Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Sarajevo
Sarajevo is a picturesque valley city that displays its scars on its structures and wears its heart on its sleeve. This Balkan city is frequently mentioned as ... read more...the meeting point of east and west. The majority of the city's structures are Ottoman, although there are also several that are of the Austro-Hungarian architectural style. The Bascarsija, or city hall, is one of the most remarkable structures. The city is renowned for its places of worship as well. Several sites of worship are open for exploration in Sarajevo. A number of them are close to one another, notably the Tunnel of Hope, which served as the city's sole access to the outside world when it was under siege. Let's discover the list of the best places to visit in Sarajevo.
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A bobsleigh and luge track called the Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track is located on Trebevi mountain, which has a panoramic view of Sarajevo. It was built for the 1984 Winter Olympics, and the 8.5 million dollar luge and bobsleigh track were in service until the outbreak of the Yugoslav conflicts in 1991. As part of Barcelona's probable bid for the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, the Government of Sarajevo Canton created a committee in April 2022 to create a plan for the renovation and restoration of the entire complex.
Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track is one of the most beautiful in Europe and has breathtaking views of the city. The circuit is divided into two sections: a top part that begins at an elevated start house and extends for approximately 350 meters; and a middle segment that diverges from the main track at turn 7. Most visitors only visit the defunct bobsleigh track; they do not also see the neighbouring attractions. On the Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Track, which is situated on Trebevi mountain, you may try luge and bobsleigh. You can even get the tiniest glimpses of a war-torn past by peering through holes made in the concrete for snipers.
Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia và Herzegovina
Website: https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/sarajevo-olympic-bobsleigh-and-luge-track-54227.htmlTel: 387 62 612 612
Hour: Open all hours
Google Rating: 4.8/5 -
Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosqué is a 16th-century mosque in Sarajevo. It is the largest historical mosque in the country and a representative Ottoman structure throughout the Balkans. It has been a symbol of Bosnian culture for more than two centuries, and its majesty makes it a must-see for anyone visiting Sarajevo. The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosqué was built out of stone in Bosnia and Herzegovina and had no facade at the time. The first thing to notice is the stone pillars and arches. The main entrance is styled with arabesques, ornaments and gilding.
The height of the dome is 26 meters, its width is 13 meters and its length is 13 meters, so the building gives an amazing impression of harmony. The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosqué has an interior decoration that reflects its heritage as a historic building. A stone tablet, measuring 120 cm x 60 cm, contains an inscription in Arabic. The letters are gold-plated and surrounded by a blue stone surface. These letters can be counted and added to find the mosque’s construction year, 938. The mosque is surrounded by streets and only when you enter the courtyard you can see this beautiful object of a unique size.
In the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosqué, there is a fountain where you can drink water and the faithful can take ''abdest'' (the ritual of washing hands and feet, before a prayer). Beside the mosque there are two turrets - stone mausoleums; the larger one belongs to Gaza Husref bey and the smaller one to his friend Murat bey. Turbets were built for the bey's lifetime and today visitors throw in coins "for luck" or "special wishes." Nearby is a madrasah and a very rich library with books written in Bosnian, three Oriental and several European languages.
Location: Sarači 8, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://kasadoo.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina/sarajevo/sights/gazi-husrev-beg-mosque
Tel: 387 33 532-144
Hour: 9:00 AM - 19:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.8/5
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Srebrenica Gallery or Gallery 11/07/95 is the first memorial museum/gallery in Bosnia and Herzegovina – an exhibition space aiming to preserve the memory of the Srebrenica tragedy and 8372 persons who tragically lost their lives during the genocide. Over 100, 000 people died during the nearly four years of the Bosnian War. 8000 of them were Muslim men and boys, slaughtered by an army of Bosnian Serbs over three days in the United Nations ‘safe area’ – Srebrenica in the East of Bosnia. You will learn about history, an interesting thing to do in the Srebrenica Gallery.
Gallery 11/07/05 has two large televisions which play educational films on a loop. One TV tells the story of Srebrenica, and one film shares the stories of distraught women who never saw their husbands and sons again, many of which never had the chance to even bury them because the bodies of their loved ones were not identified in the mass graves. The other TV focuses on the Sarajevo Siege, giving you an insight into how the citizens of the city (Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats, Atheists) survived by running fast and sharing dark humour! You can take a tour of the Srebrenica Gallery with a guide who will explain the images on the walls. If you are on a budget, skip the tour and head straight to the films.
Location: Trg Fra Grge Martića 2, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://galerija110795.ba/
Tel: 387 33 684-032
Hour: 7:00 AM - 19:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.8/5
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Sarajevo City Hall, also known as Vijenica, was built in 1891. It is the most extravagant building constructed during the Austro-Hungarian occupation and serves as a symbol of the meeting of world civilizations. The project was overseen by Alexander Wittek, who had proposed his Pseudo-Moorish design – the perfect architectural unity of East and West – for the future seat of the city’s government. In 1949, the Sarajevo City Hall was handed over to the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was destroyed during the Serbian invasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992, but it has since been restored.
The Sarajevo City Hall is a grand structure that dominates the city’s landscape. It is a must-see attraction for visitors to the city. Today, the landmark, originally designed by Aleksander Wittek and Ciril Ivekovic, also hosts two museums: a history museum about the Siege of Sarajevo, and an international contemporary art collection, called Ars Aevi. Thanks to its elegant main hall — consisting of a hexagonal structure adorned with balconies, and intricate white, yellow, turquoise, and brown Islamic painting and plaster decoration — the Sarajevo City Hall has become popular with wedding photographers.Location: Obala Kulina Bana, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://www.vijecnica.ba/
Tel: 387 33 292-800
Hour: 9:00 AM - 17:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.7/5
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Sarajevo City Center is a business and shopping complex located in the heart of Sarajevo. It includes four parts: a modern five-star hotel, commercial and office space, a shopping and entertainment complex, and an underground parking garage. The project was initiated and developed by Al Shiddi Trading Establishment (ASTE), a Saudi company based in Riydh and Sarajevo. The company bought Magros and started construction. The name of the project is a play on the word Sarajevo. The location of the Sarajevo City Center is ideal for sightseeing in the city centre.
The Sarajevo City Center also provides a free airport pickup service. However, you will need to make sure you book ahead of time. Whether you are planning a business trip, a shopping spree or a family holiday, you can find everything you need in the centre of Sarajevo. This new complex will span a total area of over 100,000 square meters and is based on the latest architectural solutions. The result will be a landmark that will be recognizable throughout the region. It will include a shopping mall and a hypermarket that has a total area of about 38,000 m2. The Sarajevo City Center will also feature a public promenade for pedestrians.Location: Vrbanja 1, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://www.scc.ba/
Tel: 387 62 992 492
Hour: 7:00 AM - 22:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.7/5
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The Yellow Fortress is a cannon fortress at the entrance to the "Vratnik Walled City". It served as a strong defence point against Austro-Hungarian troops in 1878, but the fortress itself was damaged, and it was not completely restored until 1998. This fortress was built close to the Jajce Barracks and the Jekovac water reservoir. It is made of yellow rock and is a popular historical monument in Sarajevo.
Today, The Yellow Fortress is popular with tourists and locals alike. It’s about 15 minutes from Bascarsija and offers stunning views of the city. Standing here, the view is very good, you can enjoy the city view of Sarajevo and the large white cemetery below, the scene is extremely spectacular. The view from the top is stunning, especially during sunset when the City Hall Vijecnica lights up brightly. However, the fort is quite high so some people have difficulty in climbing it. If you are a professional photographer, you do not miss the Yellow Fortress.
Location: Jekovac, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://www.gpsmycity.com/attractions/sarajevo-olympic-bobsleigh-and-luge-track-54227.html
Hour: 9:00 AM - 23:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.6/5
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The Latin Bridge is a bridge over the river Miljacka in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A ledger from 1541 makes the first mention of a bridge located on the spot where the bridge is found today, stating that it was built by one leather worker named Husein, the son of Širmed. One can conclude from a later document that this initial wooden bridge was soon destroyed and a stone bridge was built in its place by Ali Ajni Bey, a prominent Sarajevan. This stone bridge was later washed away by a great flood in 1791, but in 1798 a wealthy trader from Sarajevo, Abdulah Briga, donated funds for the construction of the Latin Bridge that can be seen today.
The bridge took its name from the neighbourhood on the left bank of the Miljacka, where Sarajevo’s Catholics resided. From 1918 to 1993 the structure bore the name, Principov Most, after Gavrilo Princip, who was only a few meters from this bridge when he assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife. Today, The Latin Bridge is one of the most visited attractions in Sarajevo. The most striking feature of the bridge is the north-western tip. The bridge is one of the oldest in the city and is a fine example of an Ottoman-era bridge. The Latin Bridge had five arches, but one of them was walled in during the regulation of the Miljacka River’s bed.Location: Obala Kulina Bana, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://sarajevo.travel/en/things-to-do/the-latin-bridge/177
Hour: Open all hours
Google Rating: 4.6/5 -
The Avaz Twist Tower is a must-see attraction located in the heart of Sarajevo. The impressive tower with a total height of 175 meters, which has 32,000 square meters, was built in less than three years. The tower was opened in May 2009, it was designed by architect Faruk Kapidzica, this tower is considered one of the most impressive buildings in Europe. More than 10,000 light bulbs are installed inside the tower.
The facade is assembled from more than 200,000 parts, invisible from the attractive glass. As such, Avaz Twist Tower, along with Baščaršija, has become an indispensable detail on the tourist map of Sarajevo and the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tower also hosts an annual race: the Avaz Tower Running, in which competitors run up 780 steps to the observation deck. During the New Year's holidays, up to 10,000 tourists visited the viewpoint, that is, the Avaz Twist Tower.
The Avaz Tower was also included among the ten most beautiful buildings in the world as chosen by a special committee of the "Schuco" company, the world's largest manufacturer of glass and aluminium facades. You can entry to the tower is free and you can even drink at the bar on the 35th floor. In addition, you can take the glass elevator up to the tower's lookout point to experience 360-degree views of the city.
Location: Tešanjska 24A, Sarajevo 71000, Bosnia và Herzegovina
Website: https://avaztwisttower.com/
Tel: 387 33 281-350
Hour: 7:00 AM - 23:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.6/5
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Sarajevo Tunnel, sometimes referred to as the Tunel spasa and the Tunnel of Hope, was built between March and June 1993 while Sarajevo was under siege during the Bosnian War. 800 meters of man-made underground tunnel connected the Sarajevo neighborhoods of Dobrinja and Butmir, enabling the entry of food, military supplies, and humanitarian aid as well as the exit of residents. The Sarajevo Tunnel became a crucial method of getting under the international arms embargo and arming the city guard.
The Sarajevo Tunnel measures an average of 1.6 meters in height on the Dobrinja side, 0.8 meters in width on the upper part, and 1 meters in width on the bottom. There are two reasons to go on a tour. Firstly, it's quite a distance from the city, so you'll need a taxi, but the trip takes you there by minibus and also takes you through Sniper Alley, the primary road that the army targeted. Secondly, a knowledgeable local is needed to explain locations with such a complicated past.The tour featured a small cost and the chance to explore a portion of the tunnel that is open to the public, as well as a detailed explanation of the causes, traits, and effects of the Sarajevo Siege. You were transported to the Tunnel of Hope by minivan. Bajro Kolar, a local who oversees the private museum, is the owner of the residence and the property close to the entrance to the Sarajevo Tunnel. The Tunnel Museum is frequently mentioned as one of Sarajevo's most worthwhile wartime attractions on guided tours of the city.
Location: Tuneli, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: http://tunelspasa.ba/
Tel: 387 33 684-032
Hour: 7:00 AM - 19:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.5/5 -
Bascarsija is Sarajevo's oldest neighbourhood. It has been a market place since the Ottoman Empire in 1462. The city at this time was centred around the Mosque of Emperor Ali Pasha. As the population grew, local leaders built a bridge over the Miljacka River to connect the mosque area with Bascarsija, which became the city's first suburb. While you're here, you'll see war memorials, including the military tunnel museum, located outside the city centre. This market is located on the famous craft street Kazandžiluk, accessible from three points: Baščaršija Square, Bravadžiluk Street and Luledžina Street.
Bascarsija expanded over time while preserving an essential legacy of trade and craftsmanship. Here, vendors and producers from the Balkans and beyond would come to sell their items. Everything from spices, exquisite metalwork, and tourist trinkets to coffee pots in the Turkish style may be found here. There are lively cafes, live street entertainment, and people having a good time all across the city, including the bazaar.
You should carry your camera with you when you visit Bascarsija. It's the ideal location for taking some distinctive pictures and purchasing a unique keepsake. You'll note the impact of the east in this area, especially given the proximity of the Orthodox and Catholic churches to mosques, synagogues, and other religious buildings. Additionally, Bascarsija is home to many excellent eateries that serve the regional speciality of grilled meat, vegetables, and spices. If it sounds good, you should try the Cevapcici first.
Location: Baščaršija 1, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Website: https://bascarsija.ba/
Tel: 387 62 622 350
Hour: 8:00 AM - 20:00 PM
Google Rating: 4.5/5