Sarajevo in 48 Hours
From Zagreb, I took a detour to Bosnia’s capital city of Sarajevo, a city I was only vaguely familiar with from high school history class as the site of the outbreak of WWI. The city has a checkered past, and was besieged again in the 1990s but today is vibrant and modern, with a bustling Old Town, exotic markets and countless mosques reminiscent of the Ottoman era.
While roaming the city, I accidentally stumbled upon one of the city’s most famous mosques, Gazi Husrev-bey. The mosque is one of the few to allow non-Muslims to enter but you’ll need to dress modestly and cover your hair. The city itself is noisy and bustling with a vibrant marketplace but the mosque itself is set behind thick stone walls and extremely peaceful. Stepping inside, I felt like I had entered a calm oasis and really enjoyed the experience. For more on what to see and do with 24 hours in Sarajevo, read on below!
Highlights of Sarajevo
- Jump on tram 3 for a ride around Sarajevo’s old city core and gaze at the finest Austro-Hungarian facades
- Have some coffee at Tito’s Cafe (behind the History Museum) for a look at Yugo-nostalgic photos, army helmut lamps and a garden dotted with artillery pieces
- Stroll aimlessly around the stone alleyways of Baščaršija (the old city) centered around pigeon square. Watch the massive chess board games!
- Try some local flavors: burek (a meat and cheese filo pastry), ćevapi (a skinless sausage of minced meat) and kajmak (savory clotted cream)
- Relive history at the Latin Bridge, the site where Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, sparking World War I
- Rusty on your European History? Pop into the Sarajevo 1878-1918 Museum for the full textbook refresher, complete with life sized statues of Ferdinand and his wife Sophie
- The open air cafes are the perfect place to unwind with nargile (hookah) as the sun goes down
Looking for more to do in the area? Check out 25 reasons to visit the Balkans, as told by local experts Stephanie & Allison.
love this! you wild adventurer you.
Wow! These photos are incredible. Can you take me with you whereever you go next?!?!
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Haha thanks so much Dana!!!
Very interesting place! I have never been to Bosnia, I love all the architecture.
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Thanks Bernard! The city is certainly beautiful.
What an interesting thing to do in Sarajevo. Its been a long time since we have visited a mosque but they have some of the most interesting art work inside. Loved your pic’s!
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Thanks Nancy! Yes I find mosques so beautiful.
Great subject matter, great topic, great blog. Looked like you had a great time. Look forward to reading more
Very beautiful pictures :) Great city presentation:)
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Thanks for the kind words Ria!
Great photos! I’d love to make it here one day! The alleyways look really fun to explore!
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Hi Kaylene! I hope you do, the alleyways made the town so fascinating.
It cracks me up whenever I see those giant chess boards – and there’s someone actually playing!
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Hey Hung! haha the chess boards were all over the square! the old men were very serious about it to, there were crowds watching the games very intently.
I like the tips, especially together with the historical facts. Europe is filled with such interesting nuggets.
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Thanks Nina! I agree, Europe has so much culture and history behind it.
Looks amazing. Especially the architecture. Got close to Bosnia last year (actually drove through the border control crossing from one side of Croatia to the other) but didn’t get a chance to stop here.
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Ooh I remember the border control crossing there. Our bus got stopped and it was a tad bit scary but we made it through!
Sarajevo is on my bucket list. We have met friends(people in the embassy of Sarajevo), and they were just so nice and welcoming. I hope I will make it there soon!
So many awesome pictures of Sarajevo! I would like to check it out. I liked your list of things to do. Succinct and to the point.
Great places to visit. Are any of them UNESCO world heritage sights? They look very old.