Are you planning to spend 3 days in Sarajevo? But what can you do in 72 hours in the Bosnian capital, and which sights and spots should you not miss?
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Here's the biggest mistake most people I meet make when it comes to Sarajevo: They stay only one night, maybe two. And while you could easily spend a week in Sarajevo, I get it: Sometimes there just isn't more time for a city break.
So if you have three days (and nights) in the Bosnian capital, you've got a lot of exploring to do. This tried and tested (on many of our friends visiting over the years) guide gives you the best tips for culture, sights, activities and (always important) what to eat in Sarajevo.
The Sarajevo Essentials
🎠 Dive right in | A city tour gives you a great overview over the history of the city and country (and believe me, you'll have questions)
📍 View Point | The Yellow Fortress is a classic for the best sunset view
🏛️ History lesson | Visit the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
🌮 Culinary delights Ćevapčići are a must. This is where you find the best ones. Or how about a Sarajevo Food Tour!
🥃 Drinks | Rakija in Višgrad (maybe even with a rakija tasting tour). Cocktails in Aperitivo
🛥️ Tour | See Sarajevo from a different angle with an urban hiking tour
😴 Accommodation | Hotel Ovo Malo Duše, Apartment Guilia
Best time to visit Sarajevo
If you ask me, Sarajevo is a great destination for around the year, and living here for four years, I can confirm that every season has its charm. Personally, I think May, June, September, and October are the very best months to visit.
But if you want to stay in Sarajevo during the Sarajevo Film Festivals , you are naturally going to come in August. If you want Christmas vibes, snow and maybe a day of skiing, December is the perfect month for you. Apart from cosy vibes, winter can be quite grey though and Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital is infamous for its smog, so take that into account when planning a snowy trip to Sarajevo.
Your travel guide for 3 days in Sarajevo
Day 1 | The most important sights in Sarajevo
Here we go: Your Sarajevo travel guide for the perfect three days in the Bosnian capital. Pinky promise, if you follow this itinerary, you will feel like hanging out here with a friend, I have included all the places I personally love. If you want to stay longer, you can easily extend your itinerary with my list of best insider tips for Sarajevo .
Mornings
Sarajevo is one of those cities where I really recommend starting your trip with a city tour The city is brimming with history from the Ottomans to the Austro-Hungarian times, the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand to the siege of Sarajevo. If you want to understand the city better in the days to come, a walking tour is a great place to start.
Tip | On this city tour , you also learn how Bosnian coffee is prepared and how to drink it, but if you don't want to take a tour, make still sure to try the Bosnian national drink.
Lunch | Either grab pita at Buregdžinica Sač (Zeljnanica with cheese and spinach is my favourite) or enjoy some Ćevapi at Željo or Ferhatović. My order: petica (five) with kajmak and onions–trust me on the last one, they are a must.
Afternoon
After a heavy lunch full of those delicious carbs, taking the cable car up Trebević is a great way to get over the midday lull. The upper cable car station offers panoramic views of Sarajevo and if you feel adventurous, you can walk down the abandoned bob sleigh from the 1984 Winter Olympics. It's not a hard hike it all and takes maybe one to one and a half hours, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have problems with your knees.
The old bob sleigh is now a canvas for street art and graffiti artists from all over the world, so make sure you have your camera ready.
Dinner | For a typical Bosnian meal and Old Town vibes, I recommend Nanina Kuhinja. Nanina Kuhinja.
Drinks | After dinner, head to Aperitivo for cocktails or Bosnian wine
Day 2 | Cultural deep dive into the “Jerusalem of Europe”
Did you know the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also called “Jerusalem of Europe”? Time to explore that past of the city a bit more.
Morning
Breakfast | Mrvica or Habitus
You're still exploring the old town in the morning. Paying a visit to the city hall is a must, even if you are normally not into museums. The building seamlessly blends Austro-Hungarian architecture with oriental elements and hosts a permanent exhibition about the war crime tribunal in The Hague as well as the modern art collection Ars Aevi.
After your visit to Vijećnica Vijećnica, walking along Mlijacka river, you can pay a visit to the Emperor's mosque with its beautiful courtyard and the Franciscan monasterybefore walking all the way to Marijin Dvor, the Austro-Hungarian part of town. Enjoy the Viennese architecture until you reach Trg Bosne i Hercegovine with the parliament building.
There are always more museums to visit. Of course, you can pay a visit to the Museum of Crimes against humanity and genocideas well if you are interested in Bosnia's more recent history. Make sure to plan for some decompression time after.
Lunch | On the go: Pita at Zigo. Want to sit down and enjoy, try Apetit.
Afternoon
Just a stone's throw from Sarajevo City Center, you find the old Jewish cemetery. It has not been in use since the 1960s and suffered extensive damage during the siege of Sarajevo but offers stunning panoramic views of that part of Sarajevo and the tombstones tell interesting stories of tolerance and co-existence. Some of them being engraved in Hebrew and Arabic.
After your visit to the Jewish cemetery, stroll along Vilsonovo Šetalište, this street closes for traffic after five in the afternoon and becomes an outdoor gym, and hangout spot for citizens of Sarajevo (Sarajlije) of all ages.
Not in the mood for culture, but rather culinary delights? With a Food tour through Sarajevoyou will get a deep dive into the culinary traditions of the country while learning more about the Bosnian war of the 1990s while strolling through the former occupied part of town, Grbavica.
Dinner | For Bosnian food with a view , make a reservation in Kibe Mahala , for modern cuisine, try Tavola.
Drinks | Kawa has been the in-lounge bar for the past three years, enjoy Bosnian wine, cocktails, or craft beers. More of a pub vibe? Vučko is always a great option.
Getting around Sarajevo
Sarajevo is a sprawling city with pretty bad traffic. Especially because everybody is coming into the city for work–from the suburbs as well as from the neighborhoods on the mountains. If you can, walk everywhere or take the tram.
Bus & Tram You can bus tickets with the driver or tram tickets with this app. Note that buses and trams are run by different providers so you need separate tickets for each. You can check timetables on Google Maps (but they are not always accurate).
Taxi | Taking a taxi in Sarajevo is cheap and practical. However, make sure that the driver turns on the taximeter. You can find taxis at taxi ranks all over the city or call them via app, for example via Žuti Taxi.
Day 3 | Heading into nature: Lukomir–Bosnia's loneliest village
On your last day, trade city life for nature! For me personally, a hike to Lukomir village is one of the best things you can do not only in Sarajevo but Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The village, perched atop a mountain next to Europe's second-deepest canyon, is a place where time stands still: People here still live as one with nature, working the fields, herding the cattle in summer while moving down the mountain in winter. The hike along the canyon is longish (around 16 kilometers in total–definitely a day tour) but not very steep.
Tip/alternative: If you are looking for something more relaxing, how about visiting Vrelo Bosne? You can take the tram to the spring of the river who gave Bosnia and Herzegovina its name.
And Mostar, you might ask? I would not recommend cramming visiting the capital of Herzegovina into one day. Rather, take the time to explore Sarajevo, there is much to see.
Dinner | Dveri (reservation is a must) and after that one last drink - maybe with a rakija tasting tour? Or how about a beer in the Sarajevo brewery?
300+ Must-Sees in Bosnien
I've been living in the country since 2021 and now know it really well - from restaurants and must-sees to real hidden gems!
For anyone exploring Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first (or second) time, I've put together this handy travel map and app for you. over 300 spots that you should not miss.
The best accommodation in Sarajevo
Hotels
Hotel Ovo Malo Duše | Boutique Hotel located right in the heart of old Sarajevo with Bosnian design and decorations
Hotel Baškuća | Modern boutique hotel with restaurant in old Ottoman style with all modern amenities
| Cosy boutique hotel just behind the Sacred Heart Cathedral in the old Jewish quarter | Gemütliches Boutique-Hotel hinter der Kathedrale im jüdischen Viertel
Apartments & Airbnbs
Modern Studio in Center | Cute and modern studio apartment super close to old town
Historic Apartment | Modern apartment in an old Austro-Hungarian apartment
Apartment Guilia | Newly renovated apartment directly behind the Sacred-Heart-Cathedral
How to get there: How to get to Sarajevo
If you are traveling to Sarajevo by car, make sure you book accommodation with parking–finding parking in Sarajevo really is a challenge. The easiest way to get to Sarajevo is by plane—several international airlines fly to Sarajevo International Airport. I always compare connections and prices via a flight search engine.
