Sarajevo travel guide

About Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its administrative limits. The Sarajevo Canton, containing the city of Sarajevo and nearby municipalities, is home to 413,593 inhabitants. Located within the greater Sarajevo valley of Bosnia, it is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans, a region of Southeastern Europe.

Places to visit in Sarajevo

1. 

   Bascarsija

   Historic

   Sarajevo's old Ottoman bazaar quarter, with cobbled lanes of copper workshops, cafes serving Bosnian coffee, cevapi grills and sweet shops, and the wooden Sebilj fountain at its heart.

2. 

   Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

   Religious

   The most important Ottoman mosque in Bosnia, with an elegant courtyard, an ablution fountain and a richly decorated interior, located in the heart of the old town and open to visitors.

3. 

   Latin Bridge

   Historic

   An Ottoman stone bridge over the Miljacka River close to the spot where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, an event that triggered World War I, with a small museum on the corner.

4. 

   Sarajevo City Hall

   Landmark

   A colorful pseudo-Moorish building that once held the national library, carefully rebuilt after wartime destruction and now open for visits, with exhibitions and an ornate central hall.

5. 

   Sarajevo Tunnel Museum

   Museum · 5 mi from centre

   Near the airport, this museum preserves a section of the tunnel that served as a lifeline into the besieged city during the 1990s war, with exhibits and a short walk-through segment.

6. Yellow Fortress

   Viewpoint

   An old fortification on the hillside above the old town, popular at sunset for its sweeping views over Sarajevo's rooftops and minarets, and it has a small cafe on site.

7. 

   Trebevic

   Nature · 3 mi from centre

   A mountain rising above the city, reached by cable car, with forest trails, broad views over Sarajevo and the graffiti-covered remains of the Olympic bobsled track.

8. 

   Vrelo Bosne

   Nature · 8 mi from centre

   A park at the source of the Bosna River on the city's western outskirts, with clear streams, wooden bridges and a long tree-lined avenue that can be covered by horse-drawn carriage.

Best time to visit Sarajevo

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Sarajevo is June to September, when average daytime highs are around 73–84°F and rain falls on about 10 days a month.

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Sarajevo weather forecast

• Wed 21 Oct 68° 53° 30%
• Thu 22 Oct 67° 49° 48%
• Fri 23 Oct 57° 39° 42%
• Sat 24 Oct 61° 42° 16%
• Sun 25 Oct 63° 42° 22%
• Mon 26 Oct 52° 48° 31%

Know before you go

Currency

Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM)1 US dollar ≈ KM1.74

Languages

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Calling code

+387

Driving

On the right

Time zone

Europe/SarajevoUTC+2

Upcoming public holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Fri 1 JanNew Year's DayNova Godina
• Sat 2 JanNew Year's DayNova Godina
• Sat 1 MayMay Day / International Workers' DayPraznik rada
• Sun 2 MayMay Day / International Workers' DayPraznik rada

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Sarajevo

These are the airports closest to central Sarajevo. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

• SJJ Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)4 mi (7 km) from the city centre

Getting around Sarajevo

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.

On foot

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 tram

Sarajevo’s tram network, operated by KJKP GRAS.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link], is one of the oldest in Europe and forms the backbone of public transport in the city. The main line runs from in the west to the city center and the railway and bus stations, following the main boulevard and passing through and Marijin Dvor. Trams 1 and 4 serve the central loop route, while Tram 3 continues the full length of the line to Ilidža.

By bus

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.

Sarajevo travel FAQ