Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina, Босна и Херцеговина, usually shortened to BiH) [3] is a European country located on the Balkan peninsula. It was formerly part of Yugoslavia but gained independence in 1992. It borders Croatia to the north, west and southwest, Serbia to the east and Montenegro to the southeast. Mostly mountainous, it has access to a tiny portion of the Adriatic Sea coastline in the south.

Understand

Until recently, the idea of a Bosnian-Herzegovinan nationality mainly applied to the nation’s Muslims, also referred to as Bosniaks. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Croatians and Serbs looked to Serbia and Croatia for guidance and as the mother country and both had aspirations for political union with either Serbia or Croatia once the Yugoslav state began to fall apart in the early 1990s. This of course spelled disaster for the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina and as a result a bloody civil war was fought between all three groups. In the end the Croatian-Muslim alliance fought the Serbian forces on the ground whilst NATO attacked the Bosnian Serbs from the air. A peace treaty followed with a heavy handled role of the U.S. Clinton Administration helping seal the deal. The result was that Bosnia would be a federation comprising a Croat-Muslim unit alongside a Serb autonomous entity. Things have rapidly improved since then but the two regions of Bosnia still have a long way to go towards complete political and social union. As of now, it could be said Bosnia-Herzegovina functions as one country with two or even three different parts. However, the central government lies in Sarajevo and there is one common currency, the Mark (KM).

History

National holiday 

National Day, 25 November

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s declaration of sovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs.

Independence 

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)

The Bosnia-Herzegovinan Serbs responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines. In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties signed a peace agreement that brought to a halt the three bloody years of ethno-religious civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995).

Constitution 

the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in force; note – each of the entities also has its own constitution.

The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina’s international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government was charged with conducting foreign, economic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnia-Herzegovinan Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing internal functions.

In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission is to deter renewed hostilities. SFOR remains in place although troop levels were reduced to approximately 12,000 by the close of 2002.

Economy

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. Tito had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia-Herzegovina hosted a large share of Yugoslavia’s defense plants. The bitter inter ethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1990 to 1995, unemployment to soar, and human misery to multiply. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000 and 2001. GDP remains far below the 1990 level. Economic data are of limited use because, although both entities issue figures, national-level statistics are limited. Moreover, official data do not capture the large share of activity that occurs on the black market. The konvertibilna marka – the national currency introduced in 1998 – is now pegged to the euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the communist-era payments bureaus were shut down. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.

Culture

Bosniaks (50.1% of the population), Serbs (30.78%), and Croats (15.43%) form the largest ethnic groups in the country. Since the break-up of Yugoslavia, Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim — an adherent of Islam. Also note that ethnicity and religion mostly overlap; with Muslims (50.7% of the population, mostly Bosniaks and some minority groups), Orthodox Christians (30.75%, mostly Serbs), and Catholic Christians (15.19%, mostly Croats) being the three main faith groups of the country. There are also some Protestants and Jews as well. Nevertheless, the country is highly secular and religion is seen as more of a traditional and cultural identity than a set of rituals and rules.

Climate

Hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Terrain

Mountains and valleys.

Natural hazards 

destructive earthquakes.

Highest point 

Maglic 2,386 m

Regions

While the country is politically divided into two “entities”; the Federation of Bosnia and Hercegovina with a predominant Muslim/Croat majority population (about 51% of the territory) and the Republika Srpska (i.e. Republic of Srpska, Republic of Serbs or Republic of Serbland) with a Serb majority population (about 49% of the territory).

Here, Republic of Srpska is divided into a western and eastern part, and Federation BH divided into West, North and Central Bosnia and Western Herzegovina.

If you want to find out the dominant ethnicity in a certain town or city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can use the website of BH Pošta: [4]. Type the name of the place in the field “Place” under “Postal Codes”, and a drop-down list will appear showing both the place name and the code of the postal service covering the town, which gives an indication of ethnicity: “BHP SA” for Bosniaks, “SP BL” for Serbs and “HP MO” for Croats.

Cities

• Sarajevo— the national capital; a cosmopolitan European city with a unique Eastern twist as can be seen in its vast diversity of architectural styles. Home for 400.000 people.
• Jajce— old royal town in mountainous central Bosnia with 17 meter high waterfall in the city centre and many historical sights
• Banja Luka— the second largest city (200.000 people in wider area), serving as the capital of Republika Srpska, with some historical sights and a rich nightlife
• Bihać— city on Croatian border, surrounded by an impressive nature
• Fojnica— near the Fransiscan monastery, the heart of Bosnian catholicism
• Mostar— nice old town on Neretva River, symbolized by its medieval bridge. The biggest city in the region of Herzegovina (75.000 people).
• Neum— the only coastal town, with sandy beaches backed by steep hills
• Tuzla— third largest city (90.000 people in urban area) with much industry, though has a lovely old town and monuments to the brutal war too
• Teslic— а health spa resort with the biggest tourist capacity in the country
• Zenica— city with an Ottoman old quarter. Home for 85.000 people in its urban area.

Other destinations

• Bjelašnica ski resort
• Igman ski resort
• Jahorina ski resort
• Kozara— national park in the northwest with dense forests and hilly meadows, a hiking and hunting destination.
• Međugorje— inland town between mountains with a mild Mediterranean climate, but perhaps best known due to claims of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to six locals.
• the extensive pliva lakes 5 km fromJajce — with waterfalls, wooden mills and beaches as well as camping and canoeing facilities
• National park Una
• Počiteljvery nice old village 30 km. South of Mostar on the way to and from the Adriatic coast.

Get in

Entry requirements

Nationals of all European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro,Norway, Serbia and Switzerland may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free for up to 90 days within a six-month period with either a passport or a national identity card.

Nationals of Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas,Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Seychelles,Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Vatican Cityand Venezuela, additionally persons holding British National (Overseas) passports may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free for up to 90 days within a six-month period with a valid passport.

Nationals of Russia and Ukraine may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free for up to 90 days within a two-month period with a valid passport.

Valid multiple entry visa holders and residents of the European Union, Schengen Area or Monaco can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free for a maximum stay of 15 days. However, they must arrive directly from a European Union or Schengen Area member state, Monaco, or a third country that has a bilateral readmission agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is not available for holders of passports issued in Kosovo.

Any person not covered by one of the visa exemptions listed above will need to apply for a visa at an embassy or consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina in advance.

More information about visa exemptions and the visa application procedure is available at the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [5].

By plane

Sarajevo Airport [6] (IATA: SJJ) is in the suburb of Butmir and is relatively close to the city centre. There is no direct public transportation, and taxi fares to/from the airport are often more expensive than intended for the short distance. One option to save cash is to take a taxi to the tram terminus at Ilidža (ill-EEJ-ah) and board the tram for the last part of your journey, cost 1,80KM). Alternatively, call another taxi company than Sarajevo Taxi (which has a monopoly on the taxi ranks at the airport and 99% of the time will rip you off from the airport) to pick you up at the airport parking lot. Just wait by the entrance to the parking lot near the terminal and flag your taxi driver down when he approaches. The most popular taxi company that (almost) always uses the meter is Crveni (Red) Taxi – 033/760 600.

The national carrier of Bosnia & Herzegovina, B&H Airlines, shut down in June 2015 due to unpaid debts to the Federation government.

Croatia Airlines [7] connects Sarajevo via Zagreb at least twice daily, and from there connections are possible to Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Munich, Paris, Zurich and several other European cities.

Air Serbia [8] connects Sarajevo daily via Belgrade, and from there one can connect with other international flights on Air Serbia and its partners to Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Rome, among others.

Some of the other airlines which operate regular (daily) services into Sarajevo include:

• Turkish Airlines[9] to Istanbul-Atatürk
• Pegasus Airlines[10] to Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen
• Adria Airways[11] to Ljubljana
• Lufthansa[12] to Munich
• Germanwings[13]] to Cologne and Stuttgart
• Austrian Airlines[14] to Vienna
• Swiss International Air Lines[15] to Zurich and Geneva
• Norwegian[16] to Oslo and Stockholm, seasonally to Copenhagen
• flyDubai[17] to Dubai

Czech Airlines will re-launch its service to Prague in May 2016.

For other services, check the Sarajevo Airport [18] website.

Mostar [19], Tuzla [20] and Banja Luka [21] also have international airports, but with limited international services (Banja Luka only to Belgrade on Air Serbia, Mostar primarily to charter destinations in Italy). Tuzla International Airport was recently given hub status by Wizzair and now flies to several destinations in the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia. Note, however, that there are limited convenient transportation options between TZL and Sarajevo. Wizzair operates one shuttle service between the capital and the airport, often very late at night (11pm to 2am). Your best options are either to take a taxi to the bus station in Živince (jiv-ih-NEE-tse) and take the bus from there to Sarajevo or to take a taxi or shuttle service, if available, to Tuzla and stay overnight to catch the more frequent services to Sarajevo.

Many travellers choose to fly into Serbia or Croatia, continuing travel by bus to BiH, on Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik, the latter two being serviced by seasonal cheap tourist charter flights.

By train

Train services across the country are slowly improving once again, though speeds and frequencies are still low. Much of the rail infrastructure was damaged during the recent conflict, and lines have been opened on a priority basis, though not to the high level of service pre-war. The train services are operated by the two separate entities (based on the political division of the country), which results in the locomotives being changed rather often.

• To/from Croatia

There are two daily trains running from Sarajevo to Zagreb (10 hours), the capital of Croatia, and onwards to the rest of Europe.

The ‘day’ train leaves from Zagreb at 08:55AM and arrives in Sarajevo at 18:30h, before continuing on to Mostar and Ploče. The return journey departs Sarajevo around 10AM. Ticket costs 24 EUR one way (return ticket holds some discount). A ‘night’ train now operates with sleeping facilities on board leaving both Zagreb and Sarajevo at 21:20 (9:20PM) – from Sarajevo there is an ill-timed passport check to ensure you won’t get a full night’s sleep! There is no buffet car on this route – be advised to take supplies beforehand for the spectacular 9hr trip, though men with small trolleys will occasionally walk through the train selling overpriced soft drinks etc.

Trains also operate from Sarajevo to Mostar. Services operate a few times daily, are relatively empty and provide possibly the most stunning rail journey in all of Bosnia! Be aware, the rail connection from Mostar to Ploče (Croatia) is no longer in service.

Aim to buy your ticket before you board the train. If you don’t buy before you board then buy from the conductor onboard but beware that he/she may only sell you a ticket for his/her part of the journey – the staff and locomotives usually change when the train leaves Croatian territory and again when the train goes from the territory of Republika Srpska into the Federation.

• To/from Hungary

The direct train service between Budapest and Sarajevo ended in 2012.

• To/from Serbia

The direct train from Belgrade to Sarajevo is no longer in operation. Recent discussions, however, have taken place between the Serbian and Bosnian governments to improve and re-open passenger services between Belgrade and Sarajevo.

Special tickets

• Travelling to Bosnia is possible with anInterrail-pass. In Bosnia, other Balkans countries & Turkey also with the Balkan Flexipass.

By car

Bosnia is a beautiful country to drive in as the scenery is often spectacular.

However, due to the mountainous terrain, atrocious driving by many road users (including dangerous overtaking on narrow highways), and generally poor condition of the road around the country, do not expect speeds will be fast – especially given the relatively short distance ‘as the crow flies’.

The US State Department’s advisory on Bosnia and Herzegovina read in 2008:

Road travel is possible throughout most of the country. However, some roads are still damaged from the war, and poorly maintained. Roads are sometimes blocked due to landslides, de-mining activity, and traffic accidents. Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the rare countries in Europe that has fewer than ten kilometers of four-lane highway. The existing, two-lane roads between major cities are quite narrow at places, lack guardrails, and are full of curves. Travel by road can be risky due to poorly maintained roads, and morning and evening fog in the mountains. Driving in winter is hazardous due to fog, snow, and ice.

This advisory should be updated since Bosnia and Herzegovina has already around 80 kilometeres of excellent highways and construction of new highways is in a full swing. When finished, this highway will connect the northern part of Croatia with the coast as well as the new highway from Zagreb to Split, which eventually will extend to Dubrovnik. Also, main roads in the country (named “magistrale” in local languages) are normally in great conditions. If you leave main roads you might find problematic roads, but driving even there should not be a big problem. The only problem for foreigners can be aggressive drivers who do not show any respect for speed limits and other rules. Drive carefully and you will not face any problems.

As of 2009, the main routes from the coast via Mostar to Sarajevo, and north from Sarajevo to the Croatian Border at Slavonski Brod/Slavonski Šamac, have been restored and are of excellent quality. By 2015, 100km of motorway has been opened, from Zenica-South to Tarčin, bypassing Sarajevo, and from the Croatian border at Bijača to Medjugorje. Three more sections are under construction, and the entire stretch of the European Vc corridor motorway in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is due to be completed by 2022.

Petrol stations can be hard to find in some spots – often the best place to fill up is on the edge of towns and cities rather than in them.

Border crossings normally pose few problems.

Mechanics who speak English may be hard to find, and licensing may be an issue so ensure that you are allowed to actually drive there. Police regularly set up road blocks on the road and don’t be surprised to be pulled over to check your papers and have a chat! Drivers should carry with them their “green card” liability insurance, drivers license and ownership documents, which may be inspected at border crossings.

By bus

Buses are plentiful in and around Bosnia. A list of bus stations and timetables in Bosnia can be found here [22]

Most international buses arrive at the main Sarajevo bus station (autobuska stanica) which is located next to the railway station close to the centre of Sarajevo. A few buses from Belgrade, the Republika Srpska entity and Montenegro use the Lukavica bus station in Istočno (Eastern) Sarajevo (the Serbian neighbourhood of the town). Note, however, that the “Eastern” bus station is actually west of the city center, near the international airport and the Dobrinja trolleybus terminus.

Frequent coach services run from Sarajevo to:

• Croatia:Zagreb (4 daily), Split (4 daily), Rijeka and Pula (daily), and Dubrovnik (daily at 6.30AM)
• Serbia: betweenBelgrade and (eastern) Sarajevo there are 5 daily services, there is also a daily service to Sarajevo main station
• Slovenia:Ljubljana (daily)
• Montenegro:Kotor daily (the trip is 7 hours and has spectacular views)

in addition to the longer-distance buses further afield to the Republic of Macedonia, Austria and Germany.

From Mostar, Banja Luka and Tuzla there are also frequent international services. Herzegovina also has many bus services from the Dalmatian coastal cities of Croatia.

International bus services are nearly always in modern, luxurious 5-star coaches – the only exceptions to this are normally the local buses operating slightly over the border (max. 3 hour trips).

Companies

Due to the Bosnian war in the 1990s there are bus companies serving the Bosnian diaspora, which provide a cheap and clean way of getting to the other side of the European continent.

• Centrotrans,Based in Sarajevo (buses are operated through the regular bus stations around the country), ☎ + 387 (0) 33 46 40 45(info@centrotrans.com, fax: +387 (0) 33 46 40 40), [23]. Centrotrans operates for Eurolines to Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany,Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.
• Globtour, (Operates from Međugorje, through the whole country),☎ + 387 (0)36 653 253 (miro@globtour.com, fax: +387 (0) 36 653 251), [24].Regular buses to Germany, Austria, Sweden and Croatia.
• Semi tours,☎ + 387 (0)61 596 443 (info@semi-tours.com, fax: +32 (0) 36 638699), [25]. Several buses per week to Belgium and The NetherlandsReturn ticket from € 154.
• Top Tourist,☎ + 387 (0) 66 30 83 00 (INFO@TOPTOURIST.DK, fax: +387 (0) 51 32 11 00), [26]. Weekly buses from and to Nordic European countries (eg. Denmark, Sweden, Norway) Tickets can be paid on the bus, but advance booking and payment is recommended. Sarajevo via Salzburg (twice weekly) ~1000 dkr (280 BAM, €140) return.
• Turistik,Bihaćkih branilaca, Bihać (Across the main bus station), ☎ +387 (0) 37 312 611 (+387 (0)61 759 865, turistik_prosic@yahoo.com), [27]. To the federation by bus from Switzerland.

Feel Bosnia Address: Kemala Kapetanovića bb 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Email: info@feelbosnia.com[28]www.feelbosnia.com

By boat

Ferries are available from Neum to other cities on the Adriatic connecting to Croatia and other countries. There are no international ferries across the Adriatic to Italy, but these do operate from Dubrovnik and Split.

Similarly transport is available along the inland rivers and lakes, some of which is privately run.

Get around

The inter-entity border between the Federation and Republika Srpska is not controlled and is essentially not very different from U.S. state borders considering its impact on travel.

The best way to get around with public transport is with bus and train (Federation [29], RS [30]). There is a dense network of bus lines, all run by relatively small private companies. Be aware that if you buy a return ticket for a line which is served by more companies, you can only make the return trip with the company you bought the ticket at.

Trains are infrequent and slow. Many train lines were damaged in the war, and have not yet been rebuilt. There is also a lack of carriages and trains to provide frequent services – even on the busy lines like Mostar-Sarajevo, Tuzla-Banja Luka and Sarajevo-Banja Luka. However, the rides are scenic, especially that Mostar-Sarajevo stretch.

Hitchhiking is fun in Bosnia as you will get rides from local people who you won’t much encounter through hospitality exchange networks as couchsurfing. Be carefull though for landmines, and if you’re not sure, stay on the paved road, and ask locals (“MI-ne?”).

Cycling is beautiful in Bosnia. Other traffic is not so much used to how to relate to bikes on their way, though.

Google Maps, an online mapping resource, is very rudimentary present in Bosnia. However, volunteers are mapping Bosnia in Open Street Map, and at least the maps of the main towns in Bonia have a lot more detail than those of the maps of the US-based company.

If you are looking for detailed army maps, you can find a list on the site of the army: [31]

Talk

The official languages in the Bosnia and Herzegovina are Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian. In the Republika Srpska you’ll see signs in Cyrillic, so a Serbian-English dictionary would be helpful there.

A lot of Bosnians, especially the younger generation will speak English. A surprising number of young people will also know at least some German, because Bosnian kids learn German at school. The older generations tended to have studied English, French or German in school.

Many Bosnians speak excellent English, but these are professionals and none of them work in hotels, restaurants, bus stations, or drive taxis. Stated positively, every day Bosnians will insist upon buying you coffee and cakes while engaging you in long and deep intellectual discussions, in perfect English. You’ll need to learn a little Bosnian to buy a snack at a bakery and tell a taxi driver where you’re staying, but this is easy enough.

See

• Mostar: “Stari Most” – the old bridge
• The waterfall and the fortress ofJajce
• Ivo Andrics birth house inTravnik
• The Tito bunker nearKonjic
• The Zelenkovac ecovillage[32], 20 km from Jajce

Do

Rafting

Rafting on the Neretva river, the Una river and the Tara with the Drina river, with some shorter courses on the Krivaja river, the Vrbas river and the Sana river.

2009 World championship of rafting was held in Banja Luka on the Vrbas river and in Foča on the Drina, both in RS.

Kayaking and canoeing

The Neretva river and its tributary the Trebižat, the Unac river, also the Krivaja river and its tributary Bioštica river are great kayaking destinations with a lot of whitewater on the Krivaja river. The Pliva river and its lakes Veliko and Malo (5km from Jajce) are great canoeing destinations, also the middle and lower Una river, the Trebižat river.

Canyoning

The famous Rakitnica canyon of the Rakitnica river, tributary of the Neretva river, offer great canyoning adventure, but even extreme canyoning route can be found in the Bjela river another tributary of the Neretva river. The Unac river and its canyon offer great canyoning route.

Also close to Banja Luka you can explore the canyons of the Svrakava and Cvrcka rivers.

Winter sports

Bosnia and Herzegovina was the 1984 host for the Winter Olympics, and it still takes pride of its winter sports potential. Especially around Sarajevo there are challenging venues. During the war of the 1990s many Olympic venues were severely affected, but at present all is put in place to give the skier a great experience.[33]

Close to Sarajevo there are the Bjelasnica, with over 8km of ski trails, the Jahorina (20km) and Igman mountains. Close to Travnik is the Vlasic Mountain with 14km. Other resorts are Blidinje, Vlasenica [34] in the east and Kupres in Western Bosnia.

Bjelašnica and Jahorina are also beautiful for hikes during summer.

Hiking

Hiking is great in the unspoiled nature of BiH. A good guidebook is Forgotten beauty : a hiker’s guide to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2000 metre peaks – and other selected adventures by Matias Gomez.

Fly-fishing

The most fly-fishing areas in Bosnia are in the North-West of the Bosanska Krajina, around the river Sana[35]. Fly-fishing fanatics can go on a tour by the different trout-hotspots; Bihać, Martin Brod,Ribnik, Sanica[36] and Sanski Most. In several of those towns there are resorts specially geared towards the needs of the angler.

Buy

The official currency is the konvertibilna marka (convertible Mark), divided into 100 feninga. Originally pegged 1:1 to the Deutsche Mark, it is presently pegged to the Euro at roughly 1.95 to the euro (1 EUR = 1.95583 KM).

Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 50 feninga and 1, 2, and 5 marka with banknotes in 10 (orange), 20 (grey), 50 (red-violet), 100 (brown), and 200 (blue-green) marka. There are two sets of the KM10, KM20, KM50, and KM100 notes with distinct designs for the Federation and the Republic of Srpska; however, both sets are valid throughout the country.

Before you leave the country, be sure to convert back any unused KM into something common (Euros, dollars) as most other countries will not exchange KM.

Credit cards are not widely accepted – ATMs are available in the most cities (VISA and Maestro). Try to not pay with 100 KM bills, as smaller shops might not have enough change.

Most towns and cities will have markets and fairs where any number of artisans, sellers, and dealers will offer any kind of stock. Different foods are readily available, both fresh and cooked, as well as clothing, jewellery and souvenirs. At the markets you are able to negotiate with the seller, although that may take some practice. Like in most such venues prices may be inflated for foreigners based on a quick ‘means test’ made by the seller. Often those who look like they can afford more will be asked to pay more.

Large shopping centres you’ll find in most cities and towns.

Sarajevo is fine for buying clothes and shoes of cheap quality and relatively cheap price. The main shopping streets of Sarajevo are also great for black market products including the latest DVDs, video games and music CDs. Most tourists who visit Sarajevo no doubt leave with a few DVDs to take back home.

Visoko and the central Bosnia region are very well known for their leather work.

Banjaluka has seven big shopping malls, as well many small businesses, and you will be able to find a large variety of goods.

Mostar has an excellent shopping mall on the Croatian side with some typical European-style clothes shops and jewelers.

(As of August 2015)

Tax-free shopping

If you have a temporal (tourist) residency status and you buy goods worth more than 100 KM you are entitled to a PDV (VAT) tax refund. PDV consist of 17% of the purchase price. The refund applies to all goods bought within three months before leaving, except petroleum, alcohol or tobacco. At the shop, ask the staff for a tax-refund form (PDV-SL-2). Have it filled out and have stamped (you need your identity card/passport). Upon leaving BiH, the Bosnian customs can verify (stamp) the form if you show them the goods you bought. A PDV refund in Marks can be obtained within three months, either at the same shop where you bought the goods (in that case the tax will be refunded to you immediately), or by posting the verified receipt back to the shop, together with the account number into which the refund should be paid.

Be aware that upon entering another country you might be obliged to pay VAT over the goods exported from Bosnia. But there is always a free amount, mostly a few hundred Euros; EU: €430. Also, the procedure at the border might take a bit of time, so it is not wise to try this when travelling by train or bus, unless the driver agrees to wait.

Eat

The most available food in Sarajevo is Cevapi (normally 3-7 KM), the ubiquitous Balkan kebab. Two prominent variations exist – the “Banja Luka” Cevap, a larger kebab with a square shape, and the Sarajevo Cevap, smaller and round. If not had before, every visitor should try an order of Cevapi at least once. There are several variations of pita (around 2KM). A cheap, tasty and readily available snack is “Burek”, a pastry made of filo dough and stuffed with meat (simply Burek), cheese (Sirnica), spinach (Zeljanica), potatoes (Krompirusa) or apple (Jabukovaca). Some examples are better than others, however, and it can be a greasy affair. If you get to Mostar, however, try to grab a plate of trout (“pastrmka,” which sounds like “pastrami”), which is the local specialty (a particularly fine restaurant serving locally farmed trout lies by the wonderful Blagaj monastery, a short bus ride from Mostar).

Local food is heavy on meat and fish, and light on vegetarian alternatives. Even traditional so-called vegetarian dishes like beans or Grah are cooked with bacon or smoked meats. Stews often contain meat but can be created without. Rice and pasta dishes are readily available and a traditional sourdough soup filling called Trahana is hand made in most regions and a staple during the fasting month of Ramadan. Fast food, with the exceptions of cevapi and pita (or burek) consists of, like in other parts of Europe, pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs. Panini sandwiches are served in most coffee shops popular with the youth, and Bosnian coffee, reminiscent of Turkish coffee, is a must-try for any coffee aficionado. Oddly, apart from these fast food options, Bosnian restaurants serve few Bosnian specialities – what people eat in their homes is very different from what they will eat if they go to a restaurant.

All along Bosnian roads and recreational places, you will notice advertisements for janjetina or “lamb on a spit.” This is a very tasty treat, usually reserved for special occasions. A whole lamb is cooked on a spit, by rotating over a coal fire for a long time. When you order, you pay by the kilogram, which costs around 25KM (not bad since this is enough for several people). Families, on special occasions, make such roasts at home.

No matter what food you order, you are bound to be served bread, commonly consumed throughout some parts of Europe with all savory foods. Both soup and salad are commonly served with entrees, chicken & beef soup with noodles or egg dumplings being the most common. Salads are typically composed of mixed tomatoes, lettuce, onions and bell peppers, often with feta cheese. A Caesar salad is unheard of in Bosnia, and generally most vinaigrettes are of the Italian variety, balsamic vinegar and olive or corn oil. You may also come across many condiments. Ajvar is a jarred (or home made if you are lucky) spread, vegetarian, something like a bruschetta spread, made of roasted peppers & eggplant, which are then ground and seasoned with pepper and salt, then slow-cooked. It’s a staple of many Balkan countries, with the Macedonian varieties (“Biljana”) being most popular and widely available. Many pickled foods are also served as condiments, such as pickled peppers, onions, cucumbers [“pickles”], and tomatoes. Kajmak is a dairy spread, with consistency and taste like cream cheese. It is made of milk fat, which is removed, salted and packed, usually in a jar. It has a smoky, salty cheese taste, with a texture slightly drier than cream cheese. Kajmak from the town of Travnik is a highly regarded local specialty which is also exported as far as Australia.

Bosnian food generally does not combine sweet & savory foods, and you will never encounter such a thing as a salad with mandarin oranges. On the other hand, many a fine chef will experiment with sweet and savory tastes like the ‘Medeno Meso’ (Honey Meat) made in pre-war Banja Luka by a well known chef. The delineation between fruit and vegetables is strong, with fruit used only for dessert-type dishes. You will never encounter any dish where sugar is added unless it’s a dessert. The food is generally heavy on fresh produce, which needs little or no added spice. As such, there are few spicy or hot dishes, and dishes advertised as “spicy”, such as stews like paprikas or gulash are usually spiced with paprika and not chillies, and do not carry overt pungency. In some regions, and depending on whether it is restaurant or home food, textures and colors can be important also.

Like in much of Europe, smoked meats are one of staples of Bosnian cuisine, more so even than the stereotypical foods of pita & cevapi. Amongst the non-Muslim populations pork is king, and prosciutto, smoked neck, smoked ribs, bacon, and hundreds of other varieties of smoked sausage make this a real BBQ and dry-cuts country. The Muslims, of course, have equally-tasty lamb or beef alternatives. The meat is prepared by first curing in salt for several days, which removes water & dehydrates the meat, while the high-concentrations of salt preserve the meat from spoiling. After being cleared of salt, rubbed with spices (a Bosnian dry rub is usually very simple, and includes some combination of high-quality fresh peppercorns, hot paprika, salt, onions & garlic, and sometimes with a few spoons of Vegeta, a popular powdered all-spice mix similar to an Oxo flavor cube), the meat is then hung over a heavy smoke made by a wood fire. Fruit trees are well-known by BBQ aficionados around the world to produce the most flavorful smoke and apple, cherry, and walnut trees are the most commonly used in Bosnia. Whereas commercially produced deli meats (of the sort you may buy at your local deli) are most often dry-cured or hung in dehydrating fridges and only then pressure-smoked for a few hours to allow some flavor to permeate the meat, Bosnian smoked meat is painstakingly smoked up to three months. The meat hangs in a “smoke house,” a tiny wooden shed usually only big enough to light a fire and hang the meat. Bosnians will only smoke meat in the fall or winter, because the low temperatures, together with the salt curation, allow the meat to hang for months without spoiling. During this time, it is smoked up to 4 times a week, for 8-10 hours at a time, which infuses the meat with the flavor of the smoke and removes any remaining water. The finished product has an incredibly strong aroma and flavor of smoke, with the texture of chewy beef jerky. Depending on the cut of meat, the most noticeable difference between smoked meat produced this way and the commercially produced meat available in North America, is the color inside the meat. Whereas commercial deli meat is usually soft, red, a little wet and fairly raw, Bosnian smoked meat is black throughout with only a slight tinge of pink. Larger cuts of meat, like the Dalmatian prosciutto, do tend to be a bit more pink & softer inside, but the difference is still dramatic, since the Balkan-made prosciutto has much less water, is chewier and overall better smoked. Such meat is most often consumed at breakfast time, in sandwiches, or as meza, a snack platter of meats, cheeses, peppers, Ajvar, and other small bites commonly brought out to greet and welcome guests to one’s home. For the visitor, smoked meats are a cheap and incredibly flavorful lunch meat, and can be bought at Bosnian marketplaces from people who usually prepare it themselves. Have a pork neck sandwich with some Bosnian smoked cheese and a salad of fresh tomatoes in a bun of fresh and crisp homemade bread, and you’ll never want to leave.

When you visit a Bosnian at home, the hospitality offered can be rather overwhelming. Coffee is almost always served with some home-made sweet, such as cookies or cakes, together with Meza. Meza is a large platter of arranged smoked meats, which usually includes some type of smoked meat (usually pork in traditional non-Muslim homes; Mulim homes usually prefer beef or lamb cuts), and sausage thinly cut and beautifully presented with cheese, ajvar, hard-boiled eggs and freshly cut tomatoes, cucumbers, or other vegetables. Bread is always served. Most cookbooks on South Slavonic cooking are packed with hundreds of varieties of breads, this being one of the most bread-crazy regions in the whole world. Yet, just about the only type of bread in most Bosnians’ homes is the store-bought French variety, which the Bosnians, of course, would never dream of calling “French.” To them, it is simply bread – “Hljeb” or “Kruh”.

However, more of an effort is made at special occasions to produce traditional Slavonic breads, and each family usually bakes its own variation of a traditional recipe. At Christmas & Easter, Orthodox Serb & Croatian Catholic families typically make a butter-bread called Pogaca, which is often braided and brushed with an egg-wash, giving it a glistening finish perfect for impressive holiday tables. During the month of Ramadan, the Bosniak (Muslim) populations bake countless varieties of breads, and the unique and Turkish-inspired varieties are generally more numerous, diverse and dependent on regions and villages than amongst Christian populations, where special-event recipes are more homogeneous and fewer selections exist. Lepinja or Somun(the bread served with Cevapi) is a type of flat bread, probably introduced in some form to Bosnia by the Turks, but has since developed independently and is only vaguely reminiscent of Turkish or Middle Eastern flat pita breads. Unlike the Greek or Lebanese pita, the Bosnian Lepinja is chewy and stretchy on the inside and pleasantly textured on the outside, making it a perfect spongy companion to oily meats and barbecue flavors. The Turks may have begun this recipe, but the Bosnians have taken it to a whole new high.

In every-day cooking, Bosnians eat lots of stew-type meals, like Kupus, a boiled cabbage dish; Sarma, a rolled and stuffed (usually with rice and ground beef) cabbage dish, slow cooked; Grah or Pasulj, beans prepared in a similar fashion; and a fairly-runny but equally delicious variation of a Hungarian goulash. All these dishes are typically made with garlic, onions, celery and carrots, followed by starchy vegetables, cuts of various meats, or smoked ones, and several cups of water. This is then cooked until the vegetables are tender. A regional all-spice mix called “Vegeta”, which is widely used and available in most ex-YU countries, is incorporated into almost every dish. This spice is used throughout the region, and is available throughout Europe as far as Poland, but in other parts of the world. It is the North American equivalent of a chicken Oxo cube, or, in other words, condensed chicken broth mix, although Vegeta is completely vegetarian. These type of stew meals will cost you next to nothing, and are very hearty filling meals.

As for desserts, you will drool over ice cream sold in most former Yugoslav countries. There are several varieties, but regional milk and cream must be a contributing factor to their wonderful taste. You can buy ice cream either by the scoop or from an iced-milk swirl machine, packaged in stores or from a sidewalk vendor with a freezer right on the street. Recommended is the “Egypt” Ice Creamery in Sarajevo, famous in the region for their caramel ice cream. Also try “Ledo,” a type of packaged ice cream made in Croatia but sold throughout the region. You should also try some local desserts, such as Krempita, a type of a custard/pudding dessert that tastes something like a creamy cheesecake, and Sampita, a similar dessert made with egg whites. Traditional Bosnian desserts are also something to try. Hurmasice or Hurme, is a small finger-shaped wet sweet with walnuts; Tulumbe are something like a tubular doughnut, crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. And of course, don’t forget to try Bosnia’s take on the world-famous Baklava, which tends to be somewhat more syrupy than its Turkish counterpart and usually does not contain any rum, like its Greek counterpart. Much of the traditional cooking has Turkish undertones, a colorful consequence of six hundred years of Ottoman rule over most of Bosnia & Herzegovina, and desserts are no different.

Whatever you eat in Bosnia, you will notice the richness of the flavors you thought you knew. The cuisine of the country has not yet been ruined by commercially-grown produce, so most foods are (uncertified) organically or semi-organically grown, using fewer chemicals and are picked when ripe. The vegetable markets sell only seasonal and locally-grown vegetables, and you are bound to have some of the best tasting fruit you’ve ever tried in the Neretva Valley region of Herzegovina (close to the Croatian border, between Mostar and Metkovic). The region is famous for peaches, mandarin oranges, peppers & tomatoes, cherries (both the sweet and the sour variety), watermelons and most recently Kiwi fruits. Cheese is also incredibly flavorful and rich all across Bosnia & Herzegovina, and generally all foods are as fresh as it gets. Enjoy!

Drink

The legal drinking age in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 18 years (changed in 2005). Popular domestic beers are Nektar (from Banja Luka), Sarajevsko, Preminger (from Bihać, made according to a Czech recipe) and Tuzlansko, while the most common imports are Ozujsko and Karlovacko from Croatia, Jelen from Serbia, and Laško and Union from Slovenia. Like in almost every European country, beer is very common and popular. Even in more heavily Islamic areas alcohol is available in abundance to those who choose to drink and almost every bar is fully stocked.

Like most Slavs Bosnians make ‘Rakija’ which comes in many a variety and is made both commercially and at home. Red wine is ‘Crno vino’ (Black wine) and white wine is ‘bijelo vino’. Wines from Herzegovina are renowned for their quality. Alcohol is not taxed as heavily as in most Western nations and is often very affordable. Quality alcohol is sought after and valued.

Another popular drinking beverage is Turkish coffee, in Bosnia called Bosnian coffee, which can be bought in every bar, coffee shop or fast food place.

Bosnians are among the heaviest coffee drinkers in the world.

Sleep

In Bosnia and Herzegovina you can choose from the great number of hotels, hostels, motels and pensions. At the seaside town of Neum you can book hotels from 2 to 4 stars. In the other cities many hotels are 3 stars, 4 stars and some of them are 5 stars.

In Banjaluka the best hotels are: Cezar, Palas, Bosna, Atina, Cubic and Talija. Reservation is possible via internet or by contacting Zepter Passport Travel Agency, Banjaluka, for any accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or any service; contact: http://www.zepterpassport.com , phone number +387 51 213 394, +387 51 213 395, Fax +387 51 229 852.

In Sarajevo the best hotels are: Bristol, Europe, Radon Plaza, Marriott (Courtyard and Residence Inn), City, Festival . Reservation is possible via the internet or by contacting Centrotrans-Eurolines travel board in Sarajevo, phone number: +387 33 205 481, languages spoken: English, German, French and Dutch.

Campsites are not very common. An overview of campsites in Bosnia is available at the national tourism agency [37]. Wild camping is often no problem, but be careful for mines.

Work

With one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe (in some areas up to 40%, official rate 17%), it will be unlikely you will find legitimate employment in the country unless you are working for a multi-national organisation or working in Sarajevo where the unemployment rate is a bit lower compared to the rest of the country. The capital city is generally very friendly when it comes to expats, offering many possibilities for them.

Stay safe

If you plan on traveling off the beaten path in Bosnia, be aware that the nation is still in the process of clearing many of the estimated 1 million land mines left around the countryside during the war of 1992-1995. In rural areas try to stay on paved areas if possible. Never touch any explosive device. Houses and private property were often rigged with mines as their owners fled during the war. If an area or property looks abandoned, stay away from it.

Beside this, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very safe country. Small towns do not face almost any serious crimes, but this is not the case with Sarajevo. Pickpocketing, reckless drivers, thefts and fights are becoming daily news from Sarajevo and some foreigners have been victims, too. Although the chances for you to be affected by this are small, be careful – small crimes have been on rise in recent years and it seems officials are not able to solve this growing problem in Sarajevo. The city is still much safer than many other capital cities in Europe, but reputation “the safest capital in Europe” is very questionable.

Stay healthy

All Bosnian employees undergo regular health checks to ensure that they are physically capable to do their jobs and that they will not transmit any disease or injure anyone. People in the food industry are particularly checked and random health and safety checks for the premises are held often. Food providers are held to the highest standards. A Bosnian kitchen is expected to be spotless and food safety is very important.

All tap water in Sarajevo is clean, pure and most definitely safe. However in other parts of Bosnia, especially the Posavina Region and Eastern Bosnia, drinking tap water is highly discouraged as it is the cause of illness. Boiled tap water is still not safe to drink. Most cities in these regions have tap areas (especially near hospitals) with clearly marked labels reading “Water for drinking”. This water is safe to drink as well as bottled water you can buy in shops and from street vendors.

Be aware of the harmful thick smog that blankets cities such as Sarajevo, Zenica, Tuzla, Brčko and Visoko. If you are an asthmatic or sensitive on the lungs, be sure to wear a medical mask as to avoid illness and wrecking your trip. Air pollution is caused by emissions from industry, motor vehicles and burning of rubbish, which is very common around the country. It is worst during the winter time in Sarajevo when soot covers the basin. It is recommended to escape to the mountains on bad days, and to breathe clean air found above the “smogbank”.

If getting a tattoo then ensure that the instruments are sterilised. While this may be a common practice, one should still be careful.

Since the food is very rich, some extra exercise may help

And as above, never walk off dedicated paths in case of land mines.

Cope

Smoking is allowed nearly everywhere in the country, and over half the population use tobacco. Therefore, be prepared to endure very smoky restaurants, bars and shopping centers. Even bus drivers often smoke while driving.

Respect

Respect the religious differences of the people in the region and their effort to move past the Yugoslav war. It is important to be careful in areas where there is still tension and to ensure that one does not offend a particular group due to indifference or sheer ignorance.

Similarly, respect the environment. A lot of the country has been saved from pollution and it is important to be careful of one’s influences. Moreover, it is equally important to be careful as the rivers tend to be fierce, the mountains and valleys often unguarded and the footing unsure. Always have a tour guide with you or consult a local for advice on the natural dangers and land mines.

Don’t mix up the terms “Bosnian” and “Bosniak”. The former refers to all Bosnia’s citizens regardless of ethnicity, the latter refers to a particular ethnic group. Also, while some people (generally non-Bosniaks) still refer to Bosniaks simply as “Muslims”, many do not like this and it’s inadvisable to use the term yourself.

Contact

Do be aware that the two entities have their own separate postal services, so stamps bought in the Federation cannot be used in the RS and vice versa.

There are three mobile phone networks in Bosnia and Herzegovina: BH Mobile (All of Bosnia and Hercegovina), HT ERONET (Mostar) and m:tel (Republika Srpska, Banja Luka). You can buy a prepaid SIM card from any network at any kiosk for 5 KM or less.