Four Day Bosnia and Herzegovina Itinerary and Guide
- Margaux
- 23 hours ago
- 6 min read
Bosnia and Herzegovina is such an underrated European destination, but it is gaining in popularity for its beautiful nature and deep history. I spent four days there, which is a perfect amount to see the highlights (and perfect for only using public transport). This blog post will provide you with a perfect four day Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary, including the best things to do in Mostar and Sarajevo, information on getting around by public transport, budget advice, and more top tips.
Contents
Looking to do more of Europe? Check out some of my other posts:
Itinerary Overview
This Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary is perfect for a long weekend, and includes 2 days in Mostar and 2 days in Sarajevo. Depending on where you are coming from, you can do this in any order.
Day 1-2: Mostar
Day 3-4 Sarajevo
How to Get Around Bosnia and Herzegovina (without a car)
If you arrive or leave from Sarajevo airport, you can get into the city with the 200E airport bus. It only goes once an hour on most days, and you’ll find the timetable at the bus stop outside the airport. You can also see it below. It costs 5 BAM (€2.50) one way, and you can pay in cash on the bus.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main cities of Sarajevo and Mostar are well served by bus and train, and I’ve outlined below everything you need to know about taking them.
How to take the train in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The train goes twice a day between Mostar and Sarajevo:
Mostar - Sarajevo: 06:36 and 17:09
Sarajevo - Mostar: 07:15 and 16:46
You can check the website for train times here.
It’s easiest to buy a ticket at the train station, and you can do this on the day. It costs 16.90 BAM (approx. € 8.70) for a one-way ticket, or 27 BAM (approx. €13.80) for a return ticket. The journey is 2 hours.
Make sure you are sitting on the right hand side of the train when leaving Mostar, and the left hand side when leaving Sarajevo for the best views!
How to take the bus in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The bus goes much more frequently between Mostar and Sarajevo, however it takes longer (mine took 3 hours), and is double the price of the train. You can again book tickets at the bus station where you will also have to pay a station tax of 1 BAM. However, during the high season (summer), I recommend booking in advance on Traveling.com.
The bus goes the other side of the river to the train, so make sure you are sitting on the left hand side of the bus when leaving Mostar, and the right hand side when leaving Sarajevo for the best views!
Days 1 and 2: Mostar
The best things to do in Mostar
Mostar is a very popular destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here are some of the best things to do in and around this town.
Old Town Bridge
Any photo of Mostar will feature its iconic Old Town Bridge. It’s a beautiful part of the town and you might get lucky and see people jumping off it into the river below. There is a great viewpoint down by the river, as well as from the river banks higher up.
Explore the Old Town
While the Old Town in Mostar isn’t very big, it does have some pretty streets, bazaars, and restaurants to walk around and explore. You will find some traditional Bosnian food, countless gelato spots, and many opportunities to buy souvenirs. The town is quieter in the mornings and evenings because a lot of people take organised day trips to Mostar from nearby Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Sarajevo. These times are the best to explore.
Genocide Museum
The Genocide Museum in Mostar is a great way to learn more about the history of the country which has seen so much conflict. It is well worth a visit.
Herzegovina Tour
The surroundings of Mostar are not to be missed and the Herzegovina tour that I took was the highlight of my whole trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are countless operators to choose from, but I booked my tour through Hostel Miran and it was led by Miran himself, who spoke so well about the history of the country and made the tour so much fun. It was fantastic.
The tour I booked included:
Breakfast: traditional Bosnian food
Mostar Sky Bridge: the best views over the city
Blagaj: a picture-perfect town with a monastery and spring
Bunski Canali: where two rivers meet in a waterfall
Počktelj: a small old town with great views of the countryside
Kravica waterfall: the highlight for me!
Street of Art: a street regeneration project
The tour cost 100 BAM (€50), which was a little more expensive than some of the others, but it does take you to more places. The personal touch was also worth it. It did not include entry to the Kravica waterfall, which costs 20 BAM (€10).
If you don’t have a car, this is the perfect way to see Herzegovina. If you do have one, I would recommend visiting all of these places, and make sure you prioritise seeing Kravica waterfall in the morning, as that is when the sun is on it.
Days 3 and 4: Sarajevo
The best things to do in Sarajevo
Sarajevo is a city steeped in history and which has influence from all of its neighbours. Here are all the best things to do in Sarajevo.
Take a Free Walking Tour
Free walking tours are a great way to learn more about the city. I did mine with Meet Bosnia and thought it was great. It goes at 10:30am and 3pm every day, and all you have to do is arrive at their office in the old town 10 minutes before to sign up. The tour is tip-based and lasts 2 hours.
It took us around all the main historical sites in the old town, as well as telling us all about the history of the city. I really enjoyed it.
Franz Ferdinand Monument
You will definitely go to the Franz Ferdinand monument during your tour, but you can also visit independently. It is the location where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot, an assassination which started the First World War. You can see where the assassin stood and where the car was.
Kuršumlija Medresa
Kuršumlija Medresa is a mosque in the city centre. It is very intricately decorated and worth stopping by.
Explore the Old Town
The Old Town gets really busy, but you can spend a while walking around the bazaars, find great food and drinks, and get a sense of the Turkish influence in the city.
Visit the Yellow Fort
The Yellow Fort is situated on top of a hill in Sarajevo, and provides you with the best view of the city. It’s particularly good at sunset! It’s free to go up there, and there is a café if you want a snack or drink.
Explore the Bobsleigh Track
The bobsleigh track in the mountain above Sarajevo was used in the 1984 Olympics. It has since become disused and you can walk along it and explore its surroundings. I really enjoyed doing this - it was definitely my highlight of Sarajevo.
You have three options to get there: taking the cable car, taking a taxi, or hiking. The cable car costs 30 BAM (€15) for a return trip, or 20 BAM (€10) one-way. A taxi will cost you 20 BAM (€10) one-way, and hiking is free, although it will take around 1.5 hours. If you can split a taxi with someone, it is definitely the best option.
Hiking around Trebevic
Around the cable car and bobsleigh track, there are a lot of hiking trails which provide you with great views of Sarajevo and a welcome respite from the city. Once you’re up, they aren’t very strenuous, and it’s beautiful there on a nice day.
What to Budget for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is relatively inexpensive compared to other European destinations. Here is a breakdown of what things cost:
Meals out can cost as little as £5 but can go up to £15 or £20 depending on the restaurant and location
A night in a hostel dorm room will cost £10-£15 per night
If you are looking to save money on food, book accommodation with cooking facilities as there are some small supermarkets and fruit and veg stalls where you can buy food for very low prices.
Pretty much everywhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina is cash only, so you will need to get cash out when you arrive. Most ATMs charge, however Nova Bank does not have additional fees, so find one of these if you can. There is one in Sarajevo airport as well as in Mostar and Sarajevo.
I hope this provides you with a good four day itinerary for Bosnia and Herzegovina. I loved the authenticity of the country, its nature, and people. As always, look after the places you visit and remember to only leave your footprints behind :)
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