Cheap flights to Sarajevo from EUR18*

The Bosnian capital breathes an intriguing east-meets-west charm, where colourful Turkish bazaars contrast with restrained Austro-Hungarian buildings, and the skyline is dotted with spiky minarets and large church domes. Look one way, and you’ll see a magical old town that feels like a mini-Istanbul with its magnificent mosques, quaint alleyways, caravanserai restaurants and cafés with low seating and hookah pipes. Look another, and you’ll find boulevards lined with pastel-coloured buildings from the Habsburg era. Sarajevo, filled with an air of relentless optimism and warmth, also boasts some of Europe’s best street food, a vibrant nightlife scene and plenty of culture. Outdoorsy types will find heaps to do in the surrounding mountains, offering great-value ski breaks, whitewater rafting and some truly spectacular hiking. Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the fastest growing tourism industries on the continent so visit Sarajevo now to beat the crowds.

 

Fly to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for:

A melting pot of cultures

Embraced by steep mountains, photogenic Sarajevo sits on both sides of the Miljacka river and isn’t nicknamed the “Jerusalem of Europe” for nothing. The city is a true cultural medley, with its rich history spanning empires and religions. Within just a few hundred metres in the centre, you’ll find the grand 16th-century Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Catholic Cathedral of Jesus’s Sacred Heart, Sarajevo’s old, ornately decorated Orthodox Church and the Ashkenazi Synagogue – all well worth a peep inside. The city centre, compact and largely pedestrianised, is best explored on foot. Start at the iconic Sebilj fountain at Pigeon Square and wander the narrow cobblestone streets of Baščaršija, the city’s beautifully restored medieval old town. Get lost in the enchanting bazaars, selling everything from silver jewellery to handmade carpets and traditional Bosnian coffee pots, and take a break at one of the many traditional restaurants or little cafés. Then head down to the river through elegant Habsburg-era streets and marvel at the neo-Moorish City Hall, the most striking edifice from the period, laboriously reconstructed and reopened in 2014.

 

History wherever you look

In Sarajevo, there’s history literally on every corner. The edge of pretty Latin Bridge over the Miljacka river is the site where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, triggering World War I. Pop into the Sarajevo 1878-1918 Museum nearby for more insight into the momentous event or step back in time at Svrzo’s House, a well-preserved Ottoman-era building with vine-draped, cobbled courtyards. Would you like to learn more about the Bosnian capital’s more recent history? The scars of the 1992-1995 siege during the Yugoslav Wars are still visible but this is a city that has embraced its past. The War Tunnel Museum displays a section of the hand-dug tunnel that once served as a lifeline for supplies, while the War Childhood Museum recounts poignant stories through personal items of children who lived through the longest siege in modern history. Within walking distance of Baščaršija, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is also a must for culture buffs. The Neoclassical building complex harbours an impressive collection of ancient and medieval artefacts, including Greek painted pottery, monumental medieval tombstones (stećci) as well as the famous Sarajevo Haggadah, one of the world’s oldest Sephardic illuminated manuscripts. Seeking a full-on cultural extravaganza? The whole city centre turns into one huge party during Baščaršija Nights in July and when the world-famous Sarajevo Film Festival comes to town a month later. Expect concerts, theatre performances and street vendors across the centre.

 

Strong coffee and filling street food

Sarajevo is a youthful, forward-looking city, vibrant with fresh purpose and positive energy. Its thriving café culture rivals that of Turkey and Italy: coffee here is a way of life, to be enjoyed slowly with friends from early morning to late into the evening. Kaffa Cafe is a good place to savour a cup of thick, potent traditional brew, served in ornate, handmade metal pots called džezvas. Fancy something different? Make your way to Caffe Tito for some tongue-in-cheek Yugoslavian nostalgia or have a drink at Cafe Barometar in a quirky steampunk setting. For a romantic sit-down meal, book a table at Inat Kuća, aka the House of Spite, offering traditional Bosnian fare in an Ottoman-style, riverside setting. Head to Park Prinčeva or Kibe Mahala for a more classy experience and a bird’s-eye view of Sarajevo. Street food is plentiful and as good as it gets, blending Turkish, Balkan and Central-Eastern European influences. Try a plate of ćevapčići, Bosnia’s national dish, made of grilled beef sausages and served in pita bread, with lots of raw onions and creamy kajmak cheese. There are plenty of places to choose from but the locals swear by Ćevabdžinica Željo, a small, unassuming affair in the heart of Baščaršija. Burek, eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, is another local favourite, sold across the city. Brought to Bosnia by the Ottomans, it’s a warm, flaky pie stuffed with meat, cheese or spinach, to be washed down with a glass of yoghurt.

 

Shopping and nightlife to remember

For traditional arts and crafts, Baščaršija is your best bet. The cobbled alleyways are overflowing with handmade copperware and leatherwork, traditional carpets and sparkling filigree jewellery. Don’t be afraid to haggle a bit, it’s part of the fun. Ready for some time travel? Head to the enchanting Morića Han caravanserai in Sarači Street, where merchants used to gather for a well-deserved rest after a long day on the road. While there, make sure to nip into Isfahan Gallery, offering authentic Persian carpets and rugs as well as fine cashmere wool and silk scarves, colourful mosaic lamps and copper tea sets. For international brands, make your way to one of the city’s gleaming shopping centres, such as Sarajevo City Center or Alta Mall in the Marijin Dvor neighbourhood. The Bosnian capital also has the nightlife to match, with something for every taste, from relaxed shisha bars and intimate jazz venues with live music to trendy cocktail bars and packed nightclubs. Try rakija, the fruit brandy of the Balkans, at Zlatna Ribica, an eccentric dive in the centre, lounge away with hookah pipes at Dibek or dance until the early hours at the cinema-turned-nightclub Kino Bosna.

 

The great outdoors and history-filled day trips

Take the recently reopened cable car up Mount Trebević for sweeping panoramas of the city and while there, make sure to explore the graffitied bobsleigh track from the 1984 Winter Olympics. Or climb up to the top of the Yellow Fortress for some of the best sunset views over the red-roofed old town. Go hiking in the majestic Dinaric Alps or rent a bike in Vrelo Bosne, a leafy woodland park at the foot of Mount Igman on the outskirts of the city. To get your adrenaline going, don your skies in winter and make your way to nearby Jahorina and Bjelašnica on the Olympic Mountains, both within an hour of Sarajevo. From April to October, head south to Konjic for some white water rafting action on the emerald green Neretva river among rugged mountains. If you’re more of a history buff, visit Travnik, “the most oriental city in Bosnia”, and see its 15th-century fortress on a day trip or head south to Mostar and take in the views of the city’s iconic Old Bridge. See the Bosnian Pyramids in Visoko to the east, and decide for yourself whether they really are the oldest and largest human-made pyramids on earth or an elaborate hoax as claimed by many in the scientific community.

 

Sarajevo weather

Influenced by the Adriatic Sea and the surrounding mountains, Sarajevo has a continental-oceanic climate, with hot summers, pleasant springs and autumns, and cold, snowy winters. Summer brings average temperatures of 17 to 19°C but on hot days, temperatures can soar above 30°C. In winter, temperatures usually hover around freezing point, and the nearby Olympic mountains offer excellent, great-value skiing.

Sarajevo Airport

Sarajevo International Airport is located south-west of the city centre and represents the main international entrance to Sarajevo. This city is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The airport has a single terminal and is equipped with free Wi-Fi, a duty-free shop, a post office, bars, a restaurant, and take-away food.
To get into the city centre there is a bus service directly outside the terminal with a journey time of 30 minutes. Alternatively, there is the opportunity to get off 1 km away and take a trolleybus. Taxis are also available for transport directly to where you need to go, and car rentals are also available at the airport.

FAQs for booking flights to Sarajevo

How to get cheap flights to to Sarajevo?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Sarajevo flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Sarajevo?

Sarajevo, nestled amidst the Dinaric Alps, offers a varied climate and different seasonal experiences, making it an attractive destination at all times of the year. The city, influenced by the Adriatic Sea and surrounding mountains, enjoys hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 30°C—and is perfect for strolling around its lively streets and historical sites. Spring and autumn are equally charming, with temperatures that are pleasant and the city is adorned with a palette of colours from the foliage — ideal for outdoor activities and appreciating the local culture.

Winters are chilly and snowy, excellent for skiing on the nearby Olympic mountains, with many affordable options for lovers of winter sports. But though rain is frequent throughout the year, Sarajevo’s rich history, diversity of architecture, and picturesque sceneries make it worth a visit at any time of the year. Spring and autumn are particularly recommendable, with their good weather and fewer crowds.

How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Sarajevo flight?

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