VISIT BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Heart-shaped and at the heart of the Balkans, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a gem for history fiends and nature lovers who are willing to discover one of the few under-the-radar European destinations.

Currency

KM - Convertible Mark (1KM≃ 0,5€ ≃ 0,55$ ≃0,45£)

POPULATION

3,5 millions

MAIN LANGUAGES

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

AREA

51,129 km²

TIME ZONE

UTC+1 / UTC+2

FLAG

🇧🇦

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an incredible wealth of historical heritage. Think medieval villages, old Ottoman houses, and Austro-Hungarian influences, not to mention all the sadful events the country went through in the XXth century which left many scars still visible to this day. Beyond its tumultuous path, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a place with a unique charm that may make it one of the best-value European destinations. Some examples of Bosnian draws are the town of Mostar and its iconic bridge, the gorgeous Kravice waterfalls, and its capital city - Sarajevo - perfect for spending an original weekend getaway.

There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 80 kph / 50 mph on main roads outside built-up areas, 100 kph / 62 mph on dual carriageways, and 130 kph / 80 mph on motorways. During adverse weather (rain, fog, etc.), the speed limits are lowered.

Plugs: Two plug types are used in Bosnia and Herzegovina: C and F. They both have two grounding holes. Bosnia and Herzegovina operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.

Tipping: As a general rule - although not mandatory- a tip of around 10% is expected in restaurants and cafés in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Payment: Most transactions in Bosnia and Herzegovina are in cash. Bank cards - either debit or credit cards - are widely accepted in supermarkets, shops and restaurants, especially in Sarajevo. The most accepted cards are Visa and Mastercard; American Express cards can be used in fewer places.

Basic language: Zdravo = Hello (informal); Dobar dan = Hello/Good day; Do videnja = Goodbye; Da = Yes; Ne = No; Hvala = Thank you; Molim = Please; Nema na čemu = You're welcome; Oprostite = Excuse me; Dan = Day; Noć = Night; Dobro veće = Good evening; Laku noć = Goodnight; Gospodin = Mister; Gđa = Ma'am; Ulica = Street; Cesta = Road

Holidays and closing days: Sunday is a closing day for most stores. There are 2 national public holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina: New Year's Day (January 01 to 03) and Labour Day (May 01-02).

Some public holidays are held partially throughout the country: Independence Day (March 01), and Statehood Day (November 25) are only celebrated in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the two entities within the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina (the other being Republic of Srpska). The public holidays specific to the Republic of Srpska are Victory Day (May 09) and Dayton Agreement Day (November 21) are On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, or if you are planning to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Bosnian government website: https://www.mvp.gov.ba/

⏳ Visa-free but limited to maximum 90 days for a period of 180 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Bahamas; Bahrain; Barbados; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Dominica; El Salvador; Estonia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kiribati; Kuwait; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Macao; Malaysia; Malta; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; Netherlands; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Norway; Oman; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; Solomon islands; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Turkey; Tuvalu; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Vatican; Venezuela

⏳ Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 30 days if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Russia; Ukraine

🛂 Visa required if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe

❄️ December – February: Winter in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the time of the year for winter sports. Skiers and snowboarders gather in one of the many Bosnian peaks, such as Bjelasnica and Igman mountains, the venues of the 1984 Winter Games. During winter, the temperatures in Sarajevo usually range from -4°C (25F) to 6°C (43F); in Mostar, temperatures usually don't get negative.

🌱 March–May: Springtime in Bosnia and Herzegovina is ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling or rafting due to the pleasant temperatures.

☀️ June – August: Summertime in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hot and dry. These months are also the busiest for tourism; popular spots such as Mostar might get crowded, but nothing unbearable as long as you book your accommodation in advance. During summer, the temperatures in Sarajevo usually range from 11°C (52F) to 26°C (79F); while the temperatures in Mostar are higher (+5°C / +41F on average).

🍂 September – November: During autumn, temperatures in Bosnia and Herzegovina are getting cooler but remain warm, and the summer tourists are back to school and work. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not shy of forests and mountainous areas, which makes fall a wonderful season to admire the vegetation switching to vibrant colours.

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