Bosnia Itinerary

Latin Bridge is the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie on 28 June 1914, which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I. Interestingly enough, the killer by the name of Gavrilo Princip is generally considered a terrorist by Bosniaks and Croats, and a hero by many Serbs.

Wander around the old bazaar to get a feel of the city. As you walk down Ferhadija street, just a few steps away from the flat, you’ll find an inscription on the tiles that says “Sarajevo – Meeting of Cultures”. It marks the place where the main two cultures shaping the city’s character merge. It’s also the point of entry into Baščaršija, the city’s historical and cultural center. When it was originally built in the 15th century, it laid the foundations for Sarajevo. Now, several centuries later, it’s the city’s biggest attraction and a popular meeting spot for locals and tourists alike.

Sarajevo's City Hall, locally known as Vijećnica, is a significant landmark that opened in 1896. The architecture pays tribute to the city's Muslim heritage. It served as a city hall, parliament house, and the National and University Library.

Once a fortress, this site now provides one of the best views of the city. It's located just a short walk from the old town of Baščaršija. From here, you can admire the captivating panorama of the old town, the majestic Vijećnica (city hall), and the distant mountains.

It marks the place where the main two cultures shaping the city’s character merge.

Spend a morning wandering around Baščaršija (pronounced bash-CHAR-shi-ya), the heart of old Sarajevo and centered on the Sebilj fountain. The quarter’s name is derived from the Turkish for “main market” – and it’s accordingly and lined with stalls, a lively coppersmith alley, grand Ottoman mosques, restaurants and lots of inviting little cafes.

One of Sarajevo's most famous landmarks is the Sebilj Fountain , built in 1752. According to local legend, anyone who drinks from this iconic wooden fountain will one day return to Sarajevo.

The city's most important mosque, built in 1531. Its towering 45-meter minaret is impressive. Even if you don’t enter to admire the interior, it’s worth walking around the peaceful gardens and fountains.

Also known as the Tunnel of Hope. During the Siege of Sarajevo, Serbian forces completely isolated the city. As a result, members of the Bosnian Army devised a plan to connect the besieged city with the Bosnian-held territory near the Sarajevo Airport, which was under United Nations control.

One of the best things about Sarajevo is that you can easily escape the bustling markets and crowded streets to the lush green forest and be among beautiful nature in just a few minutes by hopping on the gondola to the top of Trebević, a mountain peak towering over the city. You can also take a cable car to the top of Trebević Mountain, which was used for some of the events of the 1984 Winter Olympics. It’s one of the most important symbols of Sarajevo – before the siege, it was one of the most popular hangout spots among the locals. When the Siege of Sarajevo started, it provided refuge from the billows of smoke that filled the city until the so-called “Lungs of Sarajevo” were completely destroyed during the Bosnian War.

Great stuffed peppers, tomatoes and onions. Zeljo is Sarajevo’s most famous ćevabdžinica (kebab shop). Naturally, also regularly indulge in burek – filo pastry filled with meat, cheese, potato or spinach – and stuffed pita.

One of the most traditional restaurants Baščaršija is Ćevabdžinica Željo.

Step into a buregdžinica (a bakery that specializes in pitas) and don’t forget to order a yogurt to dollop onto your bread.

Old brewery of Sarajevo. Great traditional food with live music on weekends and all the beer you could ever want!

Great beer choices.

Day trip outside of the city. The trip will often take you to Mostar, home of the beautiful stone arched bridge, Kravice Waterfall, a beautiful oasis surrounded by waterfalls and lush green forest you can swim at, Blagaj, a small village, home to the 16th century Dervish house carved into a cliff, and Pocitelj, a medieval stone town built in the 16th Century that act as an open-air museum full of stunning architectures, and more.

The town's postcard and one of the main (if not the main) tourist attractions in Bosnia Herzegovina, Stari Most, or the old bridge, is worth a visit in Mostar. The history of the bridge over the Neretva River and of the town are so intimately connected that Mostar means "bridge keeper." In addition to its architectural beauty, the bridge's history is fascinating. It was built between 1557 and 1566 at the behest of Suleiman the Magnificent, when the entire region of present-day Bosnia was part of the then all-powerful ottoman empire, and represented one of the greatest engineering feats of the time. Designed by Ottoman architect Mimar Hayruddin and commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, Stari Most was built in 1566 to replace a wooden bridge that spanned the same section of the Neretva river. Stretching out for 95 ft (29 m) and soaring 85 ft (21 m) above the summer water level, it was an incredible feat of engineering at the time it was built. The first spot I would suggest is a steep hike down to the sandy area where the Mostari Jumpers come out of back onto the banks. It gives you a bottom up view of the bridge. The second spot I would actually say is when you pay to enter the Koski Pasha Mosque (the most well known mosque in Mostar). It gives you access to a small gate that overlooks the river and the bridge with an unobstructed view, great lighting, and not a lot of people trying to photobomb your picture. The third spot is from Lucki Most, it is a walkway on a busy road, but gives you great lighting in the afternoons. The bridge does appear a bit small but you can take as many photos as you like. The fourth spot is up by the bridge in the little alcoves at either end, however this is where most of the tourists are as well to take the selfies with the bridge. You can always wait awhile to try to get the photos in the early mornings or evenings. The first spot I would suggest is a steep hike down to the sandy area where the Mostari Jumpers come out of back onto the banks. It gives you a bottom up view of the bridge. The second spot I would actually say is when you pay to enter the Koski Pasha Mosque (the most well known mosque in Mostar). It gives you access to a small gate that overlooks the river and the bridge with an unobstructed view, great lighting, and not a lot of people trying to photobomb your picture. The third spot is from Lucki Most, it is a walkway on a busy road, but gives you great lighting in the afternoons. The bridge does appear a bit small but you can take as many photos as you like. The fourth spot is up by the bridge in the little alcoves at either end, however this is where most of the tourists are as well to take the selfies with the bridge. You can always wait awhile to try to get the photos in the early mornings or evenings. The first spot I would suggest is a steep hike down to the sandy area where the Mostari Jumpers come out of back onto the banks. It gives you a bottom up view of the bridge. The second spot I would actually say is when you pay to enter the Koski Pasha Mosque (the most well known mosque in Mostar). It gives you access to a small gate that overlooks the river and the bridge with an unobstructed view, great lighting, and not a lot of people trying to photobomb your picture. The third spot is from Lucki Most, it is a walkway on a busy road, but gives you great lighting in the afternoons. The bridge does appear a bit small but you can take as many photos as you like. The fourth spot is up by the bridge in the little alcoves at either end, however this is where most of the tourists are as well to take the selfies with the bridge. You can always wait awhile to try to get the photos in the early mornings or evenings.

As if it were a miniature of the Stari Most, the Crooked Bridge, built around 1558, crosses the river Radobolja, a small tributary of the Neretva, a few meters from the Stari Most. It is beautiful, and the cafes and restaurants alongside it, with lights shining at dusk, make it even more magical. Like its more famous bigger sister, the original version of this bridge was severely damaged in the war of the 90s, and what remained was swept away by a flood on New Year's Eve in 1999. What we see today is a reconstruction completed in 2002.

This Franciscan Church of St. Peter and Paul was rebuilt in the post-war years following its complete destruction in 1992. If you look closely, you can see bullet pockmarks on the walls of the nearby buildings. Next to the church, the Peace Bell Tower takes the accolade of tallest bell tower in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the tallest in Southeast Europe. 107-metre tower has a viewing platform roughly two-thirds of the way up. An elevator is on hand to whisk you up – but you do have to climb around 150 stairs at the end.

Crossing Stari Most, you will follow a narrow street, surrounded by little shops on both sides and, in some sections, with views to the left of the Neretva River. It could be the typical souvenir shopping street found in any historic city in Europe, but the difference here is that it's not just any European street. The houses, mostly reconstructed, evoke the ottoman medieval period, with their stone roofs and characteristic architecture.

An architectural gem dating back to the 17th century. Step inside, breathe in the peaceful atmosphere and appreciate the beauty of the details. It is possible to climb the minaret; they say the views of the bridge and the surroundings are incredible, but we didn't do it. We only explored the courtyard, fountain, and the small garden, which has free entry. In addition to these points, it's interesting to visit the Biscevica Cosak, a house built 350 years ago during the Ottoman era that preserves the decoration of that time. In winter, visits are possible only with prior arrangements, something unfortunately, we didn't know.