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Sightseeing in Sarajevo

Start your tour of Sarajevo at the heart of the Old Town, the 16th-century Ottoman shopping district of Baščaršija. The highlights of the Square of the Doves (Baščaršija Square) are the Sebilj, a wooden Ottoman-style fountain, and the grand Gazi Husrev-beg mosque, the most important Islamic building in Bosnia, with unique woodcarvings and calligraphy and a remarkable marble fountain (shadirwan) in its courtyard.

Continue your walk through the narrow cobbled lanes of Baščaršija, with the covered markets and the workshops of the old master craftsmen where you will encounter countless mosques and hans (inns), bustling open-air bazaars, traditional coffee houses, hookah dens and kebab shops. The district’s sights also include the Kazandžiluk St (the street of the coppersmiths), the Turkish inns of Kolobara Han (1462) and Morića Han and the covered market of Gazi Husrev-Beg Bezistan (1540).

The refined Austro-Hungarian architectural style is apparent in the eclectic buildings of the district of Marijin Dvor, the pedestrian shopping street of Ferhadija and the charming 19th-century neoclassical mansions along the River Miljacka. Two of the most important buildings of that period are the impressive former city hall of the Vijećnica (1896) and the sumptuous Academy of Fine Arts (1899).

The heart of the history of the early 20th century beats at the legendary Latin Bridge, which you must cross as this was where the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife were assassinated on 28 June 1914. At the Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918, which was built on this very spot, you can learn all about this event that sparked the outbreak of the First World War.

Visit Svrzo House, one of the best-preserved examples of 18th-century Ottoman residential architecture. This old Ottoman house has today been transformed into a museum, where you can see in great detail how the wealthy Muslim families of the era lived.
Address: Glođina 8, 71000 Sarajevo, www.muzejsarajeva.ba

One of the city’s most important museums in the city is the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. This is a narrow underground tunnel with a length of 800 metres, which was dug with much self-sacrifice beneath the airport runway by volunteer residents during the Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996), to ensure that supplies reached the city. Today, a small part of the Tunnel of Hope has been converted into a thematic museum, with photographs and video footage from the war.
Address: Tuneli 1, Sarajevo 71000, www.tunelspasa.ba

In the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina you can learn about all aspects of the country’s history. The highlight is the Sarajevo Haggadah, an illuminated Sephardic religious manuscript dating to the 14th century.
Address: Zmaja od Bosne 3, 71000 Sarajevo, www.zemaljskimuzej.ba

As you walk through the modern section of the town, you will notice the so-called Sarajevo Roses. When the long siege of the city ended in 1996, the cracks in the roads caused by mortar shell explosions were filled with red resin, creating floral patterns.

Excursions from Sarajevo

Tram #3 will take you to the historic baths of Ilidža, a place of recreation for the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy. Ilidža is perfect for romantic rides in a period horse-drawn carriage through the leafy Velika aleja (Great Lane), with the luxury Belle Epoque villas. The ride ends at the green park of Vrelo Bosna, an idyllic complex of small islands and wooden bridges, at the source of the River Bosna.

If you would like to enjoy a panoramic view over the city, then head for one of the green hills that surround Sarajevo, such as Zuta Tabija, Bijela Tabija, Zmajeval and Vidikovak.

If you’d like to do some athletics or skiing then go to the “Olympic” mountains of Trebević, Bjelašnica, Jahorina and Igman dotted around Sarajevo.

For the aroma and atmosphere of the East, take a walk through the ascending lanes of the Muslim neighbourhoods of Alifakovac, Vratnik and Bistrik.

The pedestrianised Vilsonovo Promenade is an ideal spot for an afternoon stroll, beneath the linden trees, on the right bank of the River Miljacka. A trip to the legendary thematic Caffe Tito, dedicated to the historic leader of the former Yugoslavia, is a must.

Food and entertainment

Enjoy a strong and aromatic Bosnian (Turkish, that is) coffee, served in the typical copper (džezve) accompanied by a Turkish delight. You will find many good coffee houses in the Ottoman district of Baščaršija and along pedestrianised Ferhadija Street.

There are three essential stops if you are to fully experience in the local food culture: the Ćevabdžinicas, for ćevapčiće (sausage shapes made from lamb and beef mince served on pita bread and garnished with finely-chopped onions and a yoghurt sauce); the aščinicas for traditional cooked food; and the buregdžinicas for tasty Bosnian pies.

You should also try Jagnjetina (roast lamb on a spit), begova corba (chicken soup with vegetables), bosanski lonac (stewed lamb and vegetables cooked on an open flame), burek (small meat or cheese pies in phyllo pastry) and a traditional baklava sweet with walnuts and honey.

Accompany your meal with the legendary local Sarajevsko Pivo beer (from 1888), select Bosnian wine varieties (Žilavka or Blatina) and the excellent local fruit brandies (Rakija), such as sljivovica (plum) or visnavaca (cherry).

Evenings in Sarajevo can be wild, with after-midnight festivities in the cosmopolitan bars and nightclubs of the Old Town (Stari Grad), or in the atmospheric cafes where sevdalinkas, the traditional Bosnian blues, are performed.

Shopping in Sarajevo

In Sarajevo you can buy almost anything. In the shops in the lanes of the Ottoman district of Baščaršija you will find a large range of handicrafts, antiques and unique local souvenirs, while the international fashion chains, luxury boutiques and expensive department stores are located in the pedestrianised Fernandina Street.

On the Street of the Coppersmiths (Kazandžiluk St), you will find excellent bronze sets for serving Turkish coffee. Traditional gold jewellery is sold in Gazi Husrev-Beg St, while for those special Turkish slippers pop into Ahmed Kalajdžisalihović’s shop (from 1822) at number 15 Saraći Street.

It is worth taking a visit to the 16th-century covered stone market of Dugi Bezistan, which, aside from the many cheap souvenirs available here, is of special architectural interest.

If you would like to buy some excellent quality local organic produce, then visit the daily Bosnian Market in the neighbourhood of Dobrinja in the New Town.

Getting from the airport to Sarajevo

Sarajevo International Airport is located close to the city and can be reached with the airport bus, trolleybus or taxi. The direct bus operated by Centrotrans Eurolines connects the airport with the city centre (Baščaršija). There are several buses a day, which coordinate with flight times. Free Wi-Fi is available.

The cheapest way is to take the trolley car, either #103 (departs every 5 minutes) or #31e (departs every 15 minutes). Tickets can be purchased from the driver.

The quickest option is to take a taxi, but you should agree on the fare with the driver first before the journey. Although all Sarajevo taxi companies are required by law to use a taximeter and issue receipts, there are still often incidents where tourists are ripped off (for example, the driver refusing to use the taximeter). The most dependable companies are Žuti Taxi (yellow taxis), Crveni Tax (red taxis) and Holand Taxi. The fare from the airport should not cost more than 10-15 euros. The journey time is approximately 20 minutes.

The best solution for families or large groups is to book a driver beforehand, through one of the transfer services companies.

A city full of surprises, cosmopolitan and modern yet at the same time historical, Sarajevo is the Balkan secret that is worth discovering, at any season of the year. It is, after all, a lively city with many excellent cultural events, such as the International Sarajevo Winter Festival every February and the Sarajevo Film festival in August. Book your flights to Sarajevo at the Olympic Air site and discover the rising tourist hotspot of the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.