The attractions in Sarajevo are mostly concentrated in the city center, around the Old Town, Baščaršija quarter as shown in the map below. The exception is the Sarajevo Tunnel, 14 km from the city center. There are attractions located a few kilometers such as the Bosna River, Skakavac, Trebevič – as shown on Sarajevo in 2 Days. But as we list what to do in Sarajevo in 1 day, we keep the attention in the city center.
Free Sarajevo Walking Tour
A 2 hours tour covering the main sights of Sarajevo and its 500 years of history along with Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Yugoslavia eras until the present time. For dates and confirm your presence, see the contact details on the website www.sarajevowalkingtours.com. They also organize other paid tours.
Baščaršija
Baščaršija is the heart of Sarajevo, built in the 15th century by the Ottomans. Around this quarter, you find stores, cafes, restaurants. Old buildings still remain and give to the city an Eastern touch. At Baščaršija, you find the famous fountain Sebilij, a landmark of Sarajevo. Take the chance to have a Bosnian coffee – Turkish coffee exactly – and smoke shisha at the cafes around.
Latin Bridge
Famous for being the place where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, an episode known as the trigger to World War I. Latin Bridge connects the Old Town to the neighborhood Skenderija.
Svrzo’s House
Svrzo’s House is an Ottoman house from the 1700s, that gives a clear picture of how a Muslim family used to live in Sarajevo during the Ottoman times. For more details about museums, go to Museums in Sarajevo.
Jerusalem of Balkans
Since the Roman Empire split, Sarajevo has been the border between the West and the East, the Christians and Ottoman Muslims, the Catholics, and Orthodox Christians. Known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans, Sarajevo is interesting for host along centuries Islamism, Christianism, and Judaism despite the history of conflicts.
Mosques in Sarajevo
The Islamic religion is one of the main marks of the Ottoman influence in Sarajevo and 3 mosques are located in the city center. Gazi Husrev is the most important Islamic building in Bosnia, dating from 1530. Ali Pasha Mosque was built in the 16th century and Emperor Mosque from 1457 to 1565. Important to observe the Islamism practiced in Sarajevo is tolerant. Marriages between Muslims and Christians are quite common, for example.
Church of Nativity of the Theotokos
The largest Orthodox church in Sarajevo was built in 1863. An interesting fact: this church was the first building to break the monopoly of Muslim edifices in the city. Its construction involved contributions from Prince Mihailo, the Ottoman sultan Abdulaziz and the Russian Czar Alexander II.
Ashkenazi Synagogue
Ashkenazi synagogue was built in 1902 when the Jewish community in Sarajevo grew up after the Austro-Hungarian occupation. Despite wars involving religion, local Jews are well incorporated in Bosnian society, including good relations with Muslims. I didn’t notice any sign of anti-Semitism.
Yellow Fortress
Yellow Fortress, locally referred to as Žuta Tabija, is the place to have one of the best views of the whole Sarajevo after a walk around the city center, reasonable for a one-day schedule.
Sarajevo Tunnel
If you have time or if it’s your priority, visit the Sarajevo Tunnel. Today it’s a military museum about the Bosnian War of 1992-1995, open from Monday to Friday, 9:00h – 18:00h. The tunnel used to work as an underground to escape the Serbian siege during the war. For more details about museums in the city, check the post Museums in Sarajevo.
Originally posted 2018-01-03 23:40:15.
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