Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country guide
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a destination where a good road trip comes together very quickly. Sarajevo for the story, Mostar for the postcards, Herzegovina for rivers and rocky landscapes, and Neum for a short seaside break.
spring / early autumn
ćevapi and Bosnian coffee
convertible mark (BAM / KM)
A good first impression of the country often comes from its contrasts: in Sarajevo, within just a few minutes of walking, you can feel the Ottoman,
Austro-Hungarian and modern layers of the city, while Mostar is one of those places where history is almost always right in front of you. If you continue through Herzegovina, Blagaj, the Kravica waterfalls and a short seaside pause in Neum quickly come into play.
At a glance
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of those countries where distances are not great, yet the journey quickly feels full and layered. In a single trip, you get Sarajevo, Mostar, the rocky landscapes of Herzegovina, rivers, monasteries, Ottoman influences and Austro-Hungarian architecture — plus a brief touch of the sea in Neum.
The country works best as a road trip. Transfers are short, but the scenery changes quickly: morning coffee in Baščaršija, an afternoon viewpoint above the city, the next day already in Mostar or Blagaj, and then waterfalls, the Neretva River or the slower rhythm of Herzegovina.
These contrasts — between cultures, landscapes and travel pace — are exactly what make Bosnia interesting even in just a few days.
Worth experiencing
Sarajevo
Sarajevo is the best first contact with the country: Baščaršija, Bosnian coffee, views above the valley and places where history does not hide. For a first visit, Baščaršija, Vijećnica, the Gazi Husrev-beg complex, Vrelo Bosne and the Tunnel of Hope all work very well.
Mostar
Mostar is much more than just one photograph of the Old Bridge. The historic core developed in the 15th and 16th centuries, and today the Old Bridge and the old town are protected by UNESCO. It is at its best early in the morning or towards the evening, when there are fewer crowds and the light is softer.
Nature
Blagaj at the source of the Buna is one of the most photogenic stops, while the Kravica waterfalls on the Trebižat River are excellent for a short break or a swim in the warmer months. If you have more time, it is worth making a detour to Sutjeska National Park (the oldest in the country, with the option of hiking Maglić – the highest peak in Bosnia) or to Vjetrenica Cave near Ravno, one of the best-known karst caves in the region.
Neum
Neum is not just a transit point between borders. It is the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a good mini stop if you want your road trip to include a little sea, or just a walk along the waterfront.
Trip idea
- Day 1: Sarajevo and Baščaršija. Walk through the old core, visit the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and try Bosnian coffee. End the day with a view from one of the points above the city (for example Trebević or Yellow Fortress).
- Day 2: A deeper look into Sarajevo: Vijećnica (the restored city hall), the Tunnel of Hope as a key site from the siege of the city, or Vrelo Bosne as a natural park at the source of the Bosna River. Spend the evening back in the centre, when the city slows down a little.
- Day 3: Drive towards Mostar (around 2–2.5 hours). Stop in Blagaj at the source of the Buna and visit the 16th-century tekke beneath steep cliffs. In Mostar, walk across the Old Bridge (UNESCO) and through the old town.
- Day 4: Choose according to your pace: the Kravica waterfalls on the Trebižat River (swimming in season), or Vjetrenica Cave near Ravno, known for its karst features and stable temperature throughout the year. You can finish the day in Neum, the country’s only coastal town.
Neum
Many people know Neum mainly as an “in-between stop” on the way further south. But if you take a few hours or one night there,
you get a different feeling. A genuine Mediterranean touch, a few walking routes along the coast and the option of various outdoor activities.
- Best plan: a Bosnian lunch and a walk by the sea.
- If you stay overnight: off-season around €30–60, July–August often €60–120 or more.
- Outdoor activities: water sports (kayak, jet ski, pedal boat).
Neum is not just a summer beach stop, but also a base for cultural events — the international animation and underwater film festivals (the combination alone is interesting), Neum Summer Festival and Ethnofest Neum. On this page, it is not just a transit note, but a meaningful mini stop on a journey through Herzegovina.
Practical information
Borders and documents
For entry, you need a valid passport or
ID card, and the document should generally remain valid for at least three months after your planned departure from Bosnia and Herzegovina. On a road trip, it makes sense to keep your document close at hand, especially if you are combining Bosnia with Croatia or Montenegro.
Transport
For this kind of trip, a car is the easiest choice. There are buses between cities, but for Blagaj, Kravica, Vjetrenica or a more spontaneous personal road trip, a car gives you much more freedom. Bosnia and Herzegovina does not use a classic vignette system. On A1 motorway sections, tolls are paid based on the distance travelled, in cash, by card or through the ACC electronic system.
Food
The classic starting point: ćevapi, burek, sogan-dolma, klepe and strong Bosnian coffee. Sarajevo is excellent for a first contact with Bosnian cuisine, while Mostar and Herzegovina add a more Mediterranean feel.
It is a good idea to carry some cash in BAM/KM. The convertible mark is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 KM, which makes conversion easy in practice as well.
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