Cheap flights to Sarajevo

Quick summary

Why track Sarajevo with SniperAir

A river capital where East meets West, in a mountain valley

Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Crossed by the Miljacka, it stretches along a narrow valley surrounded by mountains according to Wikivoyage (EN). The Ottoman foundation of the city is dated to 1461 according to Wikipedia (FR). Nicknamed the "Jerusalem of Europe", it brings mosques, Catholic and Orthodox churches and a synagogue close together. Its history was marked by the 1914 assassination, the 1984 Winter Olympics and, during the Bosnian war of the 1990s, a long siege; the city has been rebuilt since, and several museums and places of remembrance keep the memory alive. Today Sarajevo draws visitors with its Ottoman quarter of Baščaršija, its Austro-Hungarian facades, its cafés and the mountains right next door. Flight prices to Sarajevo change often: a SniperAir alert saves you from comparing every day. You set your budget, we compare new prices with the real history of the route and we let you know.

Airport and getting into town

Sarajevo airport, south-west of the centre

Sources give different references for the airport's exact location (Butmir or Dobrinja), so we write "a few kilometres south-west". No transfer fares are published; check times and prices with the airport.

There are connections to several major European cities. To compare with nearby cities, you can also track Zagreb (ZAG), Dubrovnik (DBV) or Belgrade (BEG): these cities have their own SniperAir page and price alert.

Landmarks

The Latin Bridge, the Vijećnica, the Sebilj and the hills above town

Sarajevo is best explored on foot: the Ottoman part of the old town is entirely pedestrian according to Wikipedia (FR). The six images below show the places that come up most often on a first visit.

The Latin Bridge over the Miljacka

The Vijećnica

The Sebilj fountain in Baščaršija

Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

A panorama from the Yellow Fortress

The Trebević cable car

Other places are worth a detour: the Sacred Heart Cathedral, begun in 1884 according to Wikivoyage (EN); the old Orthodox church, from the 16th century according to Wikipedia (DE); the Markale covered market; the Ottoman bridges over the Miljacka, such as the Goat's Bridge; and the citadel of the Vratnik district.

Museums and culture

Museums: history, archaeology and remembrance

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Founded in 1888, it holds archaeology, ethnology and natural science collections, as well as the Sarajevo Haggadah, an illuminated manuscript according to Wikipedia (FR).

The History Museum and the City Museum

The History Museum, founded in 1945, has among other things a permanent exhibition on the city during the siege according to Wikipedia (FR). The Museum of Sarajevo brings together several heritage sites, including the Brusa Bezistan, a covered market from 1551.

Places of remembrance

The War Childhood Museum, opened in 2017 according to Wikivoyage (EN), and the Tunnel of Hope, near the airport, evoke the lives of residents during the war of the 1990s. These places should be visited with respect. No ticket prices or opening hours are published here: check the official websites.

Food and drink

Eating and drinking: burek, ćevapi, pita and Bosnian coffee

Dishes to try

Wikivoyage (EN) and (DE) present burek, a meat-filled pastry, and pitas, filled with cheese, spinach or potato, as the most common snacks. Ćevapi, small grills of minced meat, are served in a flatbread called somun. Bosnian coffee and sweet treats round off the table.

Markets and districts

The Markale covered market, opened in the 19th century according to Wikipedia (DE), sells local produce. The Baščaršija district has many shops selling copperware, woodwork and sweets according to Wikivoyage (EN). No business names are given here.

Getting around

Getting around Sarajevo

On foot

The historic centre is largely pedestrian according to Wikipedia (FR). The streets of Baščaršija are cobbled and winding: getting lost is part of the fun, but a map on your phone helps according to Wikivoyage (EN).

Trams, trolleybuses and buses

The tram has run since 1885 with seven lines; the trolleybus has five lines according to Wikipedia (FR) and (DE). Both are run by the public company JKP GRAS. There is no metro according to Wikipedia (DE).

Taxis and the cable car

For taxis, Wikivoyage (EN) and (DE) advise insisting on the meter. The Trebević cable car leaves from the Bistrik district according to Wikipedia (DE); check times and fares before you go.

Budget and precautions

Budget and precautions

Price level

Bosnia and Herzegovina uses the convertible mark (KM), pegged to the euro at about 2 KM per euro according to Wikivoyage (EN) and (DE). Small cafés and shops often want cash according to Wikivoyage (EN). No price range is published here because the sources are not cross-checked. SniperAir alerts mainly help with the flight.

Precautions

According to Wikivoyage (EN), crime against foreigners is very rare, but pickpockets may work on public transport. Outside the city, stay on roads and marked paths. In winter, the air in the valley can be polluted. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the European Union: check entry requirements for your nationality and read your own country's travel advice.

When to go

When to go to Sarajevo

The climate is temperate with a continental tendency according to Wikipedia (FR) and (DE), with over 900 mm of precipitation a year according to both sources. Aim for May to June or September for pleasant temperatures; winter is ideal if you want to see snow.

By length of stay

How many days in Sarajevo

In pictures

Sarajevo in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Sarajevo