Well over 25,000 of you voted Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina as 2012’s Best City to Visit in my annual tournament held each March. And now, as promised, I’m heading to see Sarajevo to see it myself, visiting the capital city for the first time. While I won’t know the exact dates of my visit for a few more days, that gives me just enough time to get your personal recommendations. Many of you enthusiastically voted for and wrote me passionately about Sarajevo – so I want to hear what you think I shouldn’t miss while I’m there?
What should I see, do, and importantly – where and what should I eat and drink in Sarajevo?
You may or may not have an idea how I travel but the essence of the question for those of you who have been and live there is what do you love about Sarajevo? I look forward to reading and appreciate your responses in the comments below. Also, in a few days I’ll post my arrival details and hope to do a meet up or two when I’m in town so we can share a cup of…well, you tell me!
First next time go to Sarajevo in summer time. In Bascarsija (old part of city) eat cevapcici in “Zeljo”, in pita shop “Bosna” try burek (meat pie), zeljanica (spinach pie), bundevara (pumpkin pie-it is not sweet). If weather is good,take taxi and go “Kod Bibana” restaurant (taxi is veeeery cheap) from there it is beautiful view of Sarajevo and good food too. Also you should visit “Avlija” and “Dveri”. Many young people speak very good English. Walk trough Bascarsija, you will see the cobbled streets, mosques and Oriental style shops at the heart the city are a world away from Europe, and when the call-to-prayer starts, one could be forgiven for thinking that they were actually in the Middle East. You could actually be walking by a Catholic church, Orthodox church and a Synagogue and hear the Islamic call to prayer at the same time. In downtown look up and you will see beautiful facade and artistic details on the buildings. Vijecnica (national library) was destroyed during the war, is now being repaired outside.You should visit Svrzina kuca (Svrzo house),(200 m north of the old town). A beautiful old Ottoman house built in the 18th century shows how Svrzo family lived there.Sarajevo Jazz Festival will be during first week of November. A very eclectic festival, and the largest of its kind in the Balkans.
Here are taxi that you should use:
Sarajevo Taxi tel: 1515 | 660 970 | 660 666
Crveni Taxi (Red Cab) tel: 760 600 | 760 601 | 760 602
Zuti Taxi (Yellow cab) tel: 663 555
Samir i Emir Taxi tel: 1516 | 667 681
Kale Taxi tel: 570 970 | 570 901
Taxi ride from airport to Bascarsija should be around 20 KM (10 EUR)
And the most important of all ENJOY SARAJEVO 🙂
Take a tour with SKENDER , I was there in APRIl and it was the coolest thing I did.. also go to the top of the Avaz Twist Tower…..
Take a Sarajevo Siege Tour and be sure to visit and take a stroll down the 1984 Olympic bobsled run. It’s in total disrepair, covered in graffiti and full of shrapnel holes. A very surreal experience. Enjoy!
Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far!
Visit the 16th century Gazi-Huzrevbegova Mosque and the Catholic Cathedral, both well restored after damage in the Bosnian War. Dont miss the Tunnel, which was dug by hand in 6 months during the siege of the city in the Bosnian War in order to get arms and food in and people out. Try famous Sarajevo’s Ćevapčići.
You also visit the mountains.Bjelasnica the largest Mt.in the Sarajevo region, one of three hosts of Olympic Games. Igman a bit lower that other Olympic mountains but still one of the most beautiful.Trebevic overlooking Sarajevo this Olympic host Mt.is one of the most popular sites. Jahorina olympics host, and today one of the most beautiful skiing resorts in B&H.
Eternal flame, which commemorates the sacrifices of WWII.
Inat kuca the restaurant was once on the other side of the river, but when the authorities wanted to demolish this traditional Bosnian house to build the town hall the owner insisted it be reconstructed here – hence the name. Offerings range from snacks, a sticky baklava, a bowl of chips and beer to a full-blown grill.
Morica Han was a tavern when Sarajevo was a caravan stopover on the ancient trading route between East and West.
Sebilj this fountain, looking more like an enclosed Oriental gazebo, is not the original and only dates from 1891.
Gazi-Husrevbey Mosque was built by masons from Dubrovnik in 1531.
Pod lipom all the best traditional food except cevapi, the best one are in Zeljo or Petica (number Five).
Svrzo House shows the lifestyle of a well-to-do, 18th-century Muslim family.
Old part of the town is very traditional.
Vrbanja bridge now known Suada and Olga bridge the first victims in Sarajevo fell on the Vrbanja during the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There is a lot of things to see, depends how much you are staying.
Thanks very much for the great information. I’ll have to pick and choose though, due to my travel schedule I’ve only got a week in the city.
Sorry to hear that but week is not enough to see all of it, at least you have a lot of info so u can choose. I hope u ll enjoy.
And don’t forget to just sit down at a cafe in the evening over in the Turkish quarter where you can sip on coffee or tea and enjoy a lovely piece of cake/pastry while doing some good old fashioned people-watching!
Thanks Earl! I’ve just caught up on work and am now going to throw myself out the door – I can’t miss the Turkish quarter 😉
How are you able to travel everywhere!? No fair!
A lot of hard work and a portable job:
http://foxnomad.com/2011/06/21/common-misconceptions-and-several-truths-about-travel-blogging-digital-nomads/