When to Visit Bosnia & Herzegovina?
The best time to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm, great for visiting all the outdoor natural spots Bosnia is well known for and since Bosnia doesn't get as many tourists as other countries in Europe, you don't have to worry about the crowds when you travel here during the peak season as you do in places like Croatia.
The price can be a tiny bit higher for accommodations and tours during this period but Bosnia is already extremely affordable compared to its neighbors so you won't be expecting to pay that much more than if you were to visit during the shoulder seasons. All in all, if you want to do a lot of outdoor activities, I highly recommend you stick to the recommended period.
How to Get to Bosnia & Herzegovina?
From the US, you can either fly into Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia via Turkish Airlines, leaving from big cities like New York and LA, which should take around 13 - 16 hours including the transiting time in Istanbul or you can fly into Split or Dubrovnik in Croatia, some of the most popular tourist destinations in the region, as part of a bigger Balkans trip and catch the bus from there.
Keep in mind that, if you decided to go with the latter option, you are going to be doing this itinerary in reverse starting from Mostar and ending in Sarajevo. You can browse through great direct flights from here or you can book Flixbus to take you from Croatia to Bosnia.
From Europe, you can find plenty of flights flying from major European hubs to Sarajevo via airlines like Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines or you can also fly with low-cost airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet to either Split or Dubrovnik in Croatia as part of a bigger trip and catch a Flixbus from there.
From Asia, you can also fly with European or Middle Eastern airlines like Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines from any big cities in the region and it should take you about 15 - 20 hours including transit time before you arrive in Sarajevo.
To find a cheap flight to Bosnia, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Bosnia & Herzegovina?
By Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to get around Bosnia. There are several buses running between big cities like Mostar and Sarajevo as well as to and from other neighboring countries like Croatia and Montenegro in case you are visiting Bosnia as part of a bigger trip in the Balkans.
For this itinerary, we will be relying mostly on buses. If you are coming from neighboring countries to Bosnia or vice versa, you can rely on Flixbus. For buses within Bosnia, you can book the bus ticket online here.
By Tours: For more remote places, you might want to rely on tours to travel to places like Kravice Waterfalls, Blagaj, and Poฤitelj which is not so easy to get to independently especially if you have a limited time in Bosnia. There are plenty of day trips you can make in Bosnia, so be sure to check available tours here.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from Sarajevo Airport and drive around Bosnia but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, hit the link below to rent a car in Bosnia:
How Much Money Do I Need for 6 days in Bosnia & Herzegovina?
From this 6days itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 5 nights in Bosnia, you can expect to pay around 70 EUR for accommodation considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 6 days, 3 meals a day in Bosnia, you can expect to pay around 60 EUR for food considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 17 EUR for tram travels in Sarajevo and a single bus ticket from Sarajevo to Mostar or vice versa depending on how you want to tackle the itinerary.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Bosnia, you can expect to pay approximately 70 EUR for entrance fees to tourist attractions as well as an organized day trip to Kravice Waterfalls, Blagaj, and Poฤitelj.
Total Budget for 6 days in Bosnia & Herzegovina: 217 EUR
Is it Safe in Bosnia & Herzegovina?
It is extremely safe in Bosnia & Herzegovina. I spent about a week traveling around the country independently and I didn't experience anything out of the ordinary. People are extremely friendly here and since the country doesn't get many tourists, they are all very welcoming and very happy for you to be visiting their countries.
That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places, and ALWAYS keep an eye out on your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Bosnia independently.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Bosnia & Herzegovina?
There are 3 major carriers in Bosnia, BH Telecom, m:tel, and Eronet, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Bosnia. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Bosnia.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Bosnia as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Bosnia & Herzegovina, click here: Check Bosnia's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Bosnia & Herzegovina?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.