Day Trips from Sarajevo
If you’re staying in Sarajevo for more than three days, it would be a good idea to consider visiting the nearby attractions.
Vrelo Bosne
Our first choice in this regard was Vrelo Bosne. It’s a large park located at the foot of Mount Igman. To get there, we took a taxi from Vilsonovo Šetalište. The taxi fare was around 17 KM. Despite some traffic, we reached the park in about half an hour. At the park entrance, there’s a fee of 2 KM, though it seemed optional, but we decided to pay just in case.
While the bridges over the water and the walking paths through the woods were nice, the park wasn’t large enough for hours of walking. Many Arab tourists come for picnics, unfortunately. There’s also a café, but we chose not to sit. We didn’t see the gushing water in the photos when we visited; probably because we went during summer, the water levels had decreased. We also felt sorry for the ducks and geese that seemed to be left without enough water.
After spending about 1.5 hours here, we asked the staff at the gate how to get a taxi back. He said he didn’t have a number. We asked how else we could return, and he just said, “taxi.” A bit of a dilemma, since the hotel staff had told us the gatekeeper could call one for us. Then we remembered the attendants near the parking lot, and as soon as we walked out, they asked if we needed a taxi and directed us to a car without a taxi sign. That’s why we made sure to agree on a price before getting in, settling for 20 KM to return to our starting point.
Our driver was very talkative. Apparently, someone who had visited Sarajevo before shared Ismet’s number with his permission on Ekşi Sözlük. He told us to contact him if we ever needed a taxi again. With lots of chatting, the trip passed quickly. He also owns a café in the center that sells burek while going up to the cable car (Caffe Saf). We didn’t stop by, but maybe you’ll want to visit before heading to Trebević.
Konjic
Another trip we took around Sarajevo was to Mostar, Kravice Falls, Blagaj, Konjic, and Počitelj in the Herzegovina region. We booked it as a tour through GetYourGuide, and the tour was operated by Meet Bosnia Herzegovina, located in Baščaršija. Since there was only one other guest, we traveled in a private car, with Kerim as both our guide and driver. He explained the places we were going to visit along the way and gave us plenty of free time at each stop. His insights illuminated both Sarajevo’s history and the destinations we were about to explore.
Our first stop was Konjic. Like many other bridges, the one here was built during the Ottoman period. With a river running through the middle, cafés along the riverbank, and stone houses, Konjic left a nice impression on us, even though we only spent 15 minutes there. It’s a small town, so even with more time, there wouldn’t have been much else to see. We convinced our guide to extend the stop by 10 minutes, allowing us to enjoy our first Bosnian coffee in Sarajevo here.
Pocitelj
Our second stop was Počitelj, featured in the photo at the beginning of this post. This historic village, located by the river, is small but delightful with its cobblestone streets and views from the hilltop. The view on one side matches the first photo, and on the other side, you can see the image at the start of this paragraph. Climbing up and down the slippery stones during the summer was more time-consuming than we expected. This place became a fortress during the Ottoman siege, but it didn’t stop the Ottomans from conquering it, and it remained part of the empire for many years.
When you visit, make sure to climb to the top for a photo with the view. Our guide also suggested buying some fruit juices made by the women at the entrance, but they were sold in plastic bottles, which kind of ruined the natural vibe.
Kravice Falls
After Počitelj, we headed to Kravice Falls. If you bring a swimsuit, you can take a dip here. If you want great photos, we recommend wearing sandals, as you’ll want to walk through the falls to the spot where the water flows most powerfully for a perfect photo. Even if you don’t swim, it’s nice to sit by the water and have a drink or, like us, enjoy some ice cream. Prices are reasonable. Since we visited in summer, the waterfalls weren’t at their fullest, but they were still much more impressive than the nearly dry Vrelo Bosne.
Blagaj
And now for the place I was most excited about: Blagaj. The photos of the Blagaj Tekke, nestled into the cliffs with the Buna River flowing from the cave, had deeply impressed me. Maybe it was because of my expectations, but I really loved it when I arrived—it gave me a sense of peace. You can enter the Tekke, but we chose not to. We went to the farthest point and dipped our hands in the water, which was freezing—just what you need to refresh yourself. You can also take a small boat into the cave, but our guide said there wasn’t much to see inside, so we skipped it.
Blagaj is famous for its trout, and based on our guide’s recommendation, we ate fish at Vrelo Restaurant by the river. It was quite crowded, but the service was fast, and the portions were generous. I tried the Sarajevo beer, but it wasn’t really to my taste. The beer and fish cost 18 KM.
Mostar
Our last stop was Mostar, which I had visited before. I had forgotten the feeling, but it came back to me when I arrived—the bridge and the surrounding shops reminded me of the Rialto Bridge in Venice. Let’s not forget the impact of the crowd. Both of the town’s bridges were damaged during the war, but they were restored with the help of several countries. You can see the names of these countries near the big bridge. I think the best photo of the bridge is from below, and there are stairs between the nearby cafés that you can use to go down and take pictures.
Mostar is one of those places in Bosnia where you might want to stay for a while. There are plenty of places to stay, as well as cafés, restaurants, and shopping options. We left around 6, but based on photos I’ve seen, the night view is also quite beautiful.
When I told our guide on the way back that the bridge reminded me of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, he said it was the first time he had heard this and that he was happy to hear it. At the end of the trip, each of us had a different favorite spot. If you have time, I suggest visiting and finding your own favorite place.
You migth want to read my article on “Things to do in Sarajevo“
