Your Perfect Bosnia and Herzegovina Itinerary

Most travelers who visit Bosnia and Herzegovina focus on only two of its most popular destinations: Sarajevo and Mostar. And while they both are amazing, there are so many great places to visit in this underrated country.

After visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina on numerous occasions and traveling all over the country, I think it’s best to plan a 7-day Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary to cover its most important attractions as well as some less-known (yet still interesting) places. But of course, the more time you spend there, the better, as this country really offers so much and discovering it better than just on a quick citybreak is really rewarding. 

Below you can find my suggested itinerary for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It focuses on the most beautiful/interesting places that can be easily connected. There’s even a side trip to Serbia, partly because it’s so close and you can add a few nice stops along the way, and partly because the shortest route between two places goes via this country. 

Of course, this travel itinerary for Bosnia and Herzegovina doesn’t cover all the great places you can visit in this country. But I believe it gives you the best overview of its attractions so you can get a better understanding of the place. 

If you have more time for Bosnia and Herzegovina, I suggest going to places that are a bit further away, like Una National Park or Banja Luka. You can find my recommendations of all the great destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina here, so you can have an idea of what else you can visit there.

Unfortunately, traveling around Bosnia and Herzegovina by public transport is a bit of a hassle. While it’s easily doable between the two main attractions – Sarajevo and Mostar – reaching other places is a bit of a challenge, with only a few connections per day. That’s why I recommend traveling around by car (you can rent one for your trip here). Not only will you be able to reach more places without any hassle, but you can also stop wherever you want to along the way (and I bet you will do that often, as views in Bosnia and Herzegovina are simply jaw-dropping).

Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary

So now, without any further ado, here’s my one-week itinerary for Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Day 1 – Sarajevo

Start your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a visit to its capital – Sarajevo. This is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe, where East meets West (literally). On your first day, focus on the Old Town and all it has to offer. Wander around charming Bascarsija, the Ottoman part of the Old Town, with its historical mosques and wooden houses hiding all kinds of local businesses. This is a true quintessence of Sarajevo, with the smell of grilled meat and the sound of little blacksmith’s hammers filling the area. 

At the corner of Bascarsija, you can find Vijecnica, the impressive Town Hall built in the pseudo-Moorish style in 1891. During the Balkans War, the place burned down on August 25th, 1992, but the restored building is simply beautiful. For a small fee, you can visit the interior, and I can’t recommend it enough as it’s stunning with all the patterns and details. 

From Bascarsija, it’s literally one step into the newer part of the Old Town, packed with grand, multi-story houses showing the Habsburg Legacy. In this area, you can find two cathedrals (Catholic and Orthodox), the Latin Bridge (where World War 1 started), and a few interesting museums, including Gallery 11/07/95, which commemorates victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

Sarajevo is the city of viewpoints, and you can end your sightseeing at one of them, as the city looks especially beautiful around sunset. The most popular place to admire the breathtaking panorama of Sarajevo is from the Yellow Bastion, a short (but demanding) walk up from Bascarsija. 

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Where to stay in Sarajevo:

• İsa Begov Hamam Hotel (9.0/10)
• Hotel President Sarajevo (9.0/10)
• Hotel Old Sarajevo (9.0/10)

Read more about Sarajevo in my articles:

• 37 Best Things to Do in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• 10 Sarajevo viewpoints with the best panorama of the city
• 50 Sarajevo Pictures that Will Inspire You to Visit Sarajevo

Day 2 – Sarajevo

On your second day in Sarajevo, you can cover sites located further away from Bascarsija. There are a few interesting places not in the Old Town that many visitors to Sarajevo tend to skip, but I believe they are worth the detour. Here are some of my recommendations:

• Take the cable car up to Trebevic Mountain (the views along the way are already stunning) and walk down the abandoned bobsled track from the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. A bit further beyond the bobsled track, you can also find the abandoned observatory with another amazing panorama of the city.
• Visit the Old Jewish Cemetery – the second oldest and largest Jewish cemetery in Europe, dating back to the mid-16th century. Not only is this another great viewpoint of Sarajevo, but also some of the old tombs here are unique, unlike anywhere else.
• Go to the observation deck of the AVAZ twist tower, the tallest skyscraper in the Balkans. This is another great viewpoint from where you can see the whole city.
• Visit the quirky Ciglane neighborhood and ride the funicular there.
• Visit the Tunnel of Hope, built during the Siege of Sarajevo and used to transport aid into the city and evacuate people from it.
• Go to Ilidza, a suburb of Sarajevo, with a beautiful park, old charming hotels and villas, and the spring of River Bosna.

Since all of these places are a bit away from each other, it’s best to plan your day carefully or pick a few points you want to visit most. You can get to most of these attractions by public transport or on foot, but the Tunnel of Hope is best visited with a tour (like this one). 

Day 3 – Travnik and Jajce

After two days in Sarajevo, it’s time to explore more of Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can start with Travnik and Jajce, two towns located not too far apart, both worth visiting. 

Dating to the beginning of AD, Travnik’s prosperity began in the late 17th century and continued through the mid-19th century, when the town was the capital of the governors of Bosnia. Today you can visit the impressive fortress, which offers an amazing view of the city and surroundings, as well as admire numerous buildings from Ottoman times. 

Travnik is the only city in Bosnia and Herzegovina with two clock towers; it is also known for the colorful mosque, which is among the most unique in the country. This is also the unofficial capital of cevapi, and the rumor says you can eat the best ones in Travnik.

Jajce is one of the most interesting yet underrated places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a real gem of the Balkans. The picturesque location and numerous historical monuments should put Jajce on every Balkans itinerary, yet the town isn’t widely visited by international tourists who, I believe, miss a lot.

The town has a long and interesting history, and you can see it in the numerous Jajce attractions. The area was inhabited already in ancient times, but the peak of prosperity came in medieval times when Jajce was the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia. 

Besides numerous historical Jajce monuments, the town is also known for its natural spots. The Jajce waterfall is a picturesque highlight of the town, but the Pliva lake, with the old watermills, just outside of the town, is worth visiting too. 

Due to its importance and both historical and natural sights, Jajce is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. 

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Distance from Sarajevo to Travnik: 95 km
Distance from Travnik to Jajce: 68 km

Where to stay in Jajce:

• Hotel Unca (9.5/10)
• Hotel Premium (9.1/10)
• Hotel Stari grad (8.6/10)

Read more about Travnik and Jajce in my articles:

• Visit Travnik – the Heart of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• What to See in Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Day 4: Jajce – Mostar

It takes a bit over three hours to get from Jajce to Mostar, so it’s better to start your day early. This way, you should arrive in Mostar around noon and have plenty of time to see all the attractions of this iconic city in Herzegovina.

Mostar is one of the most popular places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina (and in the Balkans), and it is famous for a reason. The Old Bridge attracts people from all over the world who want to see this iconic structure (originally built in the 16th century, destroyed in 1993, and rebuilt ten years later). 

But Mostar offers more attractions and things to do. There’s a charming Old Town with a colorful bazaar, the 17th-century Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (where you can climb the minaret for breathtaking views of Mostar and its surroundings), and some quirky attractions like the Bruce Lee statue.

The city attracts mostly visitors coming on a day trip from Dubrovnik, Split, or Sarajevo. Once they are gone, you can wander around the empty-ish Old Town, look at the Old Bridge without all the hassle around, and appreciate the place to the fullest.

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Distance from Jajce to Mostar: 160 km

Where to stay in Mostar:

• Hotel Sinan Han (8.7/10)
• Hotel-Restaurant Kriva Ćuprija (9.4/10)
• Hotel Almira (9.2/10)

Read more about Mostar in my articles:

• 25 Amazing Things to Do in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Street Art in Mostar – the Outdoor Gallery in the Iconic City
• 10 Perfect Day Trips from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Day 5: Mostar – Pocitelj – Blagaj – Stolac – Trebinje

Starting in Mostar, you can visit two of the interesting nearby places before continuing your journey towards Trebinje. 

The first one is Pocitelj – a very charming, medieval town that is literally glued to the slope of the hill. Pocitelj reached its peak of prosperity between the 16th and 18th centuries, and you can find remnants of medieval and Ottoman architecture here. It feels like time has stopped in this fortified town. If you’re lucky, you can have the place mostly to yourself, and that’s the best way to fall in love with Pocitelj. For such a small town, there are surprisingly many sights to see: houses, the mosque, and the ruins of the fortress. From the last one, you can admire views of Pocitelj and the surrounding area.

Since Pocitelj is rather small, you need around one hour to see all it has to offer. Then you can head to your next stop of the day – Blagaj. This lovely place is known for the Dervish monastery, dating back to 1520 and built into the cliff. It is possible to visit the inside to admire well-preserved Ottoman and Dervish remnants. Next to the monastery, you can find the most picturesque spot in Blagaj – the spring of the Buna River, which flows directly from the inside of the rocky mountain. The best place to capture its beauty is from across the river from the monastery.

Another interesting place you should see along the way is Stolac, with its highlight – the Radimlja Necropolis, located on the outskirts of the town. There are around 100 graves here, dating to medieval times, some with beautiful artistic details. The Radimlja Necropolis is one of the most important historical landmarks in the region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The old Ottoman town of Stolac is worth a stop, too. Right in the center, you will find the Čaršija Mosque with its beautiful full-frontage mural. Unfortunately, the place (as well as numerous other buildings in the town) was destroyed during the 1990s Balkan War. What you can admire today is the painstakingly rebuilt version, which used only original material. Besides the mosque, you should also see the old stone bridge and the fortress ruins, with beautiful views of the surroundings.

Your final destination of the day is Trebinje, a charming town located near the borders with Croatia and Montenegro. With a population of a bit over 30.000, no one is in a hurry here. You can spend an enjoyable time just wandering around the old town with the Ottoman architecture or relaxing in one of the cafes in the shadow of the plane trees for which Trebinje is known. 

Don’t miss the Nova Gracaninca monastery, located on the hill above the town. It’s a copy of the monastery with the same name from Kosovo. From there, you can admire a beautiful panorama of Trebinje and its surroundings. 

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Distance from Mostar to Pocitelj: 30 km
Distance from Pocitelj to Blagaj: 27 km
Distance from Blagaj to Stolac: 30 km
Distance from Stolac to Trebinje: 80 km

Where to stay in Trebinje:

• VILA PERLA (9.4/10)
• Hotel Platani (9.2/10)
• Integra Hotel (8.7/10)

Read more about Trebinje in my article: Visit Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina – a pleasant Balkan getaway

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Day 6: Trebinje – Tjentiste – Visegrad

It’s a bit of a drive from Trebinje to Visegrad, but the views along the way are spectacular, especially when you pass Sutjeska National Park, with the highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Maglic (2386 meters). The perfect place to stop along the way is at the Tjentiste monument. This is one of the most iconic spomeniks (WWII memorials from the former Yugoslavia) in the country, commemorating the 1943 battle of the Sutjeska, and is located in the park. 

The main reason people visit Visegrad, and the highlight of the town, is a beautiful, UNESCO-listed bridge over the Drina, honored in Ivo Andric’s Nobel-winning novel “The Bridge over the Drina”. This outstanding piece of architecture is well worth a trip to Visegrad, and even if you come here only for the bridge, you won’t be disappointed. Fans of Ivo Andric will also appreciate the artificial town dedicated to the writer, Andricgrad, a weird and quirky place but still worth visiting. 

Distance from Trebinje to Tjentiste: 105 km
Distance from Tjentiste to Visegrad: 100 km

Where to stay in Visegrad:

• Hotel Višegrad (8.3/10)
• Hotel Andrićgrad (8.2/10)

Read more about Visegrad in my article: Visegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina – See the Iconic Bridge on the Drina

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Day 7: Visegrad – Serbia – Srebrenica – Sarajevo

From Visegrad, you can do a little detour and cross the border to Serbia. Not only is it a shorter way to get to Srebrenica, but you can also include interesting stops in your itinerary. 

It’s only 25 km from Visegrad to Mokra Gora, where you can go for a ride on the Sargan Eight train – a popular and very picturesque heritage line operating on narrow-gauge tracks. The line between Mokra Gora and Šargan Vitasi stations is 15,5 km long, with 22 tunnels (the longest one is 1666 meters) and 5 bridges along the way. The journey time is around 40 minutes, and the height difference between the starting and final stations is 300 meters. The Sargan Eight name comes from the profile of the line, which twists and turns, creating shapes similar to the number eight. 

Near the train station in Mokra Gora, you can find Drvengrad, the artificial village that was built for Emir Kusturica’s movie “Life is a miracle”. The movie set stayed intact and now serves as a tourist attraction, a pretty cool one. 

From Mokra Gora, you can drive through Tara National Park towards Bajina Bašta, where you can see the famous House on the Drina. The town is also a border crossing point where you can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina again. From the border, it’s only 40 km to Srebrenica, a sleepy town with a picturesque location among the hills and nothing indicating the tragedy the place went through not so long ago.

The whole world learned about it during the 1990s Balkan War, when the declared haven was attacked, and over eight thousand men and boys were killed. In the nearby Potocari, you can visit the Srebrenica-Potočari Genocide Memorial and Cemetery, where you can pay respect to the victims and learn more about the Srebrenica genocide. Be sure to check the opening times of the memorial so it’s not closed when you arrive at the site. 

From Potocari, it’s around 2,5 hour drive back to Sarajevo, where you can finish your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

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Distance from Visegrad to Mokra Gora: 26 km
Distance from Mokra Gora to Srebrenica: 80 km
Distance from Srebrenica to Sarajevo: 145 km

My articles about Serbia that you might find useful:

• Sargan Eight Train – An Engineering Masterpiece in Serbia
• Drvengrad, Serbia – Visit an Idyllic Former Movie Set

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Final thoughts on visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina

While this itinerary focuses only on one country, Bosnia and Herzegovina, chances are you will combine your time there with a visit to one of the neighboring countries. From Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can easily go to Croatia, Montenegro, or Serbia, and I recommend visiting each of them. But I bet Bosnia and Herzegovina is the place that will surprise you the most with its beauty and great attractions.  

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