Places to Visit in Bosnia And Herzegovina

Places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina offer many things for those who will make a visa-free Balkan tour or trip. The country, which has a rich cultural heritage, meets expectations with its natural beauties. The country, which experienced civil war at the time, is now one of the most popular places in the Balkans. It is a magnificent country with its food, historical artifacts, and warm-blooded people. There are a lot of things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Stari Most Mostar Old Bridge Must-see Tourist spots in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stari Most – Mostar Old Bridge – Must-see Tourist spots in Bosnia and Herzegovina

List of The Best Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Where to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Sarajevo and Mostar are among the must-see places in this unique country of the Balkans. Especially historical Mostar Bridge is awesome. Apart from these two cities, there are places to see.

Unfortunately, there is a bitter civil war in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which declared its independence in 1992. It is possible to see the traces of this while traveling in Bosnia. Especially in cities like Mostar, you can see notes like ‘Don’t forget 93’ written on anywhere. I think it would be useful to do some research on the past of the country before coming here.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, there are many natural beauties that you can discover within the borders of the country. For example, places such as Kravica Waterfalls and Jajce Pliva Waterfall must be seen.

1- Sarajevo – Top Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 Sarajevo is the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a very special and historical city in the country. You can feel the history while exploring this beautiful city. Especially there are many tourist attractions which were from the Ottoman Empire period.

Where are the best places to visit in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina? Destinations such as Başçarşı, Sebilj, Gazi Hüsrev Bey Mosque, Latin Bridge, Eternal Fire, Tunnel of Hope (War Museum), National Library, Horse Square Park (At Meidan Park), and Ferhadiye Street are among the top places to see.

Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina Places to visit in Sarajevo Sebilj

Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Places to visit in Sarajevo – Sebilj

Aside from tourist destinations in the city, Sarajevo’s nightlife is very vibrant. After taking a cultural tour during the day, you can enjoy the nightlife after the sunset. There are good places to hang out at night in the Bascarsija region.

Where to stay in Sarajevo? If you look for cheap and comfortable hotels or hostels in Sarajevo, check this booking website and Hotelscombined.

Check my other travel blogs for the Balkans.

2- Mostar

Famous for its historical Mostar Bridge, the city is one of the most popular tourist stops for travelers. Located on both sides of the Neretva River, Mostar is only a few hours away from the capital Sarajevo. Traveling through the greenery on the way here also makes you happy.

Mostar Bridge Stari Most Balkans historical tourist destinations

Mostar Bridge Stari Most – Balkans historical tourist destinations

What are the must-see spots in the list of places to visit in Mostar? You can see the historical Mostar Bridge (Stari Most), Karagöz Bey Mosque, Koski Mehmet Pasha Mosque, Tara and Halebija Towers, and Blagaj Tekija (Dervish House), Biscevic House Museum, Kriva Cuprija Bridge, Muslibegovic House. You can explore all those places in a day by walking.

During the Mostar tour, you will witness that there are many Ottoman period artifacts in the city. In addition, it is possible to see the traces of bullets and artillery that damaged the city during the 93 Bosnian War in some buildings. The city really takes you back to the past. If you want to stay in Mostar, you book your hotel via Booking or HotelsCombined.

3- Počitelj

Known as the last Ottoman Village in the Balkans, Poçitel looks like a typical Turkish village. You will notice that if you have already visited Turkey. Buildings such as old stone houses with tile roofs, mosques, madrasas, and baths greatly increase the cultural value of the city.

Pocitelj Where to go in the Balkans Travel guide

Pocitelj – Where to go in the Balkans – Travel guide

Poçitelj is just near the Neretva River like Mostar. The city also remained under Ottoman Empire rule for 400 years.

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If you take a trip to Poçitelj, you definitely visit Visoka Castle and Saat Castle. Where is Poçitelj, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and how to get there? It is located 30 kilometers from Mostar. A daily trip is enough for this small beautiful town. If you are going to cross the Croatian Dubrovnik side, you can stop by on the way.

4- Trebinje – Beautiful Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Trebinje is one of the cities you might want to see during your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the south of the country. It draws attention with its location close to the border gates of Croatia and Montenegro, which is one of the visa-free Balkan countries.

How to get to Hercegova Monastery Gracanicacka Trebinje

How to get to Hercegova Monastery Gracanicacka – Trebinje

Trebinje is a very quiet city with a population of 30 thousand. No one is in a rush here. The city is on both sides of the Trebisnjica River. If you want to stay in Trebinje, you can check the hotel list.

Among the places to visit in Trebinje, you can see works of Ottoman architecture. In addition, Hercegovačka Gračanica Monastery, which has a beautiful view of the city, is one of the most important structures in the city. This Serbian Orthodox monastery draws attention with its resemblance to the Gračanica Monastery in Kosovo. Structures such as Tvrdos Monastery, Old City, and Arslanagica Bridge are other points of interest.

5- Kravica Waterfall

Kravica Waterfall is a magnificent natural wonder that should be on the list of the best tourist places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The waterfall is a nice summer getaway for Bosnians. In summer, you can swim in the water of the waterfall to cool off.

Kravica Waterfall Beautiful places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kravica Waterfall – Beautiful places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

You can spend a few pleasant hours at Kravica Waterfall because it has a stunning beauty. There are also restaurants where you can eat at the waterfall. The entrance fees to the waterfall vary according to the season: 6 KM from October to May, 8 KM from June to September, and 10 KM from July and August.

Where is Kravica Waterfall in Bosnia and Herzegovina? It is located between Mostar and the Croatian border. But it is a little closer to the border. If you are going to cross from Croatia to Bosnia, you can stop by here first.

6- Travnik – Things to Do in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Travnik is one of the cities that should be included in the Bosnia and Herzegovina travel guide. The number of Ottoman artifacts in the Balkans is also quite high in this city. This place is also known as the City of Viziers.

Top places to visit in Bosnia and herzegovina Travnik Travel blog

Top places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Travnik Travel blog

What are the places to visit in Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina? Alaca Mosque (Šarena Džamija or Süleymaniya Mosque), Travnik Castle, Hacı Ali Bey Mosque, Elçi İbrahim Pasha Madrasa, and the House-Museum of Nobel Prize-winning author Ivo Andric. If you want to stay in this charming city, you can make a reservation from this link.

Where is Travnik and how to get there? It is located approximately one and a half hours northwest of the capital Sarajevo. So you can easily reach the intercity Balkan buses.

7- Jajce – Top Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jajce is a city built on the banks of the Vrbas River. The city got its name from the large and small hills around it that look like eggs. Because Jajce means egg in Serbian and Bosnian.

Visa free countries Jajce Pliva Waterfall

Visa free countries – Jajce Pliva Waterfall

So where are the places to visit in Jajce? There is Pliva Waterfall which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. You can also visit Jajce Castle,  St. Mary’s Church, Ethnography Museum, Travnik Gate, Virgin Mary Church, St. Luke’s Bell Tower, Bear Tower, The Catacombs (underground tombs), and Esma Sultan Mosque.

So where is Jajce and how to get there? It is 65 kilometers from Travnik. So if you want to stay here for a night, check this hotel list for places to stay in Jajce.

8- Visegrad

One of the best things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina is to visit Visegrad. Because there is the famous and historic Drina Bridge in Visegrad.

The Drina Bridge is also known as the ‘Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge’. The bridge, which was built between 1571 and 1577, still preserves its splendor as on its first day. The bridge is also on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Visegrad Drina Bridge Tourist Destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visegrad Drina Bridge – Best Tourist Destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina

As a note, Ivo Andric has one novel called Bridge on the Drina. You can read this bestseller book during your Balkan trip.

Where is the city of Visegrad on the list of places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and how to get there? Surrounded by lush green hills, this beautiful city is located within the borders of Republika Srpska in Bosnia. It is located very close to the Serbian border.

9- Banja Luka

Banja Luka is one of the places you can visit during your Bosnia trip. Banja Luka is the country’s second-largest city. And also it is the capital of the Bosnian Serb Republic (Republika Srpska). As a matter of fact, Bosnian Serbs make up the bulk of the population.

The city is very famous for its meatballs called ‘Banjalucki cevapi’. So if you wonder what to eat in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the answer is banjalucki cevapi.

Ferhadiye Mosque Banja Luka Travel guide blog

Ferhadiye Mosque – Banja Luka Travel guide blog

What are the must-see places in Banja Luka? Ferhad Pasha Mosque (Ferhadiye Mosque), Banja Luka Castle, Church of Christ the Savior, and  Gospodska Street.

Banja Luka is one of the most vibrant holiday destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in terms of nightlife. As in the capital Sarajevo, you can have fun in the evenings here. Check out the hotel list for where to stay in Banja Luka.

10- Neum – Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Is there a sea to swim in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Yes, there is only one city where you can swim. It’s Neum.

When you look at the map of the Balkan Region, you will see that Croatia has captured almost the entire Adriatic Sea coastline and the Dalmatian Coast. A total of 20 kilometers of coastline has been left for Bosnia in the area where the city of Neum is located.

As such, Neum is one of the cities that can be preferred for sea tourism. While the holiday resorts of Montenegro and Croatia are still there, I guess no one goes to Neum, but I still wanted to add this city to the list of places to visit and touristic places in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Places to visit in Neum Where to swim in Bosnia and herzegovina

Places to visit in Neum – Where to swim in Bosnia and Herzegovina

11- Srebrenica 

Srebrenica is a city that has bad memories because of the Srebrenica Genocide. 8373 innocent Muslim Bosniaks were killed while the whole world was watching in 1995.

The massacre in Srebrenica, a city that makes people sad, is a pain that should never be forgotten. The graves of those who lost their lives in the Genocide are in the Potaçarı Memorial Cemetery. The dead bodies of some victims are still not found.

So If you want to know more about the genocide and observe this pain in place, you can add this place to your Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary.

Srebrenica Genocide Memorial

Srebrenica Genocide Memorial

12- Tara Canyon

As a bonus, the Tara Canyon, which you can add to the list of places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Actually it is located in Montenegro. So you may need to cross the Montenegrin border to tour this place completely or to take a rafting tour in Tara Canyon. But this is not a problem as both countries are on the list of visa-free countries.

Tara Canyon holds the title of being the deepest canyon in Europe and the second deepest in the world, with a depth of 1300 meters. It is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can also see the beautiful Tara River here.

For the adventurous, you can do a rafting tour here. The rafting season starts in April and continues until October. The highest water flow occurs between April and June.

So if you are planning a Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro trip, you should add Tara Canyon within the borders of Durmitor National Park to your itinerary. In addition, Durdevica Tara Bridge in Montenegro is one of the places to see.

If you are planning a Balkan tour, I suggest you to read those articles:

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