Bosnia Backpacking Travel Guide

Head to the city guides section below for backpacking travel guides to individual cities.

About Bosnia

For many people who travel through the Balkans region, Bosnia is a highlight. The two most popular destinations are Sarajevo and Mostar and both deservedly so. Both cities were wracked by war during the break up of Yugoslavia and ensuing wars, but both have far more to see than the ruined remnants of Yugoslavia. As a part of both the Ottoman Empire and later the Austro-Hungarian empire, Bosnia is full of history from these times.

Sarajevo was a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire when the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in the city, an event that would ultimately start World War 1. Mostar on the other hand boasts some of the best examples of Ottoman Empire architecture and construction, none more so than the famous bridge over the river Neretva, the Stari Most.

Bosnia borders Croatia to the north, west and southwest, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the southeast. Mostly mountainous, it has access to a tiny portion of the Adriatic Sea coastline in the south. The country-side in Bosnia is beautiful and exploring it while on day trips out of the major cities is a must.

Money and Costs

The official currency of Bosnia is the convertible mark. The convertible mark was established by the 1995 Dayton Agreement. The mark refers to the German mark, the currency to which it was pegged as part of the agreement. Since 2002, when the German mark was replaced by the Euro, the convertible mark has been fixed at a rate of 1€ = 1.95583 BAM.

It is quite easy to find a very good hostel in Bosnia for under 10€. A 0.5L local beer in a supermarket will cost around €0.60 while a beer in a pub is closer to 2€. A large serving of cevap will set you back 3.5€.

Credit cards are not all that widely accepted, however ATMs are readily available in the cities. It is a good idea to change any remaining convertible marks you have before you leave the country as you will find it difficult to sell once you leave Bosnia.

City Guides

These city guides provide information on hostels, transportation, cheap food and drinks, sights to see, activities and transportation. You can navigate to them below or using the map and links in the sidebar.

Sarajevo

Bosnia

Sarajevo

Sarajevo, like it’s smaller counterpart Mostar, is a fantastic backpacking destination. The reasons for this are pretty simple, Sarajevo just ticks all the boxes. The perfect combination of history, architecture and friendly locals […]

Mostar

Bosnia

Mostar

Mostar was formerly one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Bosnia with a mixture of Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs all living together in the one city. Mostar was very heavily damaged during the Bosnian war and some 20 years later […]

Jajce

Bosnia

Jajce

Jajce is a beautiful town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina conveniently located on a route between Sarajevo and Zagreb. There is a fantastic hostel in town and some great day trips available. It is a city that boasts strong historical importance, a beautiful townscape […]

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