Sarajevo nightlife

Where to go out

Nightlife tips

• Bars stay open late, especially at weekends and during the film festival.
• Taxis are cheap and the easiest way home from hillside neighbourhoods.

What to drink

• Bosnian coffee — Finely ground coffee boiled in a copper džezva and served on a tray with a small cup, a sugar cube and a piece of rahat lokum. It is meant to be sipped slowly over conversation.
• Sarajevsko pivo — The local lager from the Sarajevo Brewery, founded in 1864, whose spring supplied water to residents during the siege.

Evenings through the year

Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 14°C (57°F).

Getting home late

• Walking — Baščaršija, Ferhadija, City Hall, the Latin Bridge and the cathedrals are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot.
• Tram — Buy tickets at kiosks before boarding (they cost a little more from the driver) and validate them on board.
• Taxi — Use official taxis with company names on the roof, or call one, rather than accepting offers from drivers at the bus station.
• Bus — City buses and minibuses serve the suburbs, and intercity buses leave from the main bus station near the railway station for Mostar and other towns.

Late-night bites

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

Staying safe at night

Sarajevo is generally relaxed for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in Baščaršija and on crowded trams. In the hills and countryside, stay on marked paths and roads, as some areas still carry landmine risk from the 1990s. On still winter days, air pollution can be high, which matters for people with asthma.

Emergency number

122 police, 124 ambulance, 123 fire

Where to stay for nightlife

Questions travellers ask