Explore Bosnia & Herzegovina

Explore Bosnia & Herzegovinahttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovinaExplore Bosnia & Herzegovinahttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-bosnia-and-herzegovina-30-years-after-the-warThree decades after the start of the Bosnian war, Christine Retschlag explores the beauty, complicated history, and enduring spirit of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the eyes of the locals.2022-11-01T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-bosnia-and-herzegovina-30-years-after-the-warhttps://www.worldnomads.comThe omnipresent Adele is crooning through the stereo how she set fire to the rain, but around this Bosnian Muslim dinner table, it’s more a case of extinguishing the flames of the past. I’m in a house built from scrap metal, high on the hill overlooking the lights of Sarajevo, as a guest of locals Mustafa and Mersiha, whose business – Bosnian Cooking Lessons – also stages hosted dinners. Here, you dine on organic food including their own plum brandy and the traditional burek, Bosnian pita bread made from flour, salt, sunflower oil, and lukewarm water, while wrapping your mouth around the alphabet soup of consonants this language commands. Mersiha, who was nine when the Bosnian war began in 1992, stretches the dough like an accordion player and explains how her mother tried to keep her entertained during the 3.5-year attack on Sarajevo by teaching her to cook. “It was a lot of pressure because if you got it wrong, there was no trying again as we didn’t have enough food,” she says. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-at-dusk.jpg" alt="The city of Sarajevo at dusk, seen from a hillside." /><figcaption>The view over Sarajevo. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> For Mustafa, who was 13 at the time, it was the years spent underground which he found most challenging. “It wasn’t the bombs or bullets but the darkness. Everything underground was pitch black. The light was something we used to dream about,” he says. “One night, I saw one-third of the city lights come back on and that’s when I knew the war was really over.” <ul> <li><a href="#tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</a></li> <li><a href="#history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</h2> In May 2023, Intrepid Travel will launch its first tour dedicated solely to Bosnia and Herzegovina, made possible by a three-pronged partnership forged two years ago with USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) program and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. The trip is part of a five-year, US $20 million project which aims to enhance the quality and diversity of tourism products, create new job opportunities, boost employment, encourage the participation of women in the workforce, and drive economic growth. In 2019, the country had the third-highest tourism growth rate in the world, and the sector contributed more than US $1 billion to the economy. In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic decreased tourism revenues by more than 85 percent and hampered the sector’s development. This eight-day Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition is designed to showcase the best of Bosnia, including nature, soft adventure, war history, and local characters such as Mustafa and Mersiha and the city’s only woman coppersmith, Nermina Alic. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/market.jpg" alt="A smiling woman selling vegetables at a market in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /><figcaption>A seller at an open-air market in Sarajevo. Image credit: Christine Retschlag.</figcaption></figure> As a former newspaper journalist, I watched the nightly Bosnia bombings and Sarajevo under siege 30 years ago from the safety of Australia, so the invitation to come to visit the country on a preview tour is too great to resist. The tour begins on the still-scarred streets of the Bosnian capital where I encounter the <a href="/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevo">Sarajevo “rose”</a> – a deep imprint left by mortar shells and painted red by locals – to mark the spot where around 100 civilians were killed on two separate occasions, and the Tunnel of Hope – a hidden pipeline dug to connect besieged Sarajevo with the outside world. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-rose.jpg" alt="The Sarajevo Rose, a memorial to civilians killed in the siege of Sarajevo." /><figcaption>A Sarajevo rose. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</h2> But there’s much more than war to beautiful Bosnia. We wind through lush countryside painted in autumnal rusts, snake past rivers and into Jajce – the capital of medieval Bosnian kings – renowned for its inner-city 72ft (22m) waterfall and sparkling lakes reminiscent of Switzerland. In the back of a jeep on an off-road safari we encounter Bosnia’s wild horses who roam free as part of a herd of 1,000 at the base of the Cincar Mountain, before feasting on meats, cheeses, and beer in a mountain hut. Cobbled streets pave the way through magical Mostar, bustling with street stalls and stairs which lead to the iconic one-arc Mostar Bridge, while an inconspicuous road takes us to former Communist leader Tito’s secret nuclear bunker in which 80 percent of the items – placed to house 350 in the event of an attack – remain. Intriguingly, it’s now also a contemporary art gallery. Towards the end of this eight-day journey, there are opportunities to go <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">white-water rafting</a> down the Neretva River, and explore canyons and waterfalls, before returning to Sarajevo to take a cable car to the Dinaric Alps where the successful Sarajevo Winter Olympics were held in 1984 and are considered a golden era in the city’s history. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/rafting-bosnia.jpg" alt="White-water rafting on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /><figcaption>White-water rafting on the Neretva River. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> Not part of this tour, but a must-do while in Sarajevo, is the War Childhood Museum which opened in 2017 and is the only one of its kind in the world which tells the experience of war through the eyes of children. Intrepid Tour Leader Muhamed Vlajcic was 10 when the war started. “For 3.5 years Sarajevo lived through hell on earth. 300,000 people lived without food and electricity, every day in continuous terror,” he says. “We pretended we had a life but trust me, it wasn’t a life.” Yet, Muhamed reminds us that art, school, clubs, pubs, bars, and more than 1,000 theater shows continued in underground basements throughout the siege. “The spirit of Sarajevo was never killed,” he says. USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Party Ibrahim Osta says the best thing travelers can do to help the continuing recovery is to come to the country, meet locals and support the economy. “Tourism has the power to create livelihoods for people in areas that no single industry can. With tourism you leave money everywhere [you] go,” he says. “It’s authentic, it has zero negative impact, and you have a true Bosnian experience.” <h2>Trip notes</h2> Intrepid’s new 8-day <a href="https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-herzegovina-expedition-144139" target="_blank">Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition</a> will launch in May 2023 with five departures scheduled. The tour starts from AUD $1,995.Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel 0 Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel Iconic Mostar Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzogavina.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-bosnia-herzegovina-30-years-after-the-war-cloneThree decades after the start of the Bosnian war, Christine Retschlag explores the beauty, complicated history, and enduring spirit of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the eyes of the locals.2022-10-31T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-bosnia-herzegovina-30-years-after-the-war-clonehttps://www.worldnomads.comThe omnipresent Adele is crooning through the stereo how she set fire to the rain, but around this Bosnian Muslim dinner table, it’s more a case of extinguishing the flames of the past. I’m in a house built from scrap metal, high on the hill overlooking the lights of Sarajevo, as a guest of locals Mustafa and Mersiha, whose business – Bosnian Cooking Lessons – also stages hosted dinners. Here, you dine on organic food including their own plum brandy and the traditional burek, Bosnian pita bread made from flour, salt, sunflower oil, and lukewarm water, while wrapping your mouth around the alphabet soup of consonants this language commands. Mersiha, who was nine when the Bosnian war began in 1992, stretches the dough like an accordion player and explains how her mother tried to keep her entertained during the 3.5-year attack on Sarajevo by teaching her to cook. “It was a lot of pressure because if you got it wrong, there was no trying again as we didn’t have enough food,” she says. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-at-dusk.jpg" alt="The city of Sarajevo at dusk, seen from a hillside." /> <figcaption>The view over Sarajevo. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> For Mustafa, who was 13 at the time, it was the years spent underground which he found most challenging. “It wasn’t the bombs or bullets but the darkness. Everything underground was pitch black. The light was something we used to dream about,” he says. “One night, I saw one-third of the city lights come back on and that’s when I knew the war was really over.” <ul> <li><a href="#tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</a></li> <li><a href="#history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</h2> In May 2023, Intrepid Travel will launch its first tour dedicated solely to Bosnia and Herzegovina, made possible by a three-pronged partnership forged two years ago with USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) program and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. The trip is part of a five-year, US $20 million project which aims to enhance the quality and diversity of tourism products, create new job opportunities, boost employment, encourage the participation of women in the workforce, and drive economic growth. In 2019, the country had the third-highest tourism growth rate in the world, and the sector contributed more than US $1 billion to the economy. In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic decreased tourism revenues by more than 85 percent and hampered the sector’s development. This eight-day Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition is designed to showcase the best of Bosnia, including nature, soft adventure, war history, and local characters such as Mustafa and Mersiha and the city’s only woman coppersmith, Nermina Alic. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/market.jpg" alt="A smiling woman selling vegetables at a market in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption>A seller at an open-air market in Sarajevo. Image credit: Christine Retschlag.</figcaption></figure> As a former newspaper journalist, I watched the nightly Bosnia bombings and Sarajevo under siege 30 years ago from the safety of Australia, so the invitation to come to visit the country on a preview tour is too great to resist. The tour begins on the still-scarred streets of the Bosnian capital where I encounter the <a href="/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevo">Sarajevo “rose”</a> – a deep imprint left by mortar shells and painted red by locals – to mark the spot where around 100 civilians were killed on two separate occasions, and the Tunnel of Hope – a hidden pipeline dug to connect besieged Sarajevo with the outside world. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-rose.jpg" alt="The Sarajevo Rose, a memorial to civilians killed in the siege of Sarajevo." /> <figcaption>A Sarajevo rose. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</h2> But there’s much more than war to beautiful Bosnia. We wind through lush countryside painted in autumnal rusts, snake past rivers and into Jajce – the capital of medieval Bosnian kings – renowned for its inner-city 72ft (22m) waterfall and sparkling lakes reminiscent of Switzerland. In the back of a jeep on an off-road safari we encounter Bosnia’s wild horses who roam free as part of a herd of 1,000 at the base of the Cincar Mountain, before feasting on meats, cheeses, and beer in a mountain hut. Cobbled streets pave the way through magical Mostar, bustling with street stalls and stairs which lead to the iconic one-arc Mostar Bridge, while an inconspicuous road takes us to former Communist leader Tito’s secret nuclear bunker in which 80 percent of the items – placed to house 350 in the event of an attack – remain. Intriguingly, it’s now also a contemporary art gallery. Towards the end of this eight-day journey, there are opportunities to go <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">white-water rafting</a> down the Neretva River, and explore canyons and waterfalls, before returning to Sarajevo to take a cable car to the Dinaric Alps where the successful Sarajevo Winter Olympics were held in 1984 and are considered a golden era in the city’s history. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/rafting-bosnia.jpg" alt="White-water rafting on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption>White-water rafting on the Neretva River. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> Not part of this tour, but a must-do while in Sarajevo, is the War Childhood Museum which opened in 2017 and is the only one of its kind in the world which tells the experience of war through the eyes of children. Intrepid Tour Leader Muhamed Vlajcic was 10 when the war started. “For 3.5 years Sarajevo lived through hell on earth. 300,000 people lived without food and electricity, every day in continuous terror,” he says. “We pretended we had a life but trust me, it wasn’t a life.” Yet, Muhamed reminds us that art, school, clubs, pubs, bars, and more than 1,000 theater shows continued in underground basements throughout the siege. “The spirit of Sarajevo was never killed,” he says. USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Party Ibrahim Osta says the best thing travelers can do to help the continuing recovery is to come to the country, meet locals and support the economy. “Tourism has the power to create livelihoods for people in areas that no single industry can. With tourism you leave money everywhere [you] go,” he says. “It’s authentic, it has zero negative impact, and you have a true Bosnian experience.” <h2>Trip notes</h2> Intrepid’s new 8-day <a href="https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-herzegovina-expedition-144139" target="_blank">Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition</a> will launch in May 2023 with five departures scheduled. The tour starts from AUD $1,995. Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-30-years-after-the-warThree decades after the start of the Bosnian war, Christine Retschlag explores the beauty, complicated history, and enduring spirit of Bosnia and Herzegovina through the eyes of the locals.2022-10-31T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-30-years-after-the-warhttps://www.worldnomads.comThe omnipresent Adele is crooning through the stereo how she set fire to the rain, but around this Bosnian Muslim dinner table, it’s more a case of extinguishing the flames of the past. I’m in a house built from scrap metal, high on the hill overlooking the lights of Sarajevo, as a guest of locals Mustafa and Mersiha, whose business – Bosnian Cooking Lessons – also stages hosted dinners. Here, you dine on organic food including their own plum brandy and the traditional burek, Bosnian pita bread made from flour, salt, sunflower oil, and lukewarm water, while wrapping your mouth around the alphabet soup of consonants this language commands. Mersiha, who was nine when the Bosnian war began in 1992, stretches the dough like an accordion player and explains how her mother tried to keep her entertained during the 3.5-year attack on Sarajevo by teaching her to cook. “It was a lot of pressure because if you got it wrong, there was no trying again as we didn’t have enough food,” she says. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-at-dusk.jpg" alt="The city of Sarajevo at dusk, seen from a hillside." /> <figcaption>The view over Sarajevo. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> For Mustafa, who was 13 at the time, it was the years spent underground which he found most challenging. “It wasn’t the bombs or bullets but the darkness. Everything underground was pitch black. The light was something we used to dream about,” he says. “One night, I saw one-third of the city lights come back on and that’s when I knew the war was really over.” <ul> <li><a href="#tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</a></li> <li><a href="#history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="tour">A tour designed to boost the local economy</h2> In May 2023, Intrepid Travel will launch its first tour dedicated solely to Bosnia and Herzegovina, made possible by a three-pronged partnership forged two years ago with USAID’s Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Turizam) program and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council. The trip is part of a five-year, US $20 million project which aims to enhance the quality and diversity of tourism products, create new job opportunities, boost employment, encourage the participation of women in the workforce, and drive economic growth. In 2019, the country had the third-highest tourism growth rate in the world, and the sector contributed more than US $1 billion to the economy. In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic decreased tourism revenues by more than 85 percent and hampered the sector’s development. This eight-day Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition is designed to showcase the best of Bosnia, including nature, soft adventure, war history, and local characters such as Mustafa and Mersiha and the city’s only woman coppersmith, Nermina Alic. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/market.jpg" alt="A smiling woman selling vegetables at a market in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption>A seller at an open-air market in Sarajevo. Image credit: Christine Retschlag.</figcaption></figure> As a former newspaper journalist, I watched the nightly Bosnia bombings and Sarajevo under siege 30 years ago from the safety of Australia, so the invitation to come to visit the country on a preview tour is too great to resist. The tour begins on the still-scarred streets of the Bosnian capital where I encounter the <a href="/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevo">Sarajevo “rose”</a> – a deep imprint left by mortar shells and painted red by locals – to mark the spot where around 100 civilians were killed on two separate occasions, and the Tunnel of Hope – a hidden pipeline dug to connect besieged Sarajevo with the outside world. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/sarajevo-rose.jpg" alt="The Sarajevo Rose, a memorial to civilians killed in the siege of Sarajevo." /> <figcaption>A Sarajevo rose. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="history">History, scenery, adventure, and wildlife in Bosnia and Herzegovina</h2> But there’s much more than war to beautiful Bosnia. We wind through lush countryside painted in autumnal rusts, snake past rivers and into Jajce – the capital of medieval Bosnian kings – renowned for its inner-city 72ft (22m) waterfall and sparkling lakes reminiscent of Switzerland. In the back of a jeep on an off-road safari we encounter Bosnia’s wild horses who roam free as part of a herd of 1,000 at the base of the Cincar Mountain, before feasting on meats, cheeses, and beer in a mountain hut. Cobbled streets pave the way through magical Mostar, bustling with street stalls and stairs which lead to the iconic one-arc Mostar Bridge, while an inconspicuous road takes us to former Communist leader Tito’s secret nuclear bunker in which 80 percent of the items – placed to house 350 in the event of an attack – remain. Intriguingly, it’s now also a contemporary art gallery. Towards the end of this eight-day journey, there are opportunities to go <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">white-water rafting</a> down the Neretva River, and explore canyons and waterfalls, before returning to Sarajevo to take a cable car to the Dinaric Alps where the successful Sarajevo Winter Olympics were held in 1984 and are considered a golden era in the city’s history. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/bosnia/rafting-bosnia.jpg" alt="White-water rafting on the Neretva River in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption>White-water rafting on the Neretva River. Image credit: Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel</figcaption></figure> Not part of this tour, but a must-do while in Sarajevo, is the War Childhood Museum which opened in 2017 and is the only one of its kind in the world which tells the experience of war through the eyes of children. Intrepid Tour Leader Muhamed Vlajcic was 10 when the war started. “For 3.5 years Sarajevo lived through hell on earth. 300,000 people lived without food and electricity, every day in continuous terror,” he says. “We pretended we had a life but trust me, it wasn’t a life.” Yet, Muhamed reminds us that art, school, clubs, pubs, bars, and more than 1,000 theater shows continued in underground basements throughout the siege. “The spirit of Sarajevo was never killed,” he says. USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina Chief of Party Ibrahim Osta says the best thing travelers can do to help the continuing recovery is to come to the country, meet locals and support the economy. “Tourism has the power to create livelihoods for people in areas that no single industry can. With tourism you leave money everywhere [you] go,” he says. “It’s authentic, it has zero negative impact, and you have a true Bosnian experience.” <h2>Trip notes</h2> Intrepid’s new 8-day <a href="https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/bosnia-and-herzegovina/bosnia-herzegovina-expedition-144139" target="_blank">Bosnia & Herzegovina Expedition</a> will launch in May 2023 with five departures scheduled. The tour starts from AUD $1,995. Annapurna Mellor, Intrepid Travel 0

The Roses of Sarajevo | Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevoThe Roses of Sarajevo | Travel StoryMon, 20 Nov 2017 19:41:34 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevohttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/the-croatian-neighbor-you-must-visitLooking for somewhere to go aside from over-crowded Croatia? Skip the busy cruise ship docks for Bosnia and Herzegovina instead.2017-09-27T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/the-croatian-neighbor-you-must-visithttps://www.worldnomads.comCroatia has inevitably made its way onto every backpacker’s Euro-trip itinerary, with tourists flocking to sail around the Adriatic Sea and hop the Islands. The hordes of tourists can make for a fun night out, but finding a local who isn’t frustrated with how overcrowded their country has become is harder than finding your dignity after a Dubrovnik Pirate Party. Luckily, the over-popular country neighbors an alternative Balkan gem, just a short bus ride away from the crowds. <ul> <li><a href="#bosnia-and-herzegovina">About Bosnia and Herzegovina </a></li> <li><a href="#experiences">Top places to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina</a></li> <li><a href="#locals"> Getting to know the locals </a></li> <li><a href="#getting-there">Getting there from Croatia </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="bosnia-and-herzegovina">About Bosnia and Herzegovina</h2> Despite a stormy past, the <a href="/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/visiting-bosnia-and-herzegovina-30-years-after-the-war">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a> that exists today is full of effortless beauty and friendly locals. The country offers visitors an experience that’s hard to mimic and you won’t find yourself fighting through clusters of tourists for that Instagram shot (yet!). The unspoiled nature and landscapes of this country have something to offer everyone – from authentic experience seekers to adrenaline junkies. Whether you want to go canyoning, <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking</a>, <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/kayaking-or-rafting">rafting</a> or swimming, you can do it all here. <h2 id="experiences">Top places to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina</h2> Kravice Waterfalls, for a relaxed day of swimming beneath some of Mother Nature’s best work – just 25mi (40km) south of Mostar. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/europe/kravice-waterfall-istock.jpg" alt="Kravica Waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption> Also known as Kravica Waterfalls. Photo credit: iStock </figcaption></figure> Blagaj, to visit Blagaj Tekke, an ancient Dervish monastery, and the famous Green Cave, where artifacts from the 5th century BC have been found – all just a short ride from Mostar airport. You can also find the ruins of Stjepan grad, a castle that happens to be located on the inaccessible cliff above the Buna river. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/europe/blagaj-tekke-buna-spring-istock.jpg" alt="Blagaj Tekke on Buna Spring, Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption> Blagaj Tekke on Buna Spring, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Photo credit: iStock </figcaption></figure> Stari Most Bridge, to view the most photographed landmark in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina – and realize how it earned that title. The reconstructed Old Bridge and Old City of Mostar are symbols of reconciliation, international co-operation, and the coexistence of diverse communities. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/europe/mostar-bridge-istock.jpg" alt="Stari Most Bridge, Mostar." /> <figcaption> Stari Most Bridge, Mostar. Photo credit: iStock </figcaption></figure> Una National Park and Pliva Lakes, to get lost in idyllic landscapes. Be sure to see &Scaron;trbački buk – the largest waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina located on the River Una. Walk along wooden paths to see the waterfalls from various platforms and viewpoints. Then, check out Pliva Waterfalls located in the medieval town of Jajce. Upstream from the falls, take a look at the Large and Small Pliva lakes, too. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/europe/una-national-park-istock.jpg" alt="Waterfalls in Una National Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina." /> <figcaption> Waterfalls in Una National Park. Photo credit: iStock </figcaption></figure> Sarajevo, to explore the culturally rich capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Be sure to go underground and see the Sarajevo Tunnel (also known as the Tunnel of Hope), to learn more about the country's past. This tunnel was constructed in 1993 during the <a href="/stories/connection/the-roses-of-sarajevo">Siege of Sarajevo</a> at the time of the Bosnian war. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Explore/europe/sarajevo-souvenier-istock.jpg" alt="A souvenier shop in Sarajevo." /> <figcaption> A souvenier shop in Sarajevo. Photo credit: iStock </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="locals">Getting to know the locals</h2> Bosnians are incredibly proud of their country, welcoming to tourists, and will happily share their stories. During my time in Mostar, I met a young Bosnian man who experienced (and lost his father to) the Bosnian War. As he pointed out significant areas of a city that were once destroyed, it was still easy to see evidence of war. This day impacted my Euro trip in a way that sailing around Croatia for a week simply couldn’t. Keep in mind: If you stick around Stari Bridge in Mostar long enough, you might just catch some of the locals (or travelers) jumping into the depths below. This is a rite of passage for Bosnian boys, and solidifies their status as men. Bosnia and Herzegovina is full of culture, history, and beauty. So if you want to escape the crowds and have an authentic experience or five, consider this country as a worthwhile addition to your list. <h2 id="getting-there">Getting there from Croatia</h2> Easily accessible from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is just a short and scenic bus or coach ride away from the likes of Split and Dubrovnik. It'll set you back around 3–4 hours and €20-€35, depending on your departure and arrival stations. Check out <a href="https://croatiabus.getbybus.com/en/" target="_blank">Croatia Bus</a> for schedules. Alternatively, if you’re planning on spending some time traveling across the country, rent a car and go at our own pace. Keep in mind that Bosnia isn’t part of the EU yet, so make sure you have your passport handy when entering or leaving the country.iStock/darios44 0465044282 iStock Picturesque Kravica waterfalls, Bosnia and Hercegovina

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/things-to-do-cost-guide-and-places-to-stay-in-bosnia-and-herzegovinaBosnia & Herzegovina might be the Balkan’s best-kept secret. With cultural diversity, incredible landscapes, and a sad history, the country still feels undiscovered and exotic. 2017-02-09T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/bosnia-and-herzegovina/things-to-do-cost-guide-and-places-to-stay-in-bosnia-and-herzegovinahttps://www.worldnomads.comHere’s everything you need to know to start unraveling the old traditions of the ‘Heart-Shaped Land’: <ul> <li><a href="#getting-around"> Getting In and Around </a></li> <li><a href="#know-before"> Know Before You Go </a></li> <li><a href="#things-to-do"> Top Things to Do </a></li> <li><a href="#costs"> Cost Guide </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="getting-around">Getting In and Around Bosnia</h2> As with all well-kept secrets, Bosnia is not the easiest country to access. There's an extremely limited railway system and only two main airports. Unfortunately for travelers, there's a huge disconnect between the airports and the public transport system. The best way to reach and explore Bosnia is by car. Even if there are not many highways due to the local terrain, the drive across the country is one of the most scenic you’ll ever take. Another great and cheap option is to travel by well-connected buses or coaches. For reliable schedules and bookings, check out <a href="https://croatiabus.getbybus.com/en/" target="_blank">Croatia Bus</a>. <h2 id="know-before">Know Before You Go</h2> Bosnia is not in the EU, so expect passport checks when entering or leaving the country. While most of the younger generation speak English, you may find locals who don’t. But don't worry: Bosnians are extremely friendly and proud of their country, and will do anything to make you feel at home – even tell you stories about a close past that is still very present. <h2 id="things-to-do">Top Things to Do in Bosnia</h2> <h3>Sarajevo</h3> One of the most culturally rich cities in Europe, Sarajevo took part of many different backgrounds – including Yugoslavia, and both the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Today, a walk through Ba&scaron;čar&scaron;ija, or the city’s Old Town, is a unique experience for the senses: you won't find many places like this that offer the opportunity to see Muslims, Christians, and Orthodox Catholics walking peacefully side-by-side, to appreciate both Ottoman and Baroque architectures together nor hear a Church’s bells ringing right before a Mosque’s call-to-prayer starts across the street. It's a true exercise of altruistic respect. Don’t miss: <ul> <li>The Latin Bridge, where the shot that started WWI was fired.</li> <li>The Yellow Bastian, for amazing views.</li> <li>The Sarajevo Tunnel.</li> </ul> Insider’s Tip: for the foodie in you, try Bosnian coffee and the amazing Tufahija. Go to Željo for simple, traditional food and the best Ćevapčići you will ever eat, and Mala Kuhinjia, an amazing concept-restaurant with no menu – the renowned chef will cook whatever you ask him, for reasonable prices. <h3>Mostar</h3> After suffering tremendously during the Bosnian Wars, Mostar managed to thrive and is now, once again, one of the most picturesque towns in the world. With charming cobblestone streets, Ottoman architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed bridge, and a river that changes color depending on the weather, it feels like a window into a mighty forgotten past.  <h3>Blagaj</h3> Take a fifteen-minute drive from Mostar (or buses 10/11 from &Scaron;panski Trg) to reach a fairytale-worthy Dervish Monastery, where nature and architecture come together for an almost transcendental experience.  Insider’s tip: Only a 35-minute hike away lies the Blagaj Fort - an abandoned castle where only locals go for a quiet picnic. The views of Herzegovina are breathtaking. <h2 id="costs">Cost Guide to Bosnia</h2> Bosnia is one of the cheapest countries in Europe, and its national currency is the ‘Convertible Mark’(BAM). Roughly at the time of writing, €1 = BAM2. Public transportation, although not completely developed, is very cheap. Expect to spend around BAM10 for a good meal, and in terms of accommodation, BAM10-20 for a shared room or BAM30-40 for a private one.iStock/imranahmedsg 0497968706 iStock Pigeons fly away from the Sebilj wooden and stone public fountain located in the heart of the Sarajevo's old bazaar area, Bascarsija. The area around the fountain is sometimes referred to as Pigeon Square by locals.