Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sarajevo?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sarajevo?
Most people spend one to three days in Sarajevo during their visit. The historical city offers amazing highlights such as the hiking, the historic old town, the cuisine, and the famous sights and museums.
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. While many people think of a war torn city from the 1990s, today Sarajevo is a culturally rich city with a beautiful city center and friendly people. There are still remnants of its difficult past, but the city today is filled with energy and amazing food. It's surrounded by beautiful mountains and train rides outside of town will take you through dramatic scenery.
Do you have one or two days to visit Sarajevo? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Sarajevo?
Sarajevo isn't a particularly popular city for tourists, despite having some sights and attractions worth seeing. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the hiking, the historic old town, and the cuisine. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for one to three days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
How to spend a day in Sarajevo
Known for it's hiking, Sarajevo sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. If you have a way to get out of town, you'll be rewarded with a natural beauty that is untouched and pristine - a rare find in Europe. There are a number of popular trails that are popular with locals and tourists alike. While landmines remain a concern in off-the-beaten-path areas, if you stay on marked trails, they pose no real threat.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Hiking / Snowshoeing to the Last Traditional Bosnian Village Lukomir ($71)
- Trekking Skakavac ($61)
- Hiking mountain Visocica ($70)
The culinary scene in Sarajevo is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Bosnia isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of food, but it is actually among the best. The dishes are heavy on meat and pastry, with the perfect amount of seasoning. Favorite dishes include Bosnian burek and cevapi. And it's easy to dine your way through this beautiful city as restaurants are very affordable.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Traditional Sarajevo Breakfast Food Tour ($34)
The public transit in Sarajevo is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. It includes a tram, trolleybus, bus and minibus network.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Sarajevo?
A weekend is the perfect amount of time in the historical city of Sarajevo, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to three days here. Over 2 days or on a weekend trip, you'll be able to explore the major attractions and go hiking, learn about the history of the town, dine out at amazing restaurants, and explore the museums and famous sights. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your weekend adventure below.
Sarajevo
How to spend 2 days in Sarajevo
Having a weekend (two to three days) in Sarajevo will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The city's old town, which is known as Baščaršija, is filled with a history charm that is unlike any other European city. The wooden shops, wandering lanes, and striking minarets highlight the area's beautiful culture and long-running history.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Discover Sarajevo Walking Tour with Local Guide ($18)
- Sarajevo Grand Walking Tour ($20)
- SARAJEVO STREET ART TOUR (art, history & mystery) - sARTajevo! ($29)
Sarajevo is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city's striking beauty contrasts with its tragic history. It is set against the backdrop of mountains, and the city has a long-running history that is unique to many parts of Europe.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Discover Sarajevo Walking Tour with Local Guide ($18)
- Sarajevo Grand Walking Tour ($20)
- Sensational Sarajevo Sunset Walking Tour ($18)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Sarajevo, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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