Comparison · Dubrovnik vs Sarajevo · Croatia / Bosnia and Herzegovina
Dubrovnik vs Sarajevo
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zysko serhii, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Dubrovnik for City walls, Stradun, beaches and a milder winter; choose Sarajevo for Baščaršija, Ćevapi and lower day-to-day costs. Sarajevo is generally less expensive, and the two are about 137 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 137 km
- Less expensive
- Sarajevo
- Best time for Dubrovnik
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Sarajevo
- May–June and September–October
Side by side
| Dubrovnik | Sarajevo | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Croatia | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Known for | City walls, Stradun and Republic of Ragusa | Baščaršija, Ćevapi and Bosnian coffee |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | May–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $80–$140 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 27°C (81°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 4°C (39°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | Banje Beach | — |
| Airports | DBV | SJJ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dubrovnik for…
City walls, Stradun, beaches and a milder winter. Dubrovnik's Old Town is a car-free, limestone-paved city inside almost 2 kilometres of medieval walls, jutting into the Adriatic at the southern tip of Croatia. Once the capital of the independent Republic of Ragusa, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose…
Choose Sarajevo for…
Baščaršija, Ćevapi and lower day-to-day costs. Sarajevo stretches along the narrow Miljacka river valley, ringed by the mountains that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. Walking west from the Ottoman bazaar of Baščaršija, you pass mosques, a Catholic cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral and a synagogue within…
Top sights compared
| # | Dubrovnik | Sarajevo |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Walls of Dubrovnik | Baščaršija and the Sebilj |
| 2 | Stradun | Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque |
| 3 | Fort Lovrijenac | Ferhadija and the Meeting of Cultures |
| 4 | Rector's Palace | Sacred Heart Cathedral |
| 5 | Mount Srđ and the cable car | Latin Bridge and Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918 |
Food compared
| Dubrovnik | Sarajevo |
|---|---|
| Black risotto | Ćevapi |
| Peka | Burek and pita |
| Grilled fish with blitva | Bosnian coffee |
| Ston oysters | Begova čorba |
Which is cheaper?
Sarajevo is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$140 per person there, against $170–$300 in Dubrovnik (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Sarajevo on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Dubrovnik and Sarajevo are about 137 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Dubrovnik and 3 in Sarajevo.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubrovnik or Sarajevo cheaper?
Sarajevo is usually less expensive: about $80–$140 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Dubrovnik or Sarajevo better for a first trip?
Pick Dubrovnik for City walls, Stradun, beaches and a milder winter, or Sarajevo for Baščaršija, Ćevapi and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Dubrovnik from Sarajevo?
About 137 km in a straight line.