Sleeping in a wooden barrel? Or in the highest village in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Since I moved to Sarajevo in 2021, more and more extraordinary design hotels and accommodation have opened here in the country.
Some in a special location, others with a cool concept that I haven't experienced anywhere else. So let me introduce you to the most unique accommodations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where you don't just stay overnight - but have a real experience!
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Barrelland Blidinje
A really special accommodation - not only for Bosnia and Herzegovina - is the Barrelland directly on the shore of Lake Blidinje.
Here you can sleep in a wooden barrel. A cosy queen-size double bed and a large porthole with a view of Lake Blidinje ensure a cosy atmosphere in the wooden barrel. Outside, a hanging swing awaits you and, the highlight: a wood-fired jacuzzi where you can chill out in the warm water until late in the evening - better than any fancy spa.
There really is nothing around here, and we only saw two hikers walking past our barrel during our stay. However, this also means that you have to bring your own food - firewood, barbecue lighter, coffee and a bottle of wine are provided. Drinking water is also provided, as the water in the shower/toilet is not suitable for drinking. But you have to bring everything else yourself.
Also good to know: The Barrel is sustainably powered by solar energy, which means that on less sunny days you have to be a bit economical with your electricity consumption.
We had a lovely barbecue in the evening, but the next morning we went to the Hotel Hajdučke Vrleti for breakfast, which is only 10 minutes away by car - also a great option for dinner.
Blidinje is about 100 kilometres from Sarajevo airport.
Blidinje Nature Park is a very special place: the inhabitants of the region have come together to protect nature and jointly founded Visit Blidinje , an initiative to promote and strengthen tourism in the region.
The Blidinje Nature Park is still something of an insider tip in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but is well worth a visit, especially because of the commitment of its inhabitants! You will also find over 200 kilometres of hiking trails, 19 peaks over 2,000 metres, UNESCO-protected gravestones and a rich diversity of endemic plants and animals.
Mobbiton Mostar
Unique accommodations are often characterised by an original idea and attention to detail - and Mobbiton Mostar is a really cool, unusual idea. Here you can not only let your Lord of the Rings geek out, but also really relax.
The hobbit house is a 20-minute drive from Mostar, in the middle of nature. A large, cosy double bed, a fully equipped shower and a cute bathroom - all designed with incredible attention to detail and in the look and feel of the films. Outside in the garden you'll find a fire pit, a pizza oven and an outdoor cinema!
We stayed here for one night, but would have liked to stay longer to really soak up the atmosphere. Incidentally, there is no WiFi in the Hobbit House - it's really about detoxing in nature and the owners want you to really feel the magic of the place.
And if you want to explore Mostar and the surrounding area afterwards, you can find the perfect itinerary for 3 days in Mostar here.
Na Krovu Svijetu
Spending the night in the loneliest mountain village in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lukomir, at almost 1,500 metres? That's a real adventure - and possible here in Na Krovu Svijetu.
With just two rooms, this accommodation in Lukomir is not a large guesthouse and the furnishings are very simple and original. A cosy bed, plywood walls separating you from the next room, that's it. The toilet and shower are shared with other guests and are located downstairs in the guest room.
Nevertheless, an overnight stay on the "roof of the world", as the accommodation is called in Bosnian, is a very special experience! Especially when you wake up in the morning and have the village of Lukomir all to yourself, the special magic of the mountains unfolds.
<Lukomir is the loneliest village in Bosnia and Herzegovina, situated at almost 1,500 metres on the edge of the second-deepest canyon in Europe, Rakitnica. The village has existed since the Middle Ages, when devout followers of the Bosnian church fled here to escape persecution - the word Lukomir means "harbour of peace" in Bosnian.
The best way to get to the village is on foot - it is around seven kilometres along the Rakitnica Canyon. The hike to Lukomir is offered by my boutique travel agency Cheyf and you can book it directly here..
Alternatively, it is also possible to get there by car - although this involves travelling around 16 kilometres on a gravel road.
Koliba Umoljani
If you want a bit more comfort than at Na Krovu Svijetu, you can also spend the night in the village of Umoljani after your hike to Lukomir. The Koliba Umoljani restaurant offers small, cosy mountain huts where you can sleep.
The cottages for two to four people are equipped with a small kitchen, a bathroom and a cosy double bed and have everything you need. What I love most is the large terrace where you can have an early morning coffee or watch the stars in the evening.
The best thing about the A-Frame cabins: The restaurant is only 20 metres away and you can stop here for breakfast and dinner. Because you can't really cook in the small kitchen.
Umoljani is around 50 minutes by car from Sarajevo airport.
Glamping dome Japodski Otoci
One of the places in Bosnia and Herzegovina that never ceases to amaze me with its beauty and unspoilt nature is the Japodski Otoci, small islands in the River Una. Here you can spend the night in a dome right on the water.
When you wake up in the large double bed, you almost feel as if you are outside, in the middle of nature - only in summer it can get a little hot. The dome also has a small bed and a small terrace where you can enjoy the special atmosphere of the national park before or after the day guests have left.
Glamping Bagrem
Another exceptional accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located directly on Lake Jablanica, is this small glamping village. It is only about an hour away from Sarajevo airport (approx. 70 kilometres).
Several glamping huts are spread out on the mountainside here, and you can hop into the water, hire a kayak or book a boat trip in just a few steps. There is also a small bar for coffee, beer and other drinks.
You don't have to worry about cooking in the glamping huts - the Bagrem restaurant at the top of the hill ensures that you are well catered for at all times.
Muslibegović House
Where else can you spend the night in a museum? For those interested in culture, the Muslibegović House really is a very special place to stay. This extraordinary design hotel is located in an old Ottoman house, the only six rooms are furnished almost true to the original and you can really feel how people lived in Ottoman times - but of course more luxurious today! The Muslibegović House is a 4-star hotel.
As the hotel is also a museum, Wi-Fi is only available in the public areas of the accommodation and you must of course expect visitors during the day.
Nevertheless, it really is a special experience to sleep in a national monument and all the sights and activities in Mostar are within walking distance.
Conclusion: Unique accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are numerous special accommodations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina - but not all of them are easy to find. I hope this short list has whetted your appetite for discovering the country, even away from the hotspots of Sarajevo and Mostar.
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