Sarajevo

Sarajevo. What do we know about him? Despite the fact that this beautiful city is not very popular among tourists, both Russian and any other, each of us at least remotely imagines what is at stake. We all at school in history learned about one accident that happened in Sarajevo? After all, it was here that Gavrilo the Principle killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, because of which the world literally experienced a coup that spilled over into the First World War. It is sad that Sarajevo is famous for such a sad event, because in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina (you can read about the country itself) there are so many interesting and amazing things that, having visited it once, I personally cannot deny myself another trip to this special small world in the Balkans.

Sarajevo is an uncharted city, not yet spoiled by tourists. Perhaps, in part, this makes it much more attractive to me personally. It is interesting to become a pioneer of stunning places, which I will discuss in this article.

If I were asked what the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina looks like, I would certainly answer, to little Istanbul. It is not surprising, because the city was once ruled by the Ottoman Empire, and that is why here you can see a lot of what you expect from coming to Turkey, for example, hookah with embroidered carpets, coffee is brewed everywhere in cezves (Turks). At first, I had the impression that Sarajevo was significantly different from other capitals in the Balkans due to the huge number of mosques, different symbols and features of the Muslim country, but as it turned out later, 3 different cultures intertwined in Sarajevo. The 3 peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Orthodox Serbs, Croatian Catholics, and Bosnian Muslims - each made their own contribution to the development of the city and made it irresistible and unlike anything else.

How to get there

So, you thought for a long time and still decided to see with your own eyes that paradise city that I am telling you about and highly recommend visiting. How to get to it? I want to warn you right away that you will have to suffer a little on the way to overcome the distance from Russia to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Apparently, due to the small popularity of Sarajevo among our tourists, so far the communication system between the two states is poorly established.

There are 3 ways: by plane, by car or by train. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

By plane

Getting from Russia (or any other country) to Sarajevo by plane is relatively convenient. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Moscow (and other Russian cities) to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in any case you will have to fly with a transfer. For more information about the pros and cons of such a trip, as well as through which countries and cities I personally prefer to buy tickets, I wrote here.

By train

From Russia to Bosnia and Herzegovina by train can also be reached only with transfers. It’s probably better to say that you can’t come to Sarajevo exclusively by train. I doubt that you will want to spend several days on the road with transfers, so I sincerely do not recommend using this method of transportation. Just spend time, money and your nerves.

However, if you still want to arrive in Sarajevo by train, there are several cities that are connected with it by rail. You can get on trains following every day from the cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Mostar, Banja Luka, Konjits, Doboy and others. Ticket price varies from 5 to 20 euros, depending on the distance. But this will be convenient only if you suddenly initially rested in one of these places. If you are coming from Moscow, you will have to go either to Belgrade or Vienna by train, there you need to change trains for the next train to Zagreb, a city that has direct railway lines from Sarajevo. The Zagreb-Sarajevo road will take about 9 hours. A ticket will cost approximately 30 euros one way.

The train station in Sarajevo is located almost in the center of the city - 5 km from Bashcharsia, the old city. From there, I advise you to take a taxi to your hotel or any other place in the city.

By bus

Honestly, I can’t imagine how many transfers you have to do if you want to take a bus to Sarajevo. Probably a lot. Because, as far as I know, not only direct buses, but even with one bus transfer. Unlike the train, where you can even get to Serbia, which will greatly facilitate your future journey, you just have to take the bus to Sarajevo.

By car

Personally, I prefer cars, if there is such an opportunity and you need to get to Sarajevo. Undoubtedly, this is a very long time (approximately 2.5 days), so if your entire vacation lasts 7 days, this option is not for you. But if you want to spend at least 10 days in Bosnia and Herzegovina (excluding 5 days on the road), then feel free to get into your car and hit the road! Do not forget about the visa for the Schengen countries and carefully pack your bags so that there are no problems at the borders with the EU - in case, for example, if you are transporting several bottles of wine from Bosnia and Herzegovina as a gift to friends, be prepared that you do not have they will only take away all alcohol in excess of the import rate, but also make them pay a fine. Therefore, be careful.

You will build the path from Moscow to Bosnia and Herzegovina yourself - it can pass through Ukraine or Belarus, through the Baltic countries or Poland. In any case, the navigator will tell you how best to get through the EU countries. But once in Serbia, follow a certain route: you need to go along the E75 highway to Belgrade, and from there go to the village of Mokra Gora, not far from which is the border of Serbia with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Then follow the highway M5, which will bring you to Sarajevo.

hint: Sarajevo - time is now21: October 511Difference in hours: Moscow & plus; 1 Kazan & plus; 1 Samara & plus; 2 Yekaterinburg & plus; 3 Novosibirsk & plus; 5Vladivostok & plus; 8

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

I can safely say that Sarajevo is beautiful at any time of the year and in any weather, so buy tickets when you have free days for a wonderful relaxing trip. Of course, there are months when the city blooms, it becomes a terrific place to relax, and there are those when you arrive, and you do not want to leave the hotel room. Therefore, I do not recommend you to visit Sarajevo in the winter months and early spring, if you do not set as your goal to relax at the same time in the ski resorts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Of course, in the winter there is something to do, but you must agree that it is more pleasant to walk around the city when there is no blizzard and wind that strives to make your cheeks all rouge. I prefer long walks in the beautiful old city and not only, so personally I don’t like to go there when the weather makes me dress warmly or, even worse, in my opinion, to wear an umbrella 24 hours a day.

As for the best months to travel, this is undoubtedly May-June. The temperature is still not very high, although it is already much warmer than usual in Moscow. You can enjoy warm days and not be weary of the heat, which is quite possible in August, when you can even see 35 degrees of heat on a thermometer! By the way, in September-October, Sarajevo is also wonderful! Yellow foliage gives the city a special charm.

If we talk about Montenegro, for example, then everyone understands that the months from May to September are considered the “season”. What is considered the "season" in Bosnia and Herzegovina, I find it difficult to say. There are the same prices all year round, the same small influx of tourists and only weather conditions change. Therefore, don’t worry that you will get to Sarajevo in those months when prices in shops and restaurants “bite”, and you don’t get crowded with tourists in the narrow streets of the old city - there are simply no such problems. However, if you want to try fresh, freshly picked figs from a tree or, for example, eat a salad made from environmentally friendly vegetables from local beds, I advise you to come here in August - then this food is the first freshness, which you can be sure of.

Sarajevo - weather for a month

hint: Sarajevo - weather for the months of January −3.0 February −1.6 March & plus; 1.8 April ± plus 5.0 May ± 9.2 June ± 13.0 July ± 15.4 August ± 14.8 September ± 12.0 October ± plus 7.4 November ± 2.2 December −1.8

Areas. Where is better to live

Sarajevo can be divided into 4 main parts, in each of which there are many so-called areas.

New town
New Sarajevo.
Center.
Old city.

Personally, I adore Bashcharshia - the old city of Sarajevo. The atmosphere that is there can not be found anywhere else in the city, so personally I prefer to live in one of the districts that make up the "old city". My favorite is Bistrik (Bistrik) - at the same time you live near Bashcharsia, but at the same time it is a very quiet and peaceful place, where at night you do not wake up from the noise of cheerful youth streets or from the rumble of cars. I always recommend everyone to settle there, especially on their first visit to the city - to experience what distinguishes Sarajevo from any other place.

Having settled in the central part of Sarajevo, you cannot fully enjoy the centuries-old antiquity that is found in the "old city". The two remaining parts - the "new Sarajevo" and the "new city" - I think are not very suitable for having a rest there, not being in the city for long. You will only spend time and money traveling daily to the center.
By the way, the prices in hotels in the center and the old city are approximately the same: from 30 euros per night.

The New Sarajevo and the New City are mainly the so-called sleeping areas, in which there are no main attractions, so they are unattractive for the average tourist. It is worth going there only if you want to get to some park located in those parts. Such is, for example, Mojmilo Park.

What are the prices for vacation

Vacation prices in Sarajevo, and indeed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, are very affordable, especially compared to other European countries, even to neighboring Croatia and Montenegro. You will have to pay from 30 euros per night for a hotel stay, even in 4 and 5-star hotels the rooms are not very expensive - about 100 euros / night.

You also don’t have to spend a fortune on food, as is often the case on vacation. A dish in a restaurant costs about 5 euros, possibly even less. Local fast food is cheap, satisfying, tasty and, you can not worry, fresh (for example, hamburgers are made from good meat). For a burek bought at a bakery, you will give back about 0.5-1 euros.

Taxis are also not very expensive - travel from 1 euro. In the city at short distances it is very convenient to get by taxi if no public transport is available. Just drive exclusively on the official one - you should not catch passing cars for your own safety.

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Convertible mark, KM Prices in restaurants and cafes

Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant	256 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant	1467 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch	303 rub

More details

The main attractions. What to watch

As you know, Sarajevo embodies several cultures, since the city was under Austria-Hungary, and under the Ottoman Empire, and as part of Yugoslavia. Therefore, in Sarajevo there are many attractions that are so successfully combined, although they come to us from different eras. So, below we consider what you should definitely see in this wonderful place in the Balkans.

Top 5

The old town is Bascarsija. This is the historical center of the city, its symbol, its treasure. What is there to do? Walk along the cobbled narrow streets, look at the shelves of local merchants, drink coffee from a cezve with Turkish delight and take lots of pictures.
Evening walk along the embankment of the Miljacka River (Milyack). You will be surprised how beautiful and unlike each other the bridges are in Sarajevo. I strongly advise you to walk along the river at night, when city lighting brings a drop of romance to your trip around the city.
Avazov toranj - a skyscraper with a view of the whole city. In every city I will definitely find a viewing platform, from where you can take stunning photographs and see, suddenly you missed something interesting. The view opens from the 36th floor of the building.
Sarajevo Military Tunnel, built during the siege of the city in 1993. Why go down there? To feel what people felt during the war and once again make sure that war is the greatest evil that can exist in this world.
Park Vrelo Bosne. A very green and clean park, inside which a river flows. Use at least an hour of your time to relax from the bustle of the city in the shade of trees. By the way, you can ride bicycles in the park if you do not have enough sports on trips.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

I already mentioned that 3 cultures are mixed in Sarajevo, and this is especially evident when you start to pay attention to a huge number of churches and mosques. What is worth seeing with your own eyes?

The mosque of Gazi Khusrev-run. It was built in the 16th century and is still considered one of the most important mosques in the country. Indeed, she looks amazing.
The collegiate church in Sarajevo is the main place of all Orthodox living in this capital. Located in the city center. It looks majestic and very beautiful.
The Cathedral of the Heart of Jesus is the main Catholic church in the city. A very interesting building, upon seeing which you might think that you are in some of the Catholic European countries, and not in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The old synagogue. How is she interesting? Now it houses the Jewish Museum in Sarajevo. My experience of visiting Jewish museums tells me that this one is worth a visit if you are also interested in the history of the Jews.

Museums Which are worth a visit

Probably, in the world there is no city in which there would not be a single museum. Sarajevo, of course, is no exception. I would single out two that are really worth seeing with my own eyes, having arrived in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are people who love to go to museums, there are those who never do, even if this museum is the Louvre. But no matter which one you consider yourself to be, you cannot come to Sarajevo and not go to the museum dedicated to one of the most important events in the history of the 20th century - the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the beginning of the First World War. This museum will tell you not only about this moment in the history of Sarajevo, but also about others from 1878 to 1918. The museum is open every day from 10 to 18, except Sunday (Saturday is a shorter working day). Tickets cost 2 euros (4KM).
I would also advise you to visit the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where you can learn a lot about the country, and about its whole history. For lovers of this science - a must-visit place. A ticket costs 2.5 euros. The museum is open daily from 9am to 7pm.

Parks

On every trip I have a period when I want to take a break from the cultural program, from tasting the local cuisine and just breathe fresh air away from noisy cars. Sarajevo is a city in which there are a large number of pleasant parks from which you do not want to leave. Those located in the center or in Old Sarajevo are best walked on. The city is not very big, most parks are within walking distance. Take a taxi to the New Town and New Sarajevo districts. Here are some of them:

Veliki park is the largest park in the city center.
At Mejdan is a park located in the old part of Sarajevo.
Park suma Mojmilo is a park located on a mountain. The view from here is breathtaking.
Vilsonovo setaliste is a walking trail along which you can find many cafes. Why not stay in one of them for a cup of coffee?

What to see in the surroundings

If you have already looked in the city itself and want to drive around, I advise you to go to the following places:

Etno Begovo selo is a Bosnian ethnic village in which you can participate in various activities: you can graze sheep, collect medicinal herbs, mushrooms, mow grass, fish, sledding (in winter), go hiking in the mountains.
Kanjon Rakitnice - 30 km from the city there is a magnificent canyon of the Rakitnitsa River. The water in it is so clean that it can be drunk.
Nacionalni park Sutjeska is the largest and oldest national park of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is located 100 km from Sarajevo.

hint: Routes to neighboring cities Sarajevo - Pale 12 km Sarajevo - Iliјash 16 km Sarajevo - Belashnitsa 19 km Sarajevo - Visoko 24 km Sarajevo - Umoljani 26 km

Food. What to try

Of course, there is only one national cuisine in the country (read about it here), but nevertheless, some cities have their own "signature" dishes, which residents are proud of. What to try in Sarajevo, except bureka and cevapi, which, in principle, work well in many cities of the country?

Sarajevski sahan is a huge, hearty dish consisting of stuffed vegetables and dolma. Served in a large bowl. Honestly, this cannot be overpowered by one - order one "Sahan" for two.
Bosanski lonac - meat cooked with vegetables. Not as greasy and heavy as the previous dish, but just as tasty.
Different sweets: tulumbe, baklava, hurmasice. Sweet, sometimes even too much, but you will never forget the taste of these desserts, having tasted only once. Forget about diets.

If you prefer to cook your own meals, you can find everything you need at any grocery in Sarajevo. Wherever you go, you get quality food for little money. I advise you to try local dairy products: delicious natural yogurts and milk. In city markets, you can buy fruits and vegetables, which will be the first freshness, but at the same time inexpensive. For example, a small basket of raspberries, which in Moscow would cost about 300 rubles, can be bought for 1-2 euros (2-4 KM). So the prices will seem to you low in comparison with the Russian ones.

Security. What to watch out for

Sarajevo is a very safe city, despite the fact that so many different nationalities are mixed here that it would seem that conflicts cannot be avoided. In fact, you have nothing to worry about when you come here. One has only to follow all the rules that we already know: do not go at night (especially alone) to dark, unlit places, do not run into conflicts first, do not quarrel with locals, do not flaunt expensive jewelry and gadgets and watch your things . Nothing out of the ordinary, right?

Many, having heard that the majority of the population of Sarajevo are Muslims, think that girls alone should not go there. It's a delusion. If you are not going to dress defiantly and behave appropriately, feel free to go to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Things to do

Shopping and shops

In Sarajevo, unlike other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are several large malls in which you can find almost any mass-market brand. If you want to buy clothes of local designers, then look for small boutiques on the streets of the city, such shops can be found very rarely in shopping centers. Sarajevo is not the capital of fashion, just like Bosnia and Herzegovina, is not the country of the best designers in the world, so do not build high hopes that you will return with an additional suitcase of clothing from local needlewomen - it is unlikely.

Major shopping centers:

Sarajevo City Centar.
Alta Shopping Centar.
BBI Centar.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

Once in Bashcharshia - the old city of Sarajevo, you will immediately understand that you want to bring your relatives and friends as a souvenir. Shops with handmade carpets / shawls, coffee accessories (Turk, coffee grinder), tea set, traditionally magnets - you will see all this there and you will definitely not be able to leave empty-handed.

I always buy myself a cezve - a turk for making coffee. Sellers somehow manage to write on it when you purchased it (for example, Sarajevo 2016). Personally, this inscription always evokes warm memories of the trip when I make coffee, and my mood immediately improves. These Turks cost from 5 euros and more, depending on the size (there is 1 cup of coffee, but there are large ones for the whole family). Choose the one you like.

How to get around the city

Sarajevo will seem to you not a very big city if you live, for example, in Moscow, but still it is not always convenient to move in it exclusively on foot. The system of public transport and taxi is very developed. Their advantages and disadvantages are described in detail below.

A double-decker tourist bus runs in the city - Sarajevo City Bus. In an hour and a half, an audio guide will tell you briefly about the history of the city and the places that you drive through. A ticket costs 2.5 euros (5KM), buy from the driver.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxis are the most convenient way to get around the city of Sarajevo. It has a payment system for the meter - the initial price is 0.75 euros (1.5 KM), and each subsequent kilometer 0.5 euros (1 KM). Credit cards are not yet accepted. It is possible that you just meet a taxi on the street and immediately go to your destination. I advise you to immediately take the driver’s number and call him every time you need his services. So you will avoid problems with a lack of a taxi or with ignorance of where to look for a car, being in an unfamiliar area in the evening far from the hotel.

From the airport to the city, a taxi will cost about 8-10 euros, depending on the location of your hotel. Since there are no "aeroexpresses" here, I advise you to use taxi services so as not to get lost on the first day of your stay in the country.

Trams

The city has a well-developed tram system. The fare there costs a little less than 1 euro (1.8 KM), a ticket can be bought from the driver. It’s quite convenient to move around the center on this particular transport, especially if you are traveling alone, so it’s cheaper.

Underground

There is no metro in the city.

Buses

Just like the tram, buses and trolleybuses are very convenient to travel around Sarajevo. The ticket price is the same. Many different routes. Transport runs quite often and stops in many places, so it will not be difficult for you to find a bus stop and get to any pre-selected place.

As you can see in the photo, public transport is well developed.

Vehicle rental

Naturally, you can rent a car in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but does that make sense? The city is not so big as to constantly think about finding a parking lot (in the Old Town, for example, you can’t park a car at all, because you can’t drive there). It is much more convenient (and cheaper) to use public transport and a taxi.

But if you still decide to rent a car, I would advise you to contact international rental companies (you can see here). I trust them more, because with regards to local companies, it is not always possible to find out any real reviews of their customers (not all local companies have websites). You will need international rights (most often they are nevertheless requested in addition to Russian ones) and a certain driving experience, and most likely you must be older than some age (21 or 23 years). The rental price, of course, depends on the car. On average, this is from 60 euros per day. Gasoline in Sarajevo relative to Russia is expensive: about 1 euro per liter.

For all the time I spent in Sarajevo, I have never met a place where you could rent a moped. Probably, this is not the most popular form of transport among tourists, and even local ones, so this area is not developed yet.

Tips for motorists

Do not exceed the speed, carefully monitor the driving! The fines here are quite high, you do not need to give extra money for violations. By the way, the locals drive quite inattentively, many do not fasten their belts, many believe that there is such a rule as "food as I want." Therefore, be careful and as careful as possible!

Sarajevo - holidays with children

There are no barriers for families with children in Sarajevo, but there are also practically no special entertainments for them. You can probably find a water park in some hotel and entertain your kids there, but, for example, there is no amusement park with attractions, as far as I know, in Sarajevo. Whether or not to go there with the children depends on the preferences of your and your children.

By the way, in a taxi you are unlikely to be provided with a child seat, as in restaurants where you may well not find a child seat. If these are minor trifles for you, take the children with you, even if they see this beautiful city.

Ski vacation

There are no ski resorts in Sarajevo itself, but they are all located near the city. The best of them:

Jahorina - approx. 30 km away from Sarajevo. Good tracks (a total of 20 km), few tourists, low prices. A ski pass for a week for 1 adult costs 95 euros (188 KM). There is a hotel right there, accommodation in it with breakfast per night - approx. 40 euros.
Babin Do - Bjelasnica - 8 tracks of different levels, 30 km from Sarajevo. Lift pass for a week is 90 euros (180 KM).