Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина / Bosna i Hercegovina –

Let’s explore here

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) is now one of the fastest growing tourist hotspots in Europe. Affordable, mainly unexplored and with friendly inhabitants make it a great place to visit.

It’s about a quarter of the size of the UK, and its population is around four million people (2023). It has land borders with Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia.

In the central and eastern regions, it’s mountainous, in the northwest mainly hilly, and in the northeast it’s mostly flat. The highest point is Mount Maglić, in the south of the country, at 7,828 ft (2,386 m) above sea level.

Current travels

The last time we were in Bosnia and Herzegovina was because we were travelling between Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia. It has a very short 12 mile coastline that intersects Croatia’s coastline. Presumably this was to give it access to a port and not be landlocked?

Prior to 2022 you had to cross through the BIH border control twice in order to travel through Croatia. In 2022 the Pelješac Bridge opened that bypasses BIH altogether. This is great for traffic flow in Croatia, but a real shame, as it afforded people the opportunity to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina – in particular Neum – for a while.

This time around we travelled from Croatia, through to Bosnia’s second city, Banja Luka. We then toured the medieval town of Jayce and its waterfall before entering the capital, Sarajevo. We then headed towards the Blidinje mountains of BIH in the west, and the famous Kravice waterfalls in the south before staying overnight in Mostar. Finally we made our way up to Montenegro via Mount Maglić and Foča.

Taking this route enabled us to really improve our knowledge and the history of this intriguing and beautiful country, and enabled us to meet lots of super friendly and interesting people.

Our best places in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Banja Luka

Banja Luka is located in the north of Bosnia and is the second largest city in BIH. It’s the capital of Republika Srpska, which is one of the two entities that makes up Bosnia & Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The area around Banja Luka is mostly woodland, although you can see many mountains from the city, especially in the south. Most of the people that live in Banja Luka are of Bosnian Serb heritage.

Blagaj

Blagaj Fort is 902 ft (275m) above sea level, and is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Blidinje national park

The Blidinje mountains form part of Blidinje national park and are situated at the heart of Dinaric Alps in the west of the country. The area was created by melting glaciers, creating a barren but spectacular look to the place. Lake Blidinje is an artificial alpine lake 3,888 ft (1,185m) above sea level. It’s 1.6 miles (2.5km) long and 1.3 miles (2.1 km) wide. However, the average depth is only about 3.3 ft (1m).  There are numerous, stunningly beautiful valleys throughout the park as well as the amazing Dugo Polje plain. The whole area is a must see, no matter what the weather.

Foča

Foča is a small sleepy town that sits in the Sutjeska National Park in the south east of Bosnia and Herzegovina, near the border with Montenegro.

Jablaničko jezero

Jablaničko lake was created in 1953 after the construction of Jablanica Dam. At 19 miles (30km) in length, it’s a large artificially formed lake situated on the river Neretva near Blidinje national park. There are loads of weekend cottages for hire along the shores of the lake, catering for the popularity of fishing, boating and even swimming on the lake.

Jajce

Jajce has been the home of medieval kings and Ottoman governors. The 14th century fortress is one of the best preserved fortified capitals of the Bosnian Kingdom, and the last stronghold before the kingdom dissolved under the pressure of the Ottoman Empire. The beautiful Pliva Waterfall is located on the edge of Jajce, with its 22 meters cascade on the Pliva river.

Klinje Jezero

Lake Klinje is an artificial lake in the South of Bosnia and Herzegovina near the border with Montenegro. Being remote, it’s a pretty quiet and very relaxing place to stop.

Kravice

Kravice waterfalls are a popular tourist attraction close to Mostar. The waterfalls are about 80 ft (25 m) in width. the waterfalls can get super busy during the summer holidays, so plan ahead. The cost to park or VW Golf and visit the falls was KM20 (£9).

Mount Maglić

Mount Maglić is located in the Sutjeska national park and is one of the most visited attractions in in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the highest peak in the country, at 7,828 ft (2,386 m) above sea level, and sits on the border with Montenegro.

Mostar

Mostar is the capital of Herzegovina. It was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Old Bridge during the Ottoman era. Stari Most (the old bridge) was destroyed during the Bosnian war and was subsequently rebuilt, reopening in 2004. The old bridge is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most visited landmarks.

Neum

Neum is the only BIH town that sits along the coastline. It sits in the hills on a winding road, and is quite different in look from those towns further along the coast in Croatia. Costs are substantially lower than in Croatia which you may wish to take advantage of.

Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s a relatively small capital city with a population fewer than a third of a million people. It was in Sarajevo that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place, a murder that sparked the First World War.

A multicultural city, it is one of only a few major European cities to have a catholic church, eastern orthodox church, a mosque and a synagogue within the same neighbourhood. The neo-gothic 19th century Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sarajevo is the largest catholic church in the country. Not far away is the Gazi Hursev-Beg Mosque, which was built in the 16th century, and is the largest mosque in BIH.

As a capital city, there are many restaurants and cafe’s in Sarajevo, in particular in the old town. The myriad alleyways in the Baščaršija (the old town’s 15th century market) contain hidden gems aplenty with many bargains to be had.

Vrbas Canyon

The stunning Vrbas canyon is located near Dabrac. We came across is completely by chance as we were driving from Banja Luka to Jajce.

What’s it like to drive in Bosnia?

Driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina appears to be quite laid back in the main, with very few people driving ‘on your tail’, we found. If they do want to get past, they will, regardless of whether it’s dangerous or not! There are an incredible amount of car breaker yards in BIH – several per town and even several per village in some areas. Many of the cars in the yards have had their front bumpers removed – presumably due to all of the small accidents that occur?!

In the main, driving standards in BIH are quite poor, and roads are also quite poor, leading to some minor mishaps. Although we did not see any large crashes unlike many other countries we’ve travelled through. Some roads in Bosnia are very poor and unpaved, especially in mountainous areas.

We’ve also created a dedicated page to driving abroad, which you might find helpful 🙂

What currency do they use in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

In Bosnia and Herzegovina they use the Bosnian Mark. Most transactions are in cash. Although the Euro can be accepted for larger transactions, it’s not guaranteed. The Euro is not generally accepted in supermarkets, petrol stations etc. Traveller’s cheques are also not widely accepted. There are lots of ATMs in city centres, although not elsewhere.

What language do they speak in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

They speak Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What time zone is Bosnia in?

Remember, when you’re planning your next trip to take a look at what time zone it’s in.

Do I need a visa to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina?

We’ve created a dedicated, more comprehensive page on visas, which you should find helpful. Check it out!

Is wild camping legal in Bosnia?

Yes, wild camping is fine in Bosnia, although you should avoid national parks and natural reserves, and be mindful of mines – look out for signs!

Is it safe to drink water in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

No, it is not safe to drink tap water in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bottled water is readily available across the country.

Bosnia & Herzegovina SIM card

If you’ve got some awesome pictures, or some useful info that you’d like to share, let us know! 

And don’t forget to check out all the other pictures!