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Matt Munro

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.

Explore Bosnia & Hercegovina

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • W

    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:…

  • G

    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…

  • Sarajevo City Hall

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

  • S

    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…

  • 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…

  • S

    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…

  • O

    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…

Top attractions

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

  • See

    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…

  • See

    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…

  • See

    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:…

  • See

    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…

  • See

    Sarajevo City Hall

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

  • See

    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…

  • See

    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…

  • See

    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…

  • See

    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…

Featured videos

Ask LP: where are Europe's greatest rail journeys?

7:45

Guidebooks

Learn more about Bosnia & Hercegovina

Ready to go? Get to the heart of Bosnia & Hercegovina with one of Lonely Planet's in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.

Eastern Europe