This Underrated European Capital Set To Surge In Popularity This Summer
When you consider a European metropolis break, it is in all probability Paris and its grand Haussmann-era boulevards, London’s skyscraper-lined Thames riverfront, or possibly Milan’s glamorous really feel and haute delicacies that come to thoughts, not an offbeat Sarajevo.
In reality, you is perhaps questioning the place that even is.
The (a lot) neglected capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a criminally-underrated nation itself, Sarajevo is making some waves just lately, persevering with to see an uptick in arrivals after hitting its target 1.5 million overnights in 2024 (a 26.6% year-on-year improve).
Unheard-of as it could be on our aspect of the pond, it is by no means been extra in style than it’s at this very second amongst Europeans, with Turks, Croats, Serbs, and Germans leading the way—and it is excessive time we seemed into among the the reason why.
Why Are Tourists Suddenly Flocking Into Sarajevo?
Located close to the geometric heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is barely becoming for a capital, Sarajevo is one in every of Europe’s most numerous capitals, house to Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics, a cultural hub of the primary order, and maybe the continent’s most unsung vacation spot, at that.
It has a wealthy (albeit complicated) historical past, encompassing intervals of Ottoman and Austrian management, and for that cause, it’s typically described as a spot the place cultures conflict:
Istanbul could be the most well-known metropolis to (actually) straddle two continents, nevertheless it’s in Sarajevo you will discover ornate medieval mosques and their adjoining bazaars inside quick strolling distance of imposing, Sixteenth-century Orthodox temples and Gothic church buildings.
Bosnia is a multi-faith nation born out of the necessity to let go of previous variations and grievances, and although that hard-fought peace reveals its cracks every so often, nowhere else in the Balkans will you see a melting pot as fascinating as this.
Medieval Mosques, Picturesque Bridges & Cobbled Lanes
Taking a stroll across the riverside Old Town, with its cobbled streets, and a plethora of tea outlets and comfy cafes, you will encounter majestic mosques, like Gazi Husrev-beg, a centerpiece of Ottoman structure courting again to the Sixteenth-century, but additionally Orthodox temples and Gothic church buildings.
Also constructed within the Sixteenth century, the Byzantine-inspired Church of the Holy Archangels is a testomony to Sarajevo’s deeply ingrained sense of multiculturalism. It serves the native ethnically Serbian group and is among the many capital’s oldest non secular websites.
Interestingly sufficient, a brief 6-minute stroll away is the towering Sacred Heart Cathedral, a Neo-Gothic marvel that includes a marble-cut altar and complicated stained glass designs. It caters primarily to the ethnically Croatian inhabitants of Sarajevo and is Bosnia’s largest cathedral.
We know World War I isn’t as widely-taught in colleges throughout America as its rather more catastrophic follow-up, however in the event you had been ever curious as to how the unhappy story of wounded troopers in trenches and bayonet bearers began, look no additional than Sarajevo’s Latin Bridge:
Discover Sarajevo’s War Wounds
Yep, WWI began not over some disagreement in palatial chambers in Germany however proper there on town’s oldest stone pedestrian crossing, spanning the in any other case peaceable Miljacka River.
This is the place Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, an occasion that many Historians regard as having sparked the Europe-wide battle, and in addition to crossing the bridge to absorb the eerie ambiance your self, you may go to a close-by museum the place you may be taught all about it intimately.
Unfortunately, Sarajevo’s standing within the Annals of Time didn’t take a flip for the higher in the identical century, as within the 90s, it will be rocked by grotesque occasions and instability as soon as extra.
You’ve heard of the Bosnian War, proper?
While spared the identical degree of human tragedy that introduced smaller cities like Srebrenica and Mostar to their knees, the capital endured a 4-year siege, and it, too, has its lifeless to mourn.
For these of you who’re into Dark Tourism, there are nonetheless some colleges, hospitals, and cultural landmarks that carry bullet holes and different battle scars, most notably the National Library, an Islamic-inspired brick-and-concrete palace proper on the water that was practically burned to the bottom.
Yet one other in style attraction is the Tunnel of Hope: regardless of its title, it is in truth a battle tunnel used to smuggle folks and provides over the battlefront throughout the siege, and it now hosts a museum.
However, not all is doom and gloom.
For two of the perfect sundown views on the town, both take the cable automotive from Stari Grad (Old Town) to Trebević Mountain (costing roughly $18), or hike a brief quarter-hour from the middle, as much as the Yellow Fortress, a fortress perched atop one in every of Sarajevo’s many hills.
This one’s free.
From each viewpoints, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the minaret and belfry-dotted townscape, the landmark-lined meander that’s Miljacka, and the lush greenery throughout it.
One Of The Cheapest European Capitals
We’d exit of our method to go to Sarajevo any day, no matter native costs, nevertheless it definitely helps that the whole lot from meals to lodging to transportation is shockingly-affordable.
If you are really on a strict funds, you may pattern scrumptious native delicacies like Bosnian ćevapi, hand-mixed mince meat fashioned right into a funnel, typically served with spices and flatbread, for round $5 in most Old Town eateries, and the identical goes for börek pastries, rooster soup with bitter cream, and the record goes on.
Even small luxuries in Sarajevo will not precisely break the financial institution:
For occasion, Dveri is a well-reputed Old Town restaurant, and a fairly touristy one at that, in style for its do-it-yourself borscht and beef goulash, and a spread of rakija flavors (the native spirit, for these which are unaware).
On common, eating right here will set you again by round $11–$16 by ordering a most important dish.
Across from the City Hall, Inat Kuća is equally well-known for its trendy twist added to some Bosnian classics, and its homegrown wine and hearty stews will not run you up by greater than $16 for a sit-in lunch with river views.
After the second stew, you would possibly understand Bosnian meals, tasty as it could be, is not precisely sitting nicely in your abdomen, so in the event you’re ever in fancy of a Balkan-Asian fusion, be sure Mala Kuhinja is in your record, or the upscale trattoria Tavola, proper within the metropolis heart.
Looking for a spot to remain? Sarajevo has an intensive supply of lodging, starting from funds to luxurious, but when you end up someplace within the center, there are whole, fully-furnished residences can be found on Booking.com from solely $48 per night time for two adults.
This Is How Authorities Are Improving Sarajevo For Tourists In 2025
You get the gist of it: Sarajevo (and Bosnia as an entire) is very cheap, it is incredibly-beautiful, and it is but to be ruined by the identical crowds which have made Italy’s Amalfi, or the French Riviera a dwelling hell.
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ), serviced by low-cost flights from throughout Europe and choose Middle Eastern locations, has already reported a 44% uptick in passengers this 12 months, as confirmed by Statistika, so it has been gaining traction.
You higher get there earlier than it is too late, as this gem will not keep hidden for lengthy.
On prime of that, authorities within the capital are investing closely in making Sarajevo better-connected, and extra tourist-friendly: the small airport has now expanded to host flights from main hubs like Dubai, Riyadh, and Kuwait, and the Old Town is present process revitalization.
It’s not unusual for historic facilities within the Balkan Peninsula to be somewhat rundown, given native authorities’s horrible observe document of defending monuments and materials heritage, however in Sarajevo’s case, vital efforts have been made to revive its pre-war glory.
Reconstructions apart, it is seen the opening of latest museums, like Sevdah Art House, each an artwork exhibit and a restaurant with an emphasis on sevdalinka, Bosnian people music, and even the buzzing Obala Maka Dizdara, a pedestrian promenade, is present process renovation.
On prime of that, for all of the biking fanatics on the market, a brand new, official bike path connecting Dubrovnik, in Croatia, to Sarajevo has just opened.
The 217-mile route has stops in stunning mountain villages, town of Mostar, well-known for its arched Ottoman bridge, and scenic lakes earlier than reaching the Miljacka River valley, the place Sarajevo lies.
Getting To Bosnia From America
Flying from the United States, the best method to attain Sarajevo is touching down first in a bigger transit airport, like Istanbul (IST), Vienna (VIE), Frankfurt (FRA), or Munich (MUC), and from there, board a low-cost flight to the Bosnian capital.
Prices for an intra-Europe flight to Sarajevo (SJJ) begin from solely $40, and cities like Vienna or Budapest, served by funds carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair, have a tendency to supply the bottom fare.
Alternatively, chances are you’ll attain it by bus from neighboring international locations that host U.S. flights, like Serbia or Croatia, for equally-cheap costs, or driving.
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