From untouched forests, some of the oldest in the world, to a culturally diverse capital called
the Jerusalem of Europe. Bosnia & Herzegovina is an underrated gem in Southeastern Europe,
and the reason not many tourists travel here yet is because of the 1990’s civil war that still
wanes on their minds. But after 30 years Bosnia is a peaceful and recovering country that has plenty
to offer. Today we take a look at this very small country that’s brimming with stunning nature,
beautiful sights, and adventure. These are 10 must-see locations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia with a population of around 300,000.
The city has amazing and diverse architecture from the Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungarian periods.
Sarajevo offers dozens of must-do’s so lookout for a future video on just the
top 10 of Sarajevo but one of the top and first things to do here is old town, Bascarsija.
Enjoy the walk, goods, and best of all, sit for some famous Sarajevo cevapi and coffee.
You will probably fly here to Bosnia’s main airport so get acquainted with the capital
and plan to spend a few days here as you venture out and explore the rest of the country.
In the Ilidza neighborhood of Sarajevo lies a majestic park that is a must-visit,
the spring of the river Bosna, Vrelo Bosne. Back in the Austro-Hungarian period, this area was
strictly for the relaxation of high nobles and the rich. Today it’s a quiet escape from the city to
see the 3rd longest river in the country, River Bosna, emerging from underneath Mount. Igman.
Mostar features one of the most recognized features of Bosnia,
the Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century. It’s one of the most visited places in
the country and is only a couple hours from Sarajevo. The Neretva River flows through the
middle of this breathtaking city that offers stone bazaars, hundreds of years of history,
and unmatched beauty. Along with the Old Bridge, there are many other historic attractions like
war museums and the Crooked Bridge. Walk the bridges and witness death-defying bridge jumpers,
a tradition practiced for hundreds of years in the area.
Enjoy the diverse cuisine, sights, and sounds of Mostar and be transported to a different time.
45 minutes from Mostar, lies one of the most stunning waterfalls, not just in the country but
all of Europe. Kravice Waterfall is a magical area with various falls, restaurants, and activities to
keep you entertained the whole day. 25 meters high and separated into 20 falls it’s not a big
waterfall but with the colors of the water and the area, it’s one of the most beautiful. You can rent
paddleboards, swim, and enjoy drinks and food after, with the stunning views in front of you.
Another magical location about 30 minutes on the opposite side of Mostar, the historic Blagaj.
This small village is situated at the spring of the Buna River and features a Dervish Monastery,
called a Tekija built around 1520, with elements of Ottoman architecture
and the Mediterranean style. This small area has restaurants and many stalls to buy souvenirs.
There is also a hotel here and the nearby hill has the historic Blagaj Fort overlooking the village.
The history of Blagaj is long and amazing, just like the flowing water and scenery of the area.
Speaking of history, one of the most important historical cities in Bosnia is Jajce. Located in
the green mountains of Central Bosnia, the whole city was fortified with walls, many of them still
standing. On a hill in the center of town, the main fortress keep overlooks the valley and
waterfalls below. A truly stunning sight with underground crypts, waterfalls, and castles
to explore. Jajce was first built in the 14th century and was the capital of the independent
Kingdom of Bosnia in medieval times. With Mosques and Churches built here during different rulers
and different times, Jajce continues the tradition of very diverse Bosnian cities.
The Jajce Waterfall in the center of town is a can’t miss attraction as well,
it allows you to get right under the falls and feel its refreshing wet breeze.
Back in Medieval Bosnia, Visoko was an important center of commerce and it was also the birthplace
of the first Bosnian King, Tvrtko. The old fortress of old town Visoki still stands
on Visocica Hill. Visoko has traces of life in the area dating back to the 5th Millennium BC.
Archaeological excavations here have found one of the biggest neolithic settlements of the ancient
Butmir culture. Today along with tourists stopping by for the historic buildings the
recent rumors of the Bosnian Pyramids have brought people all over the world along with the claims.
Semir Osmanagic claimed that several hills surrounding this valley have concealed pyramids,
and excavations have been ongoing ever since with certain scientists criticizing these claims.
Nonetheless, Visoko remains a historic site that should be visited.
The largest National Park in Bosnia, Una, features some of the most stunning nature seen anywhere.
The park was only established in 2008 and is located near the city of Bihac. The park's
white water rapids are famous for their rafting and the waterfalls draw in many visitors. The
largest waterfall of the bunch on the Una River, Strbacki Buk is one of the park's main features.
The park also offers a medieval fortress, called Ostrovica, one of many in the country.
Next to the Neretva River, 19 miles south of Mostar, lies a historic village and open-air
museum that is Pocitelj. Built in the country’s strong Middle Ages and dating as far back as 1383.
Architecturally, the stone-constructed parts of the town are a fortified complex in which
2 stages of evolution are evident: medieval and Ottoman. The village offers a citadel,
Mosques, and towers, all looking out at the beautiful and flowing Neretva River.
Situated on the banks of the Trebišnjica river in the region of East Herzegovina,
Trebinje’s old town quarter dates back to the 18th-century Ottoman period.
One of its main attractions, the Arslanagic Bridge,
crossing over the Trebisnjica River. Trebinje is known as the city of the sun and platan trees.
Explore the towns Churches, Mosques, and old town for historic sights and beautiful
buildings. After that enjoy wine in a cellar with some delicious homemade food from the region.
One of the smallest coastal towns in the world and Bosnia’s only access to the Adriatic Sea,
with 12 miles of coast, welcome to Bosnia’s beach town of Neum. After dipping your toes
in its Mediterranean waters, climb the hills outside of Neum to explore fortress
ruins and centuries-old olive groves. The way cheaper alternative from neighboring Croatia,
Neum’s beaches are less packed and its hotels less pricey, but the views are still beautiful.
Bosnia and Herzegovina offers even more amazing locations so stick around
for a future video where we will cover more stunning spots, more history of the region,
and more of its diverse cities and towns. Thanks for watching and we’ll see you on the road.