16 Best Things to Do in Sarajevo
(Ultimate Travel Guide)
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia & Herzegovina and a truly unique city. Its recent history blends with its vibrant mix of cultures, and you can still see the footsteps of the different empires that passed through this city. Here are the 16 things you must do while in Sarajevo!
I recently visited Sarajevo as part of a bigger Balkans trip and it was an incredible experience. We headed up from Dubrovnik via Mostar and then to Sarajevo.
Sarajevo was unlike any other city I’ve seen, where you could clearly tell the many different influences and how East met West right inside the city.
We also got to go on a tour with a survivor of the war through the tunnel of Hope, and it gave the history a whole new perspective and a glance into the reality of people living in Sarajevo at the time.
I also have to say that while I was there as part of a group, I often wandered around the city by myself and felt very safe. The same applies to Mostar, which I’d also really recommend to solo, female travellers.
If you’re currently planning your Sarajevo trip, I hope this guide helps you with all the must-do things while there. Or if you are unsure, I hope it sways you to visit this beautiful country and city.
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Planning your trip?
How to get to Sarajevo:
Sarajevo has an airport (SJJ) just 10km outside the city. There is a bus that connects the airport to the city centre for just 5KM (about 2.50€). The bus goes roughly every hour. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver or online via the CentroCard app.
Alternatively, you could reach Sarajevo by bus from e.g. Mostar or Kotor or Croatia. The main bus station is a short 30min tram from the city centre. There’s many local intercity bus lines as well as international buses like Flixbus.
Where to stay in Sarajevo?
Sarajevo is surrounded by mountains with the city centre in a sort of bowl in between. I’d hence avoid staying too far out of the city centre to avoid any uphill battles. A good guideline is anything within walking distance of the Baščaršija, the old Bazaar area.
Check out my full accommodation guide for Sarajevo here.
Best hostels and hotels in Sarajevo:
🛏️Hostel Rio – Old Town, free laundry and has a female dormitory room
🏬Hotel NOVA Inn – central but quiet location, lovely rooms
🏩 Hotel Swissôtel Sarajevo– luxury rooms, pool and Spa, central
Activities to check out:
Top things to do in Sarajevo
1. Join a tour to the Tunnel of Hope
I already mentioned this in the intro to this blog, but if you only do one thing in Sarajevo, let it be a tour of the tunnel of hope (or tunnel of salvation). If you can, book one where a survivor of the war leads the tour, as you will learn so much more and really hear about what it was like for normal people to live through the Siege of Sarajevo.
The Siege was a part of the Bosnian war and violent breakup of the former Yugoslavia, where the entire city of Sarajevo and the approximately 400,000 inhabitants at the time were cut off from food, medicine, water and electricity. They were also under constant fire from snipers and shelling.
The tunnel led to a town outside, where you could get supplies and food. It’s an incredible piece of history and a guide is crucial for giving that personal insight into life at the time and what it was like crossing through the tight and dark tunnel.
2. Go Souvenir shopping at the Bazaar
The old Bazaar in Sarajevo is now more of an entire area that makes up the historic centre of the city, called Bascarsija. It dates back to the 15th century and is Sarajevo’s oldest neighbourhood.
Here, you will find some incredible craftmanship from the famous Bosnian coffee pots (similar to Turkish ones) to spices, fine metalwork and tourist souvenirs. Every street is full of these incredible shops and I would highly recommend spending an afternoon just wandering around.
3. Wander around Old Town
While Bascarsija makes up most of Sarajevo’s Old Town, the full area is called Stari Grad. This is an incredible area to go out and explore.
Some of the highlights to check out:
- The Lunar Clock – the Old Clock Tower is said to be the last in the world to keep lunar time. It is manually calibrated every few days.
- Tašlihan Ruins – one of the largest caravanserai built during the Ottoman era (a resting place sort of like a hostel).
- The Latin Bridge – dates back to the 16th century, infamous as last moments before the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Morića Han – a traditional roadside inn, the only one remaining form the Ottoman Era
4. Try some of the amazing local food
Bosnia & Herzegovina has incredible food and Sarajevo serves the best of it in many restaurants. For example, I don’t love eggplant usually but the stuffed eggplant I had at Restoran Careva Ćuprija is one of the best dishes of my life!
Other things to try would be Klepe (Bosnian “ravioli”), Ćevapi, Burek and Bosanski Lonac.
By the way: The picture may not be the most appealing but I was always too distracted by the food to take a photo. A real restaurant spread looks and tastes incredible.
5. Visit the beautiful mosques of the city
You can spot the tower of Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque from almost every street in the Old Quarter. Gazi Husrev-bey was a governor of Sarajevo for 20 years who commissioned a ton of the buildings in the city. It is the largest historical mosque in Bosnia.
Other mosques to visit are Emperor’s mosque which is the oldest one of the country, Ali Pasha Mosque which was renovated after the Siege of Sarajevo and King Fahd Mosque which is a huge and modern mosque that was built post-war.
Tourists can visit mosques outside of prayer times. You should cover shoulders and knees, as well as hair for women.
6. Learn from the Museum of Crimes against Humanity
There is a museum of the same name in Mostar, both of which are the work of survivors/victims who hope to keep the memory alive so that it may never repeat again. Stepping into the museum is stepping into some of the most gruesome history of the Bosnian war.
It has a big area focussing on the genocide in Srebrenica, which is important to learn about. However, I would recommend preparing mentally for this and ideally not going alone.
7. Wake up with some Bosnian coffee
Bosnia & Herzegovina have incredible coffee, that looks similar to Turkish coffee but has its own unique ritual and technique. What you have to understand too is that coffee here is part of the lifestyle, it’s something enjoyed slowly in company, not on the go.
You can get the strong brew at almost every corner in Sarajevo. Some great cafes are Caffe Divan, Rahatlook, Miris dunja and Morica Han.
8. Marvel at the Ottoman architecture of Svrzo's house
One of the best examples of Bosnian upper-class architecture during the 18th & 19th century Ottoman period in Sarajevo. It’s exceptionally well preserved and features the wide layout and big courtyard that was common at the time.
It’s part of the Museum of Sarajevo and offers a quiet and calm way to learn more about the city’s history. Tickets are very affordable only, though many say they only take cash.
9. Cross the meeting of cultures point and explore the Austro-Hungarian Quarter
Sarajevo is sometimes called the “European Jerusalem” due to the many different cultures and religions here. The meeting of cultures point is where you transition from the Old Town which is mostly Ottoman architecture, to the newer part of Sarajevo built during the Austro-Hungarian rule (starting in 1878).
The Meeting Of Cultures sign indicates Sarajevo’s geographical location, as well as a symbolic nod to the diversity of people here.
10. Head up to the abandoned Olympic bobsled trak
If you head up Mount Trebević, you will not only find sweeping views over Sarajevo, but also a very colourful, long abandoned race track. This dates back to the bobsleigh and luge events of the 1984 Winter Olympics.
To get up, you could get the cable car from near Old Town (~10€ one-way), or visit as part of a tour. The race track is now also an unofficial hiking path, though I’d recommend it more for the way down.
The track was a symbol of unity as part of the Winter Olympics, yet a tactical site in the violent war shortly after.
11. Make the most of “the Jerusalem of Europe”
Sarajevo’s reference as “Jerusalem of Europe” isn’t as much of a marketing gimmick as you may think. There’s literature dating back to the 15th century where the Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain called the then very small town “Mali Jeruzalem” or Little Jerusalem.
So at that point, you had the Ottoman’s religion of Islam, the Jewish faith added from the Spanish refugees, and the Serbian Orthodox Christians which had been in the area for years. Lastly Roman Catholicism was added in the late 1800s when the Habsburgs invaded.
This means there are now the main buildings of 4 different faiths within 400m in Sarajevo. To see this, start at the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, then head to the Orthodox Cathedral, then the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral ad lastly the Ashkenazi Synagogue.
12. Visit the spot where WW1 started
On the 28 June 1914, the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated while driving through Sarajevo by a radical Serb-Bosnian nationalist, sparking the start of World War 1.
The site is now marked with foot steps where the assassin is said to have stood and a memorial plaque.
13. Take photos in front of City Hall
Sarajevo’s city hall is a beautiful building that the city says is dedicated to the multiculturalism of Bosnia. Built in the late 1800s, it showcases the city’s Muslim history before the takeover of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
It was hit multiple times during the war in the 1990s, but carefully restored after and added to the World Monuments Watch.
Across the river is a #sarajevo sign which lights up at night and makes for some beautiful photos.
14. Enjoy the views from the Yellow Fortress
Yellow Fortress sits above Sarajevo and with a tumultuous history as part of the original defence wall, it is now a spot for incredible vistas over the city and even better sunsets.
It’s about a 15-minute uphill walk from the city and well worth it!
15. Go on a daytrip to Mostar
Mostar is an incredibly picturesque town about 2 hours from Sarajevo and an absolute must-visit while in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s most famous for its Stari Most bridge that spans over the Neretva River and regularly has locals diving the 24m height in exchange for tips.
However, there are so many more things to see and do in the city (find my full guide on it here).
Getting to Mostar from Sarajevo is easy and there’s multiple ways, including the train, buses and by car or tour. Check out my full guide on how to get to Mostar here.
16. Explore more of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina has many more things to offer than Sarajevo and Mostar, such as Kravica Waterfall,Blagaj,Počitelj, Lukomir Village, Srebrenica and more.
You could either rent a car and head out yourself, or join a tour. Most tours will tick off a few of the highlights in a day, which is good for shorter trips but can feel a little rushed at times.
You may also be interested in:
Is Sarajevo safe?
I personally felt very safe in Sarajevo, the locals were friendly and even when walking alone as a woman I didn’t get any weird interactions or scary moments.
I’d just say to be respectful when entering religious buildings and being aware of the recent history within the country, in order to avoid offending anyone.
How many days should you stay in Sarajevo?
I would recommend at least 2 days to see the city and explore it’s amazing shops, delicious food and the main sights. One of those days should include a tour of the Hope Tunnel that is usually run by survivor of the war.
An additional 1-2 days allow you some extra time to explore and a daytrip. I’d highly recommend visiting Mostar or some of the incredible water falls that Bosnia & Herzegovina has to offer.
So an ideal trip would be between 3-4 days, though any additional days are a bonus for more exploring!
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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