Introduction: Sarajevo Travel Guide
In August 2021, we made a 4-week Road trip from France to Serbia through the Balkan. From Croatia, we went up to Serbia and stopped in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After Trebinje and Mostar, our last stop was Sarajevo.
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is home to around 276 000 inhabitants. Though its metropolitan area regroups 555 000 people and is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps.
Sarajevo has a long history religious and cultural diversity, Sarajevo is sometimes called the “Jerusalem of Europe” or “Jerusalem of the Balkans” and is one of the only major European cities to have a mosque, Catholic church, Orthodox church, and synagogue within the same neighbourhood.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
There are many ways to reach the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
– By car: you can find good accommodation with free parking and if like us you only stay for the day, the “Parking Garaža sa naplatom Stari grad” near the city hall is a great option.
– By plane: You can directly fly to Sarajevo’s Airport. From there you can take a taxi (20-30min) or a bus (40min) to the city center.
Moving Around
On a day trip to Sarajevo everything can be done walking around. The historical center is actually quite small. And only a couple of things are a bit outskirt of it.
When to Visit
Like the Balkans, the best time to visit Sarajevo is from April to October. Though it is good to know that July and August are the warmest month. It gets quite hot!
The best recommendation would be June or September when you get into the lower tourism season and out of the peak temperatures.
Where to Stay
What to Eat
Actually, the most famous things to do in Sarajevo is to eat Cevapi. Tina’s brother is mostly going from Serbia to Sarajevo to eat them. They are just the best. Grilled minced beef is fashioned into elongated meatballs, like small sausages, and a portion consists of several, served in a pitta or flatbread with onions and sauce.
Though no plant-based option there 😊
You can also enjoy all type of Baklava and Arabic sweets.
Things to do Sarajevo
Sarajevo City Hall
Right outside the parking lot is this stunning piece of architecture. Dating back from the Austria-Hungary’s ear of imperial rule (1878–1918). Today the building can be visited or simply enjoyed from outside.
Inat kuća
Located right next to the city hall. It was originally located where the city wall was. And after long negotiation with the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, it was decided to move the house on the other side of the river brick by brick.
Sebilj
The Sebiji is a water dispenser, it is an iconic landmark in the main square at the entrance of the historical center. The small domed pavilion of wood and stone was built in 1753 and is the last one remaining from the Ottoman rules.
Baščaršija
Sarajevo’s old town and historical center. That’s where you will be hanging around and getting most of the history. Erected in the 15th century, it is mostly constituted of a bazaar where you can find lots of Muslim items and foods, as well as lots of antiques.
Cathedral Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos
The largest Serbian Orthodox church in Sarajevo and one of the largest in the Balkans. It has a beautiful decoration inside.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
While strolling around the area, you can stop at the largest mosque in the country. Built in 1532, it is a nice example Ottoman architecture. As all mosque, its inner courtyard is beautiful and the main entrance is decorated with intricate Islamic.
Gallery 11/07/95
Those can be only a point of the map to visit around or a full visit. As it stands as the memorial art gallery, a public institution dedicated to preserving the memory of the Srebrenica genocide
Vječna vatra
Also known as the Eternal flame, a memorial to the military and civilian victims of the Second World War. It marks the end of the city center.
Museum of the Jews of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Within the Museum is located the oldest synagogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was opened in 1966, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Jewish arrival to Sarajevo
Gazi Husrev-beg's Library
This public library was founded in 1537 and is part of a larger complex with Gazi Husrev-beg Medresa. It holds one of the most important collections of Islamic manuscripts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, including many originally donated by Gazi Husrev-beg.
Emperor's Mosque
Located on the other side of the river, it is the first mosque to be built after the Ottoman conquest of Bosnia. It is the largest single-subdome mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in the classical Ottoman style of the era.
Yellow Bastion
A bit further from the historical city center is the Yellow Fortress or Yellow Bastion, a cannon fortress at the entrance of the “Walled City of Vratnik” built between 1727 and 1739. It cannot be visited at the time we were there, but it offers beautiful views of the city.
Other things to do to in Sarajevo
Sarajevo Viewpoint
Another great viewpoint of Sarajevo. It can be accessed using the funicular. We tried going there by car and couldn’t find a way around.
Sarajevo Abandoned Bobsled Track
Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track were built for the 1984 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, now there are not in used anymore and what remans of it can be visited as they are located next to the Sarajevo Viewpoint
Sarajevo Tunnel
Used during the civil war by the Bosniak, it was from there that food, aid, resources, weapons and often people were coming into and out of the besieged city.
Itinerary
If like us, you are on a 1-day trip in the city. You can simply start from the City hall and then stroll down and the way in the historical city center. And the end, go up to the yellow bastion for a nice view before leaving.
Iver ne pada daleko od klade. Ивер не пада далеко од кладе.
(A splinter doesn’t land far from the trunk.
English equivalent: An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.)
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