Places In Bosnia and Herzegovina
That Left Me Speechless
Places In Bosnia and Herzegovina That Left Me Speechless
During the summer of 2019, we took a spontaneous and totally unplanned trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember how we hopped on a last minute public bus in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
And less than 4 hours later we found ourselves in the beautiful and completely underrated European city of Mostar.
Places In Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sadly during the 1990’s, Bosnia and Herzegovina was entangled in war, genocide and many horrific cases of ethnic cleansing. For a decade, tourism ceased entirely in this beautiful country.
But more than 20 years after the Yugoslav Wars and the Siege of Sarajevo, it’s surprising how many people think the country is still in conflict and unsafe to visit. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Not only is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe to visit again, it is full of places that are sure to leave you speechless.
So in no particular order, here were the top sites that made my time in Bosnia and Herzegovina so unforgettable!
Mostar
We began our time in Bosnia and Herzegovina by visiting the historic and striking Mostar.
Full of exemplary Islamic architecture and beautiful, towering mosques, you simply cannot come to this country without visiting it’s prettiest city!
Koskin-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque
This beautiful mosque is located in Mostar and has the most perfect view overlooking the historic district.
The best time to visit this mosque is right during golden hour. Standing high on the minaret, the whole town of Mostar will shimmer in the fading sunlight.
As sunset breaks across sky, you’ll be in the perfect position to to see the sun setting over the hills and lighting up the river. It truly looks like a scene from a fairytale.
ADDRESS: MALA TEPA 16, MOSTAR 80807, BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
KOSKIN-MEHMED PASHA’S MOSQUE QUICK FACTS
- €6 entry fee
- Non-muslims welcome to visit
- Skirt and scarf provided for modesty (shoulders, knees etc. must be covered!)
- Small, constricted space at the top
- Must be able to climb stairs to reach the top lookout from the minaret
- Not handicap accessible
- Go right at opening or closing to have the lookout point to yourself
Stari Most (the Mostar Bridge)
Beautiful and spectacular, this historic bridge was bombed and destroyed in the war. However, following the war it was meticulously restored to its former glory.
Now Stari Most stands tall again, the symbol of Mostar.
Dating back to 1664, the local tradition of jumping off the bridge began. As the story goes, a 16-year old boy must jump as a right of passage because if he doesn’t, his life will turn out to be a failure.
If you visit today, you’ll see crowds gathering as the jumpers prepare to make the astonishing leap from the iconic, historic bridge to the river below.
Neretva River
My favorite view of the iconic Mostari bridge can be found from the Neretva River below.
Get there early in the morning and you’ll have the view point and the bridge nearly to yourself.
If you go during the day, there will be small boat rides you can take down the river to get a clear picture of the beloved bridge.
Mostar’s Old Bazar Kujundziluk
The bazaar located right along the river is filled with beautiful shops showing artwork, trinkets, tea sets and gifts. I don’t know which is more scenic, the quaint shops or the scenery surrounding them.
Stroll along the river, shop for souvenirs or stop in one of the many cafes overlooking the infamous Mostar bridge.
Old Bridge Museum (Muzej Stari Most)
Since you’ll of course be visiting the bridge during your time in Mostar, I recommend also paying a visit to the Old Bridge Museum which opened in 2006. The museum displays pictures of the bridge from during the war and it’s very powerful to see!
The museum is located inside a side tower of the bridge and only costs a few euros to enter. You will see signs for the museum on either end of the bridge.
Ali-Baba – Mostar’s Cave Bar
While most of the places in Bosnia and Herzegovina on my list have a lot of cultural or historical significance, I had to include Ali-Baba for nightlife! This bar is a totally unique experience tucked inside a cave in old town Mostar.
We came to Ali-Baba one night when it was raining. While we drank and danced, we watched the rain pour down at the front of the cave while we stayed warm and dry inside. It was so enchanting and romantic.
The Capital City Sarajevo
The first spots I suggested can all be found in Mostar. After a few days, we traveled to the capital city of Sarajevo via public bus. It took 2 hours arrive and was very simple to use.
Make sure you pay a visit to Sarajevo during your time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it’s a fascinating city that has played such an important place in our history. (Did you know it’s where WWI began?)
Museum of War and Genocide Victims
Please do not come to the capital city of Sarajevo without visiting this museum. It’s very difficult to process and digest but it’s so important that the history is preserved and the stories of the victims aren’t forgotten. Especially if you don’t strong understanding of the Yugoslav Wars this museum is a great place to start.
The museum is laid out in a way that will walk you through a timeline of the violence endured here and how the tragic events came to pass.
It’s equal parts heartbreaking and powerful.
Open daily 9am -10pm
Tunnel of Hope- Sarajevo War Tunnel
The Sarajevo War Tunnel was the only connected between the besieged Sarajevo and the outside world from July 1993 until late February 1996. For over six months, locals dug underground using pickaxes and shovels. On july 30th, the tunnel was finally complete which allowed an outlet to the world.
It was thanks to the tunnel that Sarajevo residents could get food and supplies snuck into the city during the longest-running siege of any city in modern history.
Throughout Sarajevo, there are a number of war tours you can book that will include a stop at the Tunnel of Hope.
Part of the original tunnel has been turned into a museum, allowing visitors to walk through part of the original underground tunnel.
The official website a little difficult to navigate but can be found here.
Assassination Site of Arch Duke Ferdinand
I highly recommend joining a walking tour when you arrive in Sarajevo. From the siege of the city during the Yugoslav War to the beginning of World War I, Sarajevo is packed with world history.
On June 28th, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie were shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist during an official visit to Sarajevo. The killings were the main catalyst for World War I.
The spot is located on Franz Joseph Street with a memorial plaque. We stayed at a charming and affordable Airbnb just around the corner. But to get a full understanding of the events that occurred in Sarajevo, I recommend booking a walking tour and watching a few documentaries before you go!
Roses of Sarajevo
A Sarajevo Rose is a special kind of memorial found in Sarajevo. When the city was under siege, explosions left scars in the concrete that seemed to almost resemble a floral pattern. Later these marks were filled with red resin. There are approximately 200 roses throughout the city and each one marks the locations where at least three people were killed.
It’s a tragic and beautiful memorial to all the innocent lives lost in Sarajevo.
Again, I recommend joining a walking tour right when you arrive and watching documentaries before your trip to better understand the complex history in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bascarsija- Sarajevo’s Old Bazaar
Bascarsija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Isakovic founded the town. This old city center in the capital city is the historical and cultural center of the entire city.
Be sure to leave an afternoon free to simply wandering through this bazaar.
Sarajevo Cable Car on Mount Trebević
I highly recommend you take a cable car ride at golden hour so you can catch sunset from the top of Mount Trebević overlooking beautiful Sarajevo below.
It’s incredibly scenic!
Dubrovnik, Croatia (via a day/weekend trip)
Alright, this one technically isn’t in Bosnia and Herzegovina but it’s so nearby by that if you’re visiting the country, you may want to consider also going to Dubrovnik at this time!
Read: 15 PHOTOS TO PUT DUBROVNIK ON YOUR BUCKET LIST
These were the places that stand out in my mind from our time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, places I have thought about over and over again since we traveled this lesser-known and appreciated European country. But I would love to hear if you have a favorite spot! Let me know in the comments.
Other famous Bosnia and Herzegovina sites to include on your itinerary:
- Blagaj Tekija: 600 year old monastery tucked in a cliff
- Kravice (Kravica) Waterfall
- Una National Park: one of the most biodiverse areas in the Balkans
- Banja Luka: 2nd largest city home to 1,000 charming cafes and a medieval fortress to explore
- Jajce: walled city home to stunning waterfall
Group Tours with TourRadar
Because we went on a spontaneous, last minute trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina, we weren’t very well planned and ended up missing some sights I would have loved to have seen such as Blagaj Tekija!
If you want to make sure you hit all of the key sights and get to learn about the history in-depth, I recommend booking one of the guided multi-day tours on TourRadar.
More on Bosnia & Herzegovina:
- MOSTAR: YOUR NEXT BUCKET LIST DESTINATION
- BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY THROUGH A COUNTRY I NOW LOVE
- THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACE IN MOSTAR
