Why Bosnia and Herzegovina is a Special Destination

Bosnia and Herzegovina is gradually emerging from the shackles of the post-war aftermath. This makes the Balkan state with its vibrant culture and wild nature one of the most exciting travel destinations in Europe.

The whole world visited Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nearly 40 years ago, Sarajevo, the capital of the then-part republic of Yugoslavia, became an international stage for a joyful sports party. Athletes from 49 nations attended the 1984 Winter Olympics, and more than 600,000 spectators cheered them on. It was a festival of superlatives and raised hopes for a touristic winter sports boom.

But a few years later, when the Soviet Union dissolved, Bosnia and Herzegovina descended into chaos and misery. At that time, many Bosnians favored an independent republic - unlike many Serbians, who wanted to remain connected to Serbia.

The conflict between Bosnian Serbs, Bosnian Croats, and Bosniak Muslims escalated in 1992, when a referendum was held and a Bosnian Serb Republic was proclaimed. Bosnian Serb troops and parts of the Yugoslav People's Army subsequently besieged the capital Sarajevo.

It was the beginning of a four-year war that claimed about 100,000 lives and only ended in 1995, after the Srebrenica massacre where more than 8,000 Bosniaks were killed. After stronger interventions by the international community, a peace agreement was signed, and the siege of Sarajevo ended in February 1996 after 1,425 days.

However, the war left deep scars. It took many years for the atrocities to gradually fade from people's minds. In many families, the conflict remains deeply rooted - and the bullet holes in Sarajevo are still visible.

Like the entire economy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, tourism also came to a standstill due to the Bosnian War. Due to ongoing tensions, travelers avoided the Balkans for a long time.

But due to increasing political stability, Bosnia and Herzegovina is finally experiencing the tourism boom it has waited for so long. The number of visitors from abroad has been steadily rising since 2010 (120,000 travelers) and according to government figures, reached 1.2 million in 2019.

For travelers looking for exciting destinations within Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently very popular. And it's not just the affordable prices that tourists are paying more attention to, given the high inflation rates in Europe. Rather, the small state, nestled between Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro with about 3.2 million inhabitants, offers a great abundance of wild nature, fascinating cities, and exciting culture.

Sarajevo, an exciting capital and university city, moves between old traditions, the memory of the war, and its development into a modern and trendy economic hub.

Thus, the cityscape in the center is characterized by centuries-old facades from the Ottoman and imperial times. Particularly beautiful is the Baščaršija marketplace from the 15th century with small craft stalls and cafés where Kafa, a strong coffee, and Arabic Salep tea are served.

At the same time, the scars of the war are still evident everywhere in bullet holes, collapsed houses, and on walkways. Residents have embellished mortar craters with rose-shaped markings to remember the people who were killed. The suffering of the 1990s is also documented at the War Childhood Museum and the Museum of Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide. Just outside the city, an old tunnel reminds of the terrible war years, once used to supply the city.

The sight of the many churches, mosques, and synagogues closely situated in Sarajevo is reassuring, as the city has long been home to different cultures living largely conflict-free together in everyday life, even before the Bosnian War.

Not without reason is the large city with about 290,000 residents also called 'Little Jerusalem.' The most important religious buildings include the large Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God, and the third-largest synagogue in Europe.

Another attraction is the Latin Bridge. In 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated there - an event that sparked World War I. A visit to the decaying and graffiti-covered Olympic bobsled track on Trebević, which nature is gradually reclaiming, is also exciting. You can easily reach the mountain by cable car.

You can get a comprehensive view of the city, idyllically nestled in the hilly Dinaric Alps and centrally traversed by the Miljacka River, from the Yellow Bastion. The hill with an old city wall is usually filled at sunset, when Sarajevo is bathed in warm colors, momentarily eclipsing its war-torn past.

In the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 81 miles from Sarajevo, lies one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's most beautiful travel gems: Mostar. The city with about 120,000 residents nestles in a deep valley between two mighty mountain ranges.

Mostar is particularly known for the Stari Most (Old Bridge) from the 16th century, which connects the Bosnian and Croatian parts of the city. During the Bosnian War, the bridge over the Nervreta River, which idyllically winds through the city, was destroyed but later rebuilt.

Due to its reconciliatory symbolism, the delicate structure has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage alongside the old town with its quaint cobblestone streets and facades since 2005. Many tourists visit just to see the cliff divers who daringly leap from the 62-foot-high arched bridge into the river.

Close to Mostar is the famous Dervish Monastery of Blagaj, spectacularly nestled at the source of the Buna River against the cliffs. The first parts of the complex were carved into the rock over 600 years ago. Today, the monastery serves as a museum of Turkish residential culture.

The picturesque small towns of Bosnia are far less touristy. For example, in Trebinje in the southeastern corner of Bosnia. Besides an unspoiled old town, visitors can admire the elaborate ceiling frescoes in the Serbian Orthodox monastery church and the robust Perović Bridge from the 16th century - often without other visitors.

In central Bosnia lies the small town of Travnik, which was the capital of Bosnia during Ottoman times and therefore houses numerous oriental homes, a quaint fortress, and possibly the most beautiful mosque in the country. Also in the country's center is Mlinčići, known for its charming water mill houses and wooden huts aligned along the crystal-clear river water.

More wildly, the water rushes through Jajce, once the seat of Bosnian kings. The small town is packed with monuments from the Middle Ages. The picturesque old town rises steeply up a hill, in front of which the large Pliva Waterfall plunges 72 feet into the depths. Very near Jajce is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country, Plivsko Jezero. The lush and dense forests on the shores are somewhat reminiscent of a tropical rainforest.

A large part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's area consists of picturesque mountain landscapes, deep gorges, and crystal-clear rivers. The setting for the old Winnetou films invites many a daring challenge, like whitewater rafting or a kayak tour on the Neretva River.

Watching over the rivers and valleys are twelve two-thousanders nationwide, still largely unknown in Europe. Hikers can therefore experience real mountain adventures in Bosnia and Herzegovina and mostly have the trails to themselves.

Among the most beautiful hiking destinations are the rugged Prenj Mountains, the picturesque Blidinje Nature Park with a vast mountain lake, the idyllic Sutjeska National Park around Bosnia's highest mountain Maglić (7,828 feet), and the 20,000-year-old Perućica - one of Europe's last primeval forests.

Very important: No matter where travelers are in Bosnia and Herzegovina - they should never leave the official paths, as vast areas of land were mined during the Bosnian War. Many of the deadly traps have not been defused or can no longer be located due to landslides.

Looking for more inspiration? Find tips for all top travel destinations bundled at bettercities.net.

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