Bosnia and Herzegovina is known for its Ottoman-era history and architecture, such as its famed Old Bridge in Mostar and the Old Stone Bridge in Konjic. Due to its eventful history, including many wars and conquests, many ethnic groups live in Bosnia and Herzegovina, practicing many religions. Today`s Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular the capital, Sarajevo, is committed to promoting multiculturalism.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is also known for its castles, although it has a smaller number than other countries in Eastern Europe. Be sure to visit Ostrozac, a beautiful castle built by the Hungarian Croatians in the 13th century. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also known for its great natural beauty, including many picturesque waterfalls. The rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina are also great places to enjoy such outdoor water activities as kayaking, white water rafting, and bridge jumping.
The best time to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina is when the weather is warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities while still being able to avoid the largest crowds of tourists. This corresponds to the months of May, June, and the first half of September. July and August are popular vacation months not only with Bosnians but also with other Europeans, so expect lines at museums and attractions to be at their peaks in those months.
We recommend approximately 3-9 days based on what you want to see and do. We offer flexible vacation packages so you can select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities. We suggest a minimum of 3 nights in Sarajevo.
We recommend seeing Bosnia and Herzegovina by private transfer. Tripmasters offers private transfer options which allow you to visit many cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with hotel-to-hotel pickup and dropoff in addition to airport pickups/drop-offs. Many of these transfers allow for stops at scenic attractions along the way. Let the private transfer drivers escort you in air-conditioned comfort from one city to another. It is also possible to see Bosnia and Herzegovina by car, combining it with nearby countries such as Croatia.
The currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (written in shorthand as KM). U.S. dollars are not accepted. Be prepared with the correct currency on hand or exchange your dollars (or Euros if you are arriving from the Eurozone) for convertible marks upon arrival in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are currency exchanges and ATMs at the airport, most high-end hotels, and in many other locations across the country.
The official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian. Nearly all Bosnians under the age of 30 can speak at minimum conversational English, due to educational standards changing after the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Today students in Bosnia and Herzegovina learn English from the earliest grades, all the way through graduation from secondary school. It will be harder to find many older people who speak English, but not impossible. You will have the most success in finding English speakers in tourist areas, such as Sarajevo, Mostar, Neum, and to a lesser extent Konjic. Be prepared to learn basic Bosnian phrases like hello/goodbye, please/thank you, how much is it?, where is the bathroom, and the numbers from 1-10 and 50, 100, and 1,000. To say `Do you speak English?` in Bosnian, say `Govoris li engleski?`