Best of Sarajevo: What to See and Do in Bosnia’s Capital City
If you’re a long-time listener of the Postcard Academy podcast, you’ve heard me mention Sarajevo before and how the city completely transfixed me. I had the same feeling as when I saw the Roman forum for the first time. Something about the vibe of this place that transported me.
I became obsessed with Sarajevo and its history and felt so embarrassed that I knew so little about the war in the ‘90s before I traveled to Bosnia. I had a flicker of a memory of seeing an article about it when I was a kid and being outraged no one was helping the Bosnian people…but then that memory faded. Replaced by other atrocities in the world.
The main reason I put off doing a Sarajevo episode for so long is that there’s so much I wanted to get right, so many stories to tell. I wanted to share the whole history of the ‘90s. And someday when I have more time and resources, I’d love to do that. But for now, I can share the BBC documentary Death of Yugoslavia.
On the podcast, I’m focusing more on the wonderful things you can see and do in present-day Sarajevo. My friend, Cat Norman Tahirović, a photographer who has made Bosnia her home, joined me to share all her best travel recommendations for Sarajevo and beyond.
Subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast (for free) to hear all of Cat’s stories and recommendations. Below, you’ll find the names of a few places mentioned in the podcast.
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Pigeon Square, the central meeting place of Sarajevo's Old Town. All photos courtesy of Cat.
Cat’s top Sarajevo recommendations
Lunch: Ascinica Hadjibajric
Dinner: Pizza to Go from Mahir's Bakery/Pekara
Go out: Sarajevsko Pub Minion or Kino Bosna on Mondays (this is a must!)
Live Music: Jazzbina
Starter Drinks: Zlatna Ribica / Goldfish
Craft Beer and Whiskey: Pivnica Semizburg
Coffee: Ministry of Cejf
Bakery: Pekara Student in Bjelave or Pekara Edin by Sebilj
Shop: Bazerdžan
Cat and her beautiful Bosnian family. She met her husband at Kino Bosna her first night in Sarajevo. You must plan your trip to Sarajevo so you’re there to attend the live music at Kino Bosna, which is only on Monday nights. This former porn theatre erupts with singing, dancing, and all sorts of nostalgia. Do. Not. Miss.
If you want to see Sarajevo at its absolute liveliest, go for the film festival in August. But, as you can see, winter is a pretty beautiful time to go, as well.
Don’t miss watching the sunset from the Yellow Fort. Grab some pizza at Mahir's Bakery/Pekara and keep heading uphill for breathtaking views of the city.
If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 8 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.