When you consider a European metropolis break, it is most likely Paris and its grand Haussmann-era boulevards, London’s skyscraper-lined Thames riverfront, or perhaps Milan’s glamorous really feel and haute delicacies that come to thoughts, not an offbeat Sarajevo.
In truth, you could be questioning the place that even is.
The (a lot) ignored capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a criminally-underrated nation itself, Sarajevo is making some waves not too long ago, persevering with to see an uptick in arrivals after hitting its target 1.5 million overnights in 2024 (a 26.6% year-on-year improve).
Unheard-of as it could be on our facet of the pond, it is by no means been extra widespread than it’s at this very second amongst Europeans, with Turks, Croats, Serbs, and Germans leading the way—and it is excessive time we appeared into a number of the the explanation why.
Why Are Tourists Suddenly Flocking Into Sarajevo?
Located close to the geometric heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is just becoming for a capital, Sarajevo is one in every of Europe’s most numerous capitals, residence to Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics, a cultural hub of the primary order, and maybe the continent’s most unsung vacation spot, at that.
It has a wealthy (albeit advanced) historical past, encompassing intervals of Ottoman and Austrian management, and for that purpose, it’s typically described as a spot the place cultures conflict:
Istanbul often is the most well-known metropolis to (actually) straddle two continents, but it surely’s in Sarajevo you may discover ornate medieval mosques and their adjoining bazaars inside quick strolling distance of imposing, Sixteenth-century Orthodox temples and Gothic church buildings.
Bosnia is a multi-faith nation born out of the necessity to let go of previous variations and grievances, and although that hard-fought peace exhibits its cracks once in a while, nowhere else in the Balkans will you see a melting pot as fascinating as this.
Medieval Mosques, Picturesque Bridges & Cobbled Lanes
Taking a stroll across the riverside Old Town, with its cobbled streets, and a plethora of tea outlets and comfy cafes, you may stumble upon majestic mosques, like Gazi Husrev-beg, a centerpiece of Ottoman structure courting again to the Sixteenth-century, but additionally Orthodox temples and Gothic church buildings.
Also constructed within the Sixteenth century, the Byzantine-inspired Church of the Holy Archangels is a testomony to Sarajevo’s deeply ingrained sense of multiculturalism. It serves the native ethnically Serbian group and is among the many capital’s oldest spiritual websites.
Interestingly sufficient, a brief 6-minute stroll away is the towering Sacred Heart Cathedral, a Neo-Gothic marvel that includes a marble-cut altar and complex stained glass designs. It caters primarily to the ethnically Croatian inhabitants of Sarajevo and is Bosnia’s largest cathedral.
We know World War I just isn’t as widely-taught in colleges throughout America as its way more catastrophic follow-up, however when you had been ever curious as to how the unhappy story of wounded troopers in trenches and bayonet bearers began, look no additional than Sarajevo’s Latin Bridge:
Discover Sarajevo’s War Wounds
Yep, WWI began not over some disagreement in palatial chambers in Germany however proper there on the town’s oldest stone pedestrian crossing, spanning the in any other case peaceable Miljacka River.
This is the place Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, an occasion that many Historians regard as having sparked the Europe-wide battle, and apart from crossing the bridge to take in the eerie environment your self, you may go to a close-by museum the place you may be taught all about it intimately.
Unfortunately, Sarajevo’s standing within the Annals of Time didn’t take a flip for the higher in the identical century, as within the 90s, it could be rocked by ugly occasions and instability as soon as extra.
You’ve heard of the Bosnian War, proper?
While spared the identical degree of human tragedy that introduced smaller cities like Srebrenica and Mostar to their knees, the capital endured a 4-year siege, and it, too, has its lifeless to mourn.
For these of you who’re into Dark Tourism, there are nonetheless some colleges, hospitals, and cultural landmarks that carry bullet holes and different conflict scars, most notably the National Library, an Islamic-inspired brick-and-concrete palace proper on the water that was practically burned to the bottom.
Yet one other widespread attraction is the Tunnel of Hope: regardless of its title, it is the truth is a conflict tunnel used to smuggle folks and provides over the battlefront through the siege, and it now hosts a museum.
However, not all is doom and gloom.
For two of the most effective sundown views on the town, both take the cable automotive from Stari Grad (Old Town) to Trebević Mountain (costing roughly $18), or hike a brief quarter-hour from the middle, as much as the Yellow Fortress, a citadel perched atop one in every of Sarajevo’s many hills.
This one’s free.
From each viewpoints, you may be rewarded with sweeping views of the minaret and belfry-dotted townscape, the landmark-lined meander that’s Miljacka, and the lush greenery throughout it.
One Of The Cheapest European Capitals
We’d exit of our option to go to Sarajevo any day, no matter native costs, but it surely definitely helps that all the things from meals to lodging to transportation is shockingly-affordable.
If you are actually on a strict finances, you may pattern scrumptious native delicacies like Bosnian ćevapi, hand-mixed mince meat fashioned right into a funnel, typically served with spices and flatbread, for round $5 in most Old Town eateries, and the identical goes for börek pastries, rooster soup with bitter cream, and the record goes on.
Even small luxuries in Sarajevo will not precisely break the financial institution:
For occasion, Dveri is a well-reputed Old Town restaurant, and a fairly touristy one at that, widespread for its selfmade borscht and beef goulash, and a variety of rakija flavors (the native spirit, for these which are unaware).
On common, eating right here will set you again by round $11–$16 by ordering a foremost dish.
Across from the City Hall, Inat Kuća is equally well-known for its fashionable twist added to some Bosnian classics, and its homegrown wine and hearty stews will not run you up by greater than $16 for a sit-in lunch with river views.
After the second stew, you would possibly understand Bosnian meals, tasty as it could be, is not precisely sitting effectively in your abdomen, so when you’re ever in fancy of a Balkan-Asian fusion, be sure Mala Kuhinja is in your record, or the upscale trattoria Tavola, proper within the metropolis heart.
Looking for a spot to remain? Sarajevo has an intensive supply of lodging, starting from finances to luxurious, but when you end up someplace within the center, there are whole, fully-furnished flats can be found on Booking.com from solely $48 per night time for two adults.
This Is How Authorities Are Improving Sarajevo For Tourists In 2025
You get the gist of it: Sarajevo (and Bosnia as a complete) is very cheap, it is incredibly-beautiful, and it is but to be ruined by the identical crowds which have made Italy’s Amalfi, or the French Riviera a dwelling hell.
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ), serviced by low-cost flights from throughout Europe and choose Middle Eastern locations, has already reported a 44% uptick in passengers this 12 months, as confirmed by Statistika, so it has been gaining traction.
You higher get there earlier than it is too late, as this gem will not keep hidden for lengthy.
On prime of that, authorities within the capital are investing closely in making Sarajevo better-connected, and extra tourist-friendly: the small airport has now expanded to host flights from main hubs like Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait, and the Old Town is present process revitalization.
It’s not unusual for historic facilities within the Balkan Peninsula to be a bit rundown, given native authorities’s horrible monitor report of defending monuments and materials heritage, however in Sarajevo’s case, vital efforts have been made to revive its pre-war glory.
Reconstructions apart, it is seen the opening of recent museums, like Sevdah Art House, each an artwork exhibit and a restaurant with an emphasis on sevdalinka, Bosnian people music, and even the buzzing Obala Maka Dizdara, a pedestrian promenade, is present process renovation.
On prime of that, for all of the biking fanatics on the market, a brand new, official bike path connecting Dubrovnik, in Croatia, to Sarajevo has just opened.
The 217-mile route has stops in stunning mountain villages, the town of Mostar, well-known for its arched Ottoman bridge, and scenic lakes earlier than reaching the Miljacka River valley, the place Sarajevo lies.
Getting To Bosnia From America
Flying from the United States, the best option to attain Sarajevo is touching down first in a bigger transit airport, like Istanbul (IST), Vienna (VIE), Frankfurt (FRA), or Munich (MUC), and from there, board a low-cost flight to the Bosnian capital.
Prices for an intra-Europe flight to Sarajevo (SJJ) begin from solely $40, and cities like Vienna or Budapest, served by finances carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair, have a tendency to supply the bottom fare.
Alternatively, you might attain it by bus from neighboring nations that host U.S. flights, like Serbia or Croatia, for equally-cheap costs, or driving.
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