Sarajevo: A City of Contrasts and Culture
Why visit?
Sarajevo is a city of contrasts and culture, and is a beautiful capital city surrounded by the beautiful Bosnian mountains this is truly a destination you don’t want to miss. It is such a nice place to wander around as the colourful buildings stretching along the calming river make you feel as though you could be in Amsterdam or Copenhagen but these contrast with the old cobbled streets and mosques that lie several streets away.
There is so much you can learn about and see in Sarajevo and the hospitality here will make you not want to leave!
How to get here?
Sarajevo has an international airport which is the main port of entry into the country if you wish to travel from abroad. There are regular buses from countries like Serbia and Croatia that stop in Sarajevo which will be a cheaper way to travel than flying.
Sarajevo is well connected with the rest of the country so if you are travelling here from elsewhere in Bosnia then you will be able to travel by bus or train here quite easily.
Sarajevo is well connected with the rest of the country so if you are travelling here from elsewhere in Bosnia then you will be able to travel by bus or train here quite easily.
How to get to the city centre from the airport?
The city centre is located about a 20-minute drive away from the airport. You can hire a car from the airport and then drive to the centre yourself.
There is a bus which runs from the airport to the centre but this runs quite infrequently so if you are short on time then I would avoid this option. The bus stop is located outside the airport across the car park, if you ask someone for directions they will be able to point you in the right direction.
Getting a taxi is the easiest option from the airport. The taxis may show you a sheet with set prices and the price to the centre should be 35 BAM. There are red taxis which run by the meter and are a cheaper option and should only cost around 20 BAM so I would advise you to take one of these if you can.
You can read more about transportation in Bosnia Here
Things to do:
Sarajevo City Hall
It was built between 1892 and 1894 and was built to honour the Muslim background of the Austro-Hungarian territory. It has been used as a city court, Parliament House, and library over the years. The city hall suffered heavy damage during the war and was set ablaze losing the whole library collection. It has since been restored and is still used today as a library, city council hall, and a museum.
Latin Bridge
This is an Ottoman bridge over the river Mijacka and is most famous for its northern end being the location of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria by Gravrilo Princip in 1914. This triggered the July Crisis which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I. The spot where he was assassinated is marked clearly by a plaque and some footprints engraved on the ground. As well as seeing this famous spot you can admire the beautiful river and colourful houses lining the river at this point and it is a great spot for a photo.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
This beautiful cathedral was modelled after the Notre Dame in France and was completed in 1887. It was built in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was built in a Neo-Gothic style. The church was partly destroyed in the siege of Sarajevo but has been repaired since and is considered a symbol of the city.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
This 16th-century mosque is the largest historical mosque in Bosnia and one of the most Ottoman-like structures in all of the Balkans. Today it serves as the main mosque for all Muslims in Bosnia. This mosque is beautiful and worth stopping by to have a look at the magnificent architecture. The streets surrounding the mosque are filled with souvenir shops and it is a very pleasant area to wander around as the streets have an old cobbled ground and you feel like you are back in the medieval times.
Clock Tower
Located next to Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, this beautiful clock tower is the tallest building in the country at 30m tall. The clock shows lunar time and the caretaker sets the time manually once a week. The clock tower has been rebuilt twice, once due to damage from a fire. The first ever mention of this clock tower was back in the 17th century and it was constructed during the Ottoman period.
Museums of crimes against Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995
This museum focuses on the darkest aspect of the Balkan wars in Bosnia between 1992-1995. This museum focuses on individual accounts of what people experienced and witnessed during this time period and has a massive collection of artefacts and photos given to the museum. The whole experience of this museum is heart-breaking as the stories of what people experienced are unbelievable but you cannot come to Bosnia without learning about its past and so you have to visit this museum as this will give you the best insight into what happened during this war. It cost 12 BAM and you could easily spend a few hours here if you read every account from each person on display.
Galerija 11/07/95
This is the first memorial gallery in Bosnia and it aims to preserve the memory of the Srebrenica tragedy and the 8,372 people who died during the genocide. There are loads of photos on display as well as maps, audio, and videos that you can interact with to learn about what happened. Again, this is another moving experience but a different way to learn about the genocide if you are not a big fan of reading lots of text then this museum will be better suited to you. It costs 12 BAM and you can purchase an audio guide on top of this to help understand all the images as there is not much written information inside.
Where to stay:
Budget – Hostel Franz Ferdinand – this is a charming accommodation that pays homage to the historical significance of the city while providing a comfortable and a welcoming stay.
Medium – Guesthouse Bebek – This is centrally located with nicely decorated rooms for a very good price.
High – Hotel Sana – The rooms here are beautifully designed and it even includes a free breakfast. The hotel has terrace views and an on-site bar.
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