Sarajevo - Balkan Trip 2019

After a short stop in Jablanica, we made our way to the end of our trip: Sarajevo. The million city between the mountains gained international attention during the Balkan war, when the Serbian army besieged the city for 1425 days and shot into the city from the mountains. The scars can still be seen today, even though the city is undergoing changes.

Arrival

We took a bus from Mostar to Sarajevo for about 2 1/2 hours for €8. When we arrived at Sarajevo's bus station, we walked to a train station to enter the historic center around the Latin Bridge.

Accommodation

The City Center Sarajevo Hostel is located near the Latin Bridge, on the sixth floor of a building. The rooms are located in the attic and it is unbearably hot. But for €17 per night, we can't complain, and the breakfast is delicious too!

Sights

Since we were not far from our accommodation, we visited the various sights, and there are plenty of them. First, there is the Latin Bridge, where over 100 years ago the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place, which was the trigger for World War I. From there, we strolled towards the "Baščaršija", the Ottoman market district. Here, you will notice that there is a small mosque on every corner. There are over 200 mosques in Sarajevo - scattered in the hills. But we didn't visit the crowded mosques, instead, we strolled through the endless shopping streets and let ourselves be guided.

I can recommend a café in Mejdan Park for a quick break. From here, we also started our next tour to Mount Trebević. There are countless stories about the mountain on the outskirts of Sarajevo. In 1984, the Winter Olympics were held here, and the bobsleigh and luge track still attract countless visitors on a trip back in time. But this mountain also has its ugly side. During the Bosnian War, the mountain was completely mined by Serbian forces, which gives you an eerie feeling. Although most of the mountain was cleared of mines by 2011, the feeling remains that every step could be your last. At one point, it is even noticeable that the Serbian troops carved steps into a tree to shoot innocent civilians with their sniper rifles.

Nevertheless, the panoramic view of the million metropolis is still breathtaking despite the circumstances. Although I feel a bit uneasy when the surrounding mountains are dotted with tens of thousands of white crosses on the horizon.

Fortunately, those terrible days are over and the city is thriving again.

The people of Sarajevo and Bosnia in general are so warm and friendly, offering a completely different contrast to our start in Budapest.

Our Balkan trip ends at the small airport of Sarajevo with a slight delay. We enjoyed this journey very much and have fallen in love with the people of the Balkans. This will definitely not be the last time we explore this diverse region.