Bosnia and Herzegovina: friendly people, ever so tasty but waist enhancing Burek, preserved alpine villages, incredible mountain peaks…. it really has it all! This summer consider a trip down to captivating Bosnia & Herzegovina for a memorable trip that will no doubt rate high in the adventure and fun cateogory.

The capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina is Sarajevo, one of the most historically interesting cities in Europe. A multi-religious melting pot where the eastern and western Roman Empire split; where the people of the Eastern Orthodox east, the Ottoman south and the Roman Catholic west met, co-existed and warred. A real city of contradictions, on one hand Sarajevo stands as a stark example of historical turbulence and the clash of European and Arabic civilizations, while on the other it offers a beacon of hope for peace and tolerance through multi-religious, multi-cultural integration.

Ancient Tombstones in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Continue reading this travel article on the whl.travel blog:  Bosnia and Herzegovina – Look Beyond its Recent Past to a Greener Future.

Very few people will consider spending their next holiday in post-war Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

Just mentioning the place conjures up memories of the devastating war that occurred in the 1990s. However, over the last decade significant development and improvements to the tourism infrastructure have taken place. It’s a destination with stunning nature, a fascinating blend of cultures, friendly people, UNESCO Heritage listed sites as well as world famous Balkan cuisine.  The capital Sarajevo is a cosmopolitan city with trendy bars and cafes. In the surrounding mountains and countryside of Sarajevo there are plenty of things to see and do. The 1984 Winter Olympics were held at Jahorina Resort and it’s one of the cheapest and least crowded skiing destinations in Europe. 

Green Visions was founded on the principles of balance and harmony between man and nature. Read more about this article at the Make Travel Fair site here.

When travelling to Bosnia & Herzegovina it is essential to check visa requirements before travelling. You don’t want to end up at the Sarajevo Airport, only to find yourself on the next flight out of there! Don’t risk it and check the latest Bosnia visa requirements at the Bosnia & Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Visas in Bosnia

If you are a citizen of; Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Kingdom or the European Union, you don’t need a visa before arriving. When you do arrive in the country you’ll simply pay the arrival tax after clearing customs, a fee of no more than EUR 20.

If you are not a citizen of one of the above mentioned countries you could be required to apply for a Bosnia & Herzegovina Visa before arriving in the country. This can be done at one of the many consulates abroad, and if you are booking through a travel agent in Bosnia & Herzegovina, they will explain the process and issue you with an invitation letter. Or, if you have friends in BiH you can ask them to send you a letter of guarantee.

Once again, always check with the Visa Office of Bosnia well before you plan on arriving in the country to avoid any problems. This information is only provided as a general guide.

It’s that time year to dust off your skis and plan a winter getaway to the slopes! Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is Austria, Switzerland or France, where you can expect some excellent conditions. However, if you’re looking to escape the crowds and visit a destination with stunning scenery, fantastic conditions, friendly locals, all without breaking the bank, then try skiing in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Skiing in Jahorina

Bosnia & Herzegovina offers three ski resorts all within a short drive from the capital city, Sarajevo. The three ski resorts include, Igman, Bjelasnica and home to the 1984 Winter Olympics, Jahorina. Probably the best skiing can be had at Jahorina, not as high as Bjelasnica, but always with plenty of snow. Jahorina has some 20 ski runs perfect for skiers and snowboarders of various skill levels, those looking for adventure or those with young children. In fact, some ski runs in Jahorina are up to 1.5 km in length! Jahorina also has up to 8 lifts operating able to take 7,500 visitors an hour. While there are very few snow machines, you can be guaranteed a great time skiing in Bosnia & Herzegovina! Click here if you want a live webcam of Jahorina!

One of the first things that comes to mind for most is whether Bosnia is a safe place to visit, let alone going skiing in the mountains. The answer is yes, and there has been a lot of improvements and reconstruction since the war of the 1990’s. If you take a walk down the centre of Sarajevo you’ll notice trendy cafes, fashionable clothing stores and fantastic restaurants serving up both Balkan and international cuisines.

Ski Centre Jahorina

Accommodation is also plentiful with various mountain retreats and hotels in Sarajevo. One such accommodation in the ski resort of Bjelasnica is Hotel Maršal Bjelašnica, whilst in Jahorina you find the highly recommended Hotel Termag, also a favourite amongst both locals and foreigners.

If you do decide on skiing in Jahorina you can expect to pay as little as EUR 75 per adult and EUR 50 per child for a six-day ski pass. There are also plenty of services available up at the mountain including ski hire and also ski instructors if you’re just a beginner! Want a little more adventure? You can even hire a snow mobile for as little as EUR 50 per hour for up to four persons.

If you would like to take a ski holiday in Bosnia, take a look at the getting to Sarajevo blog. There are now various flights and cheaper options available.

In short, Bosnia is ideal for a winter break that offers the best of both worlds. You ski by day and enjoy the urban attractions of Sarajevo by night. Find information about selecting cheap hotels in Sarajevo with this blog or visit whl.travel’s local Sarajevo Hotel connection.

Many would know Sarajevo only by the images seen on their television in the early 90’s… a place of sadness and destruction. However, Sarajevo has now recovered and has emerged as a charming and friendly destination with a beautiful old town, trendy cafes and a happening nightlife!

If you can afford to fly directly into Sarajevo, try Turkish Airlines, Malev Airlines or Austrian Airlines. All these airlines fly direct from their ports and connect with pretty much every main city in Europe, and many destinations around the world. Make sure you check the prices often as they can go up-and-down depending on the day. Return tickets usually go for about $400 – $600 if you’re lucky!

Low Cost Flights to Sarajevo

As a relatively new destination on the travellers must-see list, Sarajevo is a difficult place to find cheap flights from the main cities of Europe. There are no discount airlines to Sarajevo and travelling by bus or train is at least a 12-36 hour journey depending on where you currently are located.  Try Eurolines if you are keen on booking a bus to Sarajevo.

If you are living close to Germany you can fly direct to Sarajevo with German Wings. If in Scandinavia you can fly direct to Sarajevo from Oslo with Norwegian Air. You should always check as many low-cost carriers like those mentioned have only a few flights a week so you have to plan your trip carefully.

If however you’re looking for the cheapest and quickest route to Sarajevo, your best bet is to book with one of the cheap airlines, like Sky Europe, direct to Dubrovnik or Split, in Croatia. From these destinations you can easily travel by bus the few hours to the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje or see the stunning old bridge of Mostar (2-3 hours), or a direct bus to Sarajevo (3.5 hours – 4 hours). Buses depart daily from the main stations.

Another possibility is to fly into Belgrade, Serbia, and then take a quick flight over from Belgrade to Sarajevo with JAT Airways (1 hour).  The price should be about $100 for this short flight. It all depends where you are flying from, you can always check Which Budget or Sky Scanner for a list of budget airlines into Belgrade, Split or Dubrovnik.

Another option is to drive! If you have a hire car from Europe though, be careful as many of the rental agreements won’t cover accident damage if taken outside the EU member states. However, some rental companies like Hertz in Italy, will allow you to drive into the former Yugoslav countries. Always check to confirm.

If you would like any information about travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina try the local whl.travel partners, offering a range of Sarajevo Hotels, Medjugorje Hotels and Mostar Hotels.

Medjugorje is a beautiful little town located in the lush green mountains of Bosnia & Herzegovina, famous for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1981. Medjugorje has now become one of the most visited sites in Bosnia & Herzegovina, with devout Catholics aiming to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

Many decide to take a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks or months. Of course, some people cannot afford such privilege and instead opt for a shorter trip to Medjugorje. Located just a few hours from the popular Dubrovnik in Croatia, it’s possible to take either a bus to Medjugorje or one of the many private tours available.

St. James Church - Medjugorje

If you would like to visit Medjugorje from Dubrovnik and are on a budget (or enjoy public transport!) then consider taking taking a bus from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje. The ticket costs around EUR 10 and leaves the main bus station of Dubrovnik at 17:15 daily, arriving in Medjugorje at 21:10. So be sure you book your Medjugorje Hotel before arriving!

One such company offering a private transfer service from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje and private tours is Medjugorje Tours and Travel. Their transfer service from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje is affordable and reliable.

A private tour of Medjugorje is the best way to see this lovely town if you are staying in Dubrovnik and don’t have time to spend longer in Bosnia & Herzegovina on one of the Pilgrimages of Medjugorje. A transfer from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje, highlights of the town on a private guided tour, daily Mass service, and the transfer back to Dubrovnik will cost for; 2 Adults – 90 EUR Per Person, 3 Adults – 60 EUR Per Person, 4 – 8 Adults – EUR 50 Per Person.

Medjugorje pilgrims at the wooden cross

If you are staying in Dubrovnik and looking for something interesting to do and perhaps you are not such a devout Catholic, then a day trip to Medjugorje still makes for a nice tour! With lush green forests and cascading waterfalls, Medjugorje is a place of peace and serenity, a place for everyone to relax and unwind. With so many little pensions in Medjugorje and hotels in Medjugorje it is also possible to stay the night if you decide you like it so much!

Medjugorje Tours and Travel is located in Medjugorje right next to the St. James Church in Medjugorje – pretty much the centre of town! So if you are looking for some advice regarding a day tour to Medjugorje or just general information about Medjugorje then contact these guys. You can actually book a day trip of Medjugorje from Dubrovnik online with Medjugorje Tours & Travel.

If you have more time and would like to visit surrounding cities in Bosnia & Herzegovina, try searching for Sarajevo Hotels or Mostar Hotels, with whl.travel.

If you’re looking for an experience that gets you back to nature in Bosnia & Herzegovina then you cannot miss the incredible Hutovo Blato Nature Park. Situated in the South of Herzegovina, just 30km from the historical city of Mostar, Hutovo Blato offers travellers the chance to experience a Mediterranean swamp with plenty of flora and fauna! This national park is in fact one of the largest Winter bird ports, so if you’re a keen birdwatcher then you definitely want to put this place on your itinerary and bring a camera!

Hutovo Blato Nature Park

The landscape of Hutovo Blato is quite unique with lost rivers, valleys and gorges, with some lakes below the level of sea creating true crypto depressions. A green paradise with an abundance of plant life spanning swampland, meadows and forest. One such project has determined through their research that the favorable environmental conditions and influence of Mediterranean climate, more than 600 floral species were identified in the nature park.

Fortuna Tours, the whl.travel local travel connection in the city of Mostar, offers some great tours of the region and the city of Mostar as well. If you are visiting Bosnia & Herzegovina you mustn’t miss out on this stunning green oasis. If you are really keen you can… take one of the Hutovo Blato Nature Park Tours to see this place through the eyes of an expert. If you are visiting the nature park you will want to make a booking at one of the many Mostar Hotels.

Over the past 10 years significant improvements have been made to the budget accommodation available to travellers in Sarajevo. With both modern hotels standing alongside traditional Bosnian home stays and pensions, travellers will have no trouble finding somewhere comfortable to rest and at a decent price too!

If you’re researching budget accommodation in Sarajevo you first need to determine the amount you’re willing to spend. It may be that what you’re willing to spend on hostel in neighboring Croatia, will get you a fairly decent mid-range hotel in Sarajevo. As a benchmark, you can be looking at EUR 15 for the very basic up to around EUR 45 for something very nice and comfortable. You want to also consider that food and transport in Sarajevo is fairly cheap and so spending a bit more on accommodation might not be such a bad thing.

Pigeon Square in Sarajevo

Lonely Planet hasn’t reviewed too many hotels in Sarajevo. It’s a shame because Sarajevo is such an incredible place to visit and should really be on every travellers ‘must see’ list. Fortunately, the guys and girls at Greenvisions have partnered with whl.travel to create the travel site, Sarajevo-Travel.ba.

“We founded our company on the principles of balance and harmony between man and nature,” says Thierry Joubert of Greenvisions,”We’ve pioneered a movement in creating alternative means of sustainable development while maintaining an eco-friendly approach to all that we do.”

As the local connection in Sarajevo, Thierry and his team have been able to bring together many interesting and unique budget accommodations in Sarajevo that you would not otherwise find online or would have difficulties booking online. whl.travel operates with this model in over 100 destinations around the world, giving you a local connection as you travel the globe.

If you would like a few suggestions as to budget accommodations in Sarajevo, try Hostel City Centre. A fairly standard hostel with cheap rooms and basic amenities. Another idea would be Ljubicica, another fairly basic hostel with a great bar/cafe/internet social area. Whilst the main hostel is located quite close to the pigeon square (you’ll know this square like your own backyard after your visit!), most of the accommodation is provided through private apartments operated by local families allowing you to experience true Bosnian life and some friendly conversations.

If you are prepared to spend a bit more, try Guest house Halvat, operated by the friendly Valida and Mumo in Sarajevo’s Old Town. As hotel operators during the war they have plenty of tales to tell as well as serving up a delicious home-made raspberry jam with breakfast!

Your hosts at Pansion Kandilj in Sarajevo

One of the best accommodations in Sarajevo though has to be Pansion Kandilj, a small family run establishment committed to responsible tourism in their country. Pansion Kandilj provides their guests with a genuine experience with the facilities all designed in traditional Bosnian-style. They also promote the local culture offering guests with handicrafts and traditional clothing. If you decide to stay at Pansion Kandilj be sure to indulge in the delicious breakfast they will cook you on request (all included of course – try the bacon and tomato omelets!).

If you would like any other recommendations or advice regarding budget accommodation in Sarajevo please contact our local Sarajevo team. Please comment if you know of any other great little budget accommodations in Sarajevo that deserve a mention!