{"id":26096,"date":"2018-03-24T01:00:07","date_gmt":"2018-03-23T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=26096"},"modified":"2025-03-25T22:17:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T11:17:11","slug":"sarajevo-balkans-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/sarajevo-balkans-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sarajevo is the must-visit city in the Balkans"},"content":{"rendered":"

I came to Europe for Dubrovnik but I left with my heart in Sarajevo.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sorry for the travel clich\u00e9 \u2013 believe me, I\u2019m not normally one to use them (at least not out loud). Sarajevo just gave me such a profound travel experience, I think a little \u201ccheese\u201d is only fair.<\/p>\n

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a><\/strong> is so much more than just that. It\u2019s where East meets West, where mountains meet city and where tradition meets modernity. But it\u2019s the tragic parts of its past that have shaped how Sarajevo is today. It\u2019s these qualities \u2013 like Sarajevan\u2019s dark sense of humour \u2013 I came to learn and appreciate on my 15-day Balkan Adventure<\/strong> tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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And so, I developed a teenage-like crush on Sarajevo that I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever get over. Here are 5 reasons why I think you\u2019ll love it too.<\/p>\n

RELATED READ: 4 BENEFITS OF VISITING THE BALKANS ON AN INTREPID TOUR\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

East meets West charm<\/h2>\n

Our guide in Sarajevo, Muhamed, stopped and told us to look down. We were standing on the \u201cMeeting of Cultures\u201d, the spot where the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman cultural influences merge. The west\u2019s tall, pastel-hued buildings abruptly end and east\u2019s short buildings with red-tiled roofs begin \u2013 contrasting yet harmonious.<\/p>\n

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Sarajevo is one of few cities you can walk to a Catholic church, Orthodox church, synagogue and mosque in a day. There are hookah bars and craft breweries, Turkish coffee and vanilla lattes, 500-year-old markets and modern shopping malls. Sarajevo<\/a> <\/strong>has the best of both worlds (literally).<\/p>\n

VISIT SARAJEVO ON OUR CLASSIC BALKAN ADVENTURE TOUR\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eat seriously delicious food<\/h2>\n

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If you\u2019re travelling in Sarajevo, you\u2019ll never go to bed hungry \u2013 trust me. There are just so many delicious things to eat, from hearty \u0107evapi to flaky burek.<\/p>\n

My Intrepid group stayed in a guesthouse \u2013 something I highly recommend doing if you\u2019re in Bosnia & Herzegovina<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 and we were treated to delicious breakfasts and a cooking class ran by the wonderful women who were hosting us. We made sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls) and punjena paprika (stuffed peppers), and it was one of the tastiest meals I\u2019ve ever eaten. And I\u2019ve eaten a lot<\/em> in my lifetime.<\/p>\n

CHECK OUT OUR 12-DAY FOOD TOUR IN THE BALKANS\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

History that even non-history buffs will get into<\/h2>\n

Where are my fellow history nerds? Sarajevo is our paradise. As if the clashing Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires isn\u2019t interesting enough, Sarajevo is where World War I all began. Well, sort of. It\u2019s where Bosnian-Serb Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. (A.k.a. what sparked a domino effect that led to Austria-Hungary declaring war). And yes, I was absolutely elated to visit that fateful intersection.<\/p>\n

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But Sarajevo also harbours some darker memories of war, including WWII, and more recently, a 4-year siege during the war in the 1990s. On an Urban Adventures day trip, we had the honour of hearing Muhamed\u2019s personal experience<\/strong> when he was only 10-years-old during this time. It was so much more impactful learning about it firsthand.<\/p>\n

While Sarajevans have kept their spirits high through the tragedies, they kept reminders around the city like \u201cSarejevo Roses\u201d (see above), a concrete scar from a motar shelling and the Eternal Flame, an ever-burning flame in memorial to the victims of WWII.<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID’S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Be welcomed with open arms<\/h2>\n

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As a solo traveller, safety is an important consideration for me. Well, it\u2019s mainly for my mom\u2019s peace of mind (classic parent, right?). During my time in Sarajevo, I felt safe the entire time. Travelling with a group contributed to that sense of comfort, of course.<\/p>\n

Having both my Intrepid leader, Dinko, and my Sarajevo guide, Muhamed, able to share their language, street sense and expertise was great to start me off on the right foot. But much of my free time exploring there, I did alone. From our kind-hearted guesthouse host to friendly staff that chatted with me at a local caf\u00e9, I felt a sense of hospitality in Sarajevo that was just so pure and genuine.<\/p>\n

RELATED READ: 7 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hub for exciting day trips<\/h2>\n

To be honest, I could spend my lifetime in Sarajevo \u2013 just sitting in cafes, wandering its peaceful streets and eating my bodyweight in burek. But why would I anyways when I could also explore some of the incredible spots nearby too?<\/p>\n

Here are some of the awesome trips I did from Sarajevo:<\/p>\n

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