Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaPhoto: User:Felky, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, made simple: Ottoman bazaars, emerald rivers and mountain villages
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe's most rewarding and least crowded countries: a capital where minarets, church towers and a synagogue share one skyline, the famous old bridge of Mostar, waterfalls that pour through town centres and rivers so green they look painted. It can feel unfamiliar, with its recent history, a cash habit, mountain roads and landmine warnings to understand. This guide takes the guesswork out so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, safety advice and health, answered
- LandingSarajevo airport, SIM cards, convertible marks and your first night, explained
- Your days in Bosnia and HerzegovinaOld towns, rivers, mountains and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
Our local picks
Restaurants, things to do and nightlife
Our hand-picked spots in Nairobi and beyond, from must-haves to off the beaten path.
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Flights, stays and travel essentials
Search flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina and places to stay, and get set before you go.
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- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards, buses, tipping and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Bosnia and Herzegovina should feel like a warm welcome, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, transport, landmines and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Germany, Austria, Sweden, St. Louis or Melbourne to see family, or bringing your children to see where you grew up? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your Bosnia and HerzegovinaCity life, history, waterfalls, rafting or mountain villages: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, cafés, museums, hikes and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Sarajevo, Mostar, Jajce, Una and Trebinje at a realistic pace.
Everything your Bosnia and Herzegovina trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Sarajevo, Mostar, Jajce, Una National Park and Trebinje, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, museums, waterfalls, markets and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Sarajevo and stays in every region.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Bosnia and Herzegovina trip
Sarajevo, Mostar, the waterfalls and the south
Most first trips start with three nights in Sarajevo, then take the scenic train or bus south through the Neretva canyon to Mostar. From Mostar, day trips reach the Blagaj dervish house, the stone village of Počitelj and the Kravica waterfalls. With more time, head north to Jajce, where a waterfall drops into the town, and on to the Una river near Bihać, or go south to sunny Trebinje near the Croatian and Montenegrin borders. A week covers the classics; ten days to two weeks lets you add the north or the south.
- Baščaršija, the old bazaar of Sarajevo
- Mostar's Old Bridge and its divers
- Kravica falls and the Blagaj Tekke
- Jajce's town waterfall and the Una river
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, Herzegovina and the green north fit together.
Bosnia and Herzegovina destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Bosnia and Herzegovina rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, enough cash in convertible marks for buses, bakeries and villages, a realistic pace on mountain roads, staying on marked paths in the countryside, and a season that suits your plans, since Herzegovina is very hot in July and August while the mountains get real snow in winter. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic travel times between towns
- The right season for cities, rivers or skiing
- Where to base yourself in Herzegovina
Where to go in Bosnia and Herzegovina
From the capital Sarajevo and Mostar's Old Bridge to the waterfall town of Jajce, the wild Una river and sunny Trebinje.
Sarajevo Canton
Sarajevo
A valley capital where East meets West, with an Ottoman bazaar, moving war history and mountains on the doorstep.
Read the guidePhoto: User:Felky, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Herzegovina-Neretva Canton
Mostar
The famous Old Bridge over the green Neretva, a cobbled bazaar and day trips to waterfalls and stone villages.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central Bosnia Canton
Jajce
A royal fortress town where a waterfall drops into the centre, with wooden watermills on the lakes nearby.
Read the guidePhoto: Whitepixels, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Una-Sana Canton
Una National Park
The country's biggest national park, with an emerald river, wide waterfalls and some of Europe's best rafting.
Read the guidePhoto: Julian Nyča, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Republika Srpska, East Herzegovina
Trebinje
A sunny southern town of plane trees, stone bridges, monasteries and wine, close to Dubrovnik and Montenegro.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe to visit?
Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally safe for visitors, with low levels of violent crime against tourists. The main risks are road safety, petty theft in busy places, winter air pollution in Sarajevo and landmines left from the 1990s in some rural areas, so stay on paved roads and marked paths. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
What is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Sarajevo, in a valley in the centre of the country. Sarajevo International Airport is on the western edge of the city, and the capital is the hub for buses and trains to most regions.
Do I need a visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Many passports, including those of the EU, the UK and the United States, currently get visa-free short stays, but the rules vary by nationality. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina website before you book.
Is Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU or Schengen?
No. It is an EU candidate country but not a member, and it is not in the Schengen area, so days spent here do not count towards Schengen limits. It has its own currency, the convertible mark.
What money is used in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The convertible mark, written KM or BAM, which is pegged to the euro. Euros are sometimes accepted in tourist areas, but paying in marks is simpler and fairer. Carry cash for buses, bakeries, markets and small guesthouses.
Can BlissPoint Travel book my trip?
We are a free travel guide, not a tour operator. Use our trip planner to shape your route, and our partner links to compare flights and stays.
Ready to find your Bliss in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.