10 Ideas for Day Trips from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Last Updated on 02/02/2026 by kami

Sarajevo is one of the most fascinating cities to visit in Europe, a place where East and West truly meet. But the capital isn’t the only interesting place to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country is full of amazing yet overlooked attractions, and discovering them is a real treat. Fortunately, you can visit some of the best destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina as day trips from Sarajevo, which can make your trip to the Balkans so much easier.

I put together the list of the best Sarajevo day trips, together with practical information on how to reach them, to help you plan your trip to Bosnia. Unfortunately, the public transport in this Balkan country is rather challenging. Except for Mostar and Konjic, it’s best to visit most places with a tour or drive yourself (you can rent a car for your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina here). But no matter how you get around, I bet you will be impressed and enchanted with all the beauty Bosnia and Herzegovina offers.

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Day trips from Sarajevo

Mostar and surroundings

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. You can read more about things to do in Mostar here.

Mostar is a perfect day trip from Sarajevo. The city is about two hours from the Bosnian capital, with good transportation options between the two. There are plenty of buses throughout the day, as well as two direct trains. I recommend taking the train at least one way, as the views along the way are simply breathtaking. The city itself is rather compact, with most attractions close to each other, so you can easily walk everywhere.

You can also visit Mostar as part of the tour, which would give you a chance to see not only the city but also its surroundings (which are beautiful and so interesting). The most popular places you can see together with Mostar are Blagaj (with the Dervish house and spring of river Buna), Pocitelj (a charming little town, glued to the hill above Neretva river, a perfect example of the Ottoman architecture), Kravica Waterfall and Medjugorje (famous for the religious cult).

Recommended tours to Mostar:

Travnik

Travnik is one of the most underrated places to visit in the Balkans. Located almost 100 kilometers from Sarajevo, this is one of the oldest towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with numerous great monuments and attractions you will definitely want to see. Those include the impressive ruins of the castle above the city, as well as one of the most beautiful mosques in the Balkans and one of the two painted mosques in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Travnik is also the unofficial cevapi capital of Bosnia, so if you like this typical regional dish, the best place to get it is right here.

It takes around two hours to get to Travnik by bus from Sarajevo (there are a few good connections to choose from). I recommend joining the tour, though, so you can combine visiting Travnik with nearby Jajce (more about it below) – together they make a perfect day trip from Sarajevo.

Jajce

Another interesting yet underrated place to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Jajce. It has everything you wish for in a great tourist destination: a picturesque location, great historical sites, and beautiful nature around it, yet not many people visit this charming town. Jajce has a long and interesting history, evident in its numerous attractions. The area was inhabited already in ancient times, but the peak of prosperity came in the Middle Ages when Jajce was the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bosnia.

Besides numerous historical monuments, the town is also known for its natural spots. The Jajce waterfall is a picturesque highlight of the town but the Pliva lake 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.

Getting there by bus takes too long, so the best way to visit Jajce is with a tour. This way, you can easily see Travnik, Jajce, and Pliva Lake on your day trip from Sarajevo.

Recommended tours to Travnik and Jajce:

Srebrenica

This is not an easy place to visit, but I believe learning about the local history (especially the recent one) is crucial to understanding the country. Srebrenica made it to the news around the world in 1995, when the ethnic cleansing and mass murder took place here during the Bosnian War. Over eight thousand people (the majority were men) lost their lives there.

Today, Srebrenica is a sleepy town in a beautiful location. A bit outside of the city, in Potocari village, you can visit the Genocide Memorial (where the UN soldiers were stationed) and the cemetery with graves of the victims – both leave a truly devastating impression.

Since Srebrenica is located a bit away from Sarajevo (150 km), with no decent connections between the places, it’s best to go there on the tour. Not only will you have a smooth trip, but you will also learn more about the Bosnian War in the 1990s and the significance of Srebrenica.

Recommended tours to Srebrenica:

Visegrad

The small town near the border with Serbia is known for its 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.

The public transport from Sarajevo to Visegrad is a problem (it takes too long and the schedule isn’t good for day trips), so again, it’s best to join the tour. This way, you can visit Visegrad, as well as interesting places just across the border in Serbia: the Sargan Eight narrow-gauge railway built in 1925, Drvengrad (the village designed for Emir Kusturica’s movie “Life is Miracle”), and Tara National Park.

Recommended tours to Visegrad:

Lukomir

Located high in the Bjelasnica mountain, only 50 km away from Sarajevo, Lukomir is the most isolated village in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Getting there is already a challenge as the road is partly gravel, but that’s part of the adventure. It feels like time stands still in Lukomir as some of the locals, semi-nomadic Muslim herders, lead a life like it used to be centuries ago. This is a great place to visit if you are looking for stunning landscapes and a glimpse into the local culture and traditions.

Recommended tours to Lukomir:

Visoko

Less than 40 km away from Sarajevo, you can visit Visoko, a small town that at first doesn’t seem very special. It is, however, home to the alleged Bosnian pyramids. When you look carefully at the hills surrounding Visoko, some of them indeed resemble a pyramid in shape.

A Bosnian businessman claims the hills were formed by human and supernatural forces, and that the pyramids in Visoko are, in fact, the largest human-made ancient pyramids on Earth. Whether it’s true or not, Visoko is an interesting place to visit and a great day trip from Sarajevo.

Skakavac Waterfall

If you would like to go hiking during your time in Sarajevo, Skakavac Waterfall is a great destination. It is located only 12 kms away from the center, in the hills surrounding the city. It’s easy to walk there (though it can be a bit steep at times), and since there are two different trails to the waterfall, you don’t need to take the same route there and back. The waterfall is really impressive, standing 98 meters tall, and is a perfect nature getaway from the busy capital.

Skiing in Jahorina

Fans of skiing can enjoy over 25 km of ski slopes in the Olympic Center Jahorina. This is where the 1984 Winter Olympic Games took place, although the place was first used for winter sports in the late 19th century. With its proximity to Sarajevo (only 30 km), Jahorina is a perfect destination for those who would like to ski during their trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. You don’t need to limit yourself only to the wintertime; in the warmer months, you can hike in the area, as Jahorina and its surroundings are known for their beautiful landscapes and views.

Not far from Jahorina, you can also visit the Olympic ski jumping hills in Igman, which are not in the best shape, but their location is stunning.

Konjic

Halfway between Sarajevo and Mostar, you can visit Konjic, a nice town with a beautiful Ottoman bridge from the 17th century. What makes the place worth a trip is the Tito’s Bunker from the Cold War times. It was built as a shelter for the military and Tito’s government in the event of a nuclear attack, and could accommodate up to 350 people for up to six months. It took 26 years to complete the project, but it is a truly fascinating place to explore. Visiting the bunker is possible only with a guide, and booking in advance is recommended.

Konjic is also a popular destination for outdoor activities, so if you enjoy rafting, this is a place to be. The Neretva River is breathtaking, which makes it a perfect spot for water sports.

Recommended Konjic tours:

Final thoughts on Sarajevo day trips

As you can see, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very diverse country, with attractions for every taste. The good thing is you can see all the great places around the country while being based in Sarajevo. And once you are back from your day trip, you can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the Bosnian capital.

Travel Resources

Below you can find the brands I trust and use when planning trips:

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Sarajevo
I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Viator or Get Your Guide.
Stay connected with Airalo eSim card – use my code “KAMILA1947” to get $3 off your first order!
For transportation and booking tickets online, I usually use 12Go or Omio
Looking for the airport pickup? Check Welcome Pickups!
Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Bosnia and Herzegovina here.
If you plan to rent a car during your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina check Discover Cars to compare prices and find the best deals
Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.

For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:

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I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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