Day 1 in Sarajevo

Welcome to Sarajevo! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check-in, and head out to explore! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city, take a walk through the city’s historic streets in Old Town, and get a sense of the deep history found here along with Sarajevo’s captivating culture. Bascarsija is the famous Old Town neighborhood in the city dating back to the Ottoman era when it was the center of trade and commerce. Wandering through the ancient cobblestone streets is a charming experience with cozy cafes to stop in for a coffee and some baklava, colorful shops to browse for that perfect souvenir to take home, and some wonderful bars and restaurants to visit for a bite to eat or a beverage.

Old Town is set in the heart of the city and is well connected to many points of interest in Sarajevo including a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, a synagogue, and several mosques, it is often referred to as “little Jerusalem”. Sarajevo Sebilj is the iconic wooden fountain that sits proudly in the marketplace in Old Town, it was built in 1753 and features a large ornate Ottoman design.

Explore the bustling 15th century Ottoman Bazaar, the cobblestone streets within the famous marketplace date back to the Middle Ages and have been used as a place for the craftsman to trade their wares for centuries. Today shoppers will be delighted by the array of stalls and shops selling local authentic items such as jewelry, metalwork, copperware, coffee, and clothing.

Pass by some of the historic landmarks in Old Town such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, and its soaring minaret dating back to 1532, it is the largest historical mosque in the country and is home to a stunning courtyard with a fountain for ceremonial washing, and some impressive Ottoman architecture. The mosque is the center of the city’s Islamic community, open for tourists to look around

Take a relaxing stroll along the Miljacka River, which runs through the city, many bridges link the two sides of the river and seek out the best river views. On the banks of the river is where some impressive stately buildings can be seen such as the Sarajevo Fine Arts Academy, the Vijecnica, and the Inat Kuca traditional Ottoman house.

The Latin Bridge rises above the Miljacka River, one of the oldest Ottoman bridges in the city, it was the scene of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his pregnant wife Sophie were assassinated in 1914 by Gavrilo Princip. The event holds a remarkable place in world history and triggered a chain of events that lead to World War I. There is a plaque to mark the spot along with a museum on the period of Austrian rule at the northern end of the bridge.

Enjoy some lunch at Inat Kuca, a national institution nicknamed the “House of Spite” as the owners refused to move when the Austro-Hungarian Empire wanted his land. The restaurant boasts a wonderful atmosphere and some of the most delicious local cuisines including klepe, begova corba, dolman, and local beer.

Check out some of the fascinating museums in the city including Brusa Bezistan Museum where you can learn about Sarajevo’s interesting past, the Old Synagogue is now a Jewish Museum and beautifully preserved Svrzo’s House. The Museum of Sarajevo will reward visitors with abundant information and insight into the era of World War 2. The History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina gives visitors an in-depth look at the Bosnian War with several permanent exhibits.

After a busy day of sightseeing seek out one of the city’s fantastic restaurants to enjoy a traditional Bosnian dinner with tasty local fares such as Cevapi, the national dish of Bosnia consisting of grilled minced beef in a sausage for stuffed inside a pita or flatbread cooked with onions and sauce.

Day 2 in Sarajevo

Start your morning with a visit to one of the many cafes dotted around the city for a delicious fresh cup of Bosnian coffee and a Baklava. Old Town has some of the best selection of cafes and coffee shops. Bosnian coffee is very thick and served in a dzezva, a traditional coffee pot.

Head out on a tour of Sarajevo to learn about the city’s turbulent history, the Siege of Sarajevo was the siege of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is the longest capital city in the history of modern warfare, a landmark event in world history. The tour includes visits to the War Tunnel Museum - Tunnel of Hope, the mountain Trebevic, the first line during the Siege, and the famous Sniper alley.

The city has worked hard to move on from its war-stricken past, but wandering along the streets you may still catch a glimpse of bullet holes in the building facades and the “Sarajevo Roses”, which are patches of concrete where scars from mortar damage have been filled with red resin.

The Sarajevo War Tunnel, also known as the Tunnel of Hope, was an integral part of the survival story of Bosniak residents during the civil war. The tunnel acted as a lifeline to get food, aid, weapons, and other resources to residents while it was under siege from 1993-1996. The tunnel was constructed in May 1992 by the Bosnian army, and today the entrance to the tunnel is a small museum with exhibits on the tunnel's construction, and information about life during the siege, as well as a visit to a section of the meter-wide tunnel.

See the Avaz Twist Tower, the tall glass skyscraper that was built in 2008 standing 577 feet high; the modern building is a great contrast to some of the concrete Brutalist architecture in other parts of the city. Head up to the observation tower on the 36th floor and enjoy breathtaking views over the city. Visit the cafe for a drink and a bite to eat.

Take the scenic cable car ride up Mount Trebevic, which connects from the old part of the city to the mountain summit. The gondola opened back up in 2018 after being abruptly halted on March 2, 1992, when Ramo Biber, its guard became the first victim of the Siege of Sarajevo. During the siege bullets and mortars rained down on the city from Trebevic Mountain claiming thousands of victims in the center of the city. It took years after the siege to ride the mountain of landmines. Now visitors can safely explore the scenic area on great hiking trails and enjoy the beautiful views from the lookout point. The mountain and its surroundings are a great place for a picnic. You can travel back down the mountain on foot and see the ruins and graffiti of the 1984 Winter Olympics bobsled tracks.

Make your way to the Kovaci Memorial Cemetery also known as Martyr’s Cemetery overlooking the city, the final resting place for Bosniaks that were killed during the siege from 1993-1996, during this time the city of Sarajevo was hit by 329 grenades a day on average, and snipers were also active. 11,541 residents including 1,500 children were killed and 56,000 people were injured.

The Yellow Fortress (Zuta Tabija) is situated just above the cemetery overlooking the entire city. The 18th-century small fortress doesn’t look like much but the high stone walls are where the locals gather to watch the sunset over the city. It is one of the most popular viewpoints in Sarajevo.

Once you have finished enjoying the sunset views make your way to Restaurant Kibe, one of the best restaurants in Sarajevo. Dine on delicious roasted red meats, fish, pasta, and vegetarian dishes. Reservations are a must.

End your evening with some drinks and dessert at Hotel Europe, the Austrian style hotel is simply charming and will take you back in time to the 19th century.

Day 3 in Sarajevo

Start your day off by visiting the popular bazaar in the early morning and catch a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of local Bosnians. Within Bascarsiji is the oldest public toilet in all of Europe, it was built in 1530 with a modernized version up and running.

From Bascarsiji make your way towards Ferhadija street where you can capture a glimpse of the Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures sign, located where Bascarsija and its oriental atmosphere with its old mosque ends, and Ferhadija street with its westernized shops begins. The two locations in the city are like two different worlds and the sign promotes Sarajevo as a city of peace and tolerance where different cultures meet.

Do some shopping along Ferhadija Street and pick up some modern items and souvenirs to take home. See the eternal flame that constantly burns on Ferhadija street, a memorial to the civilians and soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War. Also located on Ferhadija Street is the Sacred Heart Cathedral, which is the largest catholic church in Bosnia featuring Gothic architecture and a copper rooftop.

Next door to the Sacred Heart Cathedral is Gallery 11/07/95 an exhibition to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide tragedy where over 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered by Servian forces in the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II. The heartbreaking museum features images, videos, and audio documenting the devastating events which took place in the small town of Srebrenica.

The museum of crimes against humanity is a relatively new museum that focuses on the genocide in Bosnia and covers topics such as crimes against children, sexual violence, and concentration camps with photos, personal items, and documentaries.

After a long day of exploring head to Pivnica HS, a large beer hall in the city where you can sample freshly brewed beers. Sarajevska Brewery is right next door and you can kill two birds with one stone.

Enjoy a lovely dinner at some of the fine restaurants in the city, Dveri is a great location set in Old Town serving up delicious steak dinner in a cozy atmosphere. Be sure to order the ajvar, red pepper spread along with creamy cheese to spread on fresh rolls. 4 Rooms of Mrs. Safija is another great little restaurant with a rustic elegance serving up a European menu featuring delectable venison ragout with gnocchi.

For an after-dinner drink stop by Zlatna Ribica (Kapitol 5) for a beer, wine, cocktail, or coffee. The place is very vintage decorated with quirky trinkets and other decor and live goldfish providing a unique experience.

Additional Days in Sarajevo

If you are able to spend additional days in Sarajevo and visit during the winter months, head to Bjelasnica, one of the largest ski resorts near the city. The steep slopes here are famous for skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing and several snowshoe trails lead through snow-covered pine forests to scenic villages. There are some magnificent mountain resorts found here with cozy log cabins where you can spend a magical night in a winter wonderland.

Visit Konjic, a small town located one hour from Sarajevo, the town boasts a beautiful scenic location next to the emerald colored Neretva river with an old Ottoman bridge and Tito’s bunker, a large underground nuclear bunker with tours available.

Mostar a very popular tourist destination with the (new) old bridge as the main attraction, the 437-year-old bridge was demolished in 1993 by the Croatian military, it has been renovated and placed under UNESCO’s protection. Visit the charming shops by the bridge and see other historic buildings and landmarks in the city.

Your Last Day in Sarajevo

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.