Sarajevo today is totally different from any image regarded to wars despite marks of shooting are still visible in buildings around the city, as symbols of the sad episodes during the 1990s.
Due to past conflicts, Bosnia and its neighboring countries remain to be misunderstood. How safe is Sarajevo? In my experience, it’s one of the safest European cities I have visited. There may be pickpockets, but nothing that common sense can’t solve. Another reason to visit: Sarajevo is cheap! The costs tend to be 2 or 3 times cheaper than destinations such as Istanbul, Milan, Barcelona.
Another important thing to remember that the Islam practiced in Bosnia is far from being intolerant. Local Muslims marry Christians, drink rakija and that’s totally fine. For gay travelers, be discrete in Sarajevo as anywhere in the Balkans as locals tend to dislike homosexuality.
What to do in Sarajevo
Walk around Old Town and the tower Sebilj, eat a cevapi, try the Bosnian coffee (better than Turkish coffee) are the main things to do in Sarajevo. Another tip is the view from Sarajevo from the Yellow Fortress. For complete information about Sarajevo, I recommend the website Destination Sarajevo, focused on the touristic promotion of the city. And, of course, the following articles:
When to go to Sarajevo?
When to visit Sarajevo? Depends on what kind of weather you enjoy! On autumns (August to November) is very foggy. On winters (November to February), the temperatures go to around -10ºC. On summers (July to August), temperatures go from +25ºC to +38ºC. On springs (March to June), temperatures around +25ºC, not cold and not snowing.
What to eat in Sarajevo?
While walking around Sarajevo, take the chance to eat at a pekara, a mix of fast food and bakery common in the Balkans. Try the burek and the cevapi, two popular dishes in Bosnia. Nowhere else I’ve eaten bureks and cevapis as tasty as the ones during my Bosnian trip.
How to arrive in Sarajevo?
*The intercity buses in Sarajevo usually charge a 1 euro fee for every piece of luggage! Have some cash for the payment!
You can get to Sarajevo from the main cities of neighboring countries, buses are the most practical transportation. By train, check the local train stations if there are lines to Sarajevo, some lines aren’t any longer running.
Sarajevo to Mostar: about 3h- 3h30min by bus and 2h-2h30min by train.
Sarajevo to Belgrade: about 8 hours by bus. Buses from the bus station in Belgrade stop in East Sarajevo, 9 km from the city center, accessible by trolleybus. There are transportations from Belgrade directly to Sarajevo center, too. Train no longer runs.
Sarajevo to Zagreb: about 8 hours by bus
Sarajevo to Split: about 7-8h by bus
Sarajevo to Dubrovnik: about 6 hours by bus
Sarajevo to Podgorica: about 7 hours by bus
Sarajevo to Viena: about 13h by bus
Sarajevo to Budapest: about 7 hours by bus
Sarajevo to Istanbul: a direct flight takes about 2 hours. By bus, about 23 hours. By train, you can take either from Belgrade (22h) or from Sofia (12h).
Originally posted 2018-01-24 14:16:06.
