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Sarajevo

Ottoman bazaars, hillside views & cafe culture

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Sarajevo is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Yellow Fortress (Zuta Tabija), Bascarsija and Latin Bridge. Food lovers should not miss Kino Bosna and Cevabdzinica Zeljo. Below you will find 12 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Sarajevo at a glance

  • Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
  • Best time to visit: spring and autumn
  • Highlights: Yellow Fortress (Zuta Tabija) and Bascarsija
  • Where to stay: Old Town and Vratnik
  • Local picks: 12 hand-chosen recommendations
  • Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Sarajevo

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Where to stay in Sarajevo

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Old Town

Bascarsija

The Ottoman old bazaar of coppersmiths, cafes and the Sebilj fountain.
★ 4.6
$
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Bascarsija

Bazerdzan

Why it matters: founded in 2016 by Zana Karkin, who got tired of watching generic plastic souvenirs crowd out real Bosnian craft, this Bascarsija concept store is built as a hub for local designers and rural artisans – tanners in Visoko, wool workers, village women who knit and embroider folk costumes, jewellers working rare inlay techniques. Everything is made in BiH, in limited runs, and the makers are named. Look for the pieces that carry actual Bosnian history: Ina Cano’s ornaments drawn from the traditional tattoos of Bosnian Catholic women, or Kemil Bektesi’s collection built on the Neolithic Butmir culture. The Titova branch has closed – the Bascarsija shop is the one to find.
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Old Town

Cevabdzinica Zeljo

The much-loved grill house for cevapi in fresh somun bread.
★ 4.5
$
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Old Town

Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

The grand 16th-century mosque at the heart of the old town.
★ 4.5
$
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Mojmilo (Olympic Village)

Green Visions

Why it matters: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s first ecotourism company, started in 2000 by Thierry Joubert and a group of friends after he spent eight years on humanitarian and development work here – it books through rural communities and small local operators rather than around them. Green Visions also coordinates the Via Dinarica Alliance, the 2,000km trail National Geographic Traveler named a top destination in 2017. Day hikes into the Bjelasnica highland villages are the easy win if you only have one spare day; there is also biking, rafting and winter snowshoeing. Book ahead by email – the office keeps weekday hours only.
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Centre

Hotel Europe Sarajevo

The citys grand historic hotel on the edge of the old bazaar.
★ 4.5
$$$
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Centre

Inat Kuca

The House of Spite, a characterful riverside spot for Bosnian classics.
★ 4.4
$$
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Centar

Kino Bosna

One of Sarajevo’s most beloved alternative haunts – a bar inside a faded former cinema, all peeling grandeur, cheap drinks and rowdy live sevdah (Bosnian folk) nights that pack the place with locals. Come late and join in.
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Centre

Latin Bridge

The bridge where the assassination that sparked WWI took place.
★ 4.4
$
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Various (Kovačići / Marijin Dvor)

Pub Quiz in Sarajevo

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Various

Sarajevo War and Siege Tour

A moving guided tour of the 1990s siege sites and their stories.
★ 4.7
$$
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Butmir

Tunnel of Hope

The wartime siege tunnel that kept Sarajevo alive, now a museum.
★ 4.7
$
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Ilidza

Vrelo Bosne

A tranquil park around the springs of the river Bosna.
★ 4.6
$
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Stari Grad

War Childhood Museum

Why it matters: an independent, non-profit museum founded by Jasminko Halilovic, who was four when the siege began – it started in 2010 as an online call for memories, drew over 1,000 responses, and opened on Logavina in 2017. It won the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2018, and it is not government-funded. The collection is everyday objects donated by people who were children in the war – a diary, a pair of ballet shoes, a toy – each shown with the owner’s own words. Give it 90 minutes; it is small but you will read every card. Free entry the last Thursday of the month, 5-7pm.
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Vratnik

Yellow Fortress

A hilltop bastion with the best sunset view over the city.
★ 4.6
$
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Vratnik

Yellow Fortress (Zuta Tabija)

Once a defensive point against Austro-Hungarian troops, this hilltop bastion is now where locals and visitors gather for the finest view over Sarajevo. It’s a 15-minute climb up from Bascarsija – worth every step as the Old Town and the bright City Hall (Vijecnica) spread out below. Time it for sunset.
★ 4.6
$
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Sarajevo travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Sarajevo?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Sarajevo at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Sarajevo?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Sarajevo?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Sarajevo guide.

What is the best time to visit Sarajevo?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Sarajevo is worth visiting year-round.

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