A Full Guide to the Best Things to do in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
We did not think we could love a country more, so we visited Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) ‘s capital, in 1992. There’s no surprise there are so many beautiful things to do in Sarajevo, and the city oozes positive energy with its busy streets and corners. The area of Sarajevo has been inhabited since prehistory and was founded by the Ottomans in the 15th century.
Often referred to as a melting pot of cultures where East meets West, visiting Sarajevo is an experience everyone must have at some point in their lives. The diversity of cultures and religions can be seen and felt as you walk around. The friendly Sarajevan people, its bustling centre and its Winter Olympic past make up the city’s beauty. The city has four districts: Stari Grad, Centar, Novo Sarajevo and Nori Grad.
Of course, it is also essential to acknowledge the siege of Sarajevo (the longest in modern history) and the recent Bosnian war that still haunts the city. However, we are firm believers that learning about the past and seeing it for ourselves and how the city and its museums enable its visitors to start understanding the horrors of a recent war is extremely important.
This is the only city we have been to where we and others were so engrossed and attentive in the harrowing museums, and we recommend that anyone spend some time in Sarajevo reflect and take it all in. It was also the stage of the Sarajevo assassination and the following events of WWI. Therefore, there are a lot of great things to do in Sarajevo!
14 Best Things to do in Sarajevo
Go on a Walking Tour or Create a DIY Walking Tour!
Sarajevo is a small and compact city, and walking tours are an excellent method to understand a city and get local suggestions. In addition, it is one of the best things to do in Sarajevo to understand the history and personal account of incidents that this city has endured. Most of these tours are free, but you are expected to tip at the end (pay what you can).
You can check the different tours that are available: on Neno & friends FREE Sarajevo’s website.
If you are not interested in a walking tour but want to see some of the main sights, we recommend:
- Bascarsija Bazaar – a vibrant marketplace with cobbled alleys, shops and cafes.
- Sebiji – a famous fountain with hundreds of pigeons surrounding it., where you should drink from the fountain!
- “Sarajevo – the meeting of cultures “- a symbolic point where East meets West with a sign on the floor that marks the spot!
- Kovači Memorial Cemetery
Discover the Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
One of the oldest scientific and cultural institutions is found in the centre of the city, the Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was established in 1888. Several events in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina have influenced the museum’s establishment.
Since the beginning of its existence in the early years, the National Museum has developed as an intricate scientific and cultural institution that has cultivated a variety of scholarly and scientific disciplines. For example, geography, historical archaeology, and ethnology.
Good to know: the museum is closed on Mondays and has shorter weekend opening times.
Ride the Cable Car
The Trebevic cable car, or funicular as Sarajevans of the past referred to it, was in operation as of May 3 1959. It was among the most famous images of BiH’s capital city but, unfortunately, was destroyed in the war in 1992, and Mt Trebevic became the frontline.
Today, one of the best things to do in Sarajevo is to ride in one of the new 33 Gondolas that opened in 2018. It takes roughly 8-minutes to reach the top, and you can buy one-way or return tickets.
At the top, you can see incredible views over the city, or go on a walk at the top (we recommend the Bobsled Track)!
Good to know: there’s a live webcam stream on the website, which you can use to check the weather before you go. We went up in a fog, and then the weather was much better on the way down, which means that if we had waited about an hour to go up, we would have had a better experience.
Wander the 1984 Winter Olympics Toboggan Track
There is something creepy and exciting about the Sarajevo Bobsled track/bob stanza, which is hidden in nature on top of Mount Trebevic. In 1984, just a decade before the start of the Bosnian civil war, the Sarajevo Siege, Bosnia’s capital city, Sarajevo, played host to the Winter Olympics.
The country was open for the international community to celebrate sports and won their first gold medal in the Yugoslavian team. In the Sarajevo Battle (between 1992 and 1996), the Bobsled (or the bobsleigh) and the luge track were utilized by Bosnian Serbs as artillery bases.
Today it has been targeted with graffiti by artists and is definitely worth a trip as one of the best things to do in Sarajevo. You can visit by hiking up from the city centre. However, we got the cable car up (to kill two birds with one stone), and then it was only 10-minutes downhill on foot, and there are signs to help direct you.
You can walk the entire track and reach the city or back up and catch the cable car down again.
Stand where WW1 Began on the Latin Bridge
The Latin Bridge is one of the oldest bridges remaining in the city and is an excellent example of a well-preserved Ottoman Bridge.
Near the end of Latin Bridge is one of the most notable locations in Sarajevo. The part of Latin Bridge is where Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were shot dead in 1914. This event led directly to the outbreak of the First World War.
BiH was part of Yugoslavia at the time, and the bridge was named Princip Bridge in honour of Gavrilo Princip, who killed the Archduke. This was because Princip was considered to be a hero. However, the bridge was restored to its original name following the fall of Yugoslavia.
Since the bridge can be crowded, there is a plaque to mark precisely where the assassination occurred. The layout of the streets surrounding the bridge has been the same since 1914. One of the best things to do in Sarajevo is to stand at the point and envision the exact location that was the subject of one of the world’s major historical events, as the likely foot position of the Princip has also been incorporated into the earth in this area.
We would only spend a little bit here – but it is worth a quick stop.
War Childhood Museum
This moving museum got its beginnings in a book written by Jasminko Halilovic. Halilovic asked a question to those who survived Sarajevo’s siege. What did war-related childhood mean to you? Of the hundreds of answers received, only 50 short written accounts are included in this book, each illustrated with personal belongings that the author donated, like drawings, diaries and toys.
Begin to understand at the Galerija 11/07/95
One of the best things to do in Sarajevo is visit the Galerija 11/07/95. The gallery features stirring photographs, video footage, and audio testimonials of survivors and family members to make a compelling memorial to the 8372 people who died in the Srebrenica massacre.
It will likely take an hour to take in all the horrors from the photographs. It amazed us how pictures can have such a significant impact on an audience. You can also get an audio guide to learn more as you go. Make sure to leave this one close to closing time – you want to take your time.
Catch a sunset at the Yellow Fortress
Only a 15-minute walk from Bascarsija is the Yellow Fortress. It offers a fantastic panorama of the red-roofed city and Old Town and is popular with picnickers and sunset lovers due to the fabulous view of the city. There is a cafe here, and sometimes people play music, and watching the sunset here is one of the best things to do in Sarajevo.
Also, keeping with the tradition of the area, the end of the Ramadan fast is officially signalled by a cannon shot from this spot.
Admire City Hall
One of the best things to do in Sarajevo is to admire the remarkable neo-Moorish stripe façade creates an angular Vijecnica, Sarajevo’s most impressive construction from the Austro-Hungarian time. The structure was poorly damaged during the conflict of the 1990s. It was restored in 2014 after an extensive and lengthy reconstruction.
Tickets also allow you to go to the magnificent Sarajevo 1914-2014 exhibition in the basement, which offers an impressively constructed potted historical background of Sarajevo’s various 20th-century eras as well as a glimpse into the musical and fashion subcultures and also reveals information about the life of love for Franz Ferdinand.
Visit Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque
Gazi Husrev’s Mosque, or Bey’s Mosque as it is called locally, was constructed in the middle of Bascarsija in 1530. Today’s mosque is regarded as the most significant architectural landmark during the Ottoman dominance of Bosnia and Herzegovina and visiting is one of the best things to do in Sarajevo.
As you walk through the Old Town of Sarajevo, It’s almost impossible not to see this stunning mosque, which towers above the one-story surrounding structures. The history of the mosque is as fascinating as the architecture is stunning. In 1898 it became the first mosque to be equipped with electricity.
Today, the mosque is the principal mosque of congregational worship within the Islamic Community, and tourists and visitors are also welcome. It’s located in the heart of Sarajevo’s city. Sarajevo and is accessible via walking and bus stops nearby.
Good to know: make sure you dress accordingly and cover your head at the ticket counter upon request.
Walk the Tunnel of Hope
During the siege of 1992-95, when Bosnian Serb forces besieged Sarajevo, the only way to connect to the rest of the world was an 800-meter-long 1m wide, 1.6m-high tunnel that ran between two houses located on both sides of the runway at the airport.
The 25-metre section marks the beginning of a trip to the house pounded by shells which was the entrance to the West of the tunnel. The history of the siege and tunnel construction is told through videos, information boards and audio guides that are accessible through wireless internet that is free.
Even though the airport was supposed to be neutral during the war, crossing it would have been suicide. It was, therefore, necessary to construct the tunnel. It was later equipped with rails that could transport weapons and food. It was sufficient to keep Sarajevo well-stocked during the almost four years of war.
When you visit, you can learn about the impressive tunnel, watch a film that explains it and even walk through a section. Therefore, the Tunnel of Hope is one of the unique things to do in Sarajevo.
Have a Beer at the Sarajevo Brewery
The brewery suffered hard times in 1914 following the Sarajevo Assassination. Nevertheless, it increased its production over the coming years, and even until 1991, it was one of the most renowned breweries of the former Yugoslavia.
The final war was another tragic episode in the history of Pivara. Because it was situated near an area of clean water available to people living in the besieged Sarajevo, The brewery was struck by several hundred grenades. As a result, several Sarajevans were injured or killed when waiting in line for water. However, the brewery continued to produce even during the most challenging times.
After the conflict, Sarajevska Pivara was renovated and BiH’s largest beer producer again. However, the facility today is much more than a brewing facility. You can visit the Sarajevo Brewery Museum, which has things on display that tell fascinating stories about the past of beer-brewing and life in Sarajevo throughout the entire period.
If you don’t want to visit the museum, you can head into the restaurant and bar area and try their different beers. Although they do not have a tasting option (we did ask), it is still one of the best things to do in Sarajevo.
Celebrate at the Sarajevo Film Festival
Towards the end of the siege of Sarajevo, the Obala Art Centre initiated the Sarajevo Film Festival to help rebuild civil society while preserving the cosmopolitan vibe of Sarajevo.
Two decades later, the Sarajevo Film Festival is the top film festival in the region, acclaimed by film professionals and the larger public. It attracts over 100,000 people, confirming its position as the most prestigious regional film festival.
You can enjoy the energy and creativity of our Festival and join us in our love for film in the fantastic setting of Sarajevo. We last visited when the Festival was on, it was exciting, and is one of the best things to do in Sarajevo.
Sip Bosnian Coffee
When you’re in Sarajevo, you must try Bosnian Coffee as it is one of the best things to do in Sarajevo. We recommend somewhere in Bascarsija. The coffee is bitter, thick and robust.
A Bosnian cup of coffee can be served with a dzezva on a round iron tray filled with an empty ceramic mug, an ice-cold glass of a dish with sugar cubes, and a Rahat loku (Turkish delight).
If you’re anything like us, you may need step by step instructions:
- Drink a glass of water
- Pour a layer of foam at the bottom
- Pour the dzezva before adding foam into the coffee cup
- Do not pour sugar; put the cubes on your tray and place them under your tongue.
- Drink, take your time and enjoy!
We hope you found this guide to Sarajevo, the social and political heart of BiH, useful. There are many incredible things to do in Sarajevo, a small city with so much to offer. Every time you walk the streets, you see a mix of East meets West. It is unlike other European cities, and we are sure you’ll agree.
If you’re in Bosnia, you should also visit and read our guide to: Best Things to do in Banja Luka
Photo Credits: averagelives.com