Shopping · Sarajevo · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Shopping in Sarajevo
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Sarajevo's best shopping is in Baščaršija's craft lanes, where coppersmiths, carpet sellers and jewellers still work in small shops. Ferhadija and the shopping centres in Marijin Dvor cover everyday and international brands. Best souvenirs: Copper coffee sets, Bosnian coffee and rahat lokum and Kilim rugs.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Copper coffee sets
Where to shop
Kazandžiluk
The coppersmiths' lane in Baščaršija, with hand-engraved coffee sets, trays and plates.
Ferhadija
The main pedestrian shopping street, with clothing chains, bookshops and cafés.
Marijin Dvor shopping centres
Modern malls with international brands and supermarkets.
Markets
Markale market
The central open-air produce market off Ferhadija, selling fruit, vegetables, cheese and dried goods.
Gazi Husrev-beg Bezistan
A long covered Ottoman market hall near the mosque, now lined with small shops selling scarves, jewellery and souvenirs.
What to buy
Copper coffee sets
A džezva, cups and tray hand-engraved in Kazandžiluk, the classic Sarajevo souvenir.
Bosnian coffee and rahat lokum
Ground coffee and boxed Turkish delight from shops in the bazaar.
Kilim rugs
Handwoven carpets and kilims from shops around Baščaršija and Morića Han.
Filigree jewellery
Silver filigree pieces from the jewellers' workshops of the old bazaar.
Local honey and herbal teas
Mountain honey and dried herbs from market stalls.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Baščaršija
Baščaršija and the Sebilj
The old bazaar, founded in the 15th century, centres on the Sebilj, a wooden Ottoman-style fountain in Pigeon Square.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
Street · Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre
Ferhadija and the Meeting of Cultures
A line on the paving of Ferhadija Street, marked 'Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures', shows where the Ottoman bazaar gives way to the Austro-Hungarian city.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bosnian coffee, Tufahija, Baklava and hurmašica and Somun. Traditional coffee houses in Baščaršija and Morića Han; locals dip the sugar cube in the coffee and bite it. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Baščaršija | $$ | The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas |
| Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre | $$ | Pedestrian streets, cafés and Habsburg façades west of the bazaar |
| Marijin Dvor | $$$ | Business district of parliament, museums and modern towers |
| Kovači and Vratnik | $ | Old Ottoman hill neighbourhoods rising to the Yellow Fortress |
| Grbavica | $ | Residential district south of the river with local cafés and the stadium |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in BAM. Tipping is not obligatory. Rounding up the bill or leaving about 10% in sit-down restaurants is appreciated; round up for taxis.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in November–March; the busiest months are August.
- February: Sarajevo Winter festival — theatre, music and exhibitions (usually February–March)
- July: Baščaršija Nights — open-air summer arts festival (usually July)
- August: Sarajevo Film Festival (usually mid-August)
- October: MESS international theatre festival (usually October)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and culture
Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre
Pedestrian streets, cafés and Habsburg façades west of the bazaar
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Sarajevo?
Copper coffee sets, Bosnian coffee and rahat lokum, Kilim rugs and Filigree jewellery.
+Where is the best shopping in Sarajevo?
Kazandžiluk: The coppersmiths' lane in Baščaršija, with hand-engraved coffee sets, trays and plates.
+What are the best markets in Sarajevo?
Markale market and Gazi Husrev-beg Bezistan.