On a Bosnia and Herzegovina holiday, you’ll be exploring an often-overlooked corner of Europe…for now at least! Steeped in an intriguing East meets West atmosphere thanks to a unique blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences, it is still most strongly associated with the 1990s civil war. But this is a destination shaking off that turbulent history, a place ready to share its grand nature and craggy beauty, its vibrant cities and quaint hillside villages, its forests and medieval ruins, and its incredibly warm hospitality – this is somewhere you won’t want to miss!
With vast tracts of forest, towering mountains and rushing rivers, Bosnia and Herzegovina is, without doubt, a visually spectacular place. It’s in these landscapes that you’ll find a Europe of old, in the isolated villages sat beneath steep, sheep-dotted hillsides, but also be able to step into the Ottoman-era in the narrow alleys of old Mostar or find modern street life in capital Sarajevo.
Sarajevo has been called one of Europe’s most likeable capitals, its skyline a testament to its centuries as a renowned religious melting pot, studded with minarets, domes and campaniles. Considered an outdoor museum, it still bears the scars of its more turbulent past, and you’ll find reminders of this and its longer history waiting to be explored around every street corner. The country’s other major draw is Mostar, Herzegovina’s largest city. Small and enchanting, this Ottoman-era gem has plenty of old alleyways to wander, full of shops and market stalls, and perhaps the Balkans most photographed sight, Stari Most, the arched bridge over the Neretva River.
To really embrace life in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fuel your daytime explorations with the local coffee culture then, at the end of the day, discuss them while sipping a glass of wine from one of the country’s world-class vineyards.