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Riverside town with old bridge and mountains

Bosnia and Herzegovina travel guide

Mountains, river canyons and Ottoman-era old towns in the heart of the Balkans

Best: Apr, Jun, Sep, Oct

Photo: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons

Capital
Sarajevo
Languages
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Currency
Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM)
Time zone
UTC+01:00
Plugs
Type C, F · 230 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112

Why visit Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina suits travellers who like old town streets, river valleys and mountain scenery without crowds. Go in September, October, April or June, when temperatures are mild in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar. Summer here is landlocked, so the heat builds without any coast to cool it, and winters in the mountains bring heavy snow and limited daylight for exploring.

  • Sarajevo's layered history

    The capital, Sarajevo, has about 275524 people and mixes Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and modern influences in a small city center. Walking between the old bazaar and newer districts takes you through centuries of change in under an hour.

  • Mostar's old town

    Mostar is home to around 105448 people and is known for its historic stone bridge over the Neretva river. It's a compact city, easy to explore on foot in a day.

  • Banja Luka's shoulder-season appeal

    Banja Luka, with a population of about 185042, has its best travel months in October, September, April and June, avoiding summer heat and winter cold. These months suit walking tours and outdoor cafés along the Vrbas river.

  • Smaller towns with character

    Bihać and Trebinje offer a quieter pace, with populations of about 56261 and 31433. Both sit near rivers and give a sense of regional life away from the bigger cities.

  • A compact country to explore

    Bosnia and Herzegovina covers 51209 square kilometers, small enough to combine Sarajevo, Mostar and smaller towns like Trebinje in one trip. The best months to travel nationwide are October, September, April and June, balancing mild temperatures with fewer crowds.

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who want warm, sunny days in July and August, with highs near 29°C and under 10 rain days a month
  • City breaks to Sarajevo and Mostar outside the heat, in September or October with highs of 23°C and 19°C
  • Spring trips in April or June when sunshine hours climb to 9.6 and 12.1 and rain days drop
  • Visitors who don't mind inland, landlocked travel with no coastal cities to reach
  • Shoulder-season trips timed to the best months of April, June, September and October

Less ideal for

  • Beach holidays, since none of the main cities listed are coastal
  • Travellers who dislike cold, short days, as December and January highs stay near 7–8°C with only 5.2–5.5 sun hours
  • Visitors avoiding rain, since May brings the wettest spell with 129 mm over almost 16 days
  • Trips planned around festivals or set events, since no event dates are listed here

Bosnia and Herzegovina right now: October

8.3/10
Avg high
19°C
Avg low
9°C
Rain days
9

Averages for Banja Luka.

Weather by month

In Banja Luka, September and October bring warm days near 23 and 19°C, fewer rain days, and plenty of sun, making them the best months, with April and June close behind thanks to mild temperatures and long daylight. December through February are the toughest: highs barely reach 6-10°C, lows dip below freezing, and sunshine drops to around 5-6 hours a day.

Average highs and lows in Banja Luka by month January: high 7°C, low -2°C , 12 rain days . February: high 10°C, low 1°C , 10 rain days . March: high 13°C, low 3°C , 11 rain days . April: high 18°C, low 6°C , 11 rain days . May: high 21°C, low 11°C , 16 rain days . June: high 26°C, low 15°C , 12 rain days . July: high 29°C, low 17°C , 9 rain days . August: high 29°C, low 17°C , 9 rain days . September: high 23°C, low 13°C , 10 rain days . October: high 19°C, low 9°C , 9 rain days . November: high 13°C, low 4°C , 11 rain days . December: high 8°C, low 1°C , 10 rain days . 7°C -2°C JAN 12d 10°C 1°C FEB 10d 13°C 3°C MAR 11d 18°C 6°C APR 11d 21°C 11°C MAY 16d 26°C 15°C JUN 12d 29°C 17°C JUL 9d 29°C 17°C AUG 9d 23°C 13°C SEP 10d 19°C 9°C OCT 9d 13°C 4°C NOV 11d 8°C 1°C DEC 10d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Banja Luka · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Sarajevo to Mostar and Trebinje

  1. Day 1–3

    Sarajevo

    Walk through the old Ottoman quarter and learn about the city's history as capital of a country with 3,412,000 people. Visit the sites linked to the 1990s siege.

  2. Day 4–5

    Mostar

    See the rebuilt Stari Most bridge in this city of 105,448 people. Spend time in the old town along the Neretva river.

  3. Day 6–7

    Trebinje

    End the trip in this small town of 31,433 people near the border with Montenegro. Sit in a riverside café and enjoy a quieter pace than the capital.

10 days

Four Cities Across Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. Day 1–3

    Sarajevo

    Explore the capital, home to 275,524 people, where East and West architecture sit side by side. Ride the cable car up Trebević for city views.

  2. Day 4–5

    Mostar

    Cross the famous bridge in this city of 105,448 residents and explore the surrounding Herzegovina countryside.

  3. Day 6–7

    Trebinje

    Relax in this 31,433-person town, known for its plane-tree-lined square and nearby Hercegovačka Gračanica monastery.

  4. Day 8–10

    Banja Luka

    Finish in Banja Luka, a city of 185,042 people. Best visited in October, September, April or June for mild weather. Walk along the Vrbas river and visit Kastel fortress.

Food to try in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Ćevapi

Small grilled fingers of minced meat served in soft somun flatbread with raw onion and often kajmak, a creamy dairy spread. Eat them at a ćevabdžinica, especially in Sarajevo's old town, Baščaršija.

Burek and pita

Burek is a spiral of thin filo pastry filled with minced meat. Versions with cheese, spinach or potato are called pita. Locals buy them from a buregdžinica for breakfast or lunch.

Bosnian coffee

Strong coffee brewed in a small copper pot called a džezva and poured into little cups. It usually comes with a sugar cube and sometimes rahat lokum. People drink it slowly and socially.

Begova čorba

Also called Bey's soup, it is a thick chicken soup with okra and vegetables. You often find it as a starter in traditional Bosnian restaurants.

Klepe

Small dumplings filled with minced meat, similar to ravioli. They are served with a garlic yogurt sauce and are a common home-style dish in restaurants.

Tufahija

A dessert of whole apple poached in sugar syrup, stuffed with walnuts and topped with whipped cream. Order it in a café or a traditional sweet shop.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Sockets take type C and type F plugs. The supply is 230 V. Bring an adapter if your plugs are a different type, and check that your devices work at 230 V.
  • Driving side: Traffic drives on the right in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you come from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at junctions and roundabouts.
  • Emergency number: Call 112 in an emergency. Save it in your phone before you travel.
  • Currency: The local currency is the Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, shown as BAM. Plan to pay in BAM rather than in your home currency.
  • Languages: The official languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. A few basic phrases and an offline translation app will help outside the main tourist areas.
  • Time zone: The country uses UTC+01:00. Check the time difference before you book transport or call home.
  • Calling code: The international dialling code is +387. Use it when you call a local number from a foreign phone.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: frequently asked questions

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina good to visit in August?

August is good but not the best month, with a score of 6 out of 10. Daytime highs reach 28.5°C with low rain days (8.9) and 11.8 hours of sunshine, so it's warm and mostly dry. Those who prefer cooler air might wait for September, which scores 8.1.

When is the best time to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina?

October, September, April and June rank as the best months. October tops the list with a score of 8.3, offering mild highs of 18.7°C and lower rainfall. September follows closely at 8.1, with warm 23.3°C days and good sun hours. April and June also score well above 7.

What is the weather like in Bosnia and Herzegovina in winter?

Winters are cold and the lowest-scoring months of the year. January scores 2.1 and December 2.5, with January highs of just 6.9°C and lows of -1.5°C. Sunshine drops to around 5 hours a day in December and January, and rain or precipitation days stay frequent at 10 to 11.5 per month.

Does it rain a lot in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Rainfall is spread fairly evenly through the year, based on Banja Luka data. May is the wettest month with 129 mm of rain over 15.9 days. August is the driest, with only 63 mm over 8.9 days, making late summer the better bet for drier travel.

What plug type and voltage does Bosnia and Herzegovina use?

Bosnia and Herzegovina runs on 230 V with plug types C and F, the standard European two-pin sockets. The country drives on the right, and the emergency number is 112, the same as most of Europe.

What currency is used in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The currency is the Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, abbreviated BAM. The main spoken languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian, and the capital is Sarajevo, the country's largest city with a population of 275,524.

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