Travel and Tourism Information

Travel - International

AIR

The national airline is B&H Airlines (JA), which operates flights from Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart (Germany), Istanbul and Izmir (Turkey), and Zurich (Switzerland) to Banja Luka, Mostar and Sarajevo.

International Airport

Sarajevo (SJJ) is the main international airport. Banja Luka (BNX) and Mostar (OMO) also receive a small number of international flights.

RAIL

The railway system was badly damaged during the civil war but restoration is underway. Rail services link Sarajevo, Mostar, Doboj and Banja Luka to Zagreb, Belgrade, Ljubljana and Ploce. However, services are slow; the Sarajevo–Zagreb journey takes around nine hours.

ROAD

Bosnia & Herzegovina’s road network is still in the process of being reconstructed, following massive damage during the 1992-1995 civil war. It is possible to enter the country by car from Croatia. Drivers from the UK should note that Green Card motor insurance is not extended to Bosnia & Herzegovina; compulsory third-pary insurance is available at border crossing points. There are frequent bus services from Sarajevo to many Eastern and Central European cities, including London (website: www.eurolines.com).

Note: The border crossing from Croatia at Bosanski Brod is now open.

Travel - Internal

RAIL

Rail links between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Republika Srpska have been restored. In addition, a few local services are operating.

ROAD

Travel by road is the usual means of transport in Bosnia & Herzegovina. During winter and spring, block ice and landslides can make driving difficult. Road conditions are still poor, but many roads are now being restored. The safety and condition of urban roads is generally fair, although rural road maintenance is seriously lacking. The risk of landmines has decreased in the last few years, as most mines remaining from the war are now clearly marked. However, visitors are still advised to exercise caution when travelling outside main cities and towns. Caution should also be taken when driving at night or during winter. Drivers should keep to the main roads. The emergency number for roadside assistance is 987. The capital, Sarajevo, is the nodal point for all Bosnia & Herzegovina’s main communications routes, which go west to Banja Luka, and then to Zagreb, capital of Croatia; north to Doboj, and then to Osijek in Croatia; east to Zvornik, and then to Belgrade in Serbia & Montenegro; south to Mostar, and then the Adriatic Sea; and southeast to Foca, and then to Podgorica (formerly Titograd

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. All Green Cards, etc, should include cover for the 20km-strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian Coast highway.

Resorts & Excursions

Historically, Bosnia and Herzegovina was a melting pot of different cultures, with Christians, Muslims and Jews co-existing peaceably in this area for many centuries. The country's architecture was diverse and fascinating - beautiful churches and mosques existed in equal measure. The 500 years of Turkish rule left their trace mainly in the capital, Sarajevo. The Turkish quarter and the town centre have been largely rebuilt, and the city, although scarred by war, is coming back to life. The colourful bazaars are also part of the Ottoman heritage. Travnik in Bosnia was known as the town of the wazirs at the time of the Ottoman Empire. Much of the town was spared in the war, and it is still possible to visit the medieval castle. The many-coloured mosque near the base of ul Hendek is alleged to contain hairs from Muhammad's beard.

The reconstruction of Mostar, once a prime tourist destination, has begun, but most of the town's monuments were destroyed in the war. A few medieval buildings and cobbled streets remain. Banja Luka, the capital of the Republika Srpska, still contains a 16th-century fort and an amphitheatre. There are several spas in the Republika Srpska area, most of which are operating again. Visegrad, Telic, Bijeljina, Dubica, Laktasi and Srebrenica all have natural mineral springs and medical facilities.