3 days in Sarajevo

Day by day

1. Day 1: Baščaršija and the Sebilj and Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

   Baščaršija and the Sebilj, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and Latin Bridge and Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918, then Ferhadija and Strossmayerova in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Baščaršija and the Sebilj

      The old bazaar, founded in the 15th century, centres on the Sebilj, a wooden Ottoman-style fountain in Pigeon Square.

   2. Late morning

      Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

      Visit outside prayer times; scarves are usually available at the entrance for women.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ćevapi

      Ćevabdžinicas along Bravadžiluk and around Baščaršija; order 'pola' for a half portion.

   4. Afternoon

      Latin Bridge and Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918

      On the street corner at the north end of this Ottoman stone bridge, Gavrilo Princip shot Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie on 28 June 1914, an event that led to the First World War.

   5. Evening

      Ferhadija and Strossmayerova

      Café-bars and pubs in the Austro-Hungarian centre, busy from early evening.

2. Day 2: Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica) and Morića Han

   Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica), Morića Han and Ferhadija and the Meeting of Cultures, then Baščaršija in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica)

      Look up at the restored glass ceiling of the central hall, then visit the exhibition in the basement.

   2. Late morning

      Morića Han

      The last surviving Ottoman caravanserai in Sarajevo, dating from the 16th century, once sheltered merchants and their horses around a central courtyard.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Burek and pita

      Buregdžinicas in Baščaršija and across the city; the best come out of the oven under a metal lid (sač).

   4. Afternoon

      Ferhadija and the Meeting of Cultures

      Stand on the marker and look east, then west, to see the change in architecture.

   5. Evening

      Baščaršija

      Coffee and shisha bars around the bazaar, with a handful of bars serving alcohol on its edges.

3. Day 3: Sacred Heart Cathedral and Galerija 11/07/95

   Sacred Heart Cathedral, Galerija 11/07/95 and Sarajevo Roses, then Marijin Dvor in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sacred Heart Cathedral

      Sarajevo's Catholic cathedral, completed in 1889, is a neo-Gothic church modelled partly on Notre-Dame in Dijon, with twin towers that are one of the city's best-known landmarks.

   2. Late morning

      Galerija 11/07/95

      Use the audio guide and plan something quiet afterwards; many visitors find it a heavy visit.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bosnian coffee

      Traditional coffee houses in Baščaršija and Morića Han; locals dip the sugar cube in the coffee and bite it.

   4. Afternoon

      Sarajevo Roses

      Across the city, scars left in the pavement by mortar shells that killed people during the siege were filled with red resin, creating 'roses' that serve as memorials.

   5. Evening

      Marijin Dvor

      Larger bars and some clubs near the business district.

If it rains

• Swap in Tunnel of Hope (Sarajevo War Tunnel) (Ilidža): Combine it with Vrelo Bosne; both are on the western edge of the city near the airport.
• Swap in War Childhood Museum (Kovači and Vratnik): Allow time to read the stories slowly; it is a small museum but emotionally intense.
• Swap in Svrzo's House (Kovači and Vratnik): Combine it with the climb to the Yellow Fortress, a short walk uphill.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Baščaršija keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre ($$) suits first-timers, shopping, couples and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 8–9 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sarajevo
• 2 days in Sarajevo

Questions travellers ask