Travel Guide
This Underrated European Capital Set To Surge In Popularity This Summer
May
When you consider a European metropolis break, it is in all probability 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 is perhaps questioning the place that even is.
The (a lot) missed capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a criminally-underrated nation itself, Sarajevo is making some waves just lately, persevering with to see an uptick in arrivals after hitting its target 1.5 million overnights in 2024 (a 26.6% year-on-year enhance).
Unheard-of as it could be on our facet of the pond, it is by no means been extra in style than it’s at this very second amongst Europeans, with Turks, Croats, Serbs, and Germans leading the way—and it is excessive time we seemed into among the the explanation why.
Why Are Tourists Suddenly Flocking Into Sarajevo?
Located close to the geometric heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is barely becoming for a capital, Sarajevo is considered one of Europe’s most various 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 durations of Ottoman and Austrian management, and for that motive, it’s usually described as a spot the place cultures conflict:
Istanbul will be the most well-known metropolis to (actually) straddle two continents, however it’s in Sarajevo you will 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 from time to time, 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 retailers and comfortable cafes, you will stumble upon majestic mosques, like Gazi Husrev-beg, a centerpiece of Ottoman structure relationship 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 non secular 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 complicated stained glass designs. It caters primarily to the ethnically Croatian inhabitants of Sarajevo and is Bosnia’s largest cathedral.
We know World War I is just not as widely-taught in colleges throughout America as its rather more catastrophic follow-up, however should 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 moreover crossing the bridge to absorb the eerie ambiance your self, you possibly can go to a close-by museum the place you possibly can study 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 might be rocked by ugly occasions and instability as soon as extra.
You’ve heard of the Bosnian War, proper?
While spared the identical stage 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 useless 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 almost burned to the bottom.
Yet one other in style attraction is the Tunnel of Hope: regardless of its title, it is actually a conflict tunnel used to smuggle folks and provides over the battlefront throughout the siege, and it now hosts a museum.
However, not all is doom and gloom.
For two of the very best 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 fort perched atop considered one of Sarajevo’s many hills.
This one’s free.
From each viewpoints, you will 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 solution to go to Sarajevo any day, no matter native costs, however it definitely helps that every part from meals to lodging to transportation is shockingly-affordable.
If you are actually on a strict finances, you possibly can pattern scrumptious native delicacies like Bosnian ćevapi, hand-mixed mince meat shaped right into a funnel, usually 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, in style for its home made borscht and beef goulash, and a spread 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 primary 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 notice Bosnian meals, tasty as it could be, is not precisely sitting nicely in your abdomen, so should 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 in depth provide of lodging, starting from finances to luxurious, but when you end up someplace within the center, there are complete, fully-furnished flats can be found on Booking.com from solely $48 per evening for two adults.
This Is How Authorities Are Improving Sarajevo For Tourists In 2025
You get the gist of it: Sarajevo (and Bosnia as an entire) 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 somewhat 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 latest 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 fans 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 lovely 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 simplest solution 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 could attain it by bus from neighboring international locations that host U.S. flights, like Serbia or Croatia, for equally-cheap costs, or driving.
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