Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its largest city. Sarajevo is very tourist friendly, especially pedestrian area in the Old Town in the centre of the city. Sarajevo is a cosmopolitan European capital with a unique Eastern twist that is a delight to explore. The people are very friendly, be they Bosniaks, Croats, Serbs or anyone else.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Sarajevo has 420,000 citizens in its urban area (2013). Sarajevo metropolitan area has a population of 555,000 and includes some neighbourhoods of "East Sarajevo" that are a part of Republika Srpska. The city is commonly nicknamed "Jerusalem of Europe" or "Jerusalem of the Balkans" due to its long history of religious and cultural diversity, where mosques, synagogues, Catholic, and Orthodox churches have lived together for centuries. Sarajevo is one of the most historically interesting and diverse cities in this part of Europe.
Sarajevo is a medium-sized, beautiful city with many landmarks. Getting lost is always possible, but much less so if you have a map; however, getting lost in Bascarsija's winding streets can be part of the fun, and may reveal some interesting surprises. Very good free maps can be obtained from the tourist information office, shopping centres and hotels. Some bookshops may also sell printed maps of the city. Map apps on a smartphone are particularly useful. Asking Sarajevans for directions is an exercise in futility. People might not know the names of streets a block from the building they've lived in all their lives.
With the exception of the Tunnel Museum and the Bosna spring, all landmarks are in or within walking distance of Old Town. Several walking tours are available, a free/tip based walking tour starts every day at 10:30 at the crossing of Gazi Husrev begova street and Mula Mustafa Baseskija street (address: Velika Avlija 14) and covers most of the Baščaršija (takes two hours). The municipality of Sarajevo provides an app called "Guide2Sarajevo" (Android, ios).
Cable car (From Franjevačka south of the river, a short walk over the river from the City Hall.). M–Tu 10:00–20:00; W–Su 09:00–20:00. Restored in 2018, this cable car runs up to the former 60 Ski Station. The area boasts views, hilltop strolls, and a decent cafè. However, the ride could be considered a bit overpriced. Forest paths lead to the Pino Hotel (accessible by road, e.g. by taxi) and the pictureque and Instagram-heavy Trebevic Bobsled Track, which mad off-road bikers hurtle down, and which is being restored for winter sports.
It is said in Bosnia that some people eat to be able to drink, others eat to be able to live and work, but true Bosnians work and live to eat. A lot of attention is devoted to the preparation and consumption of food in Sarajevo. Gastronomy in the city was developed under Eastern and Western influences, and Bosnian cuisine focuses on local produce like meat, vegetables, fruits and dairy products. For information on typical Bosnian foods, see Bosnia#Eat. Cheap food on the go, from a myriad small shops and cafés, is burek, ćevapi or pita. Burek is meat pie.
Sarajevo has a vibrant night life with plenty of small thematic bars. Clubs are usually opened until early morning. Although many venues are open all week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the most frequented. There are numerous cafés in the city, centred primarily around the old town. Look out for the traditional Bosnian-style coffee! 1 Cafe Slastičarna "Palma", Porodice Ribar br.5, ☏ +387 33 714 700, info@palma.ba. Coffee and pastry shop, located in the part of town called Hrasno, started in 1970. In 1985 "Palma" received the CD -Diplomatic Consular Code. (updated Sep 2017) 2 Ministry of Ćejf, Kovači 26, ☏ +387 61 482 036. Great espresso and well trained baristas.
There are still many minefields and unexploded ordnances in the broader Sarajevo area (although not in any urban area). Never go into damaged buildings (which are really rarely seen) and always stick to paved surfaces avoiding grassy hills that surround the city. As of 2020, Trebević has been completely demined. Areas that are not cleared are marked by yellow tape or signs, but still not all minefields have been identified due to the lack of resources and the lack of international help. Paved roads are always safe. Bosnia and Herzegovina has double the traffic fatality rate in Europe as a whole, and in the early 2020s there have been a few high-profile accidents with pedestrians.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Sarajevo typically sees ~28°C daytime highs and 9 rainy days.
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