Having a multiple entry Schengen Visa makes it easy to plan your next travel destination at a situation that you have limited time and taking advantage of the holiday. Do you remember Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, maybe only few knows but it is now one of the best travel destinations at the heart of Europe?
As per Wikipedia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is an almost landlocked country with a narrow coast at the Adriatic Sea, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long surrounding the town of Neum. It is bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south; Serbia to the east; and Montenegro to the southeast. In the central and eastern interior of the country the geography is mountainous, in the northwest it is moderately hilly, and the northeast is predominantly flatland. The inland, Bosnia, is a geographically larger region and has a moderate continental climate, with hot summers and cold and snowy winters. The southern tip, Herzegovina, has a Mediterranean climate and plain topography.
Overview of Bosnia and Herzegovina
1. Capital : Sarajevo
2. Currency : Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM)
3. Climate and temperature : Moderate continental climate with hot summers and snowy winters. The temperature plays around 23F up to 81F.
4. Population : estimated around 3 million
5. Religion : BH religion is composed of 45% Muslim, 36% Orthodox and 15% Catholics.
6. Land Area : 51,197 land area square kilometer
7. Map (attached photo)
Travel Requirements-Entry
1. Name of Airport and Terminal/ Port of Entry : Sarajevo International Airport (IATA Code: SJJ) and popularly known as Butmir Airport
2. Accessible Flights/ Road Travel : Accessible through air and land
3. Visa Requirements
a. Visa Application and Documentation : Schengen Visa and US Visa for entry
b. Duration of Stay : Holders of Schengen and US Multiple Visa can stay up to 30 days. There are 97 countries allowed to enter the BH with 90 to 180 days stay (check BH visa requirements)
c. Visa Stamp : Only those who applied for BH visa
4. Describe Arrival Procedures : Signing the BH Entry Form at arrival area
5. Custom and Luggage Handling : Luggage is easy to collect since there are few airlines arrival. Currency notes more than 10 thousand USD requires bank permit.
The Jerichosplace.Com unplugged its 73rd Country Travel Destination, the Bosnia and Herzegovina. The place was historical due to its major role that sparked the World War I. For locals, life has changed since then until the end of Bosnian War on 1995. Currently, the place is one of the safest tourist destinations and a landmark of the literal east meets west manifested on their food, culture and geography.
Landscape of Sarajevo
As we are rushing to get our flight ready due to impending EID Holiday in UAE, we booked our flight bound to Sarajevo, this is to know the culture, the food and the history of the place. The name clings on our ears easily due to its story of war and memories of the past.
From Wikipedia, Sarajevo is the political, financial, social and cultural center of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a prominent center of culture in the Balkans, with region-wide influence in entertainment, media, fashion and the arts. It is the largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its administrative limits. The Sarajevo metropolitan area, including Sarajevo Canton, East Sarajevo and nearby municipalities, is home to 555,210 inhabitants. Nestled within the greater Sarajevo valley of Bosnia, it is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans.
Features of Sarajevo
1. Transport around the City- On our case, we rode on taxi service from Sarajevo Airport to city proper that costs around KM 20.00 (Kovertible Mark) or EUR 10.00. The travel took around 25 to 30 minutes to reach the city proper. Once you are in the city then you can walk on the important places and tourist spots on the area. Remember your hotel location especially if you booked on the old uptown area of Sarajevo as there are many alleys with no street names.
The city has a regular tram service, trolley bus, bus and minibus networks. The tickets are available at kiosks on the fare of KM 1.60 or buy from driver on KM 1.80, it is mandatory to buy the ticket. Check their City Guide for transport services and updates of fare (http://visitsarajevo.ba/city-transport/?lang=en).
2. Hotel/ Accommodation- There are many hotels located on the new town proper of Sarajevo, but good hotels also can be found at the uptown area of the city. The average cost of hotel is around EUR 30 to 60 per night depending on your budget.
3. Credit Card and ATMs- Please be informed that not all establishments are accepting credits card, but accept cash only so ensure you have a sizable amount of cash on your pocket in case you want to buy or avail services. There ATMS located at Sarajevo Mall and commercial establishments or market area.
4. Electricity- BH operates on 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. You can use travel adaptor that allows to plug any UK electrical device as long it does not convert any frequency or voltage. The place usually associated with 2 plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type F is the plug which has two round pins with two earth clips on the side.
5. Simcard and Communications- Buying simcard in Sarajevo is easy, the service is available at the airport that you can choose your simcard provider. The widely use network is BH Mobile (BH Telenor) and M:tel with around 40% user usage coverage. They also have Eronet with around 20% user coverage.
The most recommended to use for travelers is the BH Mobile Simcard with good accessibility and coverage. Most of the country is still using 3G, although BH Mobile is currently installing 4G/LTE service.
6. Food and Drink- Eating local meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables are generally safe to eat in BH (check the local health bulletin for current updates). Their tap water is secure to drink unless with mentioned advice or precaution. The milk and other dairy products are secured to consume as per the latest health advisory.
The average cost per meal at Sarajevo is around KM 20.00 to 40.00 but full pack with continental and traditional food. You can have around KM 5 to 10 on some of the local restaurants.
7. Alcohol and Cigarette Restrictions- BH is one of the countries in the world where you can enjoy a beer or shot while smoking shisha. Many of Bosnia’s hookah bars have shisha at affordable prices attracting locals to enjoy with coffee, beer or Rakia. Smoking cigarrete is not restricted on the street of Sarajevo but always to follow restrain as to avoid penalty due to local ordinances.
8. Traffic Situation- There are areas that have traffic jam in the entire city of Sarajevo due to school and office rush, but the place is walkable that more tourists enjoy the scenery of the place. Besides there are alternative transport networks to use from like tram and bus trolley.
BH people usually like visitors and are willing to help you to get around, but if you are traveling outside the cities, you may have some difficulties. Food and drinks are safe and crime level in BH is generally low, but you should still prepare yourself for potential displeasures and incidents.
Driving at BH is valid for holder of valid UK driving license or an International Driving Permit, in accordance with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, during short visits of up to 6 months.
Tourism and Recreation
Bosnia and Herzegovina art and architecture are strongly influenced by various religions. BH is known for its regional folk costumes and dances, showcased at various folklore festivals. The people performed dances in separate groups of women, men and children, or in other various groups on the festival times.
There are many large national parks and mountains. Mountains and open spaces offer hiking, skiing, and hunting. Hunting is a popular pastime, and assorted hunting societies include thousands of members. The country has conducted many athletes. Bosnia-Herzegovina conducted the most important international sporting event in 14th Winter Olympics, held in Sarajevo from the 7th to 19 February 1984.
The country has invested heavily in modernizing and upgrading its thermal spa facilities and can offer guests world class spa treatments for just a fraction of the price of its European neighbors. The spas in Teslic, Fojnica and Banja Luka also provide spas services featuring modern facilities and sporting beautiful natural surroundings. The country popular game is football. The country fields dozens of professional and semiprofessional teams, and virtually no village lacks a field and a few players willing to populate it (from Sublet.Com).
Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has a poetic landscape but beneath its beauty is the sad story from the past. The place is a compact city on the Miljacka River, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps. Its center has museums commemorating local history, including Sarajevo 1878–1918, which covers the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, an event that sparked World War I. Landmarks of the old quarter, Baščaršija, include the Ottoman-era Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque.
1. Sightseeing Activities in Sarajevo- Situated at the center of Sarajevo, you can do your hop-on hop-off tour to enjoy the picturesque of place. Visiting these places and chatting with the locals makes a trip to BH a pretty unique experience among European destinations (https://city-sightseeing.com/en/143/sarajevo).
a. Latin Bridge and stand on the very spot where Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated on 28th June 1914, leading to the outbreak of World War I.
b. Tunnel of Hope with 800m long, hand-dug tunnel beneath the airport runway was the capital’s lifeline during the siege in the 1990s. But it’s not all about war… beyond the bullet holes and Sarajevo Roses is an architectural treasure-trove lurking in the shadows.
c. Vijećnica is made of stained-glass ceiling, multi-arched interior and octagonal basement, the iconic City Hall, housing the National Library, is one of Sarajevo’s most beautiful buildings from the Austro-Hungarian period.
d. There are more attractions that you can hop including Sebilj wooden fountain in Baščaršija Square, the Alija Izetbegović Museum which tells the history of Bosnia, marked by the struggle between good and evil, and the Yellow and White Fortresses (Žuta Tabija and Bijela Tabija), once part of the old Vratnik city walls.
e. Vidikovac viewpoint is showing the fantastic breathtaking panoramic views over the valley below and the streets of Sarajevo.
2. Cultural Tips- The people in Bosnia and Herzegovina are very hospitable, and it’s considered a nice gesture to accept food or drinks offered by locals. Coffee culture is very strong in this part of the Balkans, so this especially goes for taking a cup of traditional Bosnian coffee. You can also often be offered with a rakija, a fruit brandy which is very popular in Eastern Europe. Rakija is usually made of plums (šljivovica) or grapes (loza). It’s very strong, so if you don’t want to get drunk very quickly, don’t have too many of these. It is also common for locals to offer you a cheese, fruit or piece of cake.
When it comes to the language of communication with the foreigners, BH usually use English. In the cities you will easily find somebody to help you with something you don’t understand. If you are traveling in the countryside, it’s best to learn or even better, write down few words and phrases that will help you on your trip.
3. Restaurant and Street Foods- Typical meat dishes include primarily beef and lamb due to Islamic dietary laws, although the Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs can consume pork. Some local specialties are ćevapi, burek, dolma, sarma, pilav (pilaf), gulaš (goulash), ajvar and a whole range of Eastern sweets.
At the City Center of Sarajevo, there are chain of restaurants at city walk featuring ultimate cultural experience of Balkans where one can taste Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Balkan flavors. There are many restaurants that you can choose from that offer different dining ottoman experience.
4. Night Life- As per the article of Inyouroocket.Com, a night out in Sarajevo comes no better than an elongated wander through the city’s bar scene, where you will find people drinking coffee, beers, brandies, cocktails, wine, juices…or just mineral water. Sarajevo is very see-and-be-seen, busy, and the city’s notoriously beautiful womenfolk dress accordingly. A handy rule-of-thumb is to assume that a waiter will find you almost as soon as you arrive in an establishment: do not order your drinks at the bar. Prices are almost the same everywhere, so think of paying about €2 for a large half-litre of beer, about €3-5 for a cocktail, and somewhere in between for wine. It’s well worth trying the local brandies, made from plums (slivovitz), grapes(rakiya), walnuts (orahovaca), cherries (visnavaca,) and apricots (kajsija).
5. International Activities- The Sarajevo Film Festival is the premier and largest film festival in Southeast Europe and is one of the largest film festivals in Europe. It is held every August and screening hundreds of films including short films from 60 countries. It was founded in Sarajevo in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo in the Bosnian Independence War and brings international and local celebrities to Sarajevo every year.
Travel Requirements-Exit
1. Name of Airport/ Port of Exit : Exited at BH to Montenegro Land Border
2. Accessible Flights/ Road Travel : There are four main crossings: Zupci-Sitnica (between Trebinje and Herceg Novi), Klobuk–Ilino Brdo (between Trebinje and Nikšić), Hum–Šćepan Polje (between Foča and Nikšić) and Metaljka (between Sarajevo and Pljevlja). On road travel, we proceeded going to Republika Srpska then exited at Hum–Šćepan Polje (between Foča and Nikšić). Cost of travel using private car from Sarajevo to Kotor amounting to EUR 160.00 plus the picturesque of Balkan landscape.
3. Visa Documentations : Immigration Police check the entry stamp and the entry paper.
4. Describe Departure Procedures : There is one border check point where the exit and entry stamp were placed near to our US Visa.
5. Custom and Luggage Handling : Land travel check the usual luggage at border crossing
6. Duty Free : No Duty Free at BH and Montenegro Border Crossing
7. Lounge Access : No Lounge Access at BH and Montenegro Border Crossing
Travel Tips:
The country of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a nicest place at the heart of Europe. As its capital Sarajevo is relatively peaceful and has been largely rebuilt since the siege of the city ended on year 1995. It’s a city worth to visit for a few days and to savor the taste of different cultures in one city, Sarajevo still being a city where cultures meet from east to west.
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