Watch divers leap from Mostar's Stari Most bridge$6–8
A rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge, destroyed in the 1990s war and reconstructed stone by stone, where local divers still jump as a centuries-old tradition.
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Southeastern Europe
Things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A rebuilt Ottoman bridge that's become a national symbol of resilience, a genuinely multicultural old town where mosque and church bells overlap, and mountain scenery still largely undiscovered by mass tourism.
Explore Bosnia and Herzegovina on the map →Budget$
Best for5-7 days
CapitalSarajevo
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders; Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the Schengen Area but maintains its own separate visa-free arrangement.
CurrencyBosnian convertible mark (BAM), pegged to the euro
LanguagesBosnian, Croatian, and Serbian (mutually intelligible)
InternetGood
Typical lodging$20–$50/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/F plug)
Time zoneUTC+1 to UTC+2
Emergency number112
Dialing code+387
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Photography
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended outside capital cities. 10% is common.
Mostar's Stari Most bridge, destroyed during the 1990s Bosnian War and rebuilt stone by stone using original techniques, is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a powerful symbol of the country's recovery, with local divers still leaping from it as a centuries-old tradition. Sarajevo's old town is one of the few places in Europe where a mosque, Catholic cathedral, Orthodox church, and synagogue all sit within a few blocks of each other, a genuine legacy of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian layered history.
When to go
SpringApril–May
Mild and green, a good window for Sarajevo and Mostar before summer heat and crowds arrive.
SummerJune–August
Warm to hot, the best window for the coastal town of Neum and mountain hiking around Sarajevo.
AutumnSeptember–October
Comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds, a strong window for touring both cities and countryside.
WinterNovember–March
Cold with reliable snow, Sarajevo's surrounding mountains, host of the 1984 Winter Olympics, offer affordable skiing.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
9Explore Sarajevo's Baščaršija old bazaar
An Ottoman-era market district of coppersmith workshops and small cafés, where mosque and church bells audibly overlap within a few blocks.
Visit the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum
A preserved section of the tunnel dug beneath the airport during the 1990s siege, offering direct, unflinching context on the city's wartime survival.
Explore the Tunnel of Hope and Latin Bridge in Sarajevo$6–8
The Latin Bridge marks the site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's 1914 assassination, a short walk from museums covering both WWI and the 1990s siege.
Visit the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide in Sarajevo
A sobering, well-curated museum documenting the 1990s Bosnian War and the Srebrenica genocide through survivor testimony and artifacts.
Wander the Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica)
A restored Austro-Hungarian-era building that once housed the National Library, destroyed by shelling in 1992 and rebuilt as a striking cultural landmark.
Explore Blagaj's dervish monastery beside a spring
A 16th-century Sufi monastery built directly against a cliff face at the source of the Buna River, one of the strongest karst springs in Europe.
Visit Počitelj's Ottoman-era hilltop village
A small, largely preserved Ottoman settlement along the Neretva River, with a fortress tower and stone houses climbing the hillside.
Visit the Gallery 11/07/95 Srebrenica exhibit in Sarajevo
A photography and multimedia exhibition documenting the 1995 Srebrenica genocide, presented with careful historical context.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Ski Sarajevo's Olympic mountains
Bjelašnica and Jahorina hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and remain affordable, well-regarded ski destinations by European standards.
Raft the Neretva River near Konjic
A scenic canyon river popular for whitewater rafting, running through dramatic gorge scenery between Sarajevo and Mostar.
Explore the Vjetrenica Cave, one of the Balkans' largest cave systems
A biologically significant cave near the Croatian border, home to rare cave-adapted species and guided tours through its chambers.
Hike in the mountains around Sarajevo
Trebević and Bjelašnica offer accessible day hikes with panoramic views over the city, including abandoned Olympic bobsled track remnants.
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Nature & scenery
3Swim in the turquoise pools of Kravice Waterfalls
A wide, tiered waterfall system near Mostar, popular for swimming beneath the falls in summer and generally uncrowded relative to its beauty.
Wander the historic town of Jajce and its waterfall
A former royal capital with a waterfall right in the town center, plus a medieval fortress overlooking the confluence of two rivers.
Explore Sutjeska National Park's ancient forest
Home to one of Europe's last remaining primeval forests, Perućica, alongside Bosnia's highest peak, Maglić.
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Food & drink
3Eat ćevapi, Bosnia's grilled minced-meat dish
Small grilled sausages served in flatbread with onion, a genuine national staple found at grill houses across the country.
Drink Bosnian coffee the traditional way
Prepared in a copper džezva pot and served with Turkish delight, a slow ritual meant for lingering conversation rather than a quick caffeine hit.
Try burek, Bosnia's flaky meat-filled pastry
Spiral-rolled phyllo pastry filled with minced meat, a genuine everyday staple sold at bakeries and treated as a point of regional pride.
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Beaches
1Relax at Bosnia's short stretch of Adriatic coast in Neum
Bosnia's only coastal access, a narrow strip between Croatian territory, offering a modest but genuine beach option within the country's borders.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Bosnia isn't in the Schengen Area, so it maintains its own separate entry rules.
▾Is Bosnia safe to visit given its 1990s war history?
Yes. Sarajevo and Mostar are well-established, safe tourist destinations today, though the war's legacy remains visible in some buildings and is addressed directly and respectfully at sites like Sarajevo's War Tunnel Museum.
▾Is Mostar worth more than a day trip from Sarajevo or Dubrovnik?
A day trip covers the Old Bridge and old town well, but staying overnight lets you see the bridge diving tradition and the town without the heavy midday tour-bus crowds.
▾How many days does Bosnia need?
5-7 days lets you combine Sarajevo, Mostar, and a smaller town like Jajce or the Kravice waterfalls without rushing.
▾Is Bosnia affordable?
Yes, among the more budget-friendly destinations in the Balkans, with strong value across food, accommodation, and transit.
▾How much does it cost to visit Mostar's Old Bridge area?
Walking across the Old Bridge and through Mostar's old town is free; the small bridge museum charges a modest separate fee, typically around BAM 10-15 (about $6-8). Watching (or attempting) the traditional bridge dive is free to watch, though divers themselves collect donations.