10 Reasons You Have to Go to Bosnia Herzegovina

1. You want to meet friendly and interesting people. From the random “dober dan” greetings we exchanged with strangers, to the smiling laughing shop keepers and restaurant owners trying to understand our basic Bosnian, to the passionate tour guides, to all of the Bosnians who would lend your ear to tell you about the country’s recent history and how things can improve, and to the other fellow travelers, we met dozens of amazing people throughout our trip through Bosnia. Push your comfort limits to check out local shops and restaurants, and practice your greetings to others on the street, and you’ll have some really memorable experiences and maybe make some lasting connections.
2. You want to take unique photos of beautiful landscapes, small towns, and interesting cities. Everyone has a photo of the Eiffel Tower, but how many people do you know who have experienced the beauty of Bosnia Herzegovina? Let’s admit it, you want to have something really different and less known to post on Instagram. In BiH, it’s hard to even find some of the beautiful churches and monuments on Google Maps, let alone find photos of them. (Below: Crkva svetog Ivana Krstitelja, a Catholic Church in Herzegovina)

3. You love food and want to taste new flavors. From crispy burek to flaky baklava to savory ćevapči to sweet Bosnian delight to thick Bosnian coffee, the flavors of Bosnia are a delightful mix of Western and Eastern palettes that will make your mouth water. (Although my vegetarian friends will need to be creative…)

4. It’s safer than home. If you’re from America, the locals will laugh at you if you worry about crime. More often than not, keys are left under the mat, cars are left unlocked, and nosey neighbors keep communities safe. The war has been over for decades, and Bosnians are relishing in the peace times, even if politically things aren’t perfect. If you don’t believe me, look up crime statistics compared to the United States, and you’ll find some metrics are 10x lower.

5. You want to learn first hand about modern history. From the war crimes committed at Srebinica to the “imperfect peace” brokered through the Dayton Agreement, learning about Bosnia’s history is as easy as talking to almost anyone who lives there, as they all have stories and memories from the war. They will not only teach you important facts but also important lessons about humanity. It’s very important that we keep these memories fresh in our minds to avoid repeating our past mistakes, as is so easy to do, and as is happening already.

6. You want to be somewhere that feels a little foreign, but also comfortable. Sarajevo is known as “Little Istanbul” because it gives a small taste of the east-meets-west cultural melting pot of Turkey’s city that sits on the border of Europe and Asia. Restaurants selling familiar Western foods like pizza and pasta are mixed up with hookah lounges in the busy bazarr in the old town of Sarajevo, and you’ll find Ottoman style architecture blended with Austrian Hungarian and communist era throughout the city.

7. You like to ski (yes, really!). Sarajevo was home to the 1984 Olympics and so has Olympic-quality mountains nearby for a fraction of the cost of other more popular places in Europe.

8. You like to experience other cultures. Ringing church bells are mixed seamlessly with the Muslim call to prayer, and Bosnians are respectful of each other’s religions. It is uplifting to see this kind of tolerance, coming from a country that supposedly has freedom of religion but where many fear expressing their religion in public.

9. You like to travel on a budget. It’s unfortunate that Bosnia Herzegovina’s economy is struggling right now, but that means it’s more affordable for visitors and also means that your tourist dollars are appreciated. You can find budget accommodations for as little as $10-20 per night, and very nice places for $50. We’ve found some amazing places on AirBNB and also on the hotel search apps Booking.com and Agoda. If you eat local food, you can get by on less than $5 per meal including a drink. (Below: $2 USD burek)

10. You like to have an adventure. It’s almost of becoming cliche, but nowadays it’s not enough to go on the same vacation as your uncle Herbert. You have to step up your game and do something unique. Bosnia is a lot easier to visit than you probably think, but the tourist infrastructure is not as developed as other destinations, so I think it still qualifies as an adventure, and I guarantee your friends back home will be interested to hear about your experiences.