Cities
The main city in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Sarajevo which is the capital and administrative center of the country, as well. Other main cities include: Mostar, Tuzla, Banja Luka. Main tourist attractions of Bosnia and Herzegovina are located in the main cities as well as in cities of Bihać, Jajce, Konjic, Međugorje, Počitelj, Trebinje, Travnik, Tešanj, Visoko…
Sarajevo is a capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and its cultural, educational and a business center.
Sarajevo, the city of magic, reflects a perfect symbiosis of the past and the modern. Starting from Bascarsija, a core of the Old Town around the most famous fountain in Sarajevo – Sebilj, we come across many traditional places where one can see old crafts dating back to the Ottoman period or small cafes offering Bosnian coffee or have the most delicious pie or cevapi (grilled meat fingers). Throughout the old part of the town one can see many mosques, bazaars, Islamic schools, fountains.
Ottomans in Bosnia and Herzegovina accepted a great variety of religions. In addition to the famous Ghazi Husrev-Bey’s Mosque (1531) and other buildings from Ghazi Husrev-Bey’s endowment, they built the Old Orthodox Church (Bascarsija) or the Jewish Quarter known as the Grand Yard (Velika avlija – holding the Old and the New Jewish Temple). A perfect addition to this multicultural symbiosis was the main Catholic Cathedral, built upon the arrival of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. With their arrival, era of industrialization commences. Western fashion combined with a traditional customs. The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy builds the City Hall, a splendid work of architecture resembling pseudo-Moorish style, monasteries, schools and universities. Indeed, this is what makes Sarajevo so charming – buildings from the Ottoman period literally flow into the Austro-Hungarian period. However, this sudden transition only seems natural.
Sarajevo is known as the host of the 14th Winter Olympic Games (1984) which took place on mountains nested around Sarajevo, a place where WWI commenced with assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne – Franz Ferdinand; as European Jerusalem – with Catholic, Orthodox, Islamic and Jewish sacral buildings being located within the walking distance; a place where the longest city siege of the modern warfare lasting over 1400 days took place; a city which survived and lures you to visit its mountains, its cultural and historical sites, the famous Sarajevo Film Festival or Bascarsija Nights Festival.
In addition to the rich cultural and historical heritage of the old part of town, visit: Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Museum of Sarajevo and all its departures, the Tunnel Museum, old fortresses from the medieval and ottoman period, our Olympic mountains or eco paradise of the Lukomir or Umoljani Village, the Rakitnica Canyon or Skakavac Waterfall.
East Sarajevo is a real natural treasure luring mountaineers, hikers, skiers, snowboarders, paragliding and all other nature and adventure fans to come and visit the largest Olympic Mt. in the country – Jahorina, as well as other natural attractions such as Romanija, Treskavica, numerous caves, etc. Jahorina has over 20 km of ski trails and it is one of the most beautiful mountains in the region. It is suitable for both beginners and snowboarders and has quite a number of accommodation facilities some equipped for seminars and conferences. Treskavica is a hunting ground with over 360 springs.
Romanija is ideal for hiking and relaxation and it is a home to one of the best known caves in East Sarajevo – Orlovača. The cave’s stalactites, stalagmites and draperies form unique shapes resembling antique and renaissance castles. The cave was inhabited by Ursus speleus, the cave bear, 16.000 years ago. Today is a natural habitat of endangered and rare specie of Microc hipoptrea, endemic bat specie. Other caves worth visiting are Ledenjača and Novakova Cave.
Source: Be In Bosnia in collaboration with BHTourism
Mostar, the most beautiful city in Herzegovina, has been proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its old town and its Stari most (Old Bridge), the famous bridge over the turquoise-green Neretva River. Here, in the heart of the city, people from all over the globe meet and admire the art and skill of Turkish architecture, enjoying the charm of ancient buildings along tiny streets. Get to know the city by visiting lively cafés and peaceful galleries. Find yourself a quiet spot in the yards of old mosques, go under the bridge to see famous divers, who have preserved this tradition for decades by performing daring jumps from the 25 m- high bridge.
Perhaps you will be lucky enough to come to Mostar during one of the many festivals: the Summer Festival with traditional dances, music, games, traditional costumes, home cuisine and wine; or the Bridge Jumper Festival, where young jumpers from all over the world, eager for admiration, show their skills.
Especially distinguished are Herzegovinian wines “Blatina” (red wine) and “Žilavka” (white wine), made from grapes of that region. Even the Austrian Czar’s House ordered their vines from here; therefore “Žilavka” had already been perpetuated in the Schönbrunn. These wines can be tasted in one of the many wine cellars in Herzegovina so if you are a wine lover do not miss out on visiting the “Wine Roads” spreading throughout this Mediterranean paradise.
Buna Spring with a 16th c. Dervish Tekke built right next to it is located about a ten minute drive from Mostar. The Tekke is now a museum open for visits all year round.
Počitelj is an amazing and unique little town, only half-an-hour-drive from Mostar, is a UNESCO heritage site. Its remarkable oriental architecture has been a great inspiration to many artists for decades. Počitelj hosts the longest operating art colony in Southeast Europe. It is a home to a spectacular medieval Tower (Počiteljska kula), Šišman Ibrahim-Pasha Mosque, Clock-Tower and Gavrankapetanović’s Residential Complex dating back to the 16th c.
Source: Be In Bosnia in collaboration with BHTourism
Banja Luka is the largest and the most beautiful city in the north of Bosnia. The Vrbas River gives this town its particular charm. Banja Luka was established during the Roman era when the first forts in the region were built in order to supply and protect an important trade route passing through this area. The Romans had already been using the famous surrounding thermal springs. Nowadays, Banja Luka stands as the economic and cultural center of Northern Bosnia. This city is rich with cultural and historical buildings dating back to the 16th century. Numerous Orthodox monasteries were built more than 400 years ago, many of which are still in use today, including the Gomionica monastery, known for its frescos.
Parks and boulevards are the symbol of Banja Luka. You should visit this city and enjoy the shade of old trees in “Mladen Stojanović” Park, or take a walk through the promenades, Gospodarska Street, visit the Art Gallery and the Museum of the Republika Srpska and the Kastel Fortress on the Vrbas River.
Source: Be In Bosnia in collaboration with BHTourism
Bihać, the western gate of Bosnia, is a home to the Una River and the host to a popular and international rafting event Una Regatta. This 5-day event and the Una River is a must-do for adventurous souls. There are at least four different raft runs on the Una River, from two hours of easy rafting to six hours of up to class VI rapids. The most attractive, interesting and exciting part of the river is the 15-km Strbački Buk-Lahovo run. Along 207 km, the Una River basin is a home to over a hundred medicinal herbs and various other fauna species.
The Museum of Semberija hosting archaeological artifacts and the Tavna Orthodox Monastery are located in Bjeljina. 3 km from Bijeljina you will come across an interesting ethno village (Etno selo “Stanišići”) just as ideal for business conferences as it is for family vacation. The village consists of houses resembling the authentic traditional architecture.
Doboj is the largest railroad crossroads in the country. Inhabited since the early Iron Age, now hosts many visitors to witness its old and versatile past or visit the Doboj Fortress. The Fortress is an exhibition of the medieval period with a display of tools and weapons, an ethno café and an amphitheatre. With a playground designed for children it is perfect for a family day out. A nearby Ozren Mt. is great for hiking or bicycle riding (Ozren Bicycle Trails), visits to the Orlovo Lake or the 13th century St. Nicolas Monastery (Sv. Nikola).
The Medieval Fortress of Jajce rises above the 22-m high Pliva Waterfall. The Fortress encompassing ramparts, towers (Church of St. Maria and Tower of St. Luke) and 15th century catacombs is one of the most impressive and universal cultural heritage sites in the country. During the reign of King Tvrtko II, Jajce developed into a royal town, and later the residence of Bosnian kings. The last Bosnian King Stjepan Tomašević, whose bones are kept at the Franciscan Monastery in Jajce, was crowned in Jajce. You will also be astonished by well-preserved remains of the late 3rd century temple of the Roman god Mithras.
Tradition of woodcarving was best preserved in Konjic. You can visit the Museum of Woodcarving Crafts – Mulićev rekord or buy a souvenir made by one of the two craftsman families – Nikšić or Mulić Family. Konjic is also interesting for Repovačka Mosque, old bridge built during the Ottoman period, 16th c. Franciscan Monastery with a library and a gallery or rafting on the Neretva River. One of the great attractions is Tito’s Shelter (Titov bunker), venue of the Contemporary Art D-o ARK Underground.
Međugorje is the world’s third largest catholic pilgrimage. Virgin Mary’s Shrine is an asylum for those seeking peace, faith and hope. Most believers gather on 25th June to celebrate the anniversary of the Apparition of Mary.
Neum, at the sunny Adriatic coast, is located between Dubrovnik and Herzegovina. 24 kilometers of diversified coast and numerous medieval tombstones is ideal for affordable summer holiday. While in Neum you should not miss out on visiting the spectacular Vjetrenica Cave.
In addition to being part of the hearth of Bosnia where early medieval past comes to life, Travnik is the former residence of the Ottoman viziers and it offers great sightseeing attractions such as the town museum, Travnik Fortress and the Museum of Ivo Andrić, a birthplace of our Nobel Laureate. Šarena (Colorful) Mosque is an 1815-mosque with unique floral facet decorations and tiny bazaar shops located on the ground floor.
Travnik is the only city in Bosnia and Herzegovina with two clock towers. Just outside Travnik you can visit the Vlasic Mt. ideal for skiing and snowboarding, as well as hiking, biking and team-building. Perhaps you will have a chance to see an authentic Bosnian sheepdog called Tornjak there. Also do not miss a chance to buy some Vlašićki sir (cheese usually made from goat milk).
Trebinje with its old town and the Trebišnjica River flowing through the heart of the town is one of the Herzegovina’s hotspots: Tvrdoš Monastery-an orthodox monastery built in the 15th century, the Arslanagić Bridge built during the Ottoman rule and the Klobuk Fortress are some of the most spectacular sites of this beautiful Mediterranean town.
Tuzla, the city of salt and a home to the unique salt lakes (Pannonian Lake), the Museum of Salt and the Neolithic dwellings all nested in the centre of the city is not to be missed while visiting this part of the country. Tuzla was a birthplace of Ismet Mujezinović, a famous artist (Ismet Mujezinović’s Gallery) and a famous writer Meša Selimović (Dervish and the Death) whose statues can be seen while strolling down the city’s promenade.
With the discovery of Visočica Mt. in Visoko by Semir Osmanagić, a specialist from the U.S. Houston University, the site has become the most miraculous finding of what is believed to be the first and only Europe’s pyramids. Ever since, Visoko and the surrounding archeological area lure tourists from all over the world who are given the opportunity to volunteer in the discovery.