Flights to Sarajevo

From the airport

An airport shuttle bus runs to the city centre and Baščaršija in about 30 minutes, timed to meet many flights. Taxis wait outside arrivals and take around 20 minutes. Trams run along the main avenue from the western suburbs to the old town and are an easy way to get around once you're in the city.

Baščaršija and the old town

Baščaršija, the Ottoman bazaar, is a maze of coppersmiths' workshops, coffee houses and ćevapi grills around the wooden Sebilj fountain. The 16th-century Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque stands a short walk from the Catholic cathedral, the Orthodox cathedral and the old synagogue. At the Latin Bridge, a museum covers the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The striped City Hall, burned during the siege, has been restored and hosts exhibitions.

Remembering the siege

Sarajevo was besieged for nearly four years during the 1990s war. The Tunnel Museum near the airport preserves part of the tunnel that brought supplies into the city, and the War Childhood Museum shares objects and stories from those who grew up during the conflict. Guided tours explain how daily life carried on.

Mountains, views and seasons

A cable car climbs Trebević mountain, where the abandoned 1984 Olympic bobsleigh track is covered in graffiti. The Yellow Fortress is a popular sunset viewpoint over the valley. Summers are warm and the city hosts a film festival in August, while winters bring snow and skiing on Jahorina and Bjelašnica, both within an hour's drive. Spring and early autumn are comfortable for walking, and you'll need two or three days to see the old town, the museums and the mountain viewpoints at an easy pace.

Want to fly home from Dubrovnik or Split instead? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll plan the route.