6 Strong Reasons to Visit Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina

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These days the Balkans seem to be ever-growing in popularity and yet many don’t feel the urge to visit Sarajevo. Sure, the capital of Bosnia Herzegovina isn’t off-the-beaten path or anything, but it doesn’t seem to have the same allure as other Balkan capitals. Even its fellow city of Mostar seems to be more popular, thanks to the droves of day-trippers from Croatia.

Sarajevo was my first real taste of this part of Europe and ever since, the Balkans have drawn me back repeatedly. As such, it’s often the place to which I compare other Balkan destinations. It may not be by favourite city in the entire region or maybe even Bosnia Herzegovina, but I remember it fondly nonetheless. Hopefully the following reasons will help you realise that it certainly is worth visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina.

The Capital of Bosnia Herzegovina

Let’s start with a pretty simple reason to visit Sarajevo – it’s the largest city and capital of Bosnia Herzegovina. Together that makes it the perfect first step into exploring Bosnia Herzegovina for visitors. Whereas venturing out into the nation’s countryside comes with its own set of challenges, Sarajevo is easily accessed and straightforward to navigate.

Sarajevo presents you with an easy entry point into the country’s culture, history and way of life. By visiting, you’ll sooner be ready to head off and delve further into what makes Bosnia Herzegovina a fascinating country. Much like Mostar, you can start somewhere where tourism is commonplace and then move onto slightly more obscure destinations like Jajce and Trebinje.

The City’s Significant History

To say that Sarajevo has a complex past is a colossal understatement. While the area has history dating back before the Romans, Sarajevo as a city owes its existence to the Ottomans of the 15th century. Since then, the city has been through quite a lot. It’s no surprise that most of the things to do in Sarajevo relate to this history.

Most immediately is the city’s archaic Old Town, which along with the riverfront, is where most of Sarajevo’s sights are found. Centred on the Old Bazaar known as Baščaršija, the whole area feels trapped in the time of the Ottomans and makes for a wonderful spot for sightseeing. Other important landmarks include the Emperor’s Mosque and the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque from the 15th and 16th centuries respectively.

Jumping ahead in history, one spot most western visitors make sure to see is the bridge where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place. It was in Sarajevo in 1914 where the Austrian royal was killed by anarchists, setting off the chain of events that led to World War I.

Lastly, there’s also the tragic history surrounding the Balkan War of the 1990s. In the city, you can still find buildings that bear the scars of bullet holes from this dark period. However, the starkest reminder of the the Balkan War in Sarajevo is the Sehidsko Cemetery. Both beautiful and full of dismay, this Muslim cemetery is for those that were killed during the conflict. It’s particularly chilling to see so many people, often young people, killed in such a short span of time.

Unbelievable Views

Now for something more upbeat. Some cities are known for their epic views and over-stimulating cityscapes. And I think Sarajevo should be one of them. Both evenings of my visit, I deliberately walked up through the Sehidsko Cemetery to the top of its hill. While the Yellow Bastion here presents the ultimate view, even just from the top of the cemetery offers a wonderful view.

Even without the magical colours of the sky, the city view includes plenty of detail to catch your eyes. From the close-by Old Town to the distant modern skyscrapers, Sarajevo’s different elements are at their most obvious from above. You also get to look out to neighbourhoods of Sarajevo that you might not otherwise visit.

Culturally Complex

Bosnia Herzegovina is often known as one of Europe’s few Muslim countries but things are much more complex. No surprise then that this religious complexity is best seen with Sarajevo. Throughout the city you can find houses of prayer to multiple religions, often within the same neighbourhood. A mosque by a catholic church, a short walk from a synagogue and an orthodox church, you get the idea.

This meeting point of beliefs naturally stems from the city’s history of ever-changing influence. In fact this jumble of faiths has led to Sarajevo earning the nickname of the “Jerusalem of the Balkans“. This level of coexistence can be heartening for those that aren’t used to such integrated societies.

Balkan Food

Now, if food is a big motivator for your travels then Sarajevo has got you covered. That’s because you have all of the delicious flavours of this Balkan cuisine right at your fingertips. Go almost anywhere in the Baščaršija and you’ll find places to enjoy Bosnian dishes. Sure, there are similarities in the food from other Balkan countries, but each has their own subtleties. It’s all delicious regardless anyway right?

If you’re looking for somewhere to start your culinary journey, then cevapi and pljeskavica are both personal favourites. Served in slightly different forms, they’re both minced meat, grilled and served onion, spicy ajvar sauce and pita bread or chips. There are also plenty of familiar kebab places and the stuffed flaky pastry known as burek is also everywhere. Oh and it’s all pleasantly affordable, like a lot of things in Bosnia Herzegovina.

As for an actual restaurant recommendation, I quite liked Nanina Kuhinja right in the centre. Given it’s location, you’d think it would be touristy and overpriced, but felt fairly reserved in that regard.

Surprising Architecture

People often have a fairly grim mental image of Sarajevo in mind before they go. I know I did at least. But while, yes there are some brutalist soviet-era buildings, Sarajevo has quite a mix of architectures, among which are some shining gems. For starters there’s the Ottoman style found throughout much of the Old Town, in direct contrast to the cold concrete found in places like the Railway Station.

Then there’s the modern elements of the city, like the Avaz Twist Tower and the Sarajevo City Centre buildings. My favourite though are the eclectic remainders from Sarajevo’s days as part of Austro-Hungary. There’s the exquisitely grand, riverfront Academy of Fine Arts Sarajevo seen above and the surprising neo-Moorish National Museum as well. This diversity reflects Sarajevo’s past and present perfectly, which is exactly what a city’s look should do.

Visiting Sarajevo

With all that, I hope you can see why Sarajevo is such a fascinating place to visit. If you are planning on travelling through the Balkans it really is worth keeping this city in mind, because I don’t think you’ll regret it.

When visiting Sarajevo, you shouldn’t have trouble finding accommodation, with a good range of hotels and guesthouses to stay in. Ideally, chose somewhere close to the Old Town as that is where you’ll want to start sightseeing most likely.

When it comes to sightseeing in Sarajevo, you can either explore independently or take advantage of the many different historical, cultural and culinary tours that reveal the city’s depths.

As for getting there, the city is moderately well connected with the rest of the country by bus and the occasional train. You can find public transport timetables and prices here on Balkanviator.

If you’ve been, why do you think people should consider visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina? What things to do in Sarajevo most appeal to you? Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments below.

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