The Attraction of Sarajevo • We Weblog The World

My Sarajevo itinerary permits you to uncover the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” in comparatively nice depth, and at a tempo that it neither sluggish nor breakneck. I knew what course my schedule would ultimately find yourself taking from the second I arrived in Sarajevo and noticed fellow vacationers strolling gleefully over the Latin Bridge.

The allure of Sarajevo transcends the a part of its historical past when Franz Ferdinand was shot right here, in fact, even when trauma in that vein does tie into its fame because the “Jerusalem of the Balkans.” Proceed studying to be taught what I turn out to be so smitten with Sarajevo—and why I’m sure you can be, too.

The place to Keep in Sarajevo

First impressions are the whole lot, and the Sarajevo lodge I checked into after the aforementioned bridge scene actually made an awesome one. Located within the coronary heart of outdated Sarajevo as its title suggests, Outdated City Lodge offered a house in Bosnia’s capital that was charming, comfy and handy. There are “nicer” locations in Sarajevo, in fact, and in addition cheaper ones, however to me that is the property amongst accommodations in Sarajevo that checks probably the most packing containers.

What to Do Throughout Your Sarajevo Itinerary

See Sarajevo’s Fundamentals

After checking in and chilling out, I headed out into Sarajevo Outdated City to start out exploring my new dwelling for the following couple of days. Whereas main points of interest similar to Bascarsija market, Sebilj fountain and Vijecnica metropolis corridor have been picturesque, my actual infatuation was as a result of various folks and cultures that flowed by the streets, not not like the threads of humanity that weave collectively in Jerusalem itself.

After actually hours scouring its nook and crannies, passing church buildings, synagogues, mosques and exchanging smiles with all who prayed inside them, I exited the Outdated City and arrived on the north financial institution of the Miljacka River. I crossed over the Sarajevo Latin Bridge and again once more, questioning in Franz Ferdinand had felt as awestruck as I did by Sarajevo’s magnificence within the moments earlier than his assassination.

Style the Flavors of Sarajevo

After getting my fill of Sarajevo mosque and church pictures, I started exploring town on a deeper degree. A technique I did this was by taking in a panorama, particularly the one from the Yellow Fortress, which is a couple of 20-minute stroll from the Outdated City. In my view, the view truly grew to become higher after I continued strolling a bit, which extra lovely juxtaposes town’s medieval structure with fashionable buildings just like the Avaz Twist Tower.

One other approach I dug deeper was to dig into Bosnian delicacies in one of the best Sarajevo eating places similar to Pod Lipom, which isn’t the highest-rated place to eat within the Outdated City, however got here extremely (and personally) advisable. Wherever you determine to eat, be sure to take a look at the sausage-and-pita cevapi (Bosnia’s unofficial nationwide dish), borek meat pie and the Sarajevski Sahan sampler, provided (as far as I can inform) solely at Pod Lipom.

Delve Into Sarajevo’s Checkered Previous

As darkish as you may really feel for wanting to take action, it’s unsurprising that the Sarajevo genocide might be close to the highest of your checklist for Sarajevo sightseeing. It actually was on mine, although I need to say that after the sobering Museum of Crimes In opposition to Humanity and Genocide 1992-1995, I felt too unhappy to go to different war-related locations just like the Sarajevo Tunnel, and as an alternative took a pensive stroll to the extra uplifting Everlasting Flame.

I thought-about visiting the Sarajevo Bobsled monitor (formally, Sarajevo Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge Monitor, which was constructed for the 1984 Olympics), however as evening set in, I remained considerably affected by my go to to the genocide museum. I made a decision to forgo a go to to the dystopian Olympic website (I actually couldn’t abdomen a good darker go to to Srebrenica, the place most of the most egregious wartime atrocities occurred) and took one final stroll across the Outdated City.

Day Journeys from Sarajevo

For those who’re finishing your Sarajevo itinerary within the reverse order I did, you’ll be able to board a Sarajevo Mostar bus and after a few hours, you’ll arrive in Mostar, which as I discussed is considered one of my favourite locations on the whole European continent. Whether or not you spend the whole thing of your time marveling on the picturesque Stari Most (Outdated Bridge) or exploring outlying attraction like Kravice waterfalls or the Catholic pilgrimage metropolis of Medjugorje, it is a very worthy Sarajevo day journey.

Alternatively, in the event you board a Sarajevo to Dubrovnik bus, you’ll be able to bypass Mostar and the remainder of Bosnia (although I extremely advocate towards this!) and head straight for Croatia‘s Dalmatian Coast. This undoubtedly isn’t a day journey from Sarajevo, however is a logical technique to proceed touring by the Balkans from Bosnia’s capital. That is very true for an extended Sarajevo itinerary, 4 days or so.

Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications similar to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the best way. His weblog, Go away Your Each day Hell, supplies a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays overlaying the extra esoteric facets of life as a traveler.