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🇧🇦Things to Do in Bosnia and Herzegovina
From Mostar's rebuilt Old Bridge to Sarajevo's layered history - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Bosnia and Herzegovina holds a rare mix of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and recent wartime history within a small area - Sarajevo alone shows Islamic, Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish architecture within a few blocks, and the country's 1990s conflict remains visible and openly discussed rather than hidden. Mostar's rebuilt bridge, destroyed in that war and reconstructed afterward, has become the country's best-known image. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Mostar Old Bridge (Stari Most)
A 16th-century Ottoman bridge destroyed during the 1990s war and rebuilt using original construction techniques, reopened in 2004 - local divers still jump from it into the river below for tips, a tradition centuries old.
📍 Mostar
🚉 Nearest station: Mostar, on the line from Sarajevo - the two-and-a-half-hour train ride through the Neretva canyon is one of the best in the Balkans, and the bridge is a 15-minute walk from the platform.
Sarajevo Old Town (Bascarsija)
Sarajevo's Ottoman-era bazaar district, where mosques, a Catholic cathedral, an Orthodox church and a synagogue all sit within walking distance - a point locals often highlight as central to the city's identity.
📍 Sarajevo
🚉 Sarajevo's tram line 1 runs from the railway station to Bascarsija in about 20 minutes, ending at the Sebilj fountain in the middle of the Ottoman quarter.
Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum
A preserved section of the tunnel dug beneath Sarajevo's airport during the 1992-96 siege, used to move people and supplies in and out of the besieged city - a direct, unfiltered look at recent history.
📍 Sarajevo
🚉 The museum is beside the airport in Butmir: tram 3 to Ilidza then bus 32, or a 20-minute taxi from the centre - most visitors combine it with the Tunnel of Hope walking tour.
Kravice Waterfalls
A wide, tiered waterfall on the Trebizat River near Mostar, with a natural pool at the base popular for swimming in summer - considerably less crowded than comparable waterfalls in neighboring Croatia.
📍 Near Mostar
🚉 The falls are 40km south of Mostar with no scheduled service - taxis, tours and hire cars cover the road via Ljubuski, and a shuttle train runs down from the car park in summer.
Blagaj Tekke
A 16th-century Dervish monastery built directly against a cliff face at the source of the Buna River, one of the strongest karst springs in Europe.
📍 Blagaj, near Mostar
🚉 Bus 10 from Mostar runs to Blagaj village hourly, taking about 30 minutes, leaving a 10-minute walk to the dervish house at the source of the Buna river.
Jahorina & Bjelasnica
Two mountains near Sarajevo that hosted alpine skiing events at the 1984 Winter Olympics, now operating as ski resorts in winter and hiking areas in summer.
📍 Near Sarajevo
🚉 Both Olympic mountains are about an hour from Sarajevo: ski shuttles run in winter from the centre, and taxis or hire cars cover them the rest of the year.
Mark Bosnia and Herzegovina, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
4-5 days covers Sarajevo and Mostar well, including a day trip to Kravice Waterfalls or Blagaj. A week lets you slow the pace considerably.
What's the best time to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina?
May-September has the warmest weather, best for Kravice Waterfalls and Mostar. Ski season at Jahorina and Bjelasnica runs roughly December-March.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina good for a first-time visit?
Yes - Sarajevo and Mostar are both walkable and well set up for tourism, and it remains one of the more affordable countries in the Balkans to visit.
Do I need a visa to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Many nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU, can visit visa-free for short tourist stays; other nationalities need a visa arranged in advance. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mvp.gov.ba.
What are some things to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a tight budget?
Walking Sarajevo's Bascarsija and Mostar's Old Bridge area costs nothing, Bosnian food (cevapi, burek) is very cheap, and Kravice Waterfalls charges a modest entry fee relative to comparable natural attractions elsewhere.
Can I rent a car in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it opens up the waterfalls and mountain villages that buses reach slowly. EU licences are valid as issued; other visitors need an International Driving Permit alongside the home licence. Minimum age is usually 21 with a credit card. Headlights must be on day and night, winter equipment is compulsory from November to April, and a green card is required to take the car into Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro. One serious caution: landmines remain in some rural areas away from roads and marked paths, so do not wander off marked ground. Official visitor information comes from the city and cantonal tourism boards - Sarajevo's is at sarajevo.travel - and the driving rule for your own licence is worth confirming with the Bosnian embassy before you travel.