Season guide · Sarajevo · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jennifer Boyer from Fredrick, Maryland, USA, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Cold and snowy, with skiing on Jahorina and Bjelašnica, low prices and periods of smog trapped in the valley. Expect highs up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 36 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -4°C (25°F) to 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C (39°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 12 | 9.3 h | 2/5 |
| February | 6°C (43°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 11 | 10.4 h | 2/5 |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 13 | 8.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 36 of the year's roughly 135 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Sarajevo Winter festival — theatre, music and exhibitions (usually February–March)
- December: New Year's Eve concerts and celebrations
Good choices for winter
Museum · Marijin Dvor
National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ask at the entrance whether the Haggadah room is open during your visit, as access to it varies.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
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Historic site · Baščaršija
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.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Architecture · Baščaršija
Sarajevo City Hall (Vijećnica)
Look up at the restored glass ceiling of the central hall, then visit the exhibition in the basement.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Historic site · Ilidža
Tunnel of Hope (Sarajevo War Tunnel)
During the siege, a tunnel of about 800 metres was dug under the airport runway to link the encircled city with territory beyond it, carrying food, fuel, weapons and people.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Kovači and Vratnik
War Childhood Museum
Allow time to read the stories slowly; it is a small museum but emotionally intense.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Travnik (About 1.5–2 hours by bus) — The former seat of the Ottoman viziers of Bosnia has a fortress, the painted Many-Coloured Mosque, Ottoman tombs and the birthplace of Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić.
- Jajce (About 2.5–3 hours by bus or car) — A walled hill town where the Pliva river drops about 20 metres in a waterfall right beside the centre.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Sarajevo?
It is a trade-off: Cold and snowy, with skiing on Jahorina and Bjelašnica, low prices and periods of smog trapped in the valley. The best months overall are May–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Sarajevo in winter?
Highs of up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.