Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a city rich in culture and history. There is plenty to explore from the “Little Istanbul” bazaar to an abandoned bobsleigh track. Plus tonnes of history to discover from the trigger than launched World War I to the more recent Siege of Sarajevo. It is a truly fascinating city to visit with so much to offer but here is just a snapshot of the top things to do in Sarajevo.

Things to do in Sarejevo

1. Take a walking tour

Walking tours will nearly always be top of my list of things to do on a city break! They’re super informative and a great way to gain an insight into the culture and history of place you’re visiting for the first time.

I would always recommend starting with a walking tour on your first day to get your bearings and get some tips for what else to do on your trip!

We joined a free walking tour through Meet Bosnia. This was tip based so can be very affordable. They offer lots of other tours too so worth taking a look!

2. Visit the Latin Bridge

The Latin Bridge is one of the many bridges that spans the Miljacka river in Sarajevo. It is perhaps the city’s most notable bridge as it is by the site of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. An event which sparked World War I. Over the years various monuments have stood by the bridge that have changed as the view of the assassin has changed from hero to villain. Now there is a simple plaque on the wall which is neutral and matter of fact.

If you’re interested in learning more about the assissination, visit the 1879-1919 museum (10) which is just next to the Latin Bridge.

3. Pick up a Souvenir from Copper Alley

Copper mining and manufacturing used to be a huge industry in Sarajevo. You can still find lots of Copper shops and stalls along Copper Alley in Baščaršija, the market place which dates back to the 1400s.

The shops offer lots of traditional copper items like Bosnian coffee sets as well unique finds made from recycled bullet shells.

We picked up a bookmark that was personalised for us for free on the spot.

4. Ride on the Cable Car

On the south side of the river in Sarajevo, you can take a cable car all the way up the mountain.

From here you can take in the spectacular views of the city, hike around various trails and explore the bobsleigh track (5)!

Cost of a return journey: 20 KM (approximately £9 or €10)

5. Explore the Abandoned Bobsleigh Track

Sarajevo’s bobsleigh track was originally built for the 1984 winter Olympics. It was used for a few years afterwards but has been left abandoned since the 1990s. Now the track is covered in graffiti and moss but you can still walk along it.

The abandoned bobsleigh track is super easy to get to. Simply take the cable car up from Sarajevo, once you’re there the track is a 5-10 minute walk a little further down the mountain, its very well signposted. You might not see it from above when you’re in the cable car but on the ground it’s easy to spot!

6. Visit Pigeon Square

Pigeon Square is part of Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s ancient Market Place. The square is named as you may have guessed for the huge flock of pigeons that feed there. They often circulate around the Sebilj fountain. Locals say that any visitors who drink from the fountain will return to Sarajevo in the future.

7. Walk up to the Yellow Bastion

The Yellow Bastion is a short walk uphill from the city. From there you’ll find a great view of the surrounding area. If you want to walk a little further, the White Fortress is a similar but larger monument, slightly further from Sarajevo.

Museums to visit in Sarajevo

8. Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum

The War Tunnel Museum shares an insight into life during the Siege of Sarajevo during the 1990s. During the war, the tunnel was the only safe way in and out of the city. Part of the tunnel has been preserved and you can walk along it at the museum. It’s a strange feeling walking along the tunnel, it feels like it could be from World War I or even older, its shocking to think it was necessary as recently as the 90s!

The museum also has exhibits about life at the time as well as the construction and preservation of the tunnel. The museum is near the airport so could be visited on your way in or out, if your flight time allows.

Ticket price: 10 KM (approximately £4 or €5) + 2 KM for parking.

9. Museum of Crimes against Humanity and Genocide

The Museum of Crimes against Humanity and Genocide was one of the biggest museums we visited in Sarajevo. It was packed full of artefacts, information and stories about the war in Sarajevo after the break up of Yugoslavia. The museum gives a truly fascinating and emotional insight into life during war times. I would highly recommend visiting this museum.

Ticket price: 10 KM (approximately £4 or €5)

10. Sarajevo Museum 1878-1918

The 1878-1918 museum describes life in Sarajevo leading up the the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the first World War. Its a very small museum- just one room with displays and artefacts covering each of the walls. It is situated by the Latin Bridge, right at the sight of the assassination.

Ticket price: 4 KM (approximately £2 or €2)

Where to eat and drink in Sarajevo

11. Eat a Burek

Bureks are pastry snacks that originate from Turkey but are now popular throughout the Balkans. They are usually spirals of delicious flakey pastry stuffed with a variety of fillings. There are both meat and vegetarian fillings such as spinach and cheese.

12. Drink Bosnian coffee

Bosnia and Herzegovina might not be the first place you think of when you think of coffee but Bosnians love their coffee! The country is actually 9th in the world in terms of coffee consumption per capita. Bosnian coffee is served in traditional copper pots, with cubes of sugar and a sweet similar to Turkish delight. Whenever you take a sip of coffee, you nibble at the sugar cube to sweeten the drink, rather than stirring it in.

13. Try Ćevapi

Ćevapi is the national dish of Bosnia and Herzegovina so why not give it a try whilst visiting the capital? The dish is small beef sausages served in pita-like flat bread. If you’re a vegetarian but still want to try traditional Bosnia dishes, vegetable stew is a good option!

14. Eat out at Klopa

Klopa was my favourite restaurant in Sarajevo, so much so we ate there twice, once from dinner then again for breakfast. The menu offers traditional Bosnian dishes as well as plenty of vegetarian options. The staff are all super friendly and even told us some of their recipes so we can make Bosnian hash browns at home! As a bonus, Klopa was the only no smoking restaurant in the city!

15. Drink at Sarajevo Brewery

Sarajevo’s brewery is situated in an iconic red building on the south of the river. Of course you can drink Sarajevska beer in pretty much any bar or restaurant across the city but where better to try your first sip than the brewery bar itself? You can also purchase super cheap drinks at the brewery’s shop which is in a very unassuming building across the street from the brewery.

16. Eat out at Cakum Pakum

Cakum Pakum is one of the top rated restaurants in Sarajevo. It offers delicious traditional meals at extremely reasonable prices. The restaurant is tiny with only 6 or so tables. Its decorated with piles of vintage suitcases and cosy furnishings. It almost feels like you’ve gone over to an old relative’s house for dinner!

More information about Visiting Sarajevo

How long should you visit Sarajevo for?

Sarajevo is great for a city break over a long weekend. If you’re visiting as part of a bigger trip like a road trip or interrailing, I would recommend 2-3 days.

When is the best time of year to visit Sarajevo?

Most of the activities in this list can be done all year round! We visited in April and it was a little colder than expected, certainly a few degrees colder than nearby Mostar. There was also still snow up the mountain but not enough to make it difficult to walk, the paths were mostly clear.

Is Sarajevo a cheap city break?

Absolutely! Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in general is fairly cheap in terms of cost of accommodation and food. For example, at restaurants we usually had two mains, two sides or starters plus two alcoholic drinks and never spent more than £20!

Day trips from Sarajevo?

If you want to extend your trip, there are lots of other places within Bosnia that you could quite easily visit from Sarajevo.

Mostar is a picturesque Old Town, around a 2 hour drive from Sarajevo and well worth a visit. Dervish House Monastery is also nearby Mostar and driveable from Sarajevo.

A little further afield, you will find Kravice Waterfalls, a 3-hour drive from Sarajevo.

For more information about places to visit around Sarajevo, check out this blog post on 8 Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

How to get to Sarajevo from the UK

Currently, the only direct flights between Sarajevo and the UK are to Luton Airport in London via Wizz Air. However, the city is not too far from the more popular tourist destination of Dubrovnik, Croatia. We flew in and out of Dubrovnik, picked up a hire car and drove around the Balkans for two weeks, including a stop off in Sarajevo.