🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stari Most, Mostar

An arched Ottoman-era bridge over the Neretva River, destroyed during the 1990s war and rebuilt using original construction techniques and reopened in 2004. Local divers still jump from its highest point into the cold river below, a tradition dating back centuries. The old town's cobbled streets and river views make it one of the most photographed spots in the Balkans.

Baščaršija, Sarajevo

Sarajevo's old Ottoman bazaar quarter, its narrow lanes filled with copper workshops, mosques, and cafes serving traditional Bosnian coffee. It sits at a point in the city sometimes described as where East meets West, with Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture visible within a short walk of each other. Evening is a particularly lively time to explore.

Sarajevo War Tunnel

A hand-dug tunnel beneath the airport runway that served as Sarajevo's only lifeline during the nearly four-year siege of the city in the 1990s. A preserved section is now a small museum, offering a direct, sobering account of how the besieged city survived. It's widely considered an essential stop for understanding recent Bosnian history.

Kravice Waterfalls

A wide, tiered waterfall on the Trebižat River near Mostar, its curtain of cascades dropping into a large natural pool popular for swimming in summer. The setting, ringed by forest, feels remote despite being an easy day trip from the coast or Mostar. It's often compared favorably to more famous waterfalls elsewhere in the Balkans.

Latin Bridge, Sarajevo

A modest Ottoman-era bridge over the Miljacka River, notable as the site of the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event that triggered the First World War. A small museum on the corner covers the assassination and its context in detail. It's an easy stop within Sarajevo's compact historic center.

Blagaj Tekke

A 16th-century Dervish monastery built directly into a cliff face at the source of the Buna River, one of the strongest natural springs in Europe. The combination of turquoise spring water, a dramatic rock overhang, and the monastery's traditional architecture makes it a striking, peaceful stop. It's a short drive from Mostar.