bosnia tourism wiki

Wander-Lush

Explore Bosnia & Herzegovina: The Ultimate Bosnia Travel Guide

• Europe / The Balkans

When you go to Sarajevo, what you experience is life. Mike Leigh

Why you’ll love Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH for short) is often associated with loss and death. From the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand which set WWI in motion, to the Siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, BiH has long been viewed as a nation torn apart at the seams. But now more than ever, it’s equally a place of new beginnings and budding creativity – a place where you can feel life itself tingling on your skin.

In 1992, citizens voted in a monumental independence referendum and Bosnia and Herzegovina gained her independence. The dotted lines of autonomous republics, the intricate political system (often named the most complex in the world), and the very presence of the ‘and’ in the country’s name are a clue to the kind of diversity and contrasts you can expect today.

If there’s one thing I learned after five weeks travelling around BiH, it’s that the warmth of the people and the illustrious beauty of the landscape are the strongest uniting forces.

Bosnia travel essentials

Please note: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more .

April/May or October/November (spring/fall shoulder seasons).

How long in Bosnia?

2 full days for Sarajevo; 5-7 days for the highlights; 10 days to see everything.

Daily budget

35-50 USD per person per day (mid-range hotel; local meals; bus fares; museum tickets).

Getting there

Fly into Sarajevo or Tuzla; drive/bus/taxi from any neighbouring country.

Visa-free for most passports (stay up to 90 days).

Getting around

Hire a car; use intercity buses and vans.

Where to stay

Hostels, family-run guesthouses or hotels.

Tours & experiences

Market tours, UNESCO sites and wild landscapes.

Things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Sarajevo , BiH’s capital city, the line where Asia stops and Europe begins (or is the other way around?) is literally drawn in the sand. A plaque on the pavement separates the Austro-Hungarian-built part of the city, with its market halls and plasterwork facades, from the Ottoman quarter, with its public fountains and singing minarets.

Sarajevo’s Old Bazaar , Bascarsija , is pure magic. As you dart between tea houses, carpet shops and Buregdzinicas (bakeries specialising in burek ), you move to the rhythm of tradesmen who still pound bronze with the same fervour as they did centuries ago.

As you cross the stone bridges in Mostar , Visegrad and Konjic , you begin to understand that not only is each one a proxy for a devastating chapter of Balkan history (which every traveller must take the time to learn about), it’s also a symbolic bridge between past, present and future.

From Jajce , the city with roaring waterfall at its centre to Pocitelj , an almost-abandoned Ottoman town, Banja Luka , the country’s second city to the sweet Trebinje ; between the Dinaric Alps , the Pliva Lakes and the ambling River Drina , Bosnia and Herzegovina has a way of making you feel alive.

Explore Bosnia and Herzegovina

Discover all the best things to do in Bosnia with my latest travel guides.

Sarajevo Through the Lens: 42 Magical Photos of Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Capital

How to Spend One Day in Mostar: 24 Hours in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Most Captivating City

The Best Bosnian Food: 20 Delicious Things to Eat & Drink in Bosnia and Herzegovina

12 Things to do in Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Second City (Republika Srpska)

12 Best Sarajevo Day Trips for History, Nature & Culture

5 Things I Learned on a Sarajevo Food Tour

Pliva Lakes & Watermills: A Guide to Visiting From Jajce

A Quick Guide to Jajce, Bosnia & Herzegovina’s Cascade City

Mostar to Pocitelj: A Complete Guide to Visiting the Ottoman-era Open Air Museum

An Epic Day Trip from Sarajevo to Visegrad, Borak Stecci and Mokra Gora

My bosnia favourites.

Via Dinarica Trail (Slovenia to Kosovo via BiH).

Must-eat meal

Tufahija (baked apple) with a Bosnian coffee.

local experience

Watching the sunset over Sarajevo from Bijela Tabija.

best souvenir

A copper tray or coffee pot from the Sarajevo Old Bazaar.

• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Orientation
• 1.3 Climate
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.5 By thumb
• 3.1 On foot
• 3.2.1 By tram
• 3.2.2 By bus
• 3.3 By bicycle
• 3.4 By taxi
• 3.5 By shared electric scooter
• 4.1 Baščaršija
• 4.2.1 History and archeology
• 4.2.2 War memorials
• 4.3 Administrative buildings
• 4.4.1 Islamic
• 4.4.2 Christian
• 4.4.3 Jewish
• 4.5.1 Goat's Bridge
• 4.6 Vratnik
• 4.7 Olympics
• 5.1 Recreation parks
• 6.1 Baščaršija
• 6.2 Shopping malls
• 7.1.1 City centre around the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
• 7.1.2 City centre around the Vječna vatra memorial
• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 9.2 Mid-range
• 9.3 Splurge
• 11.1 Emergency services
• 12 Stay healthy
• 14.1 Embassies

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Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina , and its largest city, with 420,000 citizens in its urban area (2013). Sarajevo metropolitan area that has a population of 555,000 also includes some neighbourhoods of "East Sarajevo" that are a part of Republika Srpska . Sarajevo is very tourist friendly, especially pedestrian area in the Old Town in the centre of the city.

Sarajevo is one of the most historically interesting and diverse cities in this part of Europe. It is a place where the Western and Eastern Roman Empire split; where the people of the Roman Catholic west, Eastern Orthodox east and the Ottoman south, met, lived and warred. It is both an example of historical turbulence and the clash of civilizations, as well as a beacon of hope for peace through multicultural tolerance. The city is traditionally known for its religious diversity, with Muslims, Orthodox Christians, Catholics and Jews coexisting here for centuries. Additionally, the city's vast historic diversity is strongly reflected in its architecture. Parts of the city have a very Central-European look, while other parts of the city, often blocks away, have a completely distinct Ottoman, some Soviet-like or Socialist modernism feel.

Some important events in Sarajevo's history include the 1914 assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which led to World War I ; the 1984 Winter Olympics; and the 1992-1996 siege.

The city has physically recovered from most of the damage caused by the Yugoslav Wars of 1992–1995, although bullet holes can still be found in some buildings. Sarajevo is a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist that is a delight to explore. The people are very friendly, be they Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs or anyone else. There is little street crime, with the city ranking as one of the safest in Southeastern Europe.

Orientation

The city of Sarajevo stretches west–east along the river Miljacka; the main arterial road and tram routes tend to follow the west–east orientation. It is set in a narrow valley, surrounded by mountains on three sides.

Most tourists spend a lot of time in Old Town ( Stari Grad ). The eastern half of Old Town consists of the Ottoman-influenced Bascarsija ( BAHS CHAR she ya ; etymologically baš (head, main), čaršija (bazaar, trading area) in Turkish), while the western half showcases an architecture and culture that arrived with Austria-Hungary, symbolically representing the city as a meeting place between East and West.

• 43.85935 18.43049 1 Tourist Information Centre , Sarači 58 , ☏ +387 33 580 999 , [email protected] . ( updated Sep 2017 )
• [ Visit Sarajevo
• "Sarajevo Navigator" is an online guide magazine in English and Bosnian, the latest issue being March 2019.

Sarajevo has a humid continental climate, since mountains surrounding the city greatly reduce the maritime influence of the Adriatic Sea. Summers are typically hot (record high of 41   °C in 2008) with an average of 46 days per year above 32   °C, while winters are snowy and cold with an average 4 days per year below -15   °C. Rain can be expected in every season, with an average of 75 days of precipitation per year, which in winter often falls as snow.

This is Bosnia's principal airport, hemmed in by mountains and fog-prone, so flight delays are common in winter. The only passenger terminal is Terminal B; it's closed overnight 23:00–05:00. In the groundside main hall (after customs on arrival, before security on departure) there are currency exchange booths, car rental desks, a bookshop that sells local SIM cards, and a fast food area upstairs; there's no luggage storage. Airside is small, with a cafe and duty free shops accepting major currencies. New terminal facilities are under construction, to open in 2021. About 1 km away, walkable by the route to the trolleybus (below) then keep straight on, is the East Bus Station for destinations in Republika Srpska.

The most important hub connections are from Frankfurt (by Lufthansa), Vienna (by Austrian), Istanbul (by Turkish Airlines), Dubai (by flydubai) and Doha (by Qatar Airways) as well as flights to neighbouring countries (Belgrade by Air Serbia and Zagreb by Croatia Airlines) amongst others. Service to London-Luton is operated by Wizz Air, and to London-Stansted from April to October.

While you're at the airport, consider visiting the Tunnel of Hope Museum ( Tunel Spasa ). This saves you a trip from city centre later on, though you'll probably have to drag your luggage along. The museum is southside of the runway (the terminal being north), which they tunnelled beneath in 1993 to create a lifeline to the besieged city.

Getting there and away :

• By bus – Centrotrans bus runs daily between airport and Baščaršija in city centre. It runs roughly hourly 05:30-22:00, timed to connect with flights, taking 20-30 mins. A one-way ticket is 5   KM, return 8   KM, the first bag (up to 23   kg) per person is included and each extra bag is 5   KM. You pay on boarding the bus. It stops on request at central bus stops, which may not be specifically marked for the airport bus but they're usually next to tram stops.
• By taxi – Taxis are notorious for scams! To the city centre should not exceed 20   KM, although some drivers try for double that from foreigners. Flagfall is 1.90   KM then it's 1.20   KM per km for 6–7   km; any "airport supplement" is bogus. Some drivers will refuse to use the meters; insist on them, and if they don't, then walk away. One scam is to wave a "fixed price list" at you, but it's just the product of a greedy imagination. Your hotel may offer an airport transfer, with rates varying from the competitive to the silly. A further option is to walk through Dobrinja as described below to pick up a taxi, though the saving on an honest fare is small.
• By trolleybus – This involves a walk of 600 m through the nearby neighbourhood of Dobrinja to reach the stop on Bulevar Mimara Sinana. You might want a map or a compass: the general direction is northeast with the terminal directly behind you, but it involves a zigzag. You exit the airport at the main gate onto Kurta Schorka highway. Turn right (southeast) and walk 200 m, there's no sidewalk. Take the first left, Andreja Andrejevića, and cut through residential Dobrinja passing near Hotel Octagon. Emerge onto the main road and turn right (again southeast) along Bulevar Mimara Sinana. On the opposite side (with westbound traffic) after 200 m, before you reach Mercator Center, is the bus stop Dobrinja škola B. Trolleybus 103 runs every 6 – 7 minutes daytime to Trg Austrijski, in the centre on the south riverbank, taking 25 min; walk across the Latin Bridge to come into Old Town. (Don't take the 107 or 108 if you're aiming for Old Town.) The fare is 1.80   KM, pay the driver, and note there are frequent ticket inspectors.

Tuzla Airport is another way in, as it has budget flights by Wizz from across Germany and Scandinavia. The airport is 120   km north of Sarajevo. An airport bus runs direct from Sarajevo to meet the Wizz flights, taking 2 hours and costing €22 each way. Or you can travel via the frequent standard buses to Tuzla, taking a leisurely 3 hours.

• 43.86028 18.39904 2 Sarajevo Railway Station ( Nova željeznička stanica ), Put života 2 ( near Avaz Twist Tower ), ☏ +387 33 65 53 30 . This communist-era station is in a dilapidated state, with few trains and lots of down-and-outs, though it's reasonably central in this strung-out city. The ticket office is cash only and they laboriously write out tickets by hand, so service is slow. There are toilets and cafes. Staff at the information desk speak good English and their stock reply to many enquiries is to try the bus station next door: this is good advice. ( updated Jul 2019 )

The only international train to/from Bosnia runs from Ploče in Croatia on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays via Mostar (€12). Tickets purchased onboard the train from Ploče (reservation not needed or possible but Interrail/Eurail accepted) detaiils on the Croatian Railways Website . Journey time is 3 hours.

The railway route you're most likely to use is the scenic Čapljina - Mostar - Sarajevo, with two trains a day, departing from Sarajevo at 07:15 and 16:49 and taking around 2 hours to reach Mostar. Three trains per week extend south of Čapljina into Croatia and the port of Ploče (which has transport to Dubrovnik, Split and the Adriatic islands) during summer months.

Coming from Zagreb or further west an alternative is to take a local train at 09:00 to Hrvatska Kostajnica, arriving 10:45: see Croatian Railways timetable (around €8). You're now 3   km from the Bosnian borderpost, either take a taxi, or walk south into town then east and cross the river by the first bridge. Once you've entered Bosnia, find a taxi to Banja Luka , 100   km southeast, costing around 100 KM and taking maybe 90 mins. You'll reach Banja Luka in plenty of time to catch the 15:49 local train to Sarajevo via Zenica , arriving by 20:41 (fare around 26 KM). When checking the Bosnian Railways website , use the timetable menu not the ticket menu, as the latter only offers the main towns and bookable trains. For the reverse journey, be on the 10:15 train from Sarajevo to Banja Luka in order to make the 19:15 from Hrvatska Kostajnica and reach Zagreb at 21:00. And confirm that your taxi driver has agreed to take you to the correct Kostajnica on the Croatian border (ie north-west, a printed map may help).

If your accommodation is in the west of the city, e.g. the Ibis Styles Hotel, then coming from Banja Luka you could change at Zenica for the local train to Sarajevo, which also stops at 43.851682 18.346417 3 Alipašin Most on Safeta Zajke. But it doesn't save much time or effort. The trains from Čapljina and Mostar trundle through this station without stopping.

There are two bus stations in Sarajevo, Main Station for most long-distance services and East Station for Serbia and towns in Republika Srpska.

On all intercity buses you pay a fee for luggage, usually 2 KM or €1 per piece (as of July 2024). The driver will insist on exact change in one or the other currency pretty much at random, and then get picky about the denomination of the exact change you give him.

Major bus routes within the country are to Tuzla (hourly, taking 3 hours, fare 11   KM), to Mostar via Konjic and Jablanica (hourly, taking 2 hours 30 min, fare 14   KM) and to Banja Luka via Zenica (every couple of hours, taking 3 hours, fare 11   KM.)

• 43.82377 18.35649 5 East Bus Station ( Autobuska stanica Istočno / Lukavica ) ( away west, thanks to the bitter geography and politics of this region ). It's in East Sarajevo in Republika Srpska, and the route from central Sarajevo has to sweep west to get round the hills then approach south then eastwards near the airport. It has better connections to Serbia than Main Station; both stations have buses to Montenegro. The main services are to Belgrade , Novi Sad , Herceg Novi and Nis and also Zvornik for stop-over connection to Srebrenica . Routes within the country are to Bijeljina, Kalinovik and Trebinje not far from Dubrovnik. ( updated Mar 2023 )

To reach East Station, take trolleybus 103 from Austrijski Trg to the end and then walk for 400 meters, or a taxi for around 15   KM. There are no controls to cross into Republika Srpska, it's just like crossing any internal border. There's not much at the station except a ticket counter and the obligatory cafe/grill. Travellers reported harassments by a drunk guy hanging around at the east bus station (see e.g. Google Maps Reviews).

Sarajevo East Station asks you to pay a station tax which is 2 KM per person (as of July 2024). Insist on your receipt that indicates the 2 KM as the staff usually tries to scam tourists and keep the money for themselves or asks for twice the price.

East Sarajevo has cafes, shops and ATMs, e.g. in TOM shopping centre 200 m southwest along Radomira Putnika.

The main route from the west is past Zagreb east on E70, then south on E661 to enter Bosnia and towards Banja Luka thence Sarajevo via the A1 highway from Zenica. You can also reach the city from the East via the suburbs of Ilidža or from the north via M18/A1 from the direction of Tuzla.

Hitching is easy to moderate, though make sure your sign is in the local language. Sarajevo is a long, thin city: if you can't get a lift into the centre, at least get yourself dropped by the tram tracks.

Sarajevo is a medium-sized, beautiful city with many landmarks. Getting lost is always possible, but much less so if you have a map; however, getting lost in Bascarsija's winding streets can be part of the fun, and may reveal some interesting surprises.

Very good free maps can be obtained from the tourist information office, shopping centres and hotels. Some bookshops may also sell printed maps of the city. Map apps on a smartphone are particularly useful.

Asking Sarajevans for directions is an exercise in futility. People might not know the names of streets a block from the building they've lived in all their lives. Taxi drivers can't be expected to find anything other than the most obvious addresses unless you tell them where to go, in Bosnian; showing the driver on your map may be necessary.

Avoid driving in the Old Town. The steep and narrow streets, with a one way system, means you are likely to get lost and possibly damage your car. Also, it is next to impossible to find a parking spot.

Otherwise, a car might be invaluable to reach the sights farther away from the city center, especially East Sarajevo which belongs to Republika Srpska.

In Sarajevo, street signs are few and far between, and small and on the sides of buildings too far away to see when you're standing on a street corner. Building numbers are more or less consecutive. The city is mostly walkable, especially the city centre and the part of the city which is built on the slopes of Mt. Trebević.

By public transport

Sarajevo's tram network operated by KJKP GRAS is among the oldest in Europe, and it looks it. A single line runs east from Ilidža passing within 2   km of the airport: an extension to the airport has been planned and intermittently constructed since the 1990s. It runs up the middle of the main highway into the city, with a spur north (Trams 1 & 4) to the main railway and bus stations. At Marijin Dvor it divides into an anti-clockwise loop, same direction as the traffic flow. All trams go east along Hiseta and the riverbank through Baščaršija (Old Town) as far as City Hall. Here they loop to return west along Mula Mustafe Bašeskije (a few blocks north of the river) and Maršala Tita to Marijin Dvor. Only Tram 3 runs the entire line out to Ilidža, the others go part route, e.g. the 1 & 4 terminate at the railway station. The length of the route is around 12 km. Old trams from Amsterdam were donated to Sarajevo and can still be seen touring the city, with the Dutch stickers still on it.

Buy tickets in advance from kiosks labeled tisak, duhanpromet, inovine on the street (1.60   KM) or from the driver, where they cost slightly more (1.80   KM, paid in cash). Validate your ticket immediately on boarding: it's only good for one trip, with no transfers. A day card for unlimited travel on all local public transport in Zone A costs 5   KM. There are frequent ticket inspections: if you can't reach the validator because the tram is too crowded, then don't board. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you will be escorted off and fined 26.50   KM.

You would only use these for the few sights or accommodation well off the tram route, e.g. the airport and nearby Tunel Spasa, (see #Get in ), Sarajevo East bus station or Vratnik district east of the centre, Buses 51, 52 or 55.

Bus tickets are always bought at the driver for 1.40 KM. You can not use pre-bought tram tickets in buses.

The planned departures of buses and trams can be found in the Moovit app ( iOS , Android ).

At first sight only for committed urban cyclists: Sarajevo traffic can be as hostile to cyclists as it is to fellow-motorists, only with worse results. However, there are in fact separate cycle lanes along the river and/or the main west-east boulevard for more than 5 km, with the easternmost point being the parliament area / Muzeji tram stop.

Nextbike has a bike rental scheme here and in Tuzla. First you need to register and pay a 20   km deposit, easiest done online. It may take 24 hours to activate but if you're already registered with them in another country, you should be good to go. There are 14 pick-up / docking stations all along the tram lines out to Dobrinja near the airport, their map shows real-time availability. The first 30 mins per day are free, a further 30 mins cost 1.50 KM.

Taxi scams are common especially at the main train & bus stations and the airport. Try to avoid using taxis when possible, as even supposedly legitimate operators can scam. Know roughly what the honest fare should be, and insist on them using the meter. All legitimate taxis have a "TAXI" sign on top, licence plates with "TA", and have a meter. Flagfall is 1.90   KM then it's 1.20   KM per km, plus maybe 1   km for luggage, so a trip between Baščaršija and airport shouldn't exceed 20   KM. Pay in cash, the driver will issue a receipt upon request. Some official operators are

• Paja Taxi 1522 or ☏ +387 33 15 22
• Žuti (Yellow) Taxi ☏ +387 33 66 35 55
• Samir & Emir Taxi 1516
• Holand Taxi tollfree 0800 2023

The best way to find a reputable taxi is to ask a local person you trust which one they would use. Ownership and management of official operators can change frequently.

By shared electric scooter

Renting an electric scooter is available in Sarajevo like in many other European cities. You can use the app BeeBee to access them.

With the exception of the Tunnel Museum and the Bosna spring, all landmarks are in or within walking distance of Old Town. Several walking tours are available, a free/tip based walking tour starts every day at 10:30 at the crossing of Gazi Husrev begova street and Mula Mustafa Baseskija street (address: Velika Avlija 14) and covers most of the Baščaršija.

The municipality of Sarajevo provides an app called "Guide2Sarajevo" (Android, ios). It contains a map with sights and restaurants as well as several themed routes to walk in the city (ranging from 2 to 6 hours) on which you use your phone as audio guide (works even without mobile internet, because the files are downloaded on installation). It's remarkably well made.

Baščaršija is the historic district of Sarajevo. The cobbled streets, mosques and oriental-style shops at the heart the city feel like a world away from Europe when the call to prayer starts. You could be walking by a Catholic church, Orthodox church or a synagogue and hear the Islamic call to prayer at the same time. In this old bazaar you can find dozens of shops selling copperware, woodwork and sweets. Many historic monuments are situated around Gazi Husrev-begova street.

Sarajevo has numerous museums on a variety of topics. The museums can offer an air-conditioned refuge from heat during Sarajevo's hot summers, or a place to warm up in the chilly winter months.

History and archeology

War memorials.

Scars from the Bosnian War can still be seen in many parts of the city, as bullet holes in walls or abandoned buildings. The unresolved conflict (see box The Yugoslav Wars ) left traumatic memories, and museums and memorials associated with the Bosnian War are scattered around the city.

• Sarajevo Roses are scars left in the concrete from mortar blasts during the Siege of Sarajevo, filled with red resin. Around 200 can be found throughout the city.
• ICAR Canned beef monument In the vicinity of the National Museum and the Bosnian Historical museum. A giant can of beef meant as a sarcastic sneer at inadequate help from the European community during the siege. The infamous canned beef was inedible, and according to popular legend even refused by stray cats and dogs. The city was also supplied with 20 years out-of-date rations from the Vietnam war, and pork for a muslim-majority population.

• Cemeteries: those who died in the 1990s war were buried in pre-existing cemeteries. In these you find old Ottoman turbe , Austro-Hungarian dignitaries, casualties of two World Wars, Yugoslav citizens - and then row upon row upon aching row of simple white marble stones for people in their twenties slain in the latest conflict.

• The grandiose Academy on the south bank facing Festina Lente bridge was originally a church, built in 1899 to Karl Pařík's design. It's now the Academy of Performing Arts within the University of Sarajevo, but no longer fit for purpose and they plan to move elsewhere. So just admire the facade.

Administrative buildings

Religious buildings

• The Franciscan Monastery ( Franjevački samostan na Bistriku ) next to the church was built in 1894, also in Gothic Revival style and designed by Karel Pařík. It's still a monastery and therefore seldom open to visitors, but its collection of paintings, sculptures, organ, manuscripts and books are occasionally put on view.

The Jewish population was first established in 1492-97 when Sephardic Jews fled the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal, and settled here and in other Ottoman cities. The Ashkenazi Jews mostly arrived during Austro-Hungarian rule in the late 19th century. Inter-community relations were mostly amicable and the population was relatively unharmed by the First World War, collapse of Austria-Hungary and formation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. By 1940, their numbers peaked at around 14,000, 20% of the city population. In 1941 the Nazis invaded, placing the country under the control of the Croatian Ustaše , who vigorously set about the deportation and extermination of minority groups. Those who could, fled to the west, and after the war most exiles remained abroad. Some 2000 Jews did remain or return, but when the 1990s civil wars broke out, there was a mass evacuation to Israel of Jews living in former Yugoslavia. Fewer than 1000 remain in Bosnia and Herzegovina today, perhaps half of them in Sarajevo.

Ottoman bridges

During Ottoman rule of Sarajevo, 13 bridges were built over the Miljacka River and Bosna River. Four stone bridges remain: the Latin Bridge , the Šeher-Čehajina Bridge , the Goat Bridge and the Roman Bridge .

Goat's Bridge

The bridge had an important ceremonial function, as it served as the place where each Ottoman vizier was welcomed by the previous vizier and citizens of Sarajevo. The bridge is constructed from white marble, has a single arc with two circular apertures, and is 42 m long and 4.75 m wide. The span of the main arc is 17.5 m. According to the legend, before the bridge's existence, a poor shepherd noticed his goats sniffing on a shrub along the Miljacka River. Upon inspecting the shrub, he found a treasure with golden coins, which he used to finance his own education. After he became wealthy and influential, he had the bridge constructed at the shrub where his goats found the treasure, which gave the bridge its name. The truth in the legend was lost in history, but the bridge was almost certainly built between 1565 and 1579, a time when the road network underwent major infrastructure upgrades under reign of Mehmed-paša Sokolović.

If you came to the bridge on the cycle/pedestrian path along the river by foot, you can continue the road after the goat bridge uphill to Vakuf Isa-bega Ishakovića (a view point) and then few hundred meters further on the cycle path to Pale turn right to Jarčedoli . Once you reached the 43.85409 18.44804 51 top of the hill , you'll have majestic views over Sarajevo, especially the hills and ruins on the opposite site.

From there follow many stairs and narrow streets down to Alifakovac which ends at the city hall.

In the 17th century conflict between Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, the decisive battle came at Zenta (now in Serbia) in 1697, when the Ottomans were routed, and their grip on central Europe was broken. The Austro-Hungarian forces then devastated Sarajevo before marching home. Further attacks were likely so a fortified city was built here 1727–1739, east of the old centre of Baščaršija. Later suburbs surrounded it, and the name Vratnik (probably meaning "gates") applies to this wider district, but the sights of interest are all in the Vratnik redoubt.

From Baščaršija either walk up Kovači past the war cemetery onto Jekovac and Carina (Buses 51, 52 & 55 run this way); or follow the river upstream taking the right fork just before the road goes into a tunnel, then ascend right for White Fortress or left for Yellow Fortress.

• Jajce Kasarna are Austro-Hungarian barracks 200 m east of Yellow Fortress. They're derelict and unsafe to enter.

Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympic Games . These (officially the XIV Olympic Winter Games) were the first held in a socialist state, although Moscow had hosted the 1980 Summer Olympics. Some structures remaining from that era are in a sorry state.

• Cable car ( From Franjevačka south of the river, a short walk over the river from the City Hall. ). M-Tu 10:00-20:00; W-Su 09:00-20:00 . Restored in 2018, this cable car runs up to the former 43.83979 18.44876 59 Ski Station –Though, a little oberpriced. Nice views hilltop strolls and a decent cafè. Forest paths lead to the Pino Hotel (accessible by road, e.g. drive or taxi) and the pictureque and Instagram-heavy Trebevic Bobsled Track which mad off-road bikers hurtle down, and which is being restored for winter sports. It makes sense walking one direction to see the bobsled track, and using the cable car the other direction, since the slide is pretty much between the Ski Station and city. 30 KM return, 20 KM one-way (locals pay less than a third) . ( updated Sep 2024 )
• Fox in a Box , Sime Milutinovica 15/I ( Next to Museum of Literature & Performing Arts, off Zelenhi berekti ), ☏ +38 761 10 10 07 , [email protected] . 09:30-22:30 . Escape room games. In "Mr Fox's Secret Study", you try to escape from the office by solving riddles. In "The Bank Job", you try to steal diamonds from the bank safe, in the dark by torch. In "The Bunker", you try to avert an accidental nuclear war. 60 KM . ( updated Jul 2019 )

Recreation parks

• Sarajevo City Centre mall has a large play area for children. BBI Centar a smaller one. Both malls are slightly west of the city centre on the main road.

• 43.82769 18.311064 9 Ilidza Thermal Riviera ( Termalna rivijera Ilidža ), Butmirska Cesta 18, 71211 Ilidza ( behind the airport, 5 minutes walk from Ilidza tram station ), ☏ +387 33 771-000 . 09:00-22:00 . Water park with several indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wave pool, massage amenities and water slides. Slightly outdated infrastructure, but the natural sulphur rich water makes up for it on hot summer days. Sauna and fitness centre available at the adjacent Hotel Hills. Basic entry 9 KM, extra for wellness & fitness centres . ( updated Mar 2018 )

• From May to August there are white-water rafting trips down the river Neretva. The usual base for trips is Konjic midway between Sarajevo and Mostar. Operators who do package day-trips from Sarajevo include Sarajevo Funky Tours , Sarajevo Insider , Meet Bosnia Travel and Balkland . These cost about 100   KM including transport and lunch.
• See Sarajevo Region for the ski resorts of Jahorina, Bjelašnica and Igman, all about 35   km away.

Sonar compiles the city's regular calendar of events.

• Nights of Baščaršija: throughout July the old town centre has theatre performances, classic and rock music concerts and folklore dances. Various locations but concentrated around Ćemaluša.

Most shopping centres and upscale restaurants accept credit cards. Small cafés, clubs and souvenir shops mostly require cash, but might jib at notes larger than 20   KM.

• 43.86712 18.41071 2 Pijaca "Ciglane" . Interesting local market where you won't find any tourist. ( updated Mar 2023 )

In addition to the usual types of souvenirs, such as key rings, are more distinctive carpets and copperware, not all of which are locally made. Over a century ago, each street in this area hawked a specific ware: for example, one street had all the coppersmiths, shoes were on another, jewellery on another. An underground souk (open 08:00-20:00) stretches along the west side of Gazi Husrev-begova street. Prices are generally fixed, and so whilst haggling for a 4 KM keyring is pointless it may be possible for bulk purchases or the odd 2,000 USD carpet.

• Isfahan Gallery , Saraći 77 ( inside Morića Inn ), ☏ +387 33 237 429 , [email protected] . Persian carpet seller inside the Morića Inn. The handcrafted carpets are pricey, but the setting inside the reconstructed inn is worth a visit. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.858564 18.418458 4 Sahinpasic , 38d Titova , ☏ +387 33 220-112 . Has a decent collection of historical literature.  
• 43.85894 18.43061 5 Baklava Shop Sarajevo , Ćurčiluk Veliki 56 ( on the northern side of Brusa Bezistan ), ☏ +387 61 267 428 . A wide selection of baklava in many flavours (walnut, almond, hazelnut, pistachio, etc.), where the baklavas containing orah (walnut) are considered to be the most traditional ones. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.85923 18.43151 6 Kazandžiluk Street . The street is named after Sarajevo’s master coppersmiths, featuring shops such as Sakib Baščaušević and Aganovic. ( updated Sep 2017 )

Shopping malls

Sarajevo offers numerous shopping malls, the most notable being the Sarajevo City Center in the commercial district. Most shopping malls in Sarajevo have been newly constructed or renovated, and offer a modern shopping experience to those who can stand the annoying pop music they play all day long.

• 43.85641 18.40593 8 Alta Shopping Center , Franca Lehara 2 ( across the street from the Sarajevo City Center ), ☏ +387 33 953-800 . M-Sa 09:00-22:00, Su 10:00-20:00 . Shopping centre in the commercial district of the city, with 70 stores. Famous for the Lego store inside. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• 43.85831 18.41663 9 BBI Center , Trg djece Sarajeva 1 ( across the street from Veliki Park ), ☏ +387 33 569-990 . M-Sa 08:00-22:00, Su 08:00-22:00 . Second largest shopping centre in Sarajevo, after the City Center with 125 stores. It won the ICSC European Shopping Centre Awards in 2011. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• 43.847 18.37427 10 Bosmal City Center , Milana Preloga 12A , ☏ +387 33 725-180 . Shopping centre on the south bank of the river with 50 stores. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• 43.8549 18.3998 11 Importanne Center , Zmaja od Bosne 7 , ☏ +387 33 266-295 . 07:00-23:00 . Smaller shopping mall with around 35 stores. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• 43.8572 18.3843 12 Mercator , Ložionička 16 . One of the oldest shopping malls in Sarajevo with around 35 stores. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• Grand Centar Ilidža , Butmirska cesta 14 , ☏ +387 33 629020 . M-Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-21:00 . Ilidža shopping centre with 33 stores is by the #3 tram terminus and Thermal Spa. ( updated Aug 2017 )

The local currency is konvertibilna marka (KM, Convertible Mark , international abbreviation BAM), fixed at €1 = 1.95583   KM (~1   KM = €0.51)), and is used throughout the country. Informally, restaurants may accept euros at €1 = 2   KM. The odd rate is because the Convertible Mark was originally pegged 1:1 against the Deutsche Mark, which was replaced with the euro at that rate.

There are many banks along Maršala Tita at the north boundary of Old Town, usually open M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00. Money can also be exchanged at any post office or at currency exchange booths, which stay open till 21:00: as always take care to check both the exchange rate and level of commission.

It is said in Bosnia that some people eat to be able to drink, others eat to be able to live and work, but true Bosnians work and live to eat. A lot of attention is devoted to the preparation and consumption of food in Sarajevo. Gastronomy in the city was developed under Eastern and Western influences, and Bosnian cuisine focuses on local produce like meat, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. For information on typical Bosnian foods, see Bosnia#Eat .

Cheap food on the go, from a myriad small shops and cafés, is burek , ćevapi or pita . Burek is meat pie. Ćevapi are grilled meats; the word derives from "kebab" and the traditional Sarajevo style is minced beef and mutton in a somun flatbread. Pita is a filo pasty or pie, typical varieties being meat ( meso ), cheese ( sirnica , similar to ricotta), cheese and spinach ( zeljanica ), pumpkin ( tikvenica ) and spicy potato ( krompirusa ).

City centre around the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

• 43.859022 18.431635 1 Buregdžinica Bosna , Bravadžiluk 11 , ☏ +387 33 538-426 . Daily 08:00-23:00 . Pita & burek café, sandwiched between Mrkva and Bosnian House. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.8589 18.429663 2 Fan Ferhatović , Čizmedžiluk 1 . Pleasant ambience in the bazaar, good local food, friendly staff. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.85876 18.429662 3 Ćevabdžinica Željo 3 , Ćurčiluk veliki 34 . Traditional Bosnian barbecue food. The atmosphere is great. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.858863 18.431381 4 Sač , Bravadžiluk mali 2 . Authentic Bosnian cuisine with yummy burek and excellent pies. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.85872 18.42564 5 Teraza , Strossmayerova 8 , ☏ +387 61 569 513 . Pizzas and Bosnian sandwiches. Excellent location just heart of the city center with unique retro design makes you feel calm and relax. The food and the service are good. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.859124 18.426409 6 The Epicentrum , Muvekita 11 . Excellent homemade food, paradise tomato soup. ( updated May 2022 )

City centre around the Vječna vatra memorial

• 43.859822 18.425833 7 Pizzeria Ago , Mula Mustafe Baseskije 17 , ☏ +387 33 203-900 . 08:00-23:00 . Good value pizzas, and pancakes at only 2 KM. Excellent pizzeria, great service and staff. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.858808 18.423346 8 Srebrena školjka , Ferhadija 7 . Traditional Bosnian cuisine in a fabulous atmosphere, very very nice staff, almost like stepping back in time. If you're looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the summer heat, this is it. The upstairs dining room has character and a great view down into the market. The owners are warm and friendly. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.858412 18.423304 9 Ćevabdžinica Nune , Ferhadija 12 . A little restaurant in the backyard of the main street Ferhadija. Super cute father and son shop with some of the best cevapci in town! Definitely a recommendation for a quick meal. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.85928 18.425207 10 Chipas , Trg Fra Grge Martića 4 . Excellent food, fast service, very cultured and friendly waiters, everything clean and tidy. A large selection of food and drinks at a very decent price. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.858996 18.425629 11 Sedef , 71000 Ferhadija 16 BA . Traditional dishes, comfortable and quiet place in an alley. A very beautiful restaurant, the food is delicious and clean, and the service is amazing. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.8596 18.42188 12 Cakum-Pakum , Kaptol 10 , ☏ +387 61 955 310 . A little restaurant with great crepes. There is kind of a hype about this place. It's nice and cozy and has a wonderful interior design. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.84886 18.38417 13 Pizzeria Maslina , Trg Heroja 12 , ☏ +387 62 751 200 . Affordable with a diversity of cuisines, from Italian to Bosnian traditional food. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.859016 18.432226 14 Petica Ferhatović , Bravadžiluk 21 , ☏ +387 33 537 555 . Daily 08:00–23:00 . Popular but spacious serving fresh beef ćevapi. The waitresses wear traditional Bosnian dresses. 6 KM for ćevapi (July 2019) . ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.858548 18.428448 15 Ascinica ASDž , Ćurčiluk mali 3 in Bascarsija , ☏ +387 33 238-500 . 08:00–19:00 . When you get sick of greasy meats, ASDž serves Bosnian-home-cooking, vegetable-based dishes (but don't expect vegetarian, as many are still flavoured with little meat). Order cafeteria-style at the counter: you pay by the plate, and can mix-and-match different foods onto the same plate. ( updated May 2022 )
• 43.852949 18.40026 16 Cappuccino , Grbavica ( near river Miljacka in green area ). Daily 07:00-22:00 . Delicious Bosnian meals and the best pasta and pizza in the region. Good for a full meal, a snack or just a coffee. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.85973 18.4281 18 A P Ǝ T I T , Gazi Husrev begova 61 , ☏ +387 62 86 81 31 , [email protected] . An "open kitchen" and a daily menu prepared from ingredients; meat dishes, fish dishes, risottos, pastas, imaginative salads, fragrant woks and delicious sweet pleasures. Also dishes for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free offerings. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.859598 18.43048 19 Dveri , Prote Bakovića 12 , ☏ +387 33 537-020 , [email protected] . 09:00-23:00 . Homestyle restaurant in heart of old Sarajevo. Very cozy feel, with strands of garlic, lots of delicious warm bread, hearty soups, meats, etc. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.861024 18.417922 20 Mala Kuhinja , Tina Ujevića 13 , ☏ +387 61 144 741 , [email protected] . M-Sa 10:00-23:00 . Tiny restaurant, only seats 15, owned by Bosnian celebrity chef Muamer Kurtagic. No menu: he prepares what is fresh each day and for any preferences. You watch the work in progress. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.87152 18.42758 21 Restaurant Kibe , Vrbanjuša 164 , ☏ +387 33 441 936 , +387 61 040 000 (Mobile) , [email protected] . With stunning panoramic views of the city, Kibe Mahala offers a selection of national dishes, such as spit-roasted lamb, and a wide assortment of wines from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.830013 18.303705 22 Restoran Brajlovic , Samira Ćatovića Kobre 6, Ilidža , ☏ +387 33 626-226 . 07:00-23:00 . At the water front of the Zeljeznica, offers an up scale selection of Bosnian specialities. Their cevapcici is popular. ( updated Aug 2022 )
• 43.856868 18.432245 23 Sarajevo Brewery ( Sarajevska pivara ), Franjevačka 15 , ☏ +387 33 491-100 . Daily 10:00-01:00 . A large bar and restaurant near the Latin Bridge. Serves 'western' food, only so-so quality & amount for the price, plus a variety of beers brewed on the premises. Sometimes smoky & lacking ventilation, quality of service variable. The brewery also has a souvenir shop / museum. ( updated Aug 2022 )

Sarajevo has vibrant night life with a plenty small thematic bars. Clubs are usually opened until early morning. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are hot days to hang out despite the rest of the week offers quite good night life. There are probably over 100 cafés in the city, centred in the old town, but a clear distinction is made whether the traditional Bosnian coffee is served or not.

• 43.85914 18.43174 1 Bosanska kafana "Index" , Bascarsija 12 ( Kazandziluk ), ☏ +387 33 447-485 . Bosnian coffee ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.84906 18.38555 2 Cafe Slastičarna "Palma" , Porodice Ribar br.5 , ☏ +387 33 714 700 , [email protected] . Coffee and pastry shop, located in the part of town called Hrasno, started in 1970. In 1985 "Palma" received the CD -Diplomatic Consular Code. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.86036 18.4322 3 Ministry of Ćejf , Kovači 26 , ☏ +387 61 482 036 . Great espresso and well trained baristas. Also has karak and good cakes. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.85911 18.42955 4 Miris Dunja , Ulica Čizmedžiluk 9 , ☏ +387 62 922 900 . Coffee, including Bosnian coffee, and fruit juices. On a typical day the Bosnian coffee is very good, and on a good day it is extraordinary. Bosnian coffee: 2 KM . ( updated Aug 2019 )
• 43.85351 18.37176 5 Mrvica , Paromlinska 58h ( located in the Novo Sarajevo residential area, near "Vjetrenjača" (Windmill) ), ☏ + 387 62 887 777 , [email protected] . Coffee, brunch or even lunch ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.85929 18.42609 6 Mrvica Old Town , Ulica Jelića 5 ( near the Sacred Heart Cathedral "Katedrala Srca Isusova" ). Coffee and different types of cakes and desserts. No Bosnian coffee served, only "modern" coffee styles. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.857629 18.421401 7 Opera Bar/Café , B Sarajeva 25 ( opposite the city's Opera house ), ☏ +387 33 831-647 . 07:00-12:00 . Fast WiFi connection, but the staff can be unfriendly and inattentive. Attracts the acting and musical community among the regulars, though this isn't an exclusive kind of place. A bit smoky. Espresso: 2 KM . ( updated Jul 2017 )
• 43.856407 18.426087 8 Café de Paris , Hamdije Kreševljakovića 61 ( South end of Ćumurija bridge, in the green-and-yellow building. ), ☏ +387 33 211-609 . 07:00–22:00 . You might not have expected to find an IPA in the Balkans, but Café de Paris serves a selection of craft beers from Sarajevo microbreweries. They also have a range of very smooth local rakijas (try the quince). Riverside, outdoor seating looks out upon impressive architecture from the Austro-Hungarian times. Craft beer 3–4 KM . ( updated Oct 2016 )
• 43.855161 18.421549 9 Tre Bicchieri Wine Store & Tasting Bar , Cobanija 3 , ☏ +387 33 223-230 . Long list of Italian wines. Very cozy and comfortable place. Good music & relaxing atmosphere. ( updated Jul 2017 )

You need to register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Your hotel or hostel should do this on check-in, but if you wild-camp or stay at a private residence, you need to organise this yourself. Failure to register doesn't normally bother the authorities but could result in a fine or deportation.

• You can wild camp in the park by the River Miljacka. Chances are you'll see tents already there. Follow the road west and stay close to the river. In summer there is a public toilet. No guard or services.
• Locals may unofficially let you stay in their property, payment to be negotiated.
• 43.862102 18.439061 1 Haris Youth Hostel , Vratnik Mejdan 29 , ☏ +387 33 23 25 63 . Haris is the owner, friendly fellow who also owns a tourism agency near the pigeon square at Kovaci 1 and can take you on tours around the city, annotated with his own experiences from the war. The hostel is ten minutes uphill walk from the main square, worth it for the view and hospitality. Dorm 18 KM ppn, private rooms 40 KM ppn . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.858481 18.426597 2 Hostel City Centre Sarajevo , Saliha Hadzihuseinovica Muvekita No. 2/3 ( Between Ferhadija and Zelenih beretki streets ), ☏ +387 61 757 587 . Check-out: 10:00 . Clean and tidy place to stay with kitchen facilities, 2 large living and common rooms, cable TV, free internet and wifi. They have 4- ,5- ,6- and 10-bed mixed dorms plus 2,3 and 4 bed private rooms. You'll need to lug your baggage up 4 flights, no lift. Dorm 30 KM ppn . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.847502 18.391441 3 Motel Jasmin , Kupreska 26 ( Bascarsija ), ☏ +387 33 71 61 55 . Singles, doubles, triples with separate bathrooms and TV. Cleanliness very variable. B&B double 60 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.860196 18.431075 4 Hostel Ljubičica , Mula Mustafe Bašeskije 65 ( Old Town, tram stop Bascarsija ), ☏ +387 61 131 813 . The hostel itself is friendly, central for Old Town and usually clean. However it's also a travel & accommodation agency, and may place you in any of a number of dorms in the area; it may not be clear at the time of booking what you're getting. Dorm 30 KM ppn . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.85871 18.429286 5 Hostel Kod Keme ( Kemal's Place ), Mali Ćurčiluk 15 ( Bascarsija ), ☏ +387 33 531-140 . Small friendly guesthouse with private rooms, no dorm. B&B double 80 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.858677 18.431736 6 Pansion Sebilj , Bravadžiluk bb ( Obala Kulina baba between Careve cuprija and Novi most at the Miljacka riverside ), ☏ +387 33 573-500 . Most of the staff speak English fluently. An internet-cafe is downstairs in the same house, a restaurant in the atrium. The restaurants in the Old Town, groceries and a pharmacy are all in walking distance. Good location, friendly staff, hot water, clean. But no internet, walls are paper thin, you can hear everything in the next room, and the downstairs bar plays loud music till midnight, uncomfortable slat beds. Unisex showers (only 2) and bathroom. No way to lock bathroom or shower area when inside. No laundry service, no kitchen. No lockers for gear. 30 KM ppn . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.8646 18.436327 7 Hostel Tower , Hadzisabanovica 15 , ☏ +387 61 800 263 , toll-free: +387 61 566 350 , [email protected] . Clean & mostly friendly place, wifi weak. On two occasions in 2018-19, guests fell foul of the owner and were literally kicked out, with a boot to backside. Dorm 20 KM ppn, private room from 40 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.861762 18.432935 8 Hotel Hayat , Abdesthana 27 ( a less-than 5-minute walk northeast from the Kovači Square, near Bascarsija ), ☏ +387 33 570-370 . 130 KM . ( updated Jul 2017 )
• 43.865076 18.405322 9 Hotel & Hostel Kan Sarajevo , Brace Begic 35 ( near the bus station ), ☏ +387 33 220 531 . Single to quadruple bed- bedrooms as well as apartments. Restaurant on site and personal assistance with sightseeing. From 40 KM. ( updated Jul 2017 )

• 43.859972 18.429767 10 Garni Hotel Konak , Mula Mustafe Başeskije 54 ( Tram 1 to Pigeon Square, follow tram tracks west for two blocks, look left for the red and white sign ), ☏ +387 33 476 900 , [email protected] . Staff are friendly, speak English, and in the off season can be persuaded to negotiate. Hotel amenities include breakfast, ensuite bathrooms and internet connected computers, while the hostel rooms are double bed privates with satellite television which share a bathroom among three rooms. B&B double from 140 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• Hotel Hecco Deluxe , Ferhadija 2 ( By Eternal Flame ), ☏ +387 33 558 995 , [email protected] . Business hotel with suites and terrace restaurant. It's on the top floors of a building that is otherwise empty, so it's a bit spooky in hours of darkness. Often smells of cigarette smoke. B&B double 140 KM . ( updated Jul 2019 )
• 43.86159 18.422495 11 Hotel Michele , Ivana Cankara 27 , ☏ +387 33 560 310 , +387 61 338 177 , [email protected] . In a quiet area. The staff are nice, breakfast and laundry included plus private parking with direct elevator access to the room floors. B&B double 120 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.860237 18.426884 12 Hotel VIP , Jaroslava Černija br 3 , ☏ +387 33 535533 , [email protected] . Latin bridge is 300 metres from Hotel VIP, while Bascarsija Street is 300 metres away. The airport is 9 km. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.859909 18.426867 13 Motel Sokak , Mula Mustafe Bašeskije 24 ( Just down the road from the Bascarsija tram stop. ), ☏ +387 33 570-355 , [email protected] . It's small clean, quiet, friendly and comfortable, in an old building but modern inside. Double: 185 KM . ( updated Jul 2017 )
• 43.857876 18.427334 14 Opal Home Sarajevo ( Hotel Opal Home ), Despićeva 4 , ☏ +387 37 445 445 , [email protected] . The four-star hotel with modern design and luxury interior. 12 comfortable rooms and 22 beds. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.86081 18.43111 15 Pansion Stari Grad , Sagrdžije 29A ( walk up the hill from the Sebilj ), ☏ +387 33 239 898 , [email protected] . Check-out: 10:00-11:00 . A cozy hotel walking distance from the old town with friendly staff willing to help guests get around the city with maps and tips. Double 100 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.828937 18.358975 16 Hotel Terex , Ive Andrica 23, 71123 Dobrinja ( on a walking distance from the airport ), ☏ +387 57 318 100 , fax : +387 57 317 150 , [email protected] . Small hotel surrounded by apartments in the residential area of Dobrinja, close to the Dobrinja commercial district. 180 KM . ( updated Oct 2017 )
• 43.833145 18.348289 17 Hotel Imzit , Lukavička Cesta , ☏ +387 33 451 423 , [email protected] . Basic hotel at the outskirts of Dobrinja at the foot of Suma Mojmilo hill. 160 KM . ( updated Oct 2017 )
• 43.82807 18.339722 18 Hotel Octagon , Akifa Šeremeta 48 , ☏ +387 33 789-905 . A lovely 3 star hotel in a residential area across from the airport, ideally suited for business travellers on a lay-over. 160 KM . ( updated Oct 2017 )
• 43.856425 18.403564 19 Hotel Holiday ( formerly Holiday Inn ), Zmaja od Bosne 4, 71000 Sarajevo ( 5 min walk from train and bus station ), ☏ +387 33 288 200 , +387 33 288 300 , fax : +387 33 288 288 , [email protected] . Check-in: 12:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Clean, safe, nice private rooms with private bathroom and shower, well-maintained. Friendly staff speak English. Credit cards accepted. The restaurant on the third floor is great. 236 KM . ( updated Aug 2018 )
• 43.852839 18.38968 20 Novotel Sarajevo Bristol , Fra Filipa Lastrića 2 ( Tram stop Pofalići ), ☏ +387 33 705 000 , [email protected] . Check-in: 14:00 , check-out: 12:00 . Business hotel now part of Accor chain. Great rooms and comfortable beds. Friendly staff, three restaurants/cafés. Halal certified. Held in regard as one of the best large hotels in the city. Entrance fee to a small spa is included in the room price. B&B double from 180 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.857929 18.425978 21 Hotel Central , Ćumurija 8 ( facing Strossmayerova pedestrian mall ), ☏ +387 33 561 800 , [email protected] . Clean comfy hotel, and it is indeed central. With spa and fitness centre. B&B double 220 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.860374 18.41438 22 Hotel Colors Inn ( Colors Inn Sarajevo ), Koševo 8 , ☏ +387 33 276600 , [email protected] . Has 37 single and double rooms and a private parking. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.85817 18.43015 24 Hotel President Sarajevo , Bazardžani 1 , ☏ +387 33 575 000 , [email protected] . Located near the centre of the old town of Sarajevo. Hotel President offers 72 comfortable rooms, garage, breakfast room, Congress Hall as well as a Café/lobby bar. ( updated Sep 2017 )
• 43.843606 18.335791 25 Radon Plaza , Džemala Bijedića 185 ( foot of Avaz tower, next to BMW showroom ), ☏ +387 33 752 900 , [email protected] . Swish hotel, named after its owner, who is also the owner of Avaz newspaper and one of the city's wealthiest people. B&B double 200 KM . ( updated Jun 2019 )
• 43.827716 18.36586 26 Hotel Espana , Ive Andrića bb, 71123 Lukavica ( on a walking distance from the airport ), ☏ +387 57 961-200 , fax : +387 57 961 202 . Hotel in a calmer residential area of Sarajevo on the territory of Republika Srpska . 220 KM . ( updated Oct 2017 )

There are four mobile operators in Sarajevo: BH Telecom (060, 061, 062), m:tel (065, 066, 067), HT Eronet (063) and Haloo (064). Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is not part of the EU or EEA, the international roaming charges are not capped as those have been since 2017, and can be much higher. However Bosnia and Herzegovina is part of a Balkan roaming zone with Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, capped at €0.20 per MB from July 2017. But that only applies if you have a local SIM card, from any of the operators, which can be purchased in one of the many kiosks around the city. BH Telecom, m:tel and HT Eronet have offers aimed towards tourists, starting from 20   km for 5 GB.

The local area code is +387 33 ( Kanton Sarajevo ) and the local postal code is 71000.

• BH Telecom , Sarači 60 , ☏ +387 33 238-573 . M-F 08:00-22:00, Sa 08:00-16:00 . Several locations, the most convenient for Old Town is on Sarači next to the TIC. Basic mobile internet package for 5 KM (300 MB) and "Ultra Tourist 1" for 20 KM (5 GB). Ask for BH Mobile's Tourist SIM. ( updated Jul 2019 )
• Central Post Office BH Pošta is a sight in itself, see "Administrative buildings" listing earlier. It's at Obala Kulina bana 8 next to the National Theatre.
• There's another big post office next to the railway station, open M-F 07:30-18:00 and Sat 08:00-16:00.

There are still many minefields and unexploded ordnances in the broader Sarajevo area (although not in any urban area). Never go into damaged buildings (which are really rarely seen) and always stick to paved surfaces avoiding grassy hills that surround the city. As of 2020, Trebević has been completely demined. Areas that are not cleared are marked by yellow tape or signs, but still not all minefields have been identified due to the lack of resources and the lack of international help. Paved roads are always safe. Crime against foreigners is very rare and the city is safe to visit. (As with any country in former Yugoslavia, be careful not to get into sensitive discussions about politics with people you do not know, but even those can be very educational when you come across a person who's willing to discuss it.) Be aware of pick pockets who usually operate on public transportation.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has double the traffic fatality rate in Europe as a whole, and in the early 2020s there have been a few high-profile accidents with pedestrians. Be alert whether driving or crossing the street.

There are an incredible number of pickpockets working in the city and very few police officers on patrol; police are rarely seen. Pickpockets are very sloppy and it's pretty easy to spot them, but with that number of people picking the pockets they probably will succeed eventually.

Due to being surrounded by hills the air in Sarajevo in winter months (November-February) can be noticeably thick with pollution, so that asthmatics or those with other chest problems may find themselves short of breath a lot of the time, particularly at night. Ensure you have ample medication, just in case.

Avoid areas of the city such as Alipašino Polje, Švrakino and the surrounding areas of the Novi Grad municipality as those are mainly dangerous zones with high crime rates, shootings, violence and poverty. Go there only with locals and not during the night. Anyway it is off the tourist trail and you most likely won't have any reason to even go to those parts. Getting there accidentally is next to impossible as these rough neighbourhoods are far from the city centre and any of the sights in outlying areas.

Emergency services

• General emergency number , ☏ 112 .  
• Police , ☏ 122 .  
• Fire , ☏ 123 .  
• Ambulance , ☏ 124 .  
• Mountain Rescue , ☏ +387 33 61 29 94 43 , toll-free: 121 .  
• BIHAMK ( Road Assistance ), ☏ 1282 .  

Stay healthy

• Water from fountains and taps in Sarajevo is safe to drink, but it may have an unpleasant chlorine odour. The mains supply may be turned off overnight.
• The main risk to your health, land mines aside, is the strong sunlight. Usual precautions: hat, long-sleeved shirt, seek the shade and apply sun screen.
• Pharmacies ( Apotheka ) are dotted around the city. Two handy for Old Town are Al-Hana on Ulika Patka, and Apoteka Baščaršija at Obala Kulina bana 40 by the riverside.
• 43.85864 18.40809 3 General Hospital ( Dr Abdulah Nakaš Hospital ), Kranjčevićeva 12 , ☏ +387 33 285-100 , [email protected] . Only if it's serious. ( updated Jul 2019 )
• Poliklinika Dr Al-Tawil inside the Importanne Centar shopping mall (see the Buy section ). Modern facilities and relatively short waiting time. Some blood tests within half an hour.

Cultural heritage from the Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and most recently Yugoslav periods has been assimilated into modern Sarajevo as a multicultural, multireligious metropole. Catholic and Orthodox Christians and Muslims share the city, and as such, common sense regarding respect towards people of these religious backgrounds should be upheld. Even the younger generation is on average very religious in comparison to other European capitals, although not all religious traditions may be followed equally strictly. For example, young Muslims may choose to drink wine but refuse pork, while older Muslims likely abstain from both. Keep this in mind when offering presents to your host family. When visiting mosques, skin-covering clothing should be worn, and women should wear a scarf covering their hair. At the most touristic mosques, scarfs are available for visitors to borrow.

Although the Bosnian War ended with a UN enforced cease fire, the underlying conflicts between the different ethnic groups in Sarajevo are far from resolved. Many inhabitants have survived the siege of the city from 1992–95, and almost everyone has lost relatives and/or friends in the conflict. Strong anti-Serb sentiments may be present among the Bosniak population, and scars from the war are left in memory. While the war is not a taboo subject, as evidenced by the many memorials and museums scattered around the city, it remains a sensitive topic that easily brings up negative memories, if addressed uncomprehendingly. Aside from anti-Serb sentiments, many also feel dismay or anger towards the United Nations, which are blamed for the Srebrenica massacre and inadequate protection of Sarajevo citizens during the Siege.

There is an ongoing dispute between Bosnian unionists and Serb separatists, striving for the independence of Republika Srpska . Since the neighbouring town of East Sarajevo is on the territory of Republika Srpska, opinions will vary depending on where you ask in the city, although the relations are less tense than in other parts of the country and people don't have issues crossing the geographical borders. The political situation in Sarajevo in particular is complex, and outsiders taking a position may be accused of uninformed interference in internal Bosnian affairs. In general, it is advised to abstain from discussing politics, unless your conversation partner brings up the topic him/herself and asks for your opinion.

• Konjic – 43   km southwest of Sarajevo, has Tito's enormous bunker and white-water trips down the River Neretva.
• Jablanica – 20   km west of Konjic, has a notable necropolis and the railway bridge scene of the Battle of Neretva.
• Mostar – 30   km south of Jablanica, rightly famous for its picturesque old bridge and Ottoman centre. You'll most likely pass through en route to the Adriatic coast.
• Belgrade – The capital of Serbia, 200   km northeast of Sarajevo, is a lively cosmopolitan city.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina travel guide

Despite a tumultuous background, Bosnia-Herzegovina has emerged as a compelling, multi-faceted travel destination. Most notable amongst the country's many charms is its lush, mountainous landscape, best seen from the vantage point of one of its national parks.

Bosnia-Herzegovina still bears the legacy of war, but there are plenty of positives to take from the country's urban centres, especially the cosmopolitan capital of Sarajevo. With its rich history and lively nightlife, this diverse city has become one of Europe's most curious, unique capitals. The old town of Sarajevo is divided between the evocative Ottoman quarter of historic mosques, little streets filled with cafes and craft workshops, and the trendy Austria-Hungarian quarter built during the late 19th century – truly a case of east meets west.

Sarajevo also has several museums explaining its history, while climbing the steep hills rewards you with a stirring view of the city. One oddity is the colossal bobsleigh track from the 1984 Winter Olympics that runs through the forests of Trebevic mountain; it was destroyed during the Siege of Sarajevo in 1990s and is now a canvas for local street artists.

Beyond Sarajevo, much of the country is relatively undeveloped, but there are several historic fortresses to see, no shortage of splendid old mosques, and a number of monasteries and Catholic shrines. The second city (at least by reputation), Mostar is also increasingly popular with tourists. Perhaps above all else, it is the city’s 16th century Ottoman bridge that symbolises both the past and a positive new beginning for the country. Destroyed during the war, it has since been painstakingly reconstructed, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

51,129 sq km (19,741 sq miles).

3,798,672 (UN estimate 2016).

75.6 per sq km.

Federal democratic republic.

Chairman of the Presidency Denis Becirovic since 2024.

Prime Minister Borjana Kristo since 2022.

Travel Advice

Before you travel.

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see  general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see  general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about  safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the  Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 90 days after the date you plan to leave

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid, undamaged travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 90 days within a 6-month period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

For all other types of travel, check the conditions for temporary residence or contact the  Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in the UK .  

Make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit. 

If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit. If you do not have a stamp, the Border Police may fine you when you leave.

Staying longer than 90 days in a 6-month period

If you want to stay longer than 90 days within a 6-month period, apply for a residence permit. You must provide a document showing that you have no criminal record in the UK. The British Embassy is not able to issue such a document. You can get a copy of your police records  before you travel.

For more information, see the Bosnia and Herzegovina government’s page about  residency and work permits .

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Bosnia and Herzegovina guide .

Registering your stay

All foreign nationals must register with the police within 72 hours of arrival, at a local police station. Hotels and some hostels will usually register their guests. If your accommodation is not arranging this, you need to  contact the nearest field centre (‘terenski centar’) for the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs .

Travelling with children

Children aged 17 and under who are travelling unaccompanied or with an adult other than their parents, must carry a notarised letter giving permission for travel. The letter must be signed by a parent or guardian and give the name of the accompanying adult.

This also applies if only one parent is accompanying the child, particularly if they have a different surname to the child’s.  

For further information  contact the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UK .

Customs rules

There are strict  rules about goods you can take into and out of Bosnia and Herzegovina . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.     

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Terrorist attacks in Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot be ruled out.

Previous attacks have included firearms attacks on government, law enforcement interests and the public. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.

Political situation

Public protests occur from time to time and can cause traffic disruption. Protests are normally peaceful. There is a risk of violent incidents linked to locally controversial issues, usually from the conflict of the 1990s.

There has been an increase in anti-UK rhetoric from some politicians in the Republika Srpska (one of the entities that makes up the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina). This could translate into wider anti-UK sentiment. Monitor local media so you can avoid planned political demonstrations and move away if you see protestors gathering.

Protecting your belongings

Beware of pickpockets and bag-snatchers on public transport and in the tourist and pedestrian areas of Sarajevo and other cities. Make sure personal belongings, including your passport, are secure. Obvious displays of wealth, including large quantities of cash or jewellery and luxury vehicles can make you a target for opportunist thieves.

There has been an increase in thefts from cars in popular tourist areas in and around Sarajevo, particularly on Mount Trebevic. Make sure your vehicle is locked and your belongings are out of sight. Take particular care in areas popular with foreign tourists and in crowded public venues.

Organised crime 

Incidents of violence between organised crime groups can happen, including shootings. You are unlikely to be targeted. Remain vigilant and follow the advice of the police in the event of an incident.

Old landmines and unexploded weapons

Landmines and other unexploded weapons remain from the 1992 to 1995 war. While highly populated areas and major routes are largely clear, there is still a risk in less populated and rural areas. Do not step off roads and paved areas without an experienced guide. Take care near:

• the former lines of conflict
• the edge of roads
• the open countryside
• destroyed or abandoned buildings (including in towns)
• neglected land
• untarred roads
• woods and orchards

For further information, see  Mine Action Centre .

Laws and cultural differences

Personal id.

Always carry your passport or official photo ID with you. You must be able to show some form of identification if required, including when checking into hotels. For more information, see the  Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Dealing with the police

Local police do not always have English language skills and you may need the services of a translator .

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The dates vary by year and country.

You should:

• check opening hours of shops and restaurants
• be aware that if hotels and restaurants are providing food or drink in fasting hours, they may separate you from other guests
• follow local dress codes – clothing that does not meet local dress codes may cause more offence at this time

Get more advice when you arrive from your tour guide, hotel or business contacts.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but LGBT+ communities continue to report incidents of discrimination and even violence. Showing affection in public is likely to be frowned upon and may receive unwelcome attention.

Read more  advice for LGBT+ travellers .

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

Check that your travel and medical insurance cover you for any adventure activities and sports.

Diving off Mostar bridge is dangerous and has resulted in serious injuries and fatalities.

Take care when white-water rafting in rivers or close to waterfalls. Currents can be extremely strong.

Transport risks

Road travel.

If you are planning to drive in Bosnia and Herzegovina, see information on driving abroad  and check the  rules of the road in the RAC’s Bosnia and Herzegovina guide . The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.

Your UK driving licence is valid as long as you’re driving your own vehicle or a car hired outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you’re renting or using someone else’s vehicle within the country, you must also have the 1968 version of the international driving permit ( IDP ) with you in the car.

You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel.

Check if you need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK . 

If you’re staying longer than 6 months, you will need to get a local driving licence. See living in Bosnia and Herzegovina for more details.

Contact the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in the UK  if you have questions about bringing a vehicle into the country. The British Embassy will not be able to help if you do not have the correct documentation.

If you are involved in an accident, stay at the scene and do not move your vehicle until the police arrive. Traffic police can impose on-the-spot fines for any traffic offence.

Border insurance

It’s illegal to drive without at least third-party insurance. The Border Police can request printed documents to show you have it.

Check your insurance is valid in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If it’s not, you can buy ‘border insurance’ at the crossings at:

• Crveni Grm (south)
• Izacici (west)
• Karakaj and Raca (east)
• Samac (north-east)
• Zubci (south-east)

Winter equipment requirements

Take care when travelling outside the main towns and cities in winter, as road conditions can worsen quickly.

Between November and April you must:

• have tyres with an MS, M+S or M&S mark and a stylised symbol of a snowflake – the tread should be at least 4 millimetres deep
• carry snow chains and use them when road signs tell you to

Official taxis in Sarajevo and the major towns are well-regulated and metered. Taxi drivers from the Republika Srpska might refuse to drive to a destination in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the same from the Federation to the Republika Srpska.

Taxi drivers at Sarajevo airport taxi rank may try to charge a ‘fixed price’ fare, rather than use a meter, or charge for luggage. Make sure you agree a price before setting off. Better deals may be available by pre-booking a taxi from an established taxi service.

Do not use unlicensed taxis.

Sarajevo (Butmir) International Airport is prone to fog, causing flights to be delayed or cancelled during the winter months, particularly in December and January. Many airlines will not arrange accommodation when delays are caused by bad weather. You may need to find and pay for somewhere to stay.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards .

Wildfires are possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina from April to October due to the dry and hot weather.  Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. You should: 

take care when visiting or driving through countryside 

make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished 

not light fires or barbecues except in designated and marked areas 

not leave any rubbish 

If you see a wildfire, call the emergency services on 112. Follow any advice from the police or local authorities.

Flash floods and landslides are a risk in all parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina after heavy rain. Follow instructions from local officials and traffic police.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes and small tremors are recorded throughout the year, usually without serious consequences. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake .

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have  appropriate travel insurance  for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 124 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

• check the latest vaccine recommendations for Bosnia and Herzegovina
• see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in Bosnia and Herzegovina , including biting insects and ticks.

High levels of air pollution can happen across the country. See  air quality guidance on TravelHealthPro .

Pharmacies may not recognise prescriptions issued in the UK. Take your prescription to a local doctor who can issue a prescription to use in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

Healthcare in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Medical and dental facilities, particularly outside Sarajevo and major towns, are limited.

The European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ) and Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ) do not cover Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ensure that you have  appropriate travel insurance  for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

FCDO has a list of  medical providers in Bosnia and Herzegovina where some staff will speak English.

Travel and mental health

Read  FCDO  guidance on travel and mental health . There is also  mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ambulance: 124

Police: 122

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about  changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from  FCDO

FCDO  has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking  lawyers ,  funeral directors  and  translators and interpreters  in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• dealing with a  death in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• being  arrested in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• getting help if you’re a  victim of crime
• what to do if you’re  in hospital
• if you’re  affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Contacting  FCDO

Follow and contact  FCDO  travel on  Twitter ,  Facebook  and  Instagram . You can also sign up to  get email notifications  when this travel advice is updated.

You can also  contact  FCDO  online .

Help abroad in an emergency

If you are in Bosnia and Herzegovina and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Sarajevo .

FCDO  in London

You can call  FCDO  in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

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Home » Travel Guides » 15 Best Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

15 Best Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Despite all those rugged mountains, the snow-caked heights of the Dinaric Alps, the beautiful Una River and towns like Mostar and Stolac where Ottoman and Byzantine, Roman and Balkan, Slavic and oodles of other styles all coalesce between the ancient streets, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains a somewhat off-the-beaten-track corner of Europe.

Check out this list of the country’s best places to visit , which flits from the wild hinterland to the buzzing, burgeoning capital along the way.

Bisected by the babbling Lasva River as it flows through the central mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the pretty mid-sized town of Travnik does well to balance its interesting past as the capital and stronghold of the erstwhile viziers of this old Ottoman sub-region and modern day adventure sports and outdoorsy draws.

The first aspect manifests in a curious array of traditional eastern-style edifices and monuments, two Ottoman clock towers (unique throughout the country) and a handsome 15th-century old town heart.

The second aspect makes its home on the slopes of Vlasic Mountain on the horizon, which is now one of Bosnia’s most celebrated skiing, Nordic walking and hiking destinations.

2. Jahorina

Home to the best-loved ski field in all of Bosnia and former host of the Winter Olympics, Jahorina draws snow lovers and summertime hikers alike to its high perch amidst the pine-spotted upper levels of the Dinaric Alps.

Of course it’s the lifts and pistes here that take centre stage for most travelers, with no fewer than 10 chairs and a planned gondola serving 30 kilometers of groomed alpine runs.

But Jahorina isn’t only for when the snow falls; not with the hunting lodges and pre-historic wonders of the Orlovaca cave system nearby, along with the pretty town of Pale beckoning from the valley below.

3. Sarajevo

A bustling, bubbling and surprising European capital that’s now heading full throttle into the modern age, Sarajevo has all but shed its former reputation as a ravaged war zone.

Memorials to the fallen and killed from the tumultuous conflicts of the 1990s do still fringe the city’s districts, but there’s certainly a newfound confidence and panache flowing through the central streets; one that embodies a real defiance for the atrocities of war.

Think striking mosques looming over al fresco beer bars, aromatic Turkic restaurants peppering enchanting bazaars, pretty city parks and arched stone bridges, all underpinned by modern art museums, jazz fests and more!

4. Trebinje

One of the real gems of the Republika Srpska side of Bosnia Herzegovina, Trebinje reflects beautifully against the waters of the winding Trebisnjica River as it cuts through the heart of the city’s historic centre; a medley of elegant Ottoman rises and original eastern facades that was constructed largely in the 18th century.

There’s also the pretty arched bridge of Arslanagic to see on the edge of town, along with a gorgeous Serbian Orthodox cathedral on the ridges above.

Travelers should also be sure to scale to the crumbling remnants of the Klobuk fortress on the hill, which offers sweeping views of the Trebisnjica River valley.

Hemmed in by the grass-green and craggy ridges of the Herzegovina Humina, Stolac is considered by many to be single most beautiful town in the country.

Amidst its enchanting old heart, the spot fuses layer after layer of unique architectural and cultural heritage, going from the crumbling remnants of Roman Diluntum that stood here in the 3rd century to the elegance of Austro-Hungarian Baroque.

Then there are the haunting tombstones of the Radimlja necropolis on the edge of the town to see, along with the pretty riparian stretches of the Bregava River, complete with clicking wooden watermills and real-stone bridges.

One of the undisputed jewels of the entire Balkan Peninsula, Mostar oozes Bosnian history from each of its Byzantine cracks, Slavic crevices and Ottoman facades.

The piece de resistance has to be the arched Old Bridge that spans the Neretva at the town’s heart, now meticulously reconstructed following destruction in the Croat–Bosniak conflict and a bearer of that coveted UNESCO tag.

And all around this masterpiece cast in stone, Mostar layers Dalmatian builds and Franciscan churches, oriental designs and arabesque mosques into one glorious aesthetic, while gold sellers continue to barter in the Old Bazaar and beer drinkers sip lagers in al fresco terraces by the riverside.

Indelibly green and bolstered by the roaring waterfalls that cascade through the urban bluffs at its heart, welcoming Jajce is one of the favoured gateways to the lakes and gorges of the pretty Bosanska Krajina region of the north.

Back in the town itself and travelers can discover a clutch of fascinating museums, like the AVNOJ that chronicles the resistance efforts of the Yugoslav partisans in World War Two, underground catacombs, charming Bosnian-style homes dressed in painted timber and – of course – the unmissable citadel that sprawls over the central hill – a remnant of the town’s medieval past.

Brcko can be found straddling the borderlands with Croatia to the north, planted on the edge of the Sava River and home to Bosnia’s only real port worthy of note.

While the town boasts a smattering of elegant Hapsburg edifices and an endearing blue-collar vibe, the real reason it’s worth a visit is because of its unique position as the country’s only self-governing city, where the various factions that only decades before now were embroiled in the Croat–Bosniak-Serb conflicts mix and forge their own unique enclave and personality on the edge of BiH Federation and the Republika Srpska alike.

9. Banja Luka

Razed and razed again by both earthquake and war, Banja Luka – the largely unknown capital of the Republika Srpska region of Bosnia and Herzegovina – retains little of the historic Ottoman and Slavic richness it once exuded, save a few reconstructed gems like the Cathedral of Saint Bonaventure and rebuilt, erstwhile-UNESCO Ferhat-Pasha Mosque.

However it’s not for the sights that people head to this 200,000-strong city in the wooded Vrbas River valley.

No sir, they come to sip beers and get loose to the sounds of the region’s famous thumping electro-folk, sample Trappist wines in the Pivara Banjaluka monastery (the only of its kind in the Balkans) and hit the hiking trails of the mountains on the horizon.

10. Kravice Falls

A truly photogenic wonder of Bosnia’s backcountry, the Kravice Falls cascade in countless streams over the verdant ridges south of Mostar.

More than 25 meters high, the cataracts here attract swimmers and strollers during the summer months, while others will come to simply gawp as the mist rises from the freezing plunge pools and roaring Trebizat River (daring types may also want to try their hand at the on-site rope swing that can be seen depositing fearless locals into the waters).

Kravice is best accessed from nearby Ljubuski, while others will rent a car out of Mostar and drive down through the dense fir forests.

11. Una National Park

Shrouded in beautiful swathes of virgin forest, the Una National Park is one of the more recent additions to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s line-up of outdoorsy gems.

It makes its home amidst the wild hills that roll down from the Dinaric Alps on the cusp of Croatia, protecting great stretches of riparian woodland and the channels of the Una and Unac Rivers.

Visitors who make their way here can look forward to the striking waterfalls at Martin Brod, interesting sights like the soaring Ostrovica Fortress and the newly-reconstructed Rmanj Monastery, complete with its reworking of the Serbian Orthodox style.

While Tuzla might not immediately seem like the best place to while away your Bosnian days and its place smack bang in the industrial heartland of the nation might not seem attractive from the get go, this colourful and confident town is actually a great place to feel the pulse of the real, raw BiH.

Travelers can delve into a clean and well-pruned old town that comes complete with soaring minarets and stone-clad squares, sunbathe on the edge of curious salt lakes (a remnant of the ancient Pannonian Sea), and experience the country’s most prestigious literary festival with the onset of the Mesa Selimovic event in July.

An endearing little town that sits draped between the ridges of the verdant Una Valley, Bihac comes shrouded in blooming coniferous shades of green and the rugged hills of the Bosanska Krajina.

At the town’s centre stands a square-cut medievalist keep and its concomitant church tower, while a series of pop-up islands beset by the turquoise-green channels of the Una itself make for some seriously good urban park strolling.

There’s also a pretty new town square to wander through, complete with babbling fountain installations, along with an interesting arabesque Ottoman tomb to boot.

A real must on any Bosnian bucket list, Blagaj sits nestled in the depths of a rugged gorge of the Mostar Basin, right on the spot that the Buna River bursts into existence from the subterranean depths below.

In fact, the town’s most-visited site sits neatly on the edge of the Buna’s source, rising in beautiful Ottoman styles to form the great Sufi lodge of the Tekija.

But that’s not all the town can offer, there’s elegant Ottoman mansions besides, along with a series of fascinating arched bridges in the Byzantine style and earthy homestays with timber terraces and cosy rooms aplenty.

15. Blidinje Nature Park

This wide plateau that connects the Cvrsnica and Vran peaks in the south-western edge of Bosnia and Herzegovina remains one of the nation’s less-trodden and off-the-beaten-track natural gems.

It’s famed for the colossal trunks of its endemic Bosnian pine trees, while it also boasts thick forests where white-bark evergreens shroud a flower-peppered woodland floor. The whole area is also peppered with elaborately carved medieval stele that hearken back to the Orthodox traditions of pre-Ottoman Bosnia.

Blidinje comes complete with a web of marked hiking trails that make it a great option for walkers and outdoorsy types.

15 Best Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina:

• Kravice Falls
• Una National Park
• Blidinje Nature Park

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With their imaginations and travel memories fired by spiky minarets, grilled kebabs and the all-pervasive aroma of ground coffee, many travellers see in SARAJEVO a Slavic mini-İstanbul. The Ottoman notes in the air are most prominent in Baščaršija, the city’s delightful Old Town, which is home to umpteen mosques, bazaars, kebab restaurants and cafés. Further afield, burnt-out buildings evoke the catastrophic war of the mid-1990s, though the fun-loving, easy-going Sarajevans do a great job of painting over the scars of those tumultuous years – it’s hard to walk around without being offered coffee, and it’s hard to be invited for coffee without making friends.

Drinking and nightlife

Ferhadija and around, festivals in sarajevo, the latin bridge and 1878–1918 museum, “sniper alley” museums.

Sarajevo gained importance during Roman times, and after a short slumber was reinvigorated as a trading hub during the Ottoman period, but sadly its recent history is far more pertinent. The international spotlight fell on the city as the host of the 1984 Winter Olympics, but less than a decade later the world’s eyes were retrained on it during a siege that lasted for almost four years – by some estimates, the longest in military history. Bosnian Serb forces made a near-unbroken ring around the city, shelling major buildings and shooting civilians dead on their way to work, while years of litter lay rotting in the streets. When the ceasefire was announced in 1996, around ten thousand people had been killed; on the ground you may notice some of the many Sarajevo Roses – flower-like scars of mortar shell explosions, poignantly filled in with red resin, though now badly fading.

The central district of Baščaršija is Sarajevo’s prettiest and contains most of its sights. Heading west from here, the city’s history unravels like a tapestry – Ottoman-era mosques slowly give way to the churches and elaborate buildings of the Austro-Hungarian period, before communist behemoths herald your arrival into “Sniper Alley” and its shells of war.

Top image: Bascarsija square, Sebilj fountain © Boris Stroujk/Shutterstock

The city now has a fair few hostels, though many are unofficial, so be careful when booking. If you get stuck, dozens of agencies around Baščaršija will be able to set you up with a private room.

The powerful waft of grilled čevapi is a sure sign that you’re about to enter Baščaršija , whose pedestrianized streets are a delight to wander around, filled to the brim with cafés, snack stands and trinket stalls. It’s most logical to approach this district from the east, where you’ll find the once-glorious National Library . In 1992, a single day’s shelling destroyed over three million books, but reconstruction of this pink-and-yellow cream cake of faded beauty is now almost complete. A little way along is the central square, home to Sebilj , a small kiosk-like fountain, and Baščaršija Mosque . Far more beautiful is the Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque just down the way, which is worth a peep inside. Further west, you’ll come across the Bezistan , an Ottoman-era bazaar now sadly filled with all manner of fake goods unsuited to such an elegant structure.

Baščaršija is also home to the six buildings that make up the Museum of Sarajevo – by far the largest is located inside the old Bursa Bezistan bazaar, just off the main square, which features a whole host of historical relics, all beautifully presented.

Sarajevo has a fair few quirky underground bars, which come and go with alarming regularity, so ask around. Locals go out late – most bars only start filling up after midnight and kick on until 1 or 2am at least.

You can’t walk more than 10m in Baščaršija without coming across yet another ćevabdžinica – note that many do not serve alcohol. Burek is similarly easy to hunt down, and many travellers rate it the best in the Balkans.

Along and just off Ferhadija , the main pedestrianized thoroughfare, are several points of interest. Dominating the skyline just west of the Bezistan bazaar is the twin-turreted Catholic cathedral dating from the 1880s, while, just behind here, along Mula Mustafa Baseskije, stands the central market place . It was here, on February 5, 1994, that 68 people were killed following a mortar attack in what became the war’s single most infamous incident; a blood red wall is inscribed with the names of all those who died. Adjacent to the cathedral, the superb Galerija 11/7/95 is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre.

Baščaršija Nights bascarsijskenoci.ba. Ballet, theatre, music and art exhibitions throughout July.

Jazz Fest jazzfest.ba . Excellent jazz festival, with some stellar names, usually held in November.

MESS mess.ba . International, English-centred festival of theatre in October.

Sarajevo Film Festival sff.ba . In August, this is now one of the most prestigious film festivals in Europe, and largely focused on the region’s own output.

Saravejo Winter sarajevskazima.ba. Artistic festival (music, film, visual and performing arts) each February.

Modest in appearance, the Latin Bridge has some weighty history behind it – this was the scene of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and, by extension, the start of World War I; a plaque on the wall indicates the exact spot where Ferdinand met his fate. Off its northern end, the small, one-room 1878–1918 Museum commemorates the incident, its most significant exhibits being the pistol used by the assassin, Gavrilo Princip, and the subsequent indictment against the perpetrators (there were seven in all). Across the Miljacka River you’ll see the fascinating Papagajka , a decaying yellow-and-green residential block apparently designed with hovercars in mind – this is how the Jetsons may have lived under Communism.

Most useful to travellers is a small area around Mula Mustafa Bašeskije, where you’ll find a couple of appealing markets – indoor and outdoor – and a few secondhand clothing stores. One recommended souvenir purchase is a Bosnian coffee set: while whole teams of Baščaršija stands sell cheap ones, Sprečo, at Kovači 15, offer beautiful hand-made copper-and-tin sets for around €30. Also try tracking down Butik Badem on Abadžiluk, which doles out superb Turkish sweets, dried mulberries, and a lot more besides.

Well worth the fifteen-minute walk west of Baščaršija is the Historical Museum . Don’t be put off by the somewhat brutal exterior and shabby entrance, as the permanent exhibition detailing how Sarajevo functioned during the siege is sobering and superbly presented. The exhibits and photos are frequently harrowing, though the most striking aspect is the remarkable resourcefulness Sarajevans displayed, manifest in some ingeniously improvised implements for cooking, lighting, heating and the like. On the other side of the main road stands the Holiday Inn , a distinctive yellow building that was the city’s only functioning hotel during the siege, and as home to foreign journalists was also one of its safest places.

Of even greater importance during the siege was the tunnel under the airport, part of which is now open as the Tunnel Museum which can be visited on daily tours. During the siege, Sarajevo’s UN-held airport was the only break in the city’s surrounding ring of Serb forces – an 800m-long tunnel dug underneath the runways provided, for most locals, the only way into or out of the city. At the museum, you’ll be played a home-movie-style DVD that describes the tunnel’s creation, and the reasoning behind it, before being led through a small section of the now-collapsed route.

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written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

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Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina [lower-alpha 1] ( Serbo-Croatian : Bosna i Hercegovina , Босна и Херцеговина ), [lower-alpha 2] [lower-alpha 3] sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia , is a country in Southeast Europe , situated on the Balkan Peninsula . It borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to the north and southwest. In the south it has a 20 kilometres (12 miles) long coast on the Adriatic Sea , with the town of Neum being its only access to the sea. Bosnia has a moderate continental climate with hot summers and cold, snowy winters. In the central and eastern regions, the geography is mountainous, in the northwest it is moderately hilly, and in the northeast it is predominantly flat. Herzegovina , the smaller, southern region, has a Mediterranean climate and is mostly mountainous. Sarajevo is the capital and the largest city.

Early history

Middle ages, ottoman empire, austria-hungary, kingdom of yugoslavia, world war ii (1941–45), socialist federal republic of yugoslavia (1945–1992), bosnian war (1992–1995), recent history, biodiversity, foreign relations.

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Urban areas, infrastructure, telecommunications, architecture, cinema and theatre, bibliography, further reading, external links.

The area has been inhabited since at least the Upper Paleolithic , but evidence suggests that during the Neolithic age, permanent human settlements were established, including those that belonged to the Butmir , Kakanj , and Vučedol cultures. After the arrival of the first Indo-Europeans , the area was populated by several Illyrian and Celtic civilizations. The ancestors of the South Slavic peoples that populate the area today arrived during the 6th through the 9th century. In the 12th century, the Banate of Bosnia was established; by the 14th century, this had evolved into the Kingdom of Bosnia . In the mid-15th century, it was annexed into the Ottoman Empire , under whose rule it remained until the late 19th century; the Ottomans brought Islam to the region. From the late 19th century until World War I , the country was annexed into the Austro-Hungarian monarchy . In the interwar period , Bosnia and Herzegovina was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia . After World War II , it was granted full republic status in the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . In 1992, following the breakup of Yugoslavia , the republic proclaimed independence . This was followed by the Bosnian War , which lasted until late 1995 and ended with the signing of the Dayton Agreement .

The country is home to three main ethnic groups : Bosniaks are the largest group, Serbs the second-largest, and Croats the third-largest. Minorities include Jews , Roma , Albanians, Montenegrins, Ukrainians and Turks . Bosnia and Herzegovina has a bicameral legislature and a three-member presidency made up of one member from each of the three major ethnic groups. However, the central government's power is highly limited, as the country is largely decentralized. It comprises two autonomous entities—the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska —and a third unit, the Brčko District , which is governed by its own local government.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a developing country and ranks 74th in the Human Development Index . Its economy is dominated by industry and agriculture, followed by tourism and the service sector. Tourism has increased significantly in recent years. [13] [14] The country has a social-security and universal-healthcare system, and primary and secondary level education is free. It is a member of the UN , the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , the Council of Europe , the Partnership for Peace , and the Central European Free Trade Agreement ; it is also a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean , established in July 2008. [15] Bosnia and Herzegovina is an EU candidate country and has also been a candidate for NATO membership since April 2010. [16]

The first preserved widely acknowledged mention of a form of the name " Bosnia " is in De Administrando Imperio , a politico-geographical handbook written by the Byzantine emperor Constantine VII in the mid-10th century (between 948 and 952) describing the "small land" ( χωρίον in Greek ) of "Bosona" ( Βοσώνα ), where the Serbs dwell. [17] Bosnia was also mentioned in the DAI (χωριον βοσονα, small land of Bosnia), as a region of Baptized Serbia. [18] [19] The section of the handbook is devoted to the Serbian prince 's lands, and Bosnia is treated as a separate territory, though one that is particularly dependent on Serbs. [20]

The name of the land is believed to derive from the name of the river Bosna that courses through the Bosnian heartland. According to philologist Anton Mayer, the name Bosna could derive from Illyrian *"Bass-an-as", which in turn could derive from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰegʷ- , meaning "the running water". [21] According to the English medievalist William Miller , the Slavic settlers in Bosnia "adapted the Latin designation ... Basante, to their own idiom by calling the stream Bosna and themselves Bosniaks ". [22]

The name Herzegovina means "herzog's [land]", and "herzog" derives from the German word for "duke". [21] It originates from the title of a 15th-century Bosnian magnate, Stjepan Vukčić Kosača , who was "Herceg [Herzog] of Hum and the Coast" (1448). [23] Hum (formerly called Zachlumia ) was an early medieval principality that had been conquered by the Bosnian Banate in the first half of the 14th century. When the Ottomans took over administration of the region, they called it the Sanjak of Herzegovina ( Hersek ). It was included within the Bosnia Eyalet until the formation of the short-lived Herzegovina Eyalet in the 1830s, which reemerged in the 1850s, after which the administrative region became commonly known as Bosnia and Herzegovina . [24]

On initial proclamation of independence in 1992 , the country's official name was the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , but following the 1995 Dayton Agreement and the new constitution that accompanied it, the official name was changed to Bosnia and Herzegovina. [25]

Bosnia has been inhabited by humans since at least the Paleolithic , as one of the oldest cave paintings was found in Badanj cave . Major Neolithic cultures such as the Butmir and Kakanj were present along the river Bosna dated from c.   6230 BCE – c.   4900 BCE . The bronze culture of the Illyrians , an ethnic group with a distinct culture and art form, started to organize itself in today's Slovenia , Croatia , Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia , Kosovo , Montenegro and Albania . [26]

From the 8th century BCE, Illyrian tribes evolved into kingdoms. The earliest recorded kingdom in Illyria was the Enchele in the 8th century BCE. The Autariatae under Pleurias (337 BCE) were considered to have been a kingdom. The Kingdom of the Ardiaei (originally a tribe from the Neretva valley region) began at 230 BCE and ended at 167 BCE. The most notable Illyrian kingdoms and dynasties were those of Bardylis of the Dardani and of Agron of the Ardiaei who created the last and best-known Illyrian kingdom. Agron ruled over the Ardiaei and had extended his rule to other tribes as well.

From the 7th century BCE, bronze was replaced by iron, after which only jewelry and art objects were still made out of bronze. Illyrian tribes, under the influence of Hallstatt cultures to the north, formed regional centers that were slightly different. Parts of Central Bosnia were inhabited by the Daesitiates tribe, most commonly associated with the Central Bosnian cultural group . The Iron Age Glasinac-Mati culture is associated with the Autariatae tribe.

A very important role in their life was the cult of the dead, which is seen in their careful burials and burial ceremonies, as well as the richness of their burial sites. In northern parts, there was a long tradition of cremation and burial in shallow graves, while in the south the dead were buried in large stone or earth tumuli (natively called gromile ) that in Herzegovina were reaching monumental sizes, more than 50 m wide and 5 m high. Japodian tribes had an affinity to decoration (heavy, oversized necklaces out of yellow, blue or white glass paste, and large bronze fibulas , as well as spiral bracelets, diadems and helmets out of bronze foil).

In the 4th century BCE, the first invasion of Celts is recorded. They brought the technique of the pottery wheel , new types of fibulas and different bronze and iron belts. They only passed on their way to Greece, so their influence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is negligible. Celtic migrations displaced many Illyrian tribes from their former lands, but some Celtic and Illyrian tribes mixed. Concrete historical evidence for this period is scarce, but overall it appears the region was populated by a number of different peoples speaking distinct languages.

In the Neretva Delta in the south, there were important Hellenistic influences of the Illyrian Daors tribe. Their capital was Daorson in Ošanići near Stolac . Daorson, in the 4th century BCE, was surrounded by megalithic , 5 m high stonewalls (as large as those of Mycenae in Greece), composed of large trapezoid stone blocks. Daors made unique bronze coins and sculptures.

Conflict between the Illyrians and Romans started in 229   BCE, but Rome did not complete its annexation of the region until AD   9. It was precisely in modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina that Rome fought one of the most difficult battles in its history since the Punic Wars , as described by the Roman historian Suetonius . [27] This was the Roman campaign against Illyricum , known as Bellum Batonianum . [28] The conflict arose after an attempt to recruit Illyrians, and a revolt spanned for four years (6–9 AD), after which they were subdued. [29] In the Roman period, Latin-speaking settlers from the entire Roman Empire settled among the Illyrians, and Roman soldiers were encouraged to retire in the region. [21]

Following the split of the Empire between 337 and 395 AD, Dalmatia and Pannonia became parts of the Western Roman Empire . The region was conquered by the Ostrogoths in 455 AD. It subsequently changed hands between the Alans and the Huns . By the 6th century, Emperor Justinian I had reconquered the area for the Byzantine Empire . Slavs overwhelmed the Balkans in the 6th and 7th centuries. Illyrian cultural traits were adopted by the South Slavs, as evidenced in certain customs and traditions, placenames, etc. [30]

The Early Slavs raided the Western Balkans, including Bosnia, in the 6th and early 7th century (amid the Migration Period ), and were composed of small tribal units drawn from a single Slavic confederation known to the Byzantines as the Sclaveni (whilst the related Antes , roughly speaking, colonized the eastern portions of the Balkans). [31] [32] Tribes recorded by the ethnonyms of "Serb" and "Croat" are described as a second, latter, migration of different people during the second quarter of the 7th century who could or could not have been particularly numerous; [31] [33] [34] these early "Serb" and "Croat" tribes, whose exact identity is subject to scholarly debate, [34] came to predominate over the Slavs in the neighbouring regions. Croats "settled in area roughly corresponding to modern Croatia, and probably also including most of Bosnia proper, apart from the eastern strip of the Drina valley" while Serbs "corresponding to modern south-western Serbia (later known as Raška ), and gradually extended their rule into the territories of Duklja and Hum ". [35] [36]

Bosnia is also believed to be first mentioned as a land (horion Bosona) in Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus' De Administrando Imperio in the mid 10th century, at the end of a chapter entitled Of the Serbs and the country in which they now dwell . [37] This has been scholarly interpreted in several ways and used especially by the Serb national ideologists to prove Bosnia as originally a "Serb" land. [37] Other scholars have asserted the inclusion of Bosnia in the chapter to merely be the result of Serbian Grand Duke Časlav 's temporary rule over Bosnia at the time, while also pointing out Porphyrogenitus does not say anywhere explicitly that Bosnia is a "Serb land". [38] In fact, the very translation of the critical sentence where the word Bosona (Bosnia) appears is subject to varying interpretation. [37] In time, Bosnia formed a unit under its own ruler, who called himself Bosnian. [39] Bosnia, along with other territories, became part of Duklja in the 11th century, although it retained its own nobility and institutions. [40]

In the High Middle Ages , political circumstance led to the area being contested between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Byzantine Empire. Following another shift of power between the two in the early 12th century, Bosnia found itself outside the control of both and emerged as the Banate of Bosnia (under the rule of local bans ). [21] [41] The first Bosnian ban known by name was Ban Borić . [42] The second was Ban Kulin , whose rule marked the start of a controversy involving the Bosnian Church – considered heretical by the Roman Catholic Church . In response to Hungarian attempts to use church politics regarding the issue as a way to reclaim sovereignty over Bosnia, Kulin held a council of local church leaders to renounce the heresy and embraced Catholicism in 1203. Despite this, Hungarian ambitions remained unchanged long after Kulin's death in 1204, waning only after an unsuccessful invasion in 1254. During this time, the population was called Dobri Bošnjani ("Good Bosnians"). [43] [44] The names Serb and Croat, though occasionally appearing in peripheral areas, were not used in Bosnia proper. [45]

Bosnian history from then until the early 14th century was marked by a power struggle between the Šubić and Kotromanić families. This conflict came to an end in 1322, when Stephen II Kotromanić became Ban . By the time of his death in 1353, he was successful in annexing territories to the north and west, as well as Zahumlje and parts of Dalmatia. He was succeeded by his ambitious nephew Tvrtko who, following a prolonged struggle with nobility and inter-family strife, gained full control of the country in 1367. By the year 1377, Bosnia was elevated into a kingdom with the coronation of Tvrtko as the first Bosnian King in Mile near Visoko in the Bosnian heartland. [46] [47] [48]

Following his death in 1391, however, Bosnia fell into a long period of decline. The Ottoman Empire had started its conquest of Europe and posed a major threat to the Balkans throughout the first half of the 15th century. Finally, after decades of political and social instability, the Kingdom of Bosnia ceased to exist in 1463 after its conquest by the Ottoman Empire. [49]

There was a general awareness in medieval Bosnia, at least amongst the nobles, that they shared a joint state with Serbia and that they belonged to the same ethnic group. That awareness diminished over time, due to differences in political and social development, but it was kept in Herzegovina and parts of Bosnia which were a part of Serbian state. [50]

The Ottoman conquest of Bosnia marked a new era in the country's history and introduced drastic changes in the political and cultural landscape. The Ottomans incorporated Bosnia as an integral province of the Ottoman Empire with its historical name and territorial integrity. [51] Within Bosnia, the Ottomans introduced a number of key changes in the territory's socio-political administration; including a new landholding system, a reorganization of administrative units, and a complex system of social differentiation by class and religious affiliation. [21]

Following Ottoman occupation, there was a steady flow of people out of Bosnia and a large number of abandoned villages in Bosnia are mentioned in the Ottoman registers, [52] while those who stayed eventually became Muslims . Many Catholics in Bosnia fled to neighboring Catholic lands in the early Ottoman occupation. [53] The evidence indicates that the early Muslim conversions in Ottoman Bosnia in the 15th–16th century were among the locals who stayed rather than mass Muslim settlements from outside Bosnia. [54] In Herzegovina, many Orthodox people had also embraced Islam. [55] By the late 16th and early 17th century, Muslims are considered to have become an absolute majority in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Albanian Catholic priest Pjetër Mazreku reported in 1624 that there were 450,000 Muslims, 150,000 Catholics and 75,000 Eastern Orthodox in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [56]

There was a lack of Orthodox Church activity in Bosnia proper in the pre-Ottoman period. [57] An Orthodox Christian population in Bosnia was introduced as a direct result of Ottoman policy. [58] From the 15th century and onwards, Orthodox Christians (Orthodox Vlachs and non-Vlach Orthodox Serbs) from Serbia and other regions settled in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [59] Favored by the Ottomans over the Catholics, many Orthodox churches were allowed to be built in Bosnia by the Ottomans. [60] [61] Quite a few Vlachs also became Islamized in Bosnia, and some (mainly in Croatia) became Catholics. [62]

The four centuries of Ottoman rule also had a drastic impact on Bosnia's population make-up, which changed several times as a result of the empire's conquests, frequent wars with European powers, forced and economic migrations, and epidemics. A native Slavic-speaking Muslim community emerged and eventually became the largest of the ethno-religious groups due to a lack of strong Christian church organizations and continuous rivalry between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, while the indigenous Bosnian Church disappeared altogether (ostensibly by conversion of its members to Islam). The Ottomans referred to them as kristianlar while the Orthodox and Catholics were called gebir or kafir , meaning "unbeliever". [63] The Bosnian Franciscans (and the Catholic population as a whole) were protected by official imperial decrees and in accordance and the full extent of Ottoman laws; however, in effect, these often merely affected arbitrary rule and behavior of powerful local elite. [21]

As the Ottoman Empire continued its rule in the Balkans ( Rumelia ), Bosnia was somewhat relieved of the pressures of being a frontier province and experienced a period of general welfare. A number of cities, such as Sarajevo and Mostar , were established and grew into regional centers of trade and urban culture and were then visited by Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi in 1648. Within these cities, various Ottoman Sultans financed the construction of many works of Bosnian architecture such as the country's first library in Sarajevo, madrassas , a school of Sufi philosophy , and a clock tower ( Sahat Kula ), bridges such as the Stari Most , the Emperor's Mosque and the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque . [64]

Furthermore, several Bosnian Muslims played influential roles in the Ottoman Empire's cultural and political history during this time. [65] Bosnian recruits formed a large component of the Ottoman ranks in the battles of Mohács and Krbava field , while numerous other Bosnians rose through the ranks of the Ottoman military to occupy the highest positions of power in the Empire, including admirals such as Matrakçı Nasuh ; generals such as Isa-Beg Ishaković , Gazi Husrev-beg , Telli Hasan Pasha and Sarı Süleyman Pasha ; administrators such as Ferhad Pasha Sokolović and Osman Gradaščević ; and Grand Viziers such as the influential Sokollu Mehmed Pasha and Damat Ibrahim Pasha . Some Bosnians emerged as Sufi mystics, scholars such as Muhamed Hevaji Uskufi Bosnevi , Ali Džabić ; and poets in the Turkish , Albanian , Arabic , and Persian languages . [66]

However, by the late 17th century the Empire's military misfortunes caught up with the country, and the end of the Great Turkish War with the treaty of Karlowitz in 1699 again made Bosnia the Empire's westernmost province. The 18th century was marked by further military failures, numerous revolts within Bosnia, and several outbreaks of plague. [67]

The Porte's efforts at modernizing the Ottoman state were met with distrust growing to hostility in Bosnia, where local aristocrats stood to lose much through the proposed Tanzimat reforms. This, combined with frustrations over territorial, political concessions in the north-east, and the plight of Slavic Muslim refugees arriving from the Sanjak of Smederevo into Bosnia Eyalet , culminated in a partially unsuccessful revolt by Husein Gradaščević , who endorsed a Bosnia Eyalet autonomous from the authoritarian rule of the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II , who persecuted, executed and abolished the Janissaries and reduced the role of autonomous Pashas in Rumelia. Mahmud II sent his Grand vizier to subdue Bosnia Eyalet and succeeded only with the reluctant assistance of Ali Pasha Rizvanbegović . [66] Related rebellions were extinguished by 1850, but the situation continued to deteriorate.

New nationalist movements appeared in Bosnia by the middle of the 19th century. Shortly after Serbia's breakaway from the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century, Serbian and Croatian nationalism rose up in Bosnia, and such nationalists made irredentist claims to Bosnia's territory. This trend continued to grow in the rest of the 19th and 20th centuries. [68]

Agrarian unrest eventually sparked the Herzegovinian rebellion , a widespread peasant uprising, in 1875. The conflict rapidly spread and came to involve several Balkan states and Great Powers, a situation that led to the Congress of Berlin and the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. [21]

At the Congress of Berlin in 1878, the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Andrássy obtained the occupation and administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and he also obtained the right to station garrisons in the Sanjak of Novi Pazar , which would remain under Ottoman administration until 1908, when the Austro-Hungarian troops withdrew from the Sanjak.

Although Austro-Hungarian officials quickly came to an agreement with the Bosnians, tensions remained and a mass emigration of Bosnians occurred. [21] However, a state of relative stability was reached soon enough and Austro-Hungarian authorities were able to embark on a number of social and administrative reforms they intended would make Bosnia and Herzegovina into a "model" colony.

Habsburg rule had several key concerns in Bosnia. It tried to dissipate the South Slav nationalism by disputing the earlier Serb and Croat claims to Bosnia and encouraging identification of Bosnian or Bosniak identity. [69] Habsburg rule also tried to provide for modernisation by codifying laws, introducing new political institutions, establishing and expanding industries. [70]

Austria–Hungary began to plan the annexation of Bosnia, but due to international disputes the issue was not resolved until the annexation crisis of 1908. [71] Several external matters affected the status of Bosnia and its relationship with Austria–Hungary. A bloody coup occurred in Serbia in 1903, which brought a radical anti-Austrian government into power in Belgrade . [72] Then in 1908, the revolt in the Ottoman Empire raised concerns that the Istanbul government might seek the outright return of Bosnia and Herzegovina. These factors caused the Austro-Hungarian government to seek a permanent resolution of the Bosnian question sooner, rather than later.

Taking advantage of turmoil in the Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian diplomacy tried to obtain provisional Russian approval for changes over the status of Bosnia and Herzegovina and published the annexation proclamation on 6 October 1908. [73] Despite international objections to the Austro-Hungarian annexation, Russians and their client state, Serbia, were compelled to accept the Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 1909.

In 1910, Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph proclaimed the first constitution in Bosnia, which led to relaxation of earlier laws, elections and formation of the Bosnian parliament and growth of new political life. [74]

On 28 June 1914, Gavrilo Princip , a Bosnian Serb member of the revolutionary movement Young Bosnia , assassinated the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand , in Sarajevo—an event that was the spark that set off World War I . At the end of the war, the Bosniaks had lost more men per capita than any other ethnic group in the Habsburg Empire whilst serving in the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Infantry (known as Bosniaken ) of the Austro-Hungarian Army . [75] Nonetheless, Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole managed to escape the conflict relatively unscathed. [65]

The Austro-Hungarian authorities established an auxiliary militia known as the Schutzkorps with a moot role in the empire's policy of anti-Serb repression. [76] Schutzkorps, predominantly recruited among the Muslim (Bosniak) population, were tasked with hunting down rebel Serbs (the Chetniks and Komitadji ) [77] and became known for their persecution of Serbs particularly in Serb populated areas of eastern Bosnia, where they partly retaliated against Serbian Chetniks who in fall 1914 had carried out attacks against the Muslim population in the area. [78] [79] The proceedings of the Austro-Hungarian authorities led to around 5,500 citizens of Serb ethnicity in Bosnia and Herzegovina being arrested, and between 700 and 2,200 died in prison while 460 were executed. [77] Around 5,200 Serb families were forcibly expelled from Bosnia and Herzegovina. [77]

Following World War I, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the South Slav Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (soon renamed Yugoslavia). Political life in Bosnia and Herzegovina at this time was marked by two major trends: social and economic unrest over property redistribution and the formation of several political parties that frequently changed coalitions and alliances with parties in other Yugoslav regions. [65]

The dominant ideological conflict of the Yugoslav state, between Croatian regionalism and Serbian centralization, was approached differently by Bosnia and Herzegovina's major ethnic groups and was dependent on the overall political atmosphere. [21] The political reforms brought about in the newly established Yugoslavian kingdom saw few benefits for the Bosnian Muslims; according to the 1910 final census of land ownership and population according to religious affiliation conducted in Austria-Hungary, Muslims owned 91.1%, Orthodox Serbs owned 6.0%, Croat Catholics owned 2.6% and others, 0.3% of the property. Following the reforms, Bosnian Muslims were dispossessed of a total of 1,175,305 hectares of agricultural and forest land. [80]

Although the initial split of the country into 33 oblasts erased the presence of traditional geographic entities from the map, the efforts of Bosnian politicians, such as Mehmed Spaho , ensured the six oblasts carved up from Bosnia and Herzegovina corresponded to the six sanjaks from Ottoman times and, thus, matched the country's traditional boundary as a whole. [21]

The establishment of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929, however, brought the redrawing of administrative regions into banates or banovinas that purposely avoided all historical and ethnic lines, removing any trace of a Bosnian entity. [21] Serbo-Croat tensions over the structuring of the Yugoslav state continued, with the concept of a separate Bosnian division receiving little or no consideration.

The Cvetković-Maček Agreement that created the Croatian banate in 1939 encouraged what was essentially a partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina between Croatia and Serbia. [66] However the rising threat of Adolf Hitler 's Nazi Germany forced Yugoslav politicians to shift their attention. Following a period that saw attempts at appeasement, the signing of the Tripartite Treaty , and a coup d'état , Yugoslavia was finally invaded by Germany on 6 April 1941. [21]

Once the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was conquered by German forces in World War II , all of Bosnia and Herzegovina was ceded to the Nazi puppet regime, the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) led by the Ustaše . The NDH leaders embarked on a campaign of extermination of Serbs, Jews, Romani as well as dissident Croats, and, later, Josip Broz Tito 's Partisans by setting up a number of death camps . [81] The regime systematically and brutally massacred Serbs in villages in the countryside, using a variety of tools. [82] The scale of the violence meant that approximately every sixth Serb living in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the victim of a massacre and virtually every Serb had a family member that was killed in the war, mostly by the Ustaše. The experience had a profound impact in the collective memory of Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. [83] An estimated 209,000 Serbs or 16.9% of its Bosnia population were killed on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war. [84]

The Ustaše recognized both Catholicism and Islam as the national religions, but held the position Eastern Orthodox Church , as a symbol of Serb identity, was their greatest foe. [85] Although Croats were by far the largest ethnic group to constitute the Ustaše, the Vice President of the NDH and leader of the Yugoslav Muslim Organization Džafer Kulenović was a Muslim, and Muslims in total constituted nearly 12% of the Ustaše military and civil service authority. [86]

Many Serbs themselves took up arms and joined the Chetniks, a Serb nationalist movement with the aim of establishing an ethnically homogeneous ' Greater Serbian ' state [87] within the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Chetniks, in turn, pursued a genocidal campaign against ethnic Muslims and Croats, as well as persecuting a large number of communist Serbs and other Communist sympathizers, with the Muslim populations of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Sandžak being a primary target. [88] Once captured, Muslim villagers were systematically massacred by the Chetniks. [89] Of the 75,000 Muslims who died in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the war, [90] approximately 30,000 (mostly civilians) were killed by the Chetniks. [91] Massacres against Croats were smaller in scale but similar in action. [92] Between 64,000 and 79,000 Bosnian Croats were killed between April 1941 to May 1945. [90] Of these, about 18,000 were killed by the Chetniks. [91]

A percentage of Muslims served in Nazi Waffen-SS units. [93] These units were responsible for massacres of Serbs in northwest and eastern Bosnia, most notably in Vlasenica . [94] On 12 October 1941, a group of 108 prominent Sarajevan Muslims signed the Resolution of Sarajevo Muslims by which they condemned the persecution of Serbs organized by the Ustaše, made distinction between Muslims who participated in such persecutions and the Muslim population as a whole, presented information about the persecutions of Muslims by Serbs, and requested security for all citizens of the country, regardless of their identity. [95]

Starting in 1941, Yugoslav communists under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito organized their own multi-ethnic resistance group, the Partisans, who fought against both Axis and Chetnik forces. On 29 November 1943, the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) with Tito at its helm held a founding conference in Jajce where Bosnia and Herzegovina was reestablished as a republic within the Yugoslavian federation in its Habsburg borders. [96] During the entire course of World War II in Yugoslavia , 64.1% of all Bosnian Partisans were Serbs, 23% were Muslims and 8.8% Croats. [97]

Military success eventually prompted the Allies to support the Partisans, resulting in the successful Maclean Mission , but Tito declined their offer to help and relied on his own forces instead. All the major military offensives by the antifascist movement of Yugoslavia against Nazis and their local supporters were conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its peoples bore the brunt of the fighting. More than 300,000 people died in Bosnia and Herzegovina in World War II, or more than 10% of the population. [98] At the end of the war, the establishment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , with the constitution of 1946 , officially made Bosnia and Herzegovina one of six constituent republics in the new state. [21]

Due to its central geographic position within the Yugoslavian federation, post-war Bosnia was selected as a base for the development of the military defense industry. This contributed to a large concentration of arms and military personnel in Bosnia; a significant factor in the war that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. [21] However, Bosnia's existence within Yugoslavia, for the large part, was relatively peaceful and very prosperous, with high employment, a strong industrial and export oriented economy, a good education system and social and medical security for every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Several international corporations operated in Bosnia— Volkswagen as part of TAS (car factory in Sarajevo, from 1972), Coca-Cola (from 1975), SKF Sweden (from 1967), Marlboro , (a tobacco factory in Sarajevo), and Holiday Inn hotels. Sarajevo was the site of the 1984 Winter Olympics .

During the 1950s and 1960s, Bosnia was a political backwater of Yugoslavia. In the 1970s, a strong Bosnian political elite arose, fueled in part by Tito's leadership in the Non-Aligned Movement and Bosnians serving in Yugoslavia's diplomatic corps. While working within the Socialist system, politicians such as Džemal Bijedić , Branko Mikulić and Hamdija Pozderac reinforced and protected the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina. [99] Their efforts proved key during the turbulent period following Tito's death in 1980, and are today considered some of the early steps towards Bosnian independence . However, the republic did not escape the increasingly nationalistic climate of the time. With the fall of communism and the start of the breakup of Yugoslavia , doctrine of tolerance began to lose its potency, creating an opportunity for nationalist elements in the society to spread their influence. [100]

On 18 November 1990, multi-party parliamentary elections were held throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. A second round followed on 25 November, resulting in a national assembly where communist power was replaced by a coalition of three ethnically based parties. [101] Following Slovenia and Croatia 's declarations of independence from Yugoslavia, a significant split developed among the residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the issue of whether to remain within Yugoslavia (overwhelmingly favored by Serbs) or seek independence (overwhelmingly favored by Bosniaks and Croats). [102]

The Serb members of parliament, consisting mainly of the Serb Democratic Party members, abandoned the central parliament in Sarajevo, and formed the Assembly of the Serb People of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 24 October 1991, which marked the end of the three-ethnic coalition that governed after the elections in 1990. This Assembly established the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in part of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 January 1992. It was renamed Republika Srpska in August 1992. On 18 November 1991, the party branch in Bosnia and Herzegovina of the ruling party in the Republic of Croatia, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), proclaimed the existence of the Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia in a separate part of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) as its military branch. [103] It went unrecognized by the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina , which declared it illegal. [104] [105]

A declaration of the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 15 October 1991 was followed by a referendum for independence on 29 February and 1 March 1992, which was boycotted by the great majority of Serbs. The turnout in the independence referendum was 63.4 percent and 99.7 percent of voters voted for independence. [106] Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence on 3 March 1992 and received international recognition the following month on 6 April 1992. [107] The Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was admitted as a member state of the United Nations on 22 May 1992. [108] Serbian leader Slobodan Milošević and Croatian leader Franjo Tuđman are believed to have agreed on a partition of Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 1991, with the aim of establishing Greater Serbia and Greater Croatia . [109]

Following Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of independence, Bosnian Serb militias mobilized in different parts of the country. Government forces were poorly equipped and unprepared for the war. [110] International recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina increased diplomatic pressure for the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) to withdraw from the republic's territory, which they officially did in June 1992. The Bosnian Serb members of the JNA simply changed insignia, formed the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), and continued fighting. Armed and equipped from JNA stockpiles in Bosnia, supported by volunteers and various paramilitary forces from Serbia, and receiving extensive humanitarian, logistical and financial support from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , Republika Srpska 's offensives in 1992 managed to place much of the country under its control. [21] The Bosnian Serb advance was accompanied by the ethnic cleansing of Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats from VRS-controlled areas. Dozens of concentration camps were established in which inmates were subjected to violence and abuse, including rape. [111] The ethnic cleansing culminated in the Srebrenica massacre of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in July 1995, which was ruled to have been a genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). [112] Bosniak and Bosnian Croat forces also committed war crimes against civilians from different ethnic groups, though on a smaller scale. [113] [114] [115] [116] Most of the Bosniak and Croat atrocities were committed during the Croat–Bosniak War , a sub-conflict of the Bosnian War that pitted the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) against the HVO. The Bosniak-Croat conflict ended in March 1994, with the signing of the Washington Agreement , leading to the creation of a joint Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina , which amalgamated HVO-held territory with that held by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). [117]

On 4 February 2014, the protests against the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina , one of the country's two entities, dubbed the Bosnian Spring, the name being taken from the Arab Spring , began in the northern town of Tuzla . Workers from several factories that had been privatised and gone bankrupt assembled to demand action over jobs, unpaid salaries and pensions. [118] Soon protests spread to the rest of the Federation, with violent clashes reported in close to 20 towns, the biggest of which were Sarajevo , Zenica , Mostar , Bihać , Brčko and Tuzla. [119] The Bosnian news media reported that hundreds of people had been injured during the protests, including dozens of police officers, with bursts of violence in Sarajevo, in the northern city of Tuzla, in Mostar in the south, and in Zenica in central Bosnia. The same level of unrest or activism did not occur in Republika Srpska, but hundreds of people also gathered in support of protests in the city of Banja Luka against its separate government. [120] [121] [122]

The protests marked the largest outbreak of public anger over high unemployment and two decades of political inertia in the country since the end of the Bosnian War in 1995. [123]

According to a report made by Christian Schmidt of the Office of High Representative in late 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been experiencing intensified political and ethnic tensions, which could potentially break the country apart and slide it back into war once again. [124] [125] The European Union fears this will lead to further Balkanization in the region. [126]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the western Balkans , bordering Croatia ( 932   km or 579   mi ) to the north and west, Serbia ( 302   km or 188   mi ) to the east, and Montenegro ( 225   km or 140   mi ) to the southeast. It has a coastline about 20 kilometres (12 miles) long surrounding the town of Neum . [127] [128] It lies between latitudes 42° and 46° N , and longitudes 15° and 20° E .

The country's name comes from the two alleged regions Bosnia and Herzegovina , whose border was never defined. Historically, Bosnia's official name never included any of its many regions until the Austro-Hungarian occupation.

The country is mostly mountainous, encompassing the central Dinaric Alps . The northeastern parts reach into the Pannonian Basin , while in the south it borders the Adriatic . The Dinaric Alps generally run in a southeast–northwest direction, and get higher towards the south. The highest point of the country is the peak of Maglić at 2,386 metres (7,828.1 feet) , on the Montenegrin border. Other major mountains include Volujak , Zelengora , Lelija , Lebršnik , Orjen , Kozara , Grmeč , Čvrsnica , Prenj , Vran , Vranica , Velež , Vlašić , Cincar , Romanija , Jahorina , Bjelašnica , Treskavica and Trebević . The geological composition of the Dinaric chain of mountains in Bosnia consists primarily of limestone (including Mesozoic limestone), with deposits of iron , coal , zinc , manganese , bauxite , lead , and salt present in some areas, especially in central and northern Bosnia. [129]

Overall, nearly 50% of Bosnia and Herzegovina is forested. Most forest areas are in the centre, east and west parts of Bosnia. Herzegovina has a drier Mediterranean climate, with dominant karst topography. Northern Bosnia ( Posavina ) contains very fertile agricultural land along the Sava river and the corresponding area is heavily farmed. This farmland is a part of the Pannonian Plain stretching into neighboring Croatia and Serbia. The country has only 20 kilometres (12 miles) of coastline, [127] [130] around the town of Neum in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton . Although the city is surrounded by Croatian peninsulas, by international law, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a right of passage to the outer sea.

Sarajevo is the capital [1] and largest city. [6] Other major cities include Banja Luka and Prijedor in the northwest region known as Bosanska Krajina , Tuzla , Bijeljina , Doboj and Brčko in the northeast, Zenica in the central part of the country, and Mostar , the largest city in the southern region of Herzegovina .

There are seven major rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina: [131]

• The Sava is the largest river of the country, and forms its northern natural border with Croatia. It drains 76% [131] of the country's territory into the Danube and then the Black Sea . Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR).
• The Una , Sana and Vrbas are right tributaries of the Sava. They are in the northwestern region of Bosanska Krajina .
• The Bosna river gave its name to the country, and is the longest river fully contained within it. It stretches through central Bosnia, from its source near Sarajevo to Sava in the north.
• The Drina flows through the eastern part of Bosnia, and for the most part it forms a natural border with Serbia.
• The Neretva is the major river of Herzegovina and the only major river that flows south, into the Adriatic Sea.

Phytogeographically , Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to the Boreal Kingdom and is shared between the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region and Adriatic province of the Mediterranean Region . According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be subdivided into four ecoregions : Balkan mixed forests , Dinaric Mountains mixed forests , Pannonian mixed forests and Illyrian deciduous forests . [132] The country had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.99/10, ranking it 89th globally out of 172 countries. [133]

As a result of the Dayton Agreement , the civilian peace implementation is supervised by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina selected by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC). The High Representative is the highest political authority in the country. The High Representative has many governmental and legislative powers, including the dismissal of elected and non-elected officials. Due to the vast powers of the High Representative over Bosnian politics and essential veto powers, the position has also been compared to that of a viceroy . [134] [135] [136] [137]

Politics take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democracy , whereby executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina . Legislative power is vested in both the Council of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina . Members of the Parliamentary Assembly are chosen according to a proportional representation (PR) system. [138] [139]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a liberal democracy . [ clarification needed ] It has several levels of political structuring, according to the Dayton Agreement . The most important of these levels is the division of the country into two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska . The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers 51% of Bosnia and Herzegovina's total area, while Republika Srpska covers 49%. The entities, based largely on the territories held by the two warring sides at the time, were formally established by the Dayton Agreement in 1995 because of the tremendous changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina's ethnic structure. At the national level, there exists only a finite set of exclusive or joint competencies, whereas the majority of authority rests within the entities. [140] Sumantra Bose describes Bosnia and Herzegovina as a consociational confederation . [141]

The Brčko District in the north of the country was created in 2000, out of land from both entities. It officially belongs to both, but is governed by neither, and functions under a decentralized system of local government. For election purposes, Brčko District voters can choose to participate in either the Federation or Republika Srpska elections. The Brčko District has been praised for maintaining a multiethnic population and a level of prosperity significantly above the national average. [142]

The third level of Bosnia and Herzegovina's political subdivision is manifested in cantons . They are unique to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, which consists of ten of them. Each has a cantonal government, which is under the law of the Federation as a whole. Some cantons are ethnically mixed and have special laws to ensure the equality of all constituent people. [143]

The fourth level of political division in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the municipalities . The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is divided into 79 municipalities, and Republika Srpska into 64. Municipalities also have their own local government, and are typically based on the most significant city or place in their territory. As such, many municipalities have a long tradition and history with their present boundaries. Some others, however, were only created following the recent war after traditional municipalities were split by the Inter-Entity Boundary Line . Each canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of several municipalities, which are divided into local communities. [144]

Besides entities, cantons, and municipalities, Bosnia and Herzegovina also has four "official" cities. These are: Banja Luka , Mostar , Sarajevo and East Sarajevo . The territory and government of the cities of Banja Luka and Mostar corresponds to the municipalities of the same name, while the cities of Sarajevo and East Sarajevo officially consist of several municipalities. Cities have their own city government whose power is in between that of the municipalities and cantons (or the entity, in the case of Republika Srpska).

More recently, several central institutions have been established (such as a defense ministry , security ministry, state court, indirect taxation service and so on) in the process of transferring part of the jurisdiction from the entities to the state. The representation of the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is by elites who represent the country's three major groups, with each having a guaranteed share of power.

The Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina rotates among three members ( Bosniak , Serb , Croat ), each elected as the chair for an eight-month term within their four-year term as a member. The three members of the Presidency are elected directly by the people, with Federation voters voting for the Bosniak and the Croat and the Republika Srpska voters voting for the Serb.

The Chair of the Council of Ministers is nominated by the Presidency and approved by the parliamentary House of Representatives . The Chair of the Council of Ministers is then responsible for appointing a Foreign Minister, Minister of Foreign Trade and others as appropriate.

The Parliamentary Assembly is the lawmaking body in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It consists of two houses: the House of Peoples and the House of Representatives. The House of Peoples has 15 delegates chosen by parliaments of the entities, two-thirds of which come from the Federation (5 Bosniaks and 5 Croats) and one-third from the Republika Srpska (5 Serbs). The House of Representatives is composed of 42 Members elected by the people under a form of proportional representation, two-thirds elected from the Federation and one-third elected from Republika Srpska. [145]

The Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the supreme, final arbiter of legal matters. It is composed of nine members: four members are selected by the Federal House of Representatives , two by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska and three by the President of the European Court of Human Rights after consultation with the Presidency, who cannot be Bosnian citizens. [146]

However, the highest political authority in the country is the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the chief executive officer for the international civilian presence in the country and is selected by the European Union . Since 1995, the High Representative has been able to bypass the elected parliamentary assembly, and since 1997 has been able to remove elected officials. The methods selected by the High Representative have been criticized as undemocratic. [147] International supervision is to end when the country is deemed politically and democratically stable and self-sustaining .

The Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSBiH) were unified into a single entity in 2005, with the merger of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Army of Republika Srpska , which had defended their respective regions. [148] The Ministry of Defence was formed in 2004. [149]

The Bosnian military consists of the Bosnian Ground Forces and Air Force and Air Defense . [150] The Ground Forces number 7,200 active and 5,000 reserve personnel. [151] They are armed with a mix of American, Yugoslavian, Soviet, and European-made weaponry, vehicles, and military equipment. The Air Force and Air Defense Forces have 1,500 personnel and about 62 aircraft. The Air Defense Forces operate MANPADS hand-held missiles, surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries, anti-aircraft cannons, and radar. The Army has recently adopted remodeled MARPAT uniforms, used by Bosnian soldiers serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan . A domestic production program is now underway to ensure that army units are equipped with the correct ammunition. [152]

Beginning in 2007, the Ministry of Defence undertook the army's first ever international assistance mission, enlisting the military to serve with ISAF peace missions to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007. Five officers, acting as officers/advisors, served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 45 soldiers, mostly acting as base security and medical assistants, served in Afghanistan. 85 Bosnian soldiers served as base security in Iraq, occasionally conducting infantry patrols there as well. All three deployed groups have been commended by their respective international forces as well as the Ministry of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The international assistance operations are still ongoing. [153]

The Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina was formed when elements of the Army of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska Air Force were merged in 2006. The Air Force has seen improvements in the last few years with added funds for aircraft repairs and improved cooperation with the Ground Forces as well as to the citizens of the country. The Ministry of Defence is pursuing the acquisition of new aircraft including helicopters and perhaps even fighter jets. [154]

European Union integration is one of the main political objectives of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it initiated the Stabilisation and Association Process in 2007. Countries participating in the SAP have been offered the possibility to become, once they fulfill the necessary conditions, Member States of the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina is therefore a potential candidate country for EU accession. [155]

The implementation of the Dayton Agreement in 1995 has focused the efforts of policymakers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the international community, on regional stabilization in the countries-successors of the former Yugoslavia . [156]

Within Bosnia and Herzegovina, relations with its neighbors of Croatia , Serbia and Montenegro have been fairly stable since the signing of the Dayton Agreement. On 23 April 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina received the Membership Action Plan from NATO , which is the last step before full membership in the alliance. Full membership was initially expected in 2014 or 2015, depending on the progress of reforms. [157] In December 2018, NATO approved a Bosnian Membership Action Plan. [158]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is the 61st most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index . [159]

According to the 1991 census , Bosnia and Herzegovina had a population of 4,369,319, while the 1996 World Bank Group census showed a decrease to 3,764,425. [160] Large population migrations during the Yugoslav Wars in the 1990s have caused demographic shifts in the country. Between 1991 and 2013, political disagreements made it impossible to organize a census. A census had been planned for 2011, [161] and then for 2012, [162] but was delayed until October 2013. The 2013 census found a total population of 3,531,159 people, [2] a drop of approximately 20% since 1991. [163] The 2013 census figures include non-permanent Bosnian residents and for this reason are contested by Republika Srpska officials and Serb politicians (see Ethnic groups below). [164]

Ethnic composition in Bosnia and Herzegovina as of 2013: [2]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to three ethnic " constituent peoples ", namely Bosniaks , Serbs and Croats , plus a number of smaller groups including Jews and Roma . [166] According to data from the 2013 census published by the Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina , Bosniaks constitute 50.1% of the population, Serbs 30.8%, Croats 15.5% and others 2.7%, with the remaining respondents not declaring their ethnicity or not answering. [2] The census results are contested by the Republika Srpska statistical office and by Bosnian Serb politicians. [167] The dispute over the census concerns the inclusion of non-permanent Bosnian residents in the figures, which Republika Srpska officials oppose. [164] The European Union 's statistics office, Eurostat , concluded in May 2016 that the census methodology used by the Bosnian statistical agency is in line with international recommendations. [168]

Bosnia's constitution does not specify any official languages. [169] [170] [171] However, academics Hilary Footitt and Michael Kelly note the Dayton Agreement states it [ clarification needed ] is "done in Bosnian , Croatian , English and Serbian ", and they describe this as the "de facto recognition of three official languages" at the state level. The equal status of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian was verified by the Constitutional Court in 2000. [171] It ruled the provisions of the Federation and Republika Srpska constitutions on language were incompatible with the state constitution, since they only recognised Bosnian and Croatian (in the case of the Federation) and Serbian (in the case of Republika Srpska) as official languages at the entity level. As a result, the wording of the entity constitutions was changed and all three languages were made official in both entities. [171] The three standard languages are fully mutually intelligible and are known collectively under the appellation of Serbo-Croatian , despite this term not being formally recognized in the country. Use of one of the three languages has become a marker of ethnic identity. [172] Michael Kelly and Catherine Baker argue: "The three official languages of today's Bosnian state...represent the symbolic assertion of national identity over the pragmatism of mutual intelligibility". [173]

According to the 1992 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML), Bosnia and Herzegovina recognizes the following minority languages: Albanian , Montenegrin , Czech , Italian , Hungarian , Macedonian , German , Polish , Romani , Romanian , Rusyn , Slovak , Slovene , Turkish , Ukrainian and Jewish ( Yiddish and Ladino ). [174] The German minority in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly remnants of Donauschwaben (Danube Swabians), who settled in the area after the Habsburg monarchy claimed the Balkans from the Ottoman Empire . Due to expulsions and (forced) assimilation after the two World wars , the number of ethnic Germans in Bosnia and Herzegovina was drastically diminished. [175]

In the 2013 census, 52.86% of the population consider their mother tongue Bosnian, 30.76% Serbian, 14.6% Croatian and 1.57% another language, with 0.21% not giving an answer. [2]

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a religiously diverse country. According to the 2013 census, Muslims comprised 50.7% of the population, while Orthodox Christians made 30.7%, Catholic Christians 15.2%, 1.2% other and 1.1% atheist or agnostic , with the remainder not declaring or not answering the question. [2] A 2012 survey found 54% of Bosnia's Muslims were non-denominational , while 38% followed Sunnism . [176]

Sarajevo is home to 419,957 inhabitants in its urban area which comprises the City of Sarajevo as well as the municipalities of Ilidža , Vogošća , Istočna Ilidža , Istočno Novo Sarajevo and Istočni Stari Grad . [177] The metro area has a population of 555,210 and includes Sarajevo Canton , East Sarajevo and the municipalities of Breza , Kiseljak , Kreševo and Visoko . [178]

During the Bosnian War , the economy suffered €200   billion in material damages, roughly €326.38 billion in 2022 (inflation adjusted). [179] [180] Bosnia and Herzegovina faces the dual-problem of rebuilding a war-torn country and introducing transitional liberal market reforms to its formerly mixed economy. One legacy of the previous era is a strong industry; under former republic president Džemal Bijedić and Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito , metal industries were promoted in the republic, resulting in the development of a large share of Yugoslavia's plants; SR Bosnia and Herzegovina had a very strong industrial export oriented economy in the 1970s and 1980s, with large scale exports worth millions of US$.

For most of Bosnia's history, agriculture has been conducted on privately owned farms; Fresh food has traditionally been exported from the republic. [181]

The war in the 1990s, caused a dramatic change in the Bosnian economy. [182] GDP fell by 60% and the destruction of physical infrastructure devastated the economy. [183] With much of the production capacity unrestored, the Bosnian economy still faces considerable difficulties. Figures show GDP and per capita income increased 10% from 2003 to 2004; this and Bosnia's shrinking national debt being negative trends, and high unemployment 38.7% and a large trade deficit remain cause for concern.

The national currency is the (Euro-pegged) Convertible Mark (KM), controlled by the currency board . Annual inflation is the lowest relative to other countries in the region at 1.9% in 2004. [184] The international debt was $5.1   billion (as of 31 December 2014). Real GDP growth rate was 5% for 2004 according to the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Statistical Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has displayed positive progress in the previous years, which decisively moved its place from the lowest income equality rank of income equality rankings fourteen out of 193 nations. [185]

According to Eurostat data, Bosnia and Herzegovina's PPS GDP per capita stood at 29 per cent of the EU average in 2010. [186]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced a loan to Bosnia worth US$500   million to be delivered by Stand-By Arrangement . This was scheduled to be approved in September 2012. [187]

The United States Embassy in Sarajevo produces the Country Commercial Guide – an annual report that delivers a comprehensive look at Bosnia and Herzegovina's commercial and economic environment, using economic, political, and market analysis.

By some estimates, grey economy is 25.5% of GDP. [188]

In 2017, exports grew by 17% when compared to the previous year, totaling €5.65   billion. [189] The total volume of foreign trade in 2017 amounted to €14.97   billion and increased by 14% compared to the previous year. Imports of goods increased by 12% and amounted to €9.32   billion. The coverage of imports by exports increased by 3% compared to the previous year and now it is 61 percent. In 2017, Bosnia and Herzegovina mostly exported car seats , electricity , processed wood , aluminium and furniture . In the same year, it mostly imported crude oil , automobiles , motor oil , coal and briquettes . [190]

The unemployment rate in 2017 was 20.5%, but The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies is predicting falling unemployment rate for the next few years. In 2018, the unemployment should be 19.4% and it should further fall to 18.8% in 2019. In 2020, the unemployment rate should go down to 18.3%. [191]

On 31 December 2017, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued the report on public debt of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stating the public debt was reduced by €389.97   million, or by more than 6% when compared to 31 December 2016. By the end of 2017, public debt was €5.92   billion, which amounted to 35.6 percent of GDP. [192]

As of 31   December   2017 [ update ] , there were 32,292 registered companies in the country, which together had revenues of €33.572   billion that same year. [193]

In 2017, the country received €397.35   million in foreign direct investment , which equals to 2.5% of the GDP. [194]

In 2017, Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked third in the world in terms of the number of new jobs created by foreign investment, relative to the number of inhabitants. [195] [196]

In 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina exported goods worth 11.9   billion KM (€6.07   billion), which is 7.43% higher than in the same period in 2017, while imports amounted to 19.27   billion KM (€9.83   billion), which is 5.47% higher. [197]

The average price of new apartments sold in the country in the first six months of 2018 is 1,639   km (€886.31) per square metre. This represents a jump of 3.5% from the previous year. [198]

On 30 June 2018, public debt of Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to about €6.04   billion, of which external debt is 70.56 percent, while the internal debt is 29.4 percent of total public indebtedness. The share of public debt in gross domestic product is 34.92 percent. [199]

In the first 7 months of 2018, 811,660 tourists visited the country, a 12.2% jump when compared to the first 7 months of 2017. [200] In the first 11 months of 2018, 1,378,542 tourists visited Bosnia-Herzegovina, an increase of 12.6%, and had 2,871,004 overnight hotel stays, a 13.8% increase from the previous year. Also, 71.8% of the tourists came from foreign countries. [201] In the first seven months of 2019, 906,788 tourists visited the country, an 11.7% jump from the previous year. [202]

In 2018, the total value of mergers and acquisitions in Bosnia and Herzegovina amounted to €404.6   million. [203]

In 2018, 99.5 percent of enterprises in Bosnia and Herzegovina used computers in their business, while 99.3 percent had internet connections, according to a survey conducted by the Bosnia and Herzegovina Statistics Agency. [204]

In 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina received 783.4   million KM (€400.64   million) in direct foreign investment , which was equivalent to 2.3% of GDP. [205]

In 2018, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina made a profit of 8,430,875   km (€4,306,347). [206]

The World Bank predicted that the economy would grow 3.4% in 2019. [207]

Bosnia and Herzegovina was placed 83rd on the Index of Economic Freedom for 2019. The total rating for Bosnia and Herzegovina is 61.9. This position represents some progress relative to the 91st place in 2018. This result is below the regional level, but still above the global average, making Bosnia and Herzegovina a "moderately free" country. [208]

On 31 January 2019, total deposits in Bosnian banks were KM 21.9   billion (€11.20   billion), which represents 61.15% of nominal GDP. [209]

In the second quarter of 2019, the average price of new apartments sold in Bosnia and Herzegovina was 1,606   km (€821.47) per square metre. [210]

In the first six months of 2019, exports amounted to 5.829   billion KM (€2.98   billion), which is 0.1% less than in the same period of 2018, while imports amounted to 9.779   billion KM (€5.00   billion), which is by 4.5% more than in the same period of the previous year. [211]

In the first six months of 2019, foreign direct investment amounted to 650.1   million KM (€332.34   million). [212]

Bosnia and Herzegovina was ranked 77th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023. [213]

As of 30 November 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina had 1.3 million registered motor vehicles. [214]

According to projections by the World Tourism Organization , Bosnia and Herzegovina had the third highest tourism growth rate in the world between 1995 and 2020. [215] [216]

In 2017, 1,307,319 tourists visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, an increase of 13.7%, and had 2,677,125 overnight hotel stays, a 12.3% increase from the previous year. 71.5% of the tourists came from foreign countries. [217]

In 2018, 1.883.772 tourists visited Bosnia and Herzegovina, an increase of 44,1%, and had 3.843.484 overnight hotel stays, a 43.5% increase from the previous year. Also, 71.2% of the tourists came from foreign countries. [218]

In 2006, when ranking the best cities in the world, Lonely Planet placed Sarajevo , the national capital [1] and host of the 1984 Winter Olympics , as #43 on the list. [219] Tourism in Sarajevo is chiefly focused on historical, religious, and cultural aspects. In 2010, Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel" nominated it as one of the top ten cities to visit that year. [220] Sarajevo also won travel blog Foxnomad's "Best City to Visit" competition in 2012, beating more than one hundred other cities around the entire world. [221]

Međugorje has become one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Catholics from around the world and has turned into Europe's third most important religious place, where each year more than 1   million people visit. [222] It has been estimated that 30   million pilgrims have come to Međugorje since the reputed apparitions began in 1981. [223] Since 2019, pilgrimages to Međugorje have been officially authorized and organized by the Vatican . [224]

Bosnia has also become an increasingly popular skiing and Ecotourism destination. The mountains that hosted the winter olympic games of Bjelašnica , Jahorina and Igman are the most visited skiing mountains in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina remains one of the last undiscovered natural regions of the southern area of the Alps , with vast tracts of wild and untouched nature attracting adventurers and nature lovers. National Geographic named Bosnia and Herzegovina as the best mountain biking adventure destination for 2012. [225] The central Bosnian Dinaric Alps are favored by hikers and mountaineers, as they contain both Mediterranean and Alpine climates. Whitewater rafting has become somewhat of a national pastime in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [226] The primary rivers used for whitewater rafting in the country include the Vrbas , Tara , Drina , Neretva and Una . [227] Meanwhile, the most prominent rivers are the Vrbas and Tara, as they both hosted The 2009 World Rafting Championship . [228] [229] The reason the Tara river is immensely popular for whitewater rafting is because it contains the deepest river canyon in Europe, the Tara River Canyon . [230] [231]

Most recently, the Huffington Post named Bosnia and Herzegovina the "9th Greatest Adventure in the World for 2013", adding that the country boasts "the cleanest water and air in Europe; the greatest untouched forests; and the most wildlife. The best way to experience is the three rivers trip, which purls through the best the Balkans have to offer." [232]

Sarajevo International Airport , also known as Butmir Airport, is the main international airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located 3.3   NM (6.1   km; 3.8   mi) southwest of the Sarajevo main railway station [233] in the city of Sarajevo in the suburb of Butmir .

Railway operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina are successors of the Yugoslav Railways within the country boundaries following independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1992. Today, they are operated by the Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ŽFBiH) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and by Republika Srpska Railways (ŽRS) in Republika Srpska .

The Bosnian communications market was fully liberalised in January 2006. The three landline telephone operators predominantly provide services in their operating areas but have nationwide licenses for domestic and international calls. Mobile data services are also available, including high-speed EDGE , 3G and 4G services. [234]

Oslobođenje (Liberation), founded in 1943, is one of the country's longest running continuously circulating newspapers. There are many national publications, including the Dnevni avaz (Daily Voice), founded in 1995, and Jutarnje Novine (Morning News), to name but a few in circulation in Sarajevo. [235] Other local periodicals include the Croatian Hrvatska riječ newspaper and Bosnian Start magazine, as well as Slobodna Bosna ( Free Bosnia ) and BH Dani ( BH Days ) weekly newspapers. Novi Plamen , a monthly magazine, was the most left-wing publication. International news station Al Jazeera maintains a sister channel catering to the Balkan region, Al Jazeera Balkans , broadcasting out of and based in Sarajevo. [236] Since 2014, the N1 platform has broadcast as an affiliate of CNN International , with offices in Sarajevo, Zagreb and Belgrade . [237]

As of 2021, Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked second highest in press freedom in the region, after Croatia , and is placed 58th internationally. [238]

As of December   2021 [ update ] , there are 3,374,094 internet users in the country, or 95.55% of the entire population. [239]

Higher education has a long and rich tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first bespoke higher-education institution was a school of Sufi philosophy established by Gazi Husrev-beg in 1531. Numerous other religious schools then followed. In 1887, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire , a Sharia law school began a five-year program. [240] In the 1940s, the University of Sarajevo became the city's first secular higher education institute. In the 1950s, post-bachelaurate graduate degrees became available. [241] Severely damaged during the war , it was recently rebuilt in partnership with more than 40 other universities. There are various other institutions of higher education, including: University Džemal Bijedić of Mostar , University of Banja Luka , University of Mostar , University of East Sarajevo , University of Tuzla , American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina , which is held in high regard as one of the most prestigious creative arts academies in the region.

Also, Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to several private and international higher education institutions, some of which are:

• Sarajevo School of Science and Technology
• International University of Sarajevo
• American University in Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Sarajevo Graduate School of Business
• International Burch University
• United World College in Mostar

Primary schooling lasts for nine years. Secondary education is provided by general and technical secondary schools (typically Gymnasiums ) where studies typically last for four years. All forms of secondary schooling include an element of vocational training . Pupils graduating from general secondary schools obtain the Matura and can enroll in any tertiary educational institution or academy by passing a qualification examination prescribed by the governing body or institution. Students graduating technical subjects obtain a Diploma . [242]

The architecture of Bosnia and Herzegovina is largely influenced by four major periods where political and social changes influenced the creation of distinct cultural and architectural habits of the population. Each period made its influence felt and contributed to a greater diversity of cultures and architectural language in this region.

Some television, magazines, and newspapers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are state-owned, and some are for-profit corporations funded by advertising , subscription , and other sales-related revenues. The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina guarantees freedom of speech .

As a country in transition with a post-war legacy and a complex domestic political structure , Bosnia and Herzegovina's media system is under transformation. In the early post-war period (1995–2005), media development was guided mainly by international donors and cooperation agencies, who invested to help reconstruct, diversify, democratize and professionalize media outlets. [243] [244]

Post-war developments included the establishment of an independent Communication Regulatory Agency, the adoption of a Press Code, the establishment of the Press Council, the decriminalization of libel and defamation, the introduction of a rather advanced Freedom of Access to Information Law, and the creation of a Public Service Broadcasting System from the formerly state-owned broadcaster. Yet, internationally backed positive developments have been often obstructed by domestic elites, and the professionalisation of media and journalists has proceeded only slowly. High levels of partisanship and linkages between the media and the political systems hinder the adherence to professional code of conducts. [244]

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a rich literature, including the Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić and poets such as Antun Branko Šimić , Aleksa Šantić , Jovan Dučić and Mak Dizdar , writers such as Zlatko Topčić , Meša Selimović , Semezdin Mehmedinović , Miljenko Jergović , Isak Samokovlija , Safvet-beg Bašagić , Abdulah Sidran , Petar Kočić , Aleksandar Hemon and Nedžad Ibrišimović .

The National Theater was founded in 1919 in Sarajevo and its first director was dramatist Branislav Nušić . Magazines such as Novi Plamen or Sarajevske sveske are some of the more prominent publications covering cultural and literary themes.

By the late 1950s, Ivo Andrić's works had been translated into a number of languages. In 1958, the Association of Writers of Yugoslavia nominated Andrić as its first ever candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature

The art of Bosnia and Herzegovina was always evolving and ranged from the original medieval tombstones called Stećci to paintings in Kotromanić court. However, only with the arrival of Austro-Hungarians did the painting renaissance in Bosnia really begin to flourish. The first educated artists from European academies appeared with the beginning of the 20th century. Among those are: Gabrijel Jurkić , Petar Šain , Roman Petrović and Lazar Drljača .

After World War II , artists like Mersad Berber and Safet Zec rose in popularity.

In 2007, Ars Aevi , a museum of contemporary art that includes works by renowned world artists, was founded in Sarajevo.

Typical Bosnian songs are ganga , rera , and the traditional Slavic music for the folk dances such as kolo , while from the Ottoman era the most popular is Sevdalinka . Pop and Rock music has a tradition here as well, with the more famous musicians including Dino Zonić , Goran Bregović , Davorin Popović , Kemal Monteno , Zdravko Čolić , Elvir Laković Laka , Edo Maajka , Hari Varešanović , Dino Merlin , Mladen Vojičić Tifa , Željko Bebek , etc. Other composers such as Đorđe Novković , Al' Dino , Haris Džinović , Kornelije Kovač , and many rock and pop bands , for example, Bijelo Dugme , Crvena jabuka , Divlje jagode , Indexi , Plavi orkestar , Zabranjeno Pušenje , Ambasadori , Dubioza kolektiv , who were among the leading ones in the former Yugoslavia. Bosnia is home to the composer Dušan Šestić , the creator of the National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina and father of singer Marija Šestić , to the jazz musician, educator and Bosnian jazz ambassador Sinan Alimanović , composer Saša Lošić and pianist Saša Toperić . In the villages, especially in Herzegovina , Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats play the ancient gusle . The gusle is used mainly to recite epic poems in a usually dramatic tone.

Probably the most distinctive and identifiably "Bosnian" of music, Sevdalinka is a kind of emotional, melancholic folk song that often describes sad subjects such as love and loss, the death of a dear person or heartbreak. Sevdalinkas were traditionally performed with a saz , a Turkish string instrument, which was later replaced by the accordion. However the more modern arrangement is typically a vocalist accompanied by the accordion along with snare drums, upright bass, guitars, clarinets and violins.

Rural folk traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina include the shouted, polyphonic ganga and "ravne pjesme" ( flat song ) styles, as well as instruments like a droneless bagpipe , wooden flute and šargija . The gusle, an instrument found throughout the Balkans , is also used to accompany ancient Slavic epic poems . There are also Bosnian folk songs in the Ladino language, derived from the area's Jewish population.

Bosnian roots music came from Central Bosnia , Posavina , the Drina valley and Kalesija . It is usually performed by singers with two violinists and a šargija player. These bands first appeared around World War I and became popular in the 1960s. This is the third oldest music after the Sevdalinka and ilahija . Self-taught people, mostly in two or three members of the different choices of old instruments, mostly in the violin, sacking, saz, drums, flutes ( zurle ) or wooden flute, as others have already called, the original performers of Bosnian music that can not be written notes, transmitted by ear from generation to generation, family is usually hereditary. It is thought to be brought from Persia-Kalesi tribe that settled in the area of the present Sprečanski valleys and hence probably the name Kalesija. In this part of Bosnia, it is the most common. This kind of music was enjoyed by all three peoples in Bosnia, Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, and it contributed a lot to reconcile people socializing, entertainment and other organizations through festivals. In Kalesija, it is maintained each year with the Original Bosnian Festival music.

Sarajevo is internationally renowned for its eclectic and diverse selection of festivals. The Sarajevo Film Festival was established in 1995, during the Bosnian War and has become the premier and largest film festival in the Balkans and Southeast Europe .

Bosnia has a rich cinematic and film heritage, dating back to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia ; many Bosnian filmmakers have achieved international prominence and some have won international awards ranging from the Academy Awards to multiple Palme d'Ors and Golden Bears . Some notable Bosnian screenwriters, directors and producers are Danis Tanović (known for the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award winning 2001 film No Man's Land and Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize winning 2016 film Death in Sarajevo ), [245] Jasmila Žbanić (won Golden Bear, Academy Award and BAFTA nominated 2020 film Quo Vadis, Aida? ), Emir Kusturica (won two Palme d'Ors at Cannes ), Zlatko Topčić , Ademir Kenović , Ahmed Imamović , Pjer Žalica , Aida Begić , etc.

Bosnian cuisine uses many spices, in moderate quantities. Most dishes are light, as they are boiled; the sauces are fully natural, consisting of little more than the natural juices of the vegetables in the dish. Typical ingredients include tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic , peppers , cucumbers , carrots, cabbage , mushrooms , spinach , zucchini , dried beans , fresh beans, plums , milk, paprika and cream called pavlaka . Bosnian cuisine is balanced between Western and Eastern influences. As a result of the Ottoman administration for almost 500 years, Bosnian food is closely related to Turkish, Greek and other former Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisines. However, because of years of Austrian rule, there are many influences from Central Europe . Typical meat dishes include primarily beef and lamb . Some local specialties are ćevapi , burek , dolma , sarma , pilav , goulash , ajvar and a whole range of Eastern sweets. Ćevapi is a grilled dish of minced meat, a type of kebab , popular in former Yugoslavia and considered a national dish in Bosnia and Herzegovina [246] and Serbia . [247] [248] [249] Local wines come from Herzegovina where the climate is suitable for growing grapes. Herzegovinian loza (similar to Italian Grappa but less sweet) is very popular. Plum ( rakija ) or apple ( jabukovača ) alcohol beverages are produced in the north. In the south, distilleries used to produce vast quantities of brandy and supply all of ex-Yugoslav alcohol factories (brandy is the base of most alcoholic drinks ).

Coffeehouses, where Bosnian coffee is served in džezva with rahat lokum and sugar cubes , are common in Sarajevo and every city in the country. Coffee drinking is a favorite Bosnian pastime and part of the culture. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the ninth country in the entire world by per capita coffee consumption. [250]

Bosnia and Herzegovina has produced many athletes. The most important international sporting event in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina were the 14th Winter Olympics , held in Sarajevo from 7 to 19 February 1984.

The Borac handball club has won seven Yugoslav Handball Championships , as well as the European Cup in 1976 and the International Handball Federation Cup in 1991.

Amel Mekić , Bosnian judoka, became European champion in 2011. Track and field athlete Amel Tuka won bronze and silver medals in 800 metres at the 2015 and 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships [251] and Hamza Alić won the silver medal in shot put at the 2013 European Indoor Championships .

The Bosna Royal basketball club from Sarajevo were European Champions in 1979 . The Yugoslavia men's national basketball team , which won medals in every world championship from 1963 through 1990, included Bosnian players such as FIBA Hall of Famers Dražen Dalipagić and Mirza Delibašić . Bosnia and Herzegovina regularly qualifies for the European Championship in Basketball , with players including Mirza Teletović , Nihad Đedović and Jusuf Nurkić . The Bosnia and Herzegovina national under-16 team won two gold medals in 2015, winning both 2015 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival as well as the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship .

Women's basketball club Jedinstvo Aida from Tuzla won the Women's European Club Championship in 1989 and Ronchetti Cup final in 1990, led by Razija Mujanović , three times best female European basketball player, and Mara Lakić

The Bosnian chess team was Champion of Yugoslavia seven times, in addition to club ŠK Bosna winning four European Chess Club Cups . Chess grandmaster Borki Predojević has also won two European Championships. The most impressive success of Bosnian Chess was a runner-up position at the 31st Chess Olympiad in 1994 in Moscow , featuring Grandmasters Predrag Nikolić , Ivan Sokolov and Bojan Kurajica .

Middle-weight boxer Marijan Beneš has won several Championships of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslav Championships and the European Championship . [252] In 1978, he won the World Title against Elisha Obed from The Bahamas .

Association football is the most popular sport in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It dates from 1903, but its popularity grew significantly after World War I . Bosnian clubs FK Sarajevo and Željezničar won the Yugoslav Championship , while the Yugoslav national football team included Bosnian players of all ethnic backgrounds and generations, such as Safet Sušić , Zlatko Vujović , Mehmed Baždarević , Davor Jozić , Faruk Hadžibegić , Predrag Pašić , Blaž Slišković , Vahid Halilhodžić , Dušan Bajević , Ivica Osim , Josip Katalinski , Tomislav Knez , Velimir Sombolac and numerous others. The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team played at the 2014 FIFA World Cup , its first major tournament. Players on the team again includes notable players of all country's ethnic background, such as then and now captains Emir Spahić , Zvjezdan Misimović and Edin Džeko , defenders like Ognjen Vranješ , Sead Kolašinac and Toni Šunjić , midfielders like Miralem Pjanić and Senad Lulić , striker Vedad Ibišević , etc. Former Bosnian footballers include Hasan Salihamidžić , who became only the second Bosnian to ever win a UEFA Champions League trophy, after Elvir Baljić . He made 234 appearances and scored 31 goals for German club FC Bayern Munich . Sergej Barbarez , who played for several clubs in the German Bundesliga . including Borussia Dortmund , Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen was joint-top scorer in the 2000–01 Bundesliga season with 22 goals. Meho Kodro spent most of his career playing in Spain, most notably with Real Sociedad and FC Barcelona . Elvir Rahimić made 302 appearances for Russian club CSKA Moscow with whom he won the UEFA Cup in 2005 . Milena Nikolić , member of the women's national team , was the 2013–14 UEFA Women's Champions League top scorer . [253]

Bosnia and Herzegovina was the world champion of volleyball at the 2004 Summer Paralympics and volleyball at the 2012 Summer Paralympics . Many among those on the team lost their legs in the Bosnian War . Its national sitting volleyball team is one of the dominant forces in the sport worldwide, winning nine European Championships, three World Championships and two Paralympic gold medals.

Tennis is also gaining a lot of popularity after the recent successes of Damir Džumhur and Mirza Bašić at Grand Slam level. Other notable tennis players who have represented Bosnia and Herzegovina are Tomislav Brkić , Amer Delić and Mervana Jugić-Salkić .

• Outline of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• ↑ / ˈ b ɒ z n i ə   ...   ˌ h ɛər t s ə ɡ oʊ ˈ v iː n ə , - ˌ h ɜːr t s -, - ɡ ə -/ ⓘ BOZ -nee-ə ... HAIRT -sə-goh- VEE -nə, - ⁠ HURT -, - ⁠ gə- or /- ˌ h ɜːr t s ə ˈ ɡ ɒ v ɪ n ə / - ⁠ HURT -sə- GOV -in-ə . [11] [12]
• ↑ Pronounced [ bôsna i xěrtseɡoʋina ] .
• ↑ Abbreviated as BiH , Cyrillic : БиХ .

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The Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina , often referred to as Bosnian Croats or Herzegovinian Croats , are native and the third most populous ethnic group in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after Bosniaks and Serbs, and are one of the constitutive nations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina have made significant contributions to the culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most Croats declare themselves Catholics and speakers of the Croatian language.

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Ethnic cleansing occurred during the Bosnian War (1992–95) as large numbers of Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) and Bosnian Croats were forced to flee their homes or were expelled by the Army of Republika Srpska and Serb paramilitaries. Bosniaks and Bosnian Serbs had also been forced to flee or were expelled by Bosnian Croat forces, though on a restricted scale and in lesser numbers. The UN Security Council Final Report (1994) states while Bosniaks also engaged in "grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and other violations of international humanitarian law", they "have not engaged in "systematic ethnic cleansing"". According to the report, "there is no factual basis for arguing that there is a 'moral equivalence' between the warring factions".

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The Dayton Agreement ended the Bosnian War and created the federal republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which consists of the Bosniak and Croat-inhabited Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and the Serb-inhabited Republika Srpska (RS). Although the Bosnian Serbs were viewed as "anti-Dayton" during the first years after the war, since 2000 they have been staunch supporters of the Dayton Agreement and the preservation of RS. Bosniaks generally view RS as illegitimate, and an independence referendum from BiH has been proposed in RS. The 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum and Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence have raised the possibility of a referendum and unification with Serbia. In 2015, after a judicial and police crisis, the governing Alliance of Independent Social Democrats said that it would hold an independence referendum in 2018 if RS's autonomy was not preserved. Almost all people vote for pro-independence parties.

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• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Agencija za statistiku Bosne i Hercegovine / Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016). "Popis stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova u Bosni i Hercegovini, 2013: Rezultati Popisa / Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2013: Final Results" (PDF) (in Bosnian and English). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2021 . Retrieved 21 June 2021 .
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• ↑ Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (1993). De Administrando Imperio (Moravcsik, Gyula   ed.). Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies. pp.   153–55.
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• ↑ Malcolm 2002 , p.   8:The Serbs settled in an area corresponding to modern south-western Serbia (a territory which later in the middle ages became known as Raška or Rascia), and gradually extended their rule into the territories of Duklje or Dioclea (Montenegro) and Hum or Zachumlje (Herzegovina). The Croats settled in areas roughly corresponding to modern Croatia, and probably also including most of Bosnia proper, apart from the eastern strip of the Drina valley.
• 1 2 3 Basic 2009 , p.   123.
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• ↑ Buzov, Snježana (2004). "Ottoman Perceptions of Bosnia as Reflected in the Works of Ottoman Authors who Visited or Lived in Bosnia". In Koller, Markus; Karpat, Kemal H. (eds.). Ottoman Bosnia: A History in Peril . University of Wisconsin Press. pp.   83–92. ISBN   978-0-2992-0714-4 .
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The Bosnian wartime militia (Schutzkorps), which became known for its persecution of Serbs, was overwhelmingly Muslim.

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• 1 2 Geiger, Vladimir (2012). "Human Losses of the Croats in World War II and the Immediate Post-War Period Caused by the Chetniks (Yugoslav Army in the Fatherand) and the Partisans (People's Liberation Army and the Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia/Yugoslav Army) and the Communist Authorities: Numerical Indicators" . Review of Croatian History . VIII (1). Croatian Institute of History: 85–87. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015 . Retrieved 25 October 2015 .
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• Velikonja, Mitja (2003). Religious Separation and Political Intolerance in Bosnia–Herzegovina . Texas A&M University Press. ISBN   978-1-58544-226-3 . Archived from the original on 30 April 2016 . Retrieved 16 June 2015 .
• Zindel, Christian; Lippert, Andreas; Lahi, Bashkim; Kiel, Machiel (2018). Albanien: Ein Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. ISBN   9783205200109 .
• Živković, Tibor (2010b). "On the Beginnings of Bosnia in the Middle Ages" . Spomenica akademika Marka Šunjića (1927-1998) . Sarajevo: Filozofski fakultet. pp.   161–180.
• Allcock, John B., Marko Milivojevic, et al. Conflict in the Former Yugoslavia: An Encyclopedia (1998)
• Bataković, Dušan T. (1996). The Serbs of Bosnia & Herzegovina: History and Politics . Dialogue Association. ISBN   9782911527104 . Archived from the original on 24 December 2019 . Retrieved 24 September 2016 .
• Coupland, Nikolas (2010). The Handbook of Language and Globalization . Blackwell Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4051-7581-4 .
• Evans, Sir Arthur J. (2007). Through Bosnia and the Herzegovina on Foot During the Insurrection, August and September 1875 . Cosimo Classics. ISBN   978-1602062702 . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021 . Retrieved 28 September 2020 . (Also at Project Gutenberg )
• Hadziselimovic, Omer (2001). At the Gates of the East: British Travel Writers on Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Sixteenth to the Twentieth . Columbia University Press. ISBN   978-0880334709 . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021 . Retrieved 28 September 2020 .
• Hoare, Marko Attila (2007). The History of Bosnia: From the Middle Ages to the Present Day . Saqi Books. ISBN   978-0863569531 . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021 . Retrieved 28 September 2020 .
• Holbach, Maude M. (2016). Bosnia and Herzegovina, Some Wayside Wanderings . Palala Press. ISBN   978-1355062769 . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021 . Retrieved 28 September 2020 .
• Albertini, Luigi (1952). The Origins of the War of 1914: European relations from the Congress of Berlin to the eve of the Sarajevo murder . Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017 . Retrieved 25 March 2016 .
• Munro, Robert (2015) [1894]. Rambles and Studies in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Dalmatia . Palala Press. ISBN   978-1346798868 . Archived from the original on 14 April 2021 . Retrieved 28 September 2020 .
• Okey, Robin. Taming Balkan Nationalism: The Habsburg 'Civilizing' Mission in Bosnia, 1878–1914 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007)
• Phillips, Douglas A. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004).
• Bosnia and Herzegovina from UCB Libraries GovPubs (archived 3 July 2008)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina at Curlie

44°N 18°E  /  44°N 18°E  / 44; 18

• 1 Spans the conventional boundary between Europe and another continent.
• 2 Considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons but is geographically in Western Asia.
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• 4 Governed by the Holy See which has sovereignty over Vatican City.
• Current membership
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• 1 As the "Turkish Cypriot State".

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KONJIC Tourism

About konjic.

Konjic is located in the far north of the mountainous Herzegovina, in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina , in a valley on both sides of the Neretva River and around the mouth of its tributary Trešanica. Anyone traveling to Herzegovina from Bosnia must pass through Konjic, which has given the city a significant strategic advantage and position.

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HISTORY OF KONJIC

The early history of Konjic dates back 4,000 years, as evidenced by the remains of various settlements found in this area along the Neretva River. Konjic is first mentioned by the Dubrovnik Republic in 1382.

Archaeologist Karl Pač from the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina discovered a large archaeological site called “Konjički Mitrej” (the sanctuary of the god Mithras) on the Repovica Hill in Konjic in 1897. The foundations of a rectangular sanctuary covering 45 m² were found.

The town shared the fate of the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina and ended up under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, which left its mark in the form of Islamic architecture and the famous Old Bridge that spans the banks of the Neretva River.

During the Austro-Hungarian occupation, Konjic began to exhibit characteristics of European architecture that blended with the previously Ottoman spirit of the city.

During World War I, which began in Sarajevo with the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Konjic became part of Yugoslavia.

Throughout the Cold War, President Josip Broz Tito chose Konjic as the location for his military command center, known as Tito’s Bunker – today the largest tourist attraction in the city.

What To See And Do In KONJIC

The village of Lukomir is located within the municipality of Konjic and at an altitude of 1,495 m, making it the highest inhabited place in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the tombstones found in the village, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, it is believed that the village was inhabited hundreds of years ago. Many describe Lukomir as a living ethnographic museum where the customs of nomadic tribes are practiced, and people live in a very traditional manner.

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Built in 1682, the Old Bridge in Konjic is considered the point where Herzegovina meets Bosnia. Constructed of stone, with a total of six arches, it is one of the most beautiful bridges from the Ottoman period in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Joining it are, of course, the Mostar Old Bridge, the Arslanagić Bridge in Trebinje, and the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad. It has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tito’s Bunker

Officially named “Army War Command” (ARK D-o), Tito’s bunker was built between 1953 and 1979. It served as a nuclear shelter to protect the military command and 350 members of President Tito’s government in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

Excavated in the southern wing of Mount Bjelašnica, the bunker consists of extensive underground facilities designed to sustain its inhabitants for up to six months. The complex includes residential areas, meeting rooms, dormitories, communication facilities, and is powered.

The bunker was constructed in utmost secrecy, with a total investment of 4.6 billion US dollars, which today is equivalent to 26 billion US dollars.

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Outdoor Activities in KONJIC

Canyoning on the rakitnica river.

Stretching 26 kilometers, the Rakitnica Canyon separates the Bjelašnica and Visočica mountains, connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many adrenaline enthusiasts and canyoning fans agree that this canyon is one of the best choices for an exciting adventure. One of the deepest canyons in Europe, the Rakitnica Canyon is physically demanding and requires various technical skills. In addition to guaranteed adrenaline, the canyon is full of surprises and untouched nature, including waterfalls, rapids, and crystal-clear pools.

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Boračko Lake

Located about 20 kilometers from Konjic, Boračko Lake is one of the most beautiful natural lakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Boračko Lake is a mountain glacial lake situated at the foot of Mount Prenj, at an altitude of 397 meters.

On the west, it is surrounded by steep and wooded heights of Montenegro, while to the east lies Tranjine. The area around the lake is adorned with dense coniferous and deciduous forests.

Boračko Lake, with its beauty and clear turquoise color, rarely leaves anyone indifferent, attracting both locals and tourists from various continents.

It represents an ideal destination for families and relaxation in a natural setting, and also features a campsite where you can enjoy with a camper.

At the lake, there is the option to rent wooden bungalows and apartments.

WHAT AND WHERE TO EAT IN KONJIC

On the menus of restaurants in Konjic, you will find various specialties of local and international cuisine. Konjic takes pride in its gastronomic tradition, and it always delights its visitors with delicious food and excellent service. All kinds of meat, fish, homemade pies are popular, and you also have a very rich selection of quality wines available.

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WHERE TO STAY IN KONJIC

Konjic has many accommodation options that cater to everyone’s desires and needs. You have numerous hotels in Konjic, motels, as well as private accommodations and apartments available. Those who want to explore the surrounding nature and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere can find lodging in the nearby mountains or by the lake in the form of weekend houses, bungalows, and villas.

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