Why Travel to Bosnia? | The Shocking Truth!

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do people travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?”

Nowadays, most travellers are visiting the Balkans more than ever, with Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia being among the most popular. 

When we travel, we always try to see places and countries more off the beaten path, like Bosnia and Herzegovina. This country is one of the most underrated countries in Europe, mostly known for the Bosnian war, which occurred in the 1990s.

But why travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina? What to expect? Where to go and what to see? Is it worth visiting? 

Keep reading till the end, and you’ll find all the answers to these questions.

From our perspective 

This country has so much to offer, and it’s worth your time and effort to visit. Its stunning nature blew us away!

Don’t let the media or, even worse, the people scare you. Visit less touristy countries, countries in the unknown, and you’ll be amazed by these places!

As soon as you touch the ground of Bosnia and Herzegovina, you’ll immediately notice the medieval villages, rivers, lakes and the cragged Dinaric Alps. 

Mostar 

Late in the evening, we arrived in Mostar and had a last-minute cancellation of the accommodation, exactly like what happened to us in Montenegro. This time, things didn’t run as smoothly as back then. 

It was around 11 pm. All shops were closed, and all streets were empty. We started walking, knocking on the doors of all the hostels, but unfortunately, most were closed during that season. As you can imagine, we got exhausted walking with our backpacks in the middle of the night. 

We sat down on the first bench we found, and to our surprise, we noticed a hotel a few meters away, so we rushed to ask for some WiFi. Luckily, the receptionist was so helpful. Not only did he let us use the WiFi, but he also showed us where we could find the closest guesthouse. 

We couldn’t believe it this time after walking a few more meters to get to the guesthouse; two people from different guesthouses offered us a room for the night! Guesthouse Nana was one of the best rooms we ever rented, so we can’t complain!

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast the following morning at Guesthouse Nana.

Must see and do in Mostar 

Neretva River

This river is also called the Blue Heart of Europe. It stole our attention by a simple walk from the market.

Notice the Bombarded Buildings

The siege of Mostar was fought during the Bosnian War, first in 1992 and later from 1993 to 1995. You’ll see most buildings ruined by bullet holes. 

Graffiti

You can find the largest concentration of street art and graffiti inside and around the Sniper Tower, but you can also find much more in other parts of the city.

The Old Bridge, Stari Most 

Stari Most is a hump-backed stone arch bridge over the river Neretva. Before it, at the same place, stood a wooden suspension bridge.

The Sniper Tower

If you travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can’t visit Mostar without trespassing the famous Sniper Tower!

Initially, the Mostar Sniper Tower was a Yoguslav Bank that was taken over by Croat and Serb forces during the siege of Mostar. Due to its vital location and height, it was used as a sniper tower during the Bosnian battle between April 1992 and December 1995.

Trespassing the Sniper Tower!!

Technically, the Sniper Tower isn’t accessible to the public. However, audacious travellers trespass the Sniper Tower every year, and that’s precisely what we did. We trespassed this building, which ended up being ten storeys of fun and excitement!

No official openings exist to enter this building, as the ground level is completely blocked off. A few bricks form small steps on the backside, made by some people, where you can jump over the wall to enter. However, it’s not very safe as there’s a fence which you can hurt yourself.

At the back of the Sniper Tower, there’s a small hole a few meters away from the building, where you can hold to a ladder taking you to the underground of this tower. Be careful as it’s very dark and narrow, and the bottom is trash.

We met a brave Belgian couple, Gertjan and Dora, and trespassed into the building together through this hole.

TIP: Take a head torch with you. You can exit from the same place by taking the same ladder. Try to make a mark on the walls for you to remember where you passed. 

Remember that the Sniper Tower is an abandoned building, so enter at your own risk.

Climbing the Sniper Tower 

Being a dead site for many people, being killed while at work for years, this site was destroyed. Be extra careful with every step you take inside this building. 

Watch out for the elevator shaft! Stay away from it, not to ruin your fun visiting this tower if you fall. No safety rails are along the staircases, and it’s easy to slip and fall over. Broken glass is found everywhere, and you can easily get hurt as there’s no protection inside the building.

TIP: Don’t go in flip-flops! Ideally, wear trekking shoes.

On each floor of the Sniper Tower, you’ll notice the graffiti covering the walls, and from each level, you’ll be amazed by the unbelievable views. We couldn’t stop thinking of what it was like to work in that bank, having those fantastic views and how unfortunate those people were to lose their lives at work due to a horrific war.

Reaching the 10th Floor

You’ll end up tongue-tied after taking the last small spiral staircase to the roof! The rooftop offers an infinite view of Mostar and the surrounding hills. Just like what happened to us, you won’t believe your eyes.

Unfortunately, although it’s a tremendous feeling being on the very top of this building, the reality is that in the past years, there were snipers in that exact position, killing people surrounded by those views!

Mostar is a unique city with a lot of history. Sadly enough, it’s also a reminder of the tragedies during the war, and the Sniper Tower is an example. Nevertheless, we highly recommend visiting Mostar as it’s a magnificent city which teaches us a lot of history from the previous years.

To see more of Mostar’s surroundings, we rented a car for a day road trip from RentalCars.com, which we highly recommend when you travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are super reliable and very affordable. 

Where to go from Mostar 

Vodopad Kravica 

This waterfall is a unique natural beauty. Due to the changes in the water level and vegetation, the Kravica waterfall offers a unique experience every season. There’s free parking outside the entrance.

Bunski Kanal

The Bunski Kanal is a unique natural oasis near Mostar. 10000% worth visiting!!

Pocitelj 

Pocitelj is a historic urban site on the left bank of the river Neretva. The fortress town of Pocitelj is prodigious. You can go there and enjoy the picturesque views.

Sarajevo 

Sarajevo is another appealing city. At the peak of the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was the largest and most significant Ottoman city in the Balkans after Istanbul.

An interesting fact about the city of Sarajevo is that it’s known for its multiculturalism. You can find 100 mosques for prayer, several Catholic and Orthodox churches, cathedrals and synagogues.

What to do in Sarajevo 

Visit The Sacred Heart Cathedral 

This cathedral is a Catholic church known as the Sarajevo Cathedral, and it’s the largest cathedral in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Roam around the Town 

You can’t miss the prominent streets, including Titova Street.

Walk up the hills to the Yellow Bastion 

Don’t take the bus! Enjoy a walk on one of the most tranquil and picturesque paths. After the stroll, you’ll be rewarded with the most amazing view of the city!

Take the Cable car to go to Trebević Mountain 

Trebević is a mountain in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located southeast of Sarajevo, in the territory of East Sarajevo. On this mountain, you can see the Abandoned Bobsled Track on which the World Olympic Games took place in 1984.

What you need to know before

Currency 

The currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the convertible mark (KM). We highly recommend you use the ATMs of Ziraat Bank to avoid fees.

Hitchhiking in Bosnia and Herzegovina 

If you hitchhike in Bosnia and Herzegovina, write the name of the destination you want to stop at. Don’t write the number of kilometres, for example, 10 km. Since KM is their currency, drivers may think you’ll pay them 10KM (€5.15) at the end of the drive. Although, it’s still a nice gesture to tip them or buy them a coffee as a thank you.

Language

Due to the mixed population in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Muslims, Croats, and Serbs), Bosnian is one of the three official languages. However, they speak good English, so communicating with locals is easy.

Food 

For food lovers like us, the Balkans make up a part of the world and are rich in hearty cuisine. They have recipes dating back centuries. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, our top favourites remain the Cevapi and Burek.

Where to Stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina

If you choose to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, probably you’ll be searching for the most unique accommodations to stay in. 

Although this country has so many lovely guesthouses and various apartments and hotels, sometimes you only want something a bit more off-the-beaten-path.

Where to stay in Mostar

In Mostar, we recommend staying at the ”Cheap House Near the Center of The City” for the best hospitality in a place you feel at home. You’ll find all you need for a perfect stay in the calmest and most serene atmosphere. 

Where to book: Booking.com

Where to stay in Sarajevo 

If you’re staying in Sarajevo, the ”Apartment Near Center” is an impeccable apartment which we highly recommend you to stay in. Close to all main attractions but still in a quiet and harmonious area.

Where to book: Booking.com

Have you got plans to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Have you considered climbing the Sniper Tower in Mostar or trespassing it? How was your experience?
Let us know your thoughts.

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