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Bosnia & Hercegovina

Craggily beautiful Bosnia and Hercegovina is most intriguing for its East-meets-West atmosphere born of blended Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian histories filtered through a Southern Slavic lens. Many still associate the country with the heartbreaking civil war of the 1990s, and the scars from that time are all too visible. But today's visitors are likely to remember the country for its deep, unassuming human warmth, its beautiful mountains, numerous medieval castle ruins, raftable rivers, impressive waterfalls and bargain-value skiing.

Major drawcards include the reincarnated historical centres of Sarajevo and Mostar, counterpointing splendid Turkish-era stone architecture with quirky bars, inviting street-terrace cafes, traditional barbecue restaurants and vibrant arts scenes. There's plenty of interest to discover in the largely rural hinterland too, all at prices that make the country one of Europe's best-value destinations.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Bosnia & Hercegovina.

  • Bridge

    Stari Most

    The world-famous Stari Most (meaning simply 'Old Bridge') is Mostar's indisputable visual focus. Its pale stone magnificently reflects the golden glow of…

  • Waterfall

    Kravica Waterfall

    There's a slightly unreal Disney-esque quality to this outstanding natural attraction, where the Trebižat River plummets in a broad 25m-high arc into an…

  • Museum

    War Childhood Museum

    This affecting museum had its genesis in a 2013 book edited by Jasminko Halilović, in which he asked a simple question of survivors of the Sarajevo siege:…

  • Museum

    Galerija 11/07/95

    This gallery uses stirring photography, video footage and audio testimonies of survivors and family members to create a powerful memorial to the 8372…

  • Architecture

    Sarajevo City Hall

    A storybook neo-Moorish striped facade makes the triangular Vijećnica (1896) Sarajevo's most beautiful Austro-Hungarian–era building. Seriously damaged…

  • Cable Car

    Sarajevo Cable Car

    Reopened in 2018 after being destroyed during the war, Sarajevo's cable car once again shuttles people on a nine-minute ride, climbing 500m to a viewpoint…

  • Cemetery

    Srebrenica-Potočari Memorial Centre

    Based in and around the derelict battery factory that served as the Potočari UN base, this memorial centre incorporates a major display entitled…

  • Fortress

    Ostrožac Fortress

    Ostrožac is one of Bosnia's most photogenic castles, a spooky Gothic place high above the Una Valley, up 3km of hairpins towards Cazin. There's plenty to…

  • Islamic Site

    Blagaj Tekke

    Forming Blagaj's signature attraction, the centrepiece of this complex of traditional stone-roofed buildings is a very pretty half-timbered dervish house…

  • Bridge

    Mehmed Pasha Sokolović Bridge

    Built in 1571 and named after the grand vizier who commissioned it, this glorious 11-arch bridge is the only structure in Bosnia confirmed as being…

  • Waterfall

    Milančev Buk

    Collectively, this group of cascades tumbles down a vertical height of more than 50m, with a wide arc of rivulets pouring into a series of pools…

  • Area

    Baščaršija

    Centred on what foreigners nickname Pigeon Square, with its ornate gazebo-like Sebilj drinking fountain (built in 1891), Baščaršija is the very heart of…

  • Waterfall

    Štrbački Buk

    A strong contender for the title of the nation's most impressive waterfall, Štrbački Buk is a seriously dramatic 40m-wide cascade, pounding 23.5m down…

  • Museum

    National Museum of BiH

    Bosnia's biggest and best-endowed museum of ancient and natural history is housed in an impressive, purpose-built quadrangle of neoclassical 1913…

  • Museum

    Tunnel of Hope

    During the 1992–95 siege, when Sarajevo was surrounded by Bosnian Serb forces, the only link to the outside world was an 800m-long, 1m-wide, 1.6m-high…

  • Museum

    History Museum of BiH

    Somewhat misleadingly named, this small yet engrossing museum occupies a striking, still partly war-damaged 1960s socialist-modernist building originally…

  • Museum

    Kajtaz House

    Hidden behind tall walls, Mostar's most interesting old house was once the harem (women's) section of a larger homestead built for a 16th-century Turkish…

  • Fortress

    Vranduk Fortress

    In a deep, thickly wooded valley, the River Bosna turns abruptly almost 180 degrees creating a sharp ridge on which this little 15th-century fortress sits…

  • Waterfall

    Jajce Waterfall

    Jajce's impressive 21m-high waterfall forms where the Pliva River tumbles abruptly into the Vrbas. A viewing platform (adult/child 4/2KM) has been built…

  • Mosque

    Ferhadija Mosque

    The standout sight in Banja Luka is this small but gorgeous mosque, built in 1579 at the behest of Ottoman district commander Ferhat-paša Sokolović. It…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Bosnia & Hercegovina.

  • Activities

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