Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small multicultural country that is rich in historic and religious sights and hosts spectacular mountain scenery, pristine wilderness areas, picturesque traditional villages as well as ski resorts. The dynamic Bosnian capital Sarajevo has plenty of things to see and do. Bosnia and Herzegovina has evolved from a conflict area in the 1990s into one of the world’s top performers in tourism development, although the marks of the bloody civil war are still visible.
Scenic mountainous country located in the Balkan region of Southeast Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is bordered by Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and has also a small piece of coastline along the Adriatic Sea. The historical region of Bosnia is situated in the northeast and Herzegovina in the southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result of the war in 1992-1995, the country is now divided roughly in half into the Federation of Bosniaks and Croats and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska. Muslim Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs all have their own administrative, school and postal systems.
More Bosnian destinations. The green city of Banja Luka is the second-largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and also the capital of Republika Srpska. It is home to many historic attractions such as a cathedral, a monastery, and a fortress. Another World Heritage Site in Bosnia is the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad, while the picturesque villages of Pocitelj and Blagaj in Herzegovina are also well worth your visit with their historical sites. The town of Neum on the coast of the Adriatic Sea is the only seaside resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering fun in the sun with affordable prices. Međugorje in Herzegovina is one of the most famous Catholic pilgrimages in the world, while the two newly discovered pyramids in Visocica Hill in the town of Visoko are a new, controversial add to the tourist attractions of BiH.
Winter sports & ecotourism. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great and affordable ski holiday destination, as it offers excellent ski slopes in beautiful mountain surroundings as well as inexpensive accommodation. The skiing season in BiH runs from December to April, although the best season is from January to mid-February. Some of the main skiing centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Igman, Jahorina, Bjelasnica, Vlasic and Kupres. Bosnia & Herzegovina is also home to many great wilderness areas, nature reserves, and river canyons great for rafting, hiking, and wildlife viewing possibilities. These include the Tara River Canyon, Una River, Kozara and Sutjeska National Parks, and Hutovo Blato bird reserve.
How to get there. There are three international airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo hosts the main commercial airport in BiH with flights to Bosnia & Herzegovina available from many parts of Europe. You can also travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina by train, as there are international trains to Bosnia from Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia, or by bus from many neighboring countries and from as far as Austria and Germany. Ferries and buses run to the coastal town of Neum from Croatia.
Scenic mountainous country located in the Balkan region of Southeast Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is bordered by Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and has also a small piece of coastline along the Adriatic Sea. The historical region of Bosnia is situated in the northeast and Herzegovina in the southwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result of the war in 1992-1995, the country is now divided roughly in half into the Federation of Bosniaks and Croats and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska. Muslim Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs all have their own administrative, school and postal systems.
Tourism attractions in Bosnia & Herzegovina: historical towns, mountains and skiing centers
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a beautiful country with a large variety of historical, religious and cultural sites, as well as skiing centers, many fast-flowing rivers with possibilities for rafting, and mountain areas with great potential for trekking and ecotourism. The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is a multicultural city that is rich in history and offers great ski slopes that hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984 as well as the best shopping and nightlife options in BiH. The historic town of Mostar in the region Herzegovina has an impressive old town with a famous historic bridge that is now rebuilt after the war and listed into the World Heritage List. Mostar and the rest of Herzegovina enjoy a warm Mediterranean climate.More Bosnian destinations. The green city of Banja Luka is the second-largest in Bosnia and Herzegovina and also the capital of Republika Srpska. It is home to many historic attractions such as a cathedral, a monastery, and a fortress. Another World Heritage Site in Bosnia is the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad, while the picturesque villages of Pocitelj and Blagaj in Herzegovina are also well worth your visit with their historical sites. The town of Neum on the coast of the Adriatic Sea is the only seaside resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering fun in the sun with affordable prices. Međugorje in Herzegovina is one of the most famous Catholic pilgrimages in the world, while the two newly discovered pyramids in Visocica Hill in the town of Visoko are a new, controversial add to the tourist attractions of BiH.
Winter sports & ecotourism. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great and affordable ski holiday destination, as it offers excellent ski slopes in beautiful mountain surroundings as well as inexpensive accommodation. The skiing season in BiH runs from December to April, although the best season is from January to mid-February. Some of the main skiing centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina are Igman, Jahorina, Bjelasnica, Vlasic and Kupres. Bosnia & Herzegovina is also home to many great wilderness areas, nature reserves, and river canyons great for rafting, hiking, and wildlife viewing possibilities. These include the Tara River Canyon, Una River, Kozara and Sutjeska National Parks, and Hutovo Blato bird reserve.
Bosnia and Herzegovina travel tips and practical information
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mountainous country with mostly continental climate with hot summers and chilly winters. The Herzegovina region, situated close to the Adriatic Sea, enjoys pleasant Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters, whereas the mountain areas of BiH have short, cool summers and long, cold winters. December and February are good for skiing in Bosnia, and spring and summer for other activities.How to get there. There are three international airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sarajevo hosts the main commercial airport in BiH with flights to Bosnia & Herzegovina available from many parts of Europe. You can also travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina by train, as there are international trains to Bosnia from Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia, or by bus from many neighboring countries and from as far as Austria and Germany. Ferries and buses run to the coastal town of Neum from Croatia.
Photo: watchsmart, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
Getting around in Bosnia & Herzegovina is not difficult. There are railway connections between the main cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as many buses around the country. Traveling by car is possible in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and rental cars are available. However, although the Bosnian scenery is beautiful, the mountainous terrain and poor condition of the roads make travel by car quite slow. Taxis are available in the main cities of BiH.
Visitor services. Bosnia and Herzegovina hosts a wide range of accommodation from hotels to hostels and pensions, as well as many nightlife options in the main cities. Restaurants are also plentiful in all cities and towns. Many Bosnians speak English, as well as German and Russian, although unfortunately many of the people working in hotels and restaurants or driving taxis do not.
Safety. Bosnia is a safe destination with very low rate of violent crime. However, pick-pocketing is common in larger cities. You should also be aware that there are still 600,000 land mines around in the terrain of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially around Sarajevo. Seek local advice when planning to go hiking into the remote and mountainous areas, and never enter into abandoned houses.
Short history of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The area of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been inhabited by Illyrian tribes since the Neolithic times. The Slavic people arrived to the region during the Early Middle Ages and the Franks occupied the region in the late 9th century. Ban Kulin formed the first Bosnian monarchy between 1180 and 1204, and the Ottomans conquered the country in the late 1400s and made it a province of their empire. A widespread rebellion started in 1875 forced the Ottoman Empire to hand the area to Austria-Hungary in 1878. The South Slav kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was created after the First World War and was soon renamed Yugoslavia. The kingdom of Yugoslavia was conquered by Nazi forces in the Second World War, during which Bosnia and Herzegovina was ceded to Fascist Croatia.Recent turmoil. After nearly 50 years of socialist rule after the Second World War, Jugoslavia started falling apart. Bosnia and Herzegovina also declared independence after a referendum in 3 March 1992. The Serb minority in Bosnia responded with armed resistance, aiming to join the Serb areas of Bosnia in Serbia. Croats also waged war against the Serbs and Muslim Bosniaks. The war that killed approximately 100,000 people and caused 1,8 million Bosnians to leave their homes ended in 1995 after NATO had intervened because of the genocide of civilians made by Bosnian Serb forces. The Dayton Peace Treaty created a multi-ethnic state with two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak and Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska. Today, BiH still remains a country divided by not only two but three regions of Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs, each with its own administration.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Sarajevo, Mostar, Makarska, Brac, Split, Hvar, Korcula, Durmitor National Park
