My Sarajevo itinerary permits you to uncover the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” in comparatively nice depth, and at a tempo that it neither sluggish nor breakneck. I knew what path my schedule would ultimately find yourself taking from the second I arrived in Sarajevo and noticed fellow vacationers strolling gleefully over the Latin Bridge.
The allure of Sarajevo transcends the a part of its historical past when Franz Ferdinand was shot right here, in fact, even when trauma in that vein does tie into its status because the “Jerusalem of the Balkans.” Proceed studying to study what I develop into so smitten with Sarajevo—and why I’m sure you may be, too.
The place to Keep in Sarajevo
First impressions are the whole lot, and the Sarajevo resort I checked into after the aforementioned bridge scene actually made a terrific one. Located within the coronary heart of previous Sarajevo as its identify suggests, Previous City Resort supplied a house in Bosnia’s capital that was charming, snug and handy. There are “nicer” locations in Sarajevo, in fact, and in addition cheaper ones, however to me that is the property amongst accommodations in Sarajevo that checks essentially the most containers.
What to Do Throughout Your Sarajevo Itinerary
See Sarajevo’s Fundamentals
After checking in and chilling out, I headed out into Sarajevo Previous City to begin exploring my new house for the subsequent couple of days. Whereas main points of interest equivalent to Bascarsija market, Sebilj fountain and Vijecnica metropolis corridor had been picturesque, my actual infatuation was because of the various individuals and cultures that flowed by the streets, not not like the threads of humanity that weave collectively in Jerusalem itself.
After actually hours scouring its nook and crannies, passing church buildings, synagogues, mosques and exchanging smiles with all who prayed inside them, I exited the Previous City and arrived on the north financial institution of the Miljacka River. I crossed over the Sarajevo Latin Bridge and again once more, questioning in Franz Ferdinand had felt as awestruck as I did by Sarajevo’s magnificence within the moments earlier than his assassination.
Style the Flavors of Sarajevo
After getting my fill of Sarajevo mosque and church images, I started exploring town on a deeper degree. A method I did this was by taking in a panorama, particularly the one from the Yellow Fortress, which is a couple of 20-minute stroll from the Previous City. For my part, the view really grew to become higher after I continued strolling a bit, which extra stunning juxtaposes town’s medieval structure with fashionable buildings just like the Avaz Twist Tower.
One other manner I dug deeper was to dig into Bosnian delicacies in the perfect Sarajevo eating places equivalent to Pod Lipom, which isn’t the highest-rated place to eat within the Previous City, however got here extremely (and personally) really useful. Wherever you resolve to eat, ensure to take a look at the sausage-and-pita cevapi (Bosnia’s unofficial nationwide dish), borek meat pie and the Sarajevski Sahan sampler, provided (as far as I can inform) completely at Pod Lipom.
Delve Into Sarajevo’s Checkered Previous
As darkish as you may really feel for wanting to take action, it’s unsurprising that the Sarajevo genocide might be close to the highest of your checklist for Sarajevo sightseeing. It actually was on mine, although I need to say that after the sobering Museum of Crimes In opposition to Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995, I felt too unhappy to go to different war-related locations just like the Sarajevo Tunnel, and as a substitute took a pensive stroll to the extra uplifting Everlasting Flame.
I thought of visiting the Sarajevo Bobsled observe (formally, Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Monitor, which was constructed for the 1984 Olympics), however as evening set in, I remained considerably affected by my go to to the genocide museum. I made a decision to forgo a go to to the dystopian Olympic web site (I actually couldn’t abdomen a good darker go to to Srebrenica, the place most of the most egregious wartime atrocities came about) and took one final stroll across the Previous City.
Day Journeys from Sarajevo
If you happen to’re finishing your Sarajevo itinerary within the reverse order I did, you may board a Sarajevo Mostar bus and after a few hours, you’ll arrive in Mostar, which as I discussed is considered one of my favourite locations on the whole European continent. Whether or not you spend everything of your time marveling on the picturesque Stari Most (Previous Bridge) or exploring outlying attraction like Kravice waterfalls or the Catholic pilgrimage metropolis of Medjugorje, this can be a very worthy Sarajevo day journey.
Alternatively, in case you board a Sarajevo to Dubrovnik bus, you may bypass Mostar and the remainder of Bosnia (although I extremely advocate in opposition to this!) and head straight for Croatia‘s Dalmatian Coast. This positively isn’t a day journey from Sarajevo, however is a logical approach to proceed touring by the Balkans from Bosnia’s capital. That is very true for an extended Sarajevo itinerary, 4 days or so.
The Final Sarajevo Itinerary
If you end up overwhelmed by Sarajevo issues to do, don’t be. Slightly than pressuring your self into following my Sarajevo itinerary precisely, use this concise checklist of Sarajevo sightseeing to construct your personal:
- Sarajevo Previous City
- Latin Bridge
- Yellow Fortress View Level
- Museum of Crimes In opposition to Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995
- Sarajevo Tunnel
- Everlasting Flame
- Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Monitor
- Srebrenica
- Mostar
When you’ve sorted out what to see in Sarajevo, ensure to take a look at my complete itinerary for two weeks within the Balkans, which completely enhances my Sarajevo journey weblog.
Different FAQ About Touring to Sarajevo
Is Sarajevo value visiting?
Sarajevo is completely value visiting! Whether or not you hint historical past within the Previous City and at Latin Bridge, benefit from the view from the Yellow Fortress or take a day journey to solemn Srebrenica, I believe you’ll discover Sarajevo to be one of the underrated cities in Europe, and positively among the many greatest within the Balkans.
Is Sarajevo secure for vacationers?
Sarajevo is extraordinarily secure for vacationers. Sadly, because of the legacy of conflict reporting within the Nineties, individuals falsely consider that Bosnia is a harmful nation that vacationers ought to keep away from; this couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Is Sarajevo a good looking metropolis?
Sarajevo is a fully beautiful metropolis, significantly within the Previous City, which mixes mosques and different Muslim buildings with classically European structure from the 18th and 19 century. If you wish to see Sarajevo at its most stunning, think about watching sundown from the Yellow Fortress.
The Backside Line
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications equivalent to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the way in which. His weblog, Go away Your Day by day Hell, supplies a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays masking the extra esoteric points of life as a traveler.
