Ottoman bridges, green rivers and layered history.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mountainous Balkan country with rivers, old towns and a mix of cultures. It suits travellers interested in history, food and nature at low prices. It is known for Sarajevo, the bridge at Mostar and waterfalls like Kravica. The 1990s war is still part of many conversations, and visitors are welcomed warmly.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Mostar's Old Bridge is a 16th-century Ottoman arch over the Neretva river. It was destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004.
Baščaršija is Sarajevo's Ottoman bazaar with copper workshops, mosques and cafés. Nearby Austro-Hungarian streets show the city's mix.
Kravica is a wide curtain of waterfalls on the Trebižat river. You can swim in the pool below in summer.
Blagaj Tekke is a dervish house set against a cliff at the spring of the Buna river. It is a peaceful spot with cafés.
Počitelj is a fortified hillside village with a mosque and tower. It overlooks the Neretva valley.
This museum preserves part of the tunnel that supplied Sarajevo during the siege. It explains life in the city during the war.
The Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge is a long Ottoman bridge on the Drina river. It inspired a famous novel by Ivo Andrić.
Jajce is a fortress town with a waterfall in its centre. Watermills sit nearby at Pliva lakes.
Una National Park protects the green Una river with waterfalls at Štrbački Buk. Rafting is popular.
Sutjeska has one of Europe's last primeval forests and the country's highest peak. A war memorial stands in the valley.
The Potočari memorial and cemetery honour victims of the 1995 genocide. An exhibition explains what happened.
Lukomir is a remote highland village on the edge of the Rakitnica canyon. Stone houses have traditional roofs.
Travnik was a seat of Ottoman viziers and has a fortress and painted mosque. It is known for cheese.
Trebinje is a sunny southern town with plane trees and wineries. It is close to Dubrovnik.
Vjetrenica is the largest cave in the country and very rich in cave species. Guided tours run part way inside.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Capital with a rich mix of cultures.
culture, history · Open the city guideOld bridge and Herzegovina day trips.
history · Guide comingWaterfall fortress town.
nature · Guide comingUna National Park.
nature · Guide comingSunny south.
food · Guide comingOttoman-era town with a fortress and good food.
history, food · Guide comingSecond city, relaxed with a river and fortress.
city life, food · Guide comingCapital in a valley ringed by mountains.
Baščaršija, Tunnel of Hope, Lukomir
Warm, rocky south with rivers.
Mostar, Kravica, Blagaj
Old fortress towns.
Jajce, Travnik
Green rivers and waterfalls.
Una National Park, Bihać
Canyons, forest and mountain parks.
Visegrad, Sutjeska, Tara River
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: May to June and September. Mild weather and fewer crowds.
Herzegovina in the south is very hot in summer, while mountain areas get heavy snow in winter.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
36°F daily high, 29°F average, 3.0 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution); stay on marked paths in rural areas because of landmines.
Buses link towns and a scenic train runs Sarajevo to Mostar, but roads are winding.
Very good value for food and stays.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on the passports and visas page of the Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UK (bhembassy.co.uk) or the embassy in your country, and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type C, F; 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Tap water | safe |
| Tipping | Round up or leave about 10 percent. |
| Payments | Carry cash in marka, especially outside cities. |
| Emergency | 122 police, 124 ambulance, 123 fire |
| Etiquette | Be sensitive about the war and avoid taking sides. Accept offered coffee; it is part of hospitality. |
| What to wear | Cover up in mosques. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Buses link most towns, and the Sarajevo to Mostar train is scenic. Driving is easy but slow on mountain roads. |
| Main airports | SJJ, OMO, BNX |
| Ride apps | Taxis (Sarajevo), Bolt (limited) |
The area was ruled by medieval Bosnian kings, then the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century and Austria-Hungary from 1878. The assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 helped trigger the First World War. After Yugoslavia broke up, a war from 1992 to 1995 caused great loss, including the Srebrenica genocide. The Dayton Agreement created today's complex state with two main entities.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.