared to the 2012 trip, Sarajevo has resurrected, become more well-groomed and more beautiful, but there are still echoes of war
Then we went through Latin Bridge where the First World War began
There is architectural beauty across the river. In some places it seems that you are in St. Petersburg, Belgrade or Kyiv
We visited the museum opposite the Latin Bridge, which tells the story of the Austrian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the murder of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife
We bought strawberries at the Mercale market, where there were massacres in 94-95 🍒🍇🍎
We accidentally found a tea shop on a parallel street and sat down there to warm up from the wet weather.
I note that in all Balkan countries, coffee culture is more widespread, but tea is rarely drunk, either for colds...
There are stairs leading up from the market to the restaurant. Lovac, opposite there are luxurious buildings
This Villa of Hermine Radish, .
To the right of the Catholic church they wanted to look at Muslim Genocide Museum, but the entrance price of 6 euros confused me... what kind of museum makes money from the dead? For those who don’t know, read about the genocide in Srebrenica
We were terribly unlucky with the weather... Not only was it raining, it was also cold in early April. It is worth remembering that Sarajevo is located among the mountains, the weather here is not hot
In front of him, architecture students came up with the “Hurry Slowly” bridge
We saw Sarajevo slowly moving towards Europe
For lunch we went to Sarajevo Brewery, or rather, to the restaurant next to her.
Very atmospheric place! It’s a pity that we didn’t come in the evening, otherwise we would have found live musicians.
Andrey ordered a knee, but couldn’t handle it...
Read about the history of the brewery. What’s cool is that it’s located in the historical center, you can walk there
There is a museum attached to the brewery; admission is paid, but we did not look at the only room; the exhibits were not impressive.
We walked back to the hotel and saw signs on the wall of the house with a reminder of those killed in the Yugoslav war
After resting in a horizontal flood from meat and beer, in the evening we went for a walk around Bascasija in search of a teahouse. I wanted oriental sweets. We also bought them for home + ground coffee
We decided to spend the fifth day of our trip in the mountains. We went looking for an abandoned bobsleigh track from the 1984 Olympics, and discovered a new one on the same mountain! Website SunnyLand and label on the map. Sponsor - Arab sheikh.
You cover 1 km of the road on a seat, you can slow down on sharp turns. It costs 5 maros = 2.5 euros. You can pay either in Bosnian marks or by bank transfer by card.
A video about the route can be viewed at Andrey's Instagram
We screamed like children! 😱 If you go, take two tickets at once!
We went even higher and found ourselves at an abandoned bobsleigh track(on the map), in 1984 the Olympics took place here ❄
A very atmospheric place, the feeling that time has stood still...
33 years ago, sports battles for awards took place here! Now graffiti artists compete
This is her start at an altitude of 1109 m, finish at 982 m.
Imagine that judges or coaches, parents of athletes were sitting on the steps to the left...
In the 90s, the highway was made holes for shelling. It makes no sense to restore it today; it’s easier to build a new one
The remains of the Olympic facilities on Trebevic are impressive! The bobsleigh track was designed by the Germans; it was then recognized as the safest of all existing in the world. It is interesting that in Yugoslavia there was no national team in this sport, which did not exist before this Olympics, so the most experienced coach of the new discipline, Zivorad Toplic, assembled a team of martial arts representatives and sprinters.
The road seems to me from the 80s :))) But thank you that it exists! In some places we saw vacation spots with hotels and restaurants, and in some places we saw destroyed buildings. I recommended walking through the forest in uninhabited places, as if there were still mines
People have returned to mountain villages and live on their own farms. This is already the Republika Srpska (one of the parts of BiH), this is immediately clear from the houses, churches and cemeteries. It’s so funny after the division of the country in 95 - the bobsleigh track remained in the Muslim-Catholic part of the country, and the alpine skiing ended up in the Orthodox one.
Sarajevo is a unique city that managed to preserve its “oriental” style and appearance in the post-war years. The city is dotted with many narrow streets, where you can find a large number of mosques and a picturesque old Turkish bazaar.
Sarajevo is decorated with city trams that run from time to time, small cafes and restaurants, most of which are concentrated in the Bar Caršija shopping area, which is also crammed with many jewelry shops, souvenir shops and small pastry shops. There are also two more famous squares in the city - Gazi-Khosrov-Beg, which is known as the former major point of the Great Silk Road and Pigeon Square, where you can really see whole flocks of pigeons.
After the civil war in Sarajevo, some Orthodox architectural monuments survived - the cathedral church of the Holy Mother of God, the old church of Saints Gabriel and Michael, the Old Synagogue (one of the three that survived), which today houses the Jewish Museum with the famous “Hagada Code”, the Town Hall, made in Moorish style and the 18th century Cathedral. The architectural ensemble of Sarajevo is dominated by buildings that have survived from Ottoman rule: the most majestic mosque in the country, “Begova-Jamia”, as well as about a hundred other mosques, the Barčaršija Tower, a Turkish fortress with twelve towers on a mountain ledge, the Kursumli madrasah with a library, an old caravanserai and numerous commercial buildings from the Turkish era. Copyright www.site
The city is not deprived of interesting natural attractions; the Vrelo Bosne Nature Reserve is an excellent place for hiking. This park is historical; it was founded during the period of Austria-Hungary. During the war years, the vast park area fell into disrepair; only in 2000 did local activists begin to restore the natural oasis. Now the park has many paths for walking and cycling, and horseback riding is also offered to its guests. There are many friendly animals and birds living in the park; many tourists come here specifically to feed them.
The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in one of the luxurious ancient palaces; it was founded in 1945. The museum's exhibition includes more than 300,000 unique exhibits dedicated to various areas of the country's history and culture. Museum visitors will be able to see collections of ancient books and works of art, photographs and documents, as well as exhibits dedicated to the difficult wartime for the country.
The ancient brewery, which was founded in 1864, has also been preserved in Sarajevo; now it is also one of the important excursion sites. Since the opening of this plant, its beer was famous for its excellent taste; it was actively supplied to many neighboring countries. In 1918, the plant began supplying beer to the royal court, and the old plant continues to operate today. In addition to beer, various non-alcoholic drinks are also produced there; fascinating excursions are organized for tourists around the plant. The historic building houses an excellent brasserie and bar.
Tourists interested in modern history should definitely visit the Sarajevo War Tunnel. It was built during the Bosnian War and served as a shelter for local residents from 1992 to 1995. During the war years, the tunnel was partially destroyed; now all that remains is an underground passage 20 meters long. In this tunnel, the local Kolar family opened a military museum, which houses interesting artifacts from war times.