Where to stay · Sarajevo · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Where to stay in Sarajevo
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bosnien_catholic_church_in_Sarajevo.jpg : sbamueller derivative work: Rabanus Flavus, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Baščaršija. The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas. Best alternatives — families: Marijin Dvor.
Key facts
- First visit
- Baščaršija
- Families
- Marijin Dvor
- Budget
- Baščaršija
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Baščaršija | The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas |
| Families | Marijin Dvor | Business district of parliament, museums and modern towers |
| Couples | Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre | Pedestrian streets, cafés and Habsburg façades west of the bazaar |
| Budget | Baščaršija | The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas |
| Luxury | Marijin Dvor | Business district of parliament, museums and modern towers |
| Food lovers | Baščaršija | The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas |
| Solo travellers | Grbavica | Residential district south of the river with local cafés and the stadium |
| Shopping | Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre | Pedestrian streets, cafés and Habsburg façades west of the bazaar |
| Quiet stays | Bistrik | Hillside lanes across the river with views of the old town |
Sarajevo neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, food lovers and budget
Baščaršija
Baščaršija, the old market quarter around the Sebilj fountain, is where most visitors stay, among craft lanes such as Kazandžiluk (the coppersmiths' street), the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and countless coffee houses and ćevapi grills. Guesthouses and small hotels fill restored houses, and almost everything is within a 15-minute walk.
- Good
- Most sights within a short walk; Cheap traditional food everywhere; Atmospheric at night
- Watch out
- Crowded on summer evenings; Some rooms hear the call to prayer early
- Nearby
- Sebilj, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Morića Han, City Hall
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, couples and culture
Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre
West of the Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures marker, Ferhadija and the streets around Maršala Tita become Central European: the Catholic cathedral, the Orthodox cathedral, the Eternal Flame and 19th-century apartment blocks. It is the city's main shopping and café district and a calm, central base with easy tram access.
- Good
- Central but calmer than the bazaar; Good cafés and shops; On the tram line
- Watch out
- Fewer traditional eateries than Baščaršija; Busy pedestrian streets by day
- Nearby
- Sacred Heart Cathedral, Eternal Flame, Orthodox Cathedral, Ferhadija
$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and families
Marijin Dvor
Marijin Dvor, about 2 km west of the old town, holds the National Museum, the History Museum, the parliament buildings and large modern hotels and shopping centres. It is practical for business travellers and has good trams into Baščaršija, but less atmosphere in the evening.
- Good
- Modern hotels with amenities; Next to the main museums; Easy tram links
- Watch out
- A tram ride from the old town; Wide roads and traffic
- Nearby
- National Museum, History Museum, Holiday Inn, Parliament
$$ · Best for quiet stays and couples
Bistrik
On the south bank of the Miljacka, Bistrik climbs the slope south of the river towards the Trebević cable car station. Its quiet streets have guesthouses with terraces looking across to Baščaršija, and the Sarajevo Brewery, founded in 1864, is at its foot.
- Good
- Views over the old town; Quiet nights; Close to the cable car
- Watch out
- Steep streets; Few shops
- Nearby
- Trebević cable car, Sarajevo Brewery, Latin Bridge
$ · Best for quiet stays, culture and budget
Kovači and Vratnik
Above Baščaršija, the lanes of Kovači and the walled quarter of Vratnik climb to the Yellow Fortress (Žuta Tabija) and the White Fortress. Traditional houses with courtyards, small mosques and family guesthouses make this one of the most authentic places to stay, with sunset views over the valley.
- Good
- Traditional atmosphere; Excellent views; Low prices
- Watch out
- Steep climbs; Narrow streets with limited taxi access
- Nearby
- Yellow Fortress, Svrzo's House, Baščaršija
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Grbavica
Grbavica, across the river from Marijin Dvor, is a residential area of apartment blocks, neighbourhood restaurants and Wilsonovo šetalište, a riverside promenade closed to cars and popular for evening walks. Apartments here are good value and a tram or 20–30-minute walk from the centre.
- Good
- Good-value apartments; Riverside promenade; Local feel
- Watch out
- Few sights; Further from the old town
- Nearby
- Wilson's Promenade, Grbavica Stadium, Marijin Dvor
$$ · Best for families and quiet stays
Ilidža
Ilidža, at the western end of the tram line, has been a spa resort since Austro-Hungarian times, with thermal hotels and the Velika aleja, a long avenue of plane and chestnut trees leading to the springs of the Bosna river. It is close to the airport and the Tunnel of Hope and suits families who want green space.
- Good
- Green spaces and spa hotels; Near the airport; Calm for families
- Watch out
- About 30–40 minutes by tram from the old town; Quiet in the evening
- Nearby
- Vrelo Bosne, Velika aleja, Tunnel of Hope, Sarajevo Airport
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Baščaršija | $$ | Sebilj, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Morića Han, City Hall |
| Ferhadija and the Austro-Hungarian centre | $$ | Sacred Heart Cathedral, Eternal Flame, Orthodox Cathedral, Ferhadija |
| Marijin Dvor | $$$ | National Museum, History Museum, Holiday Inn, Parliament |
| Bistrik | $$ | Trebević cable car, Sarajevo Brewery, Latin Bridge |
| Kovači and Vratnik | $ | Yellow Fortress, Svrzo's House, Baščaršija |
| Grbavica | $ | Wilson's Promenade, Grbavica Stadium, Marijin Dvor |
| Ilidža | $$ | Vrelo Bosne, Velika aleja, Tunnel of Hope, Sarajevo Airport |
Getting to your hotel
Sarajevo International Airport is about 12 km south-west of the centre. A shuttle bus links the airport with the centre, and taxis take about 20–25 minutes to Baščaršija. The Tunnel of Hope is just beyond the airport.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Sarajevo for first-time visitors?
Baščaršija. Baščaršija, the old market quarter around the Sebilj fountain, is where most visitors stay, among craft lanes such as Kazandžiluk (the coppersmiths' street), the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and countless coffee houses and ćevapi grills.
+Where should families stay in Sarajevo?
Marijin Dvor: Modern hotels with amenities.
+Which area of Sarajevo is best for a budget stay?
Baščaršija ($$): The Ottoman old bazaar of copper workshops, mosques and ćevabdžinicas.