Sarajevo is a city located in the valley and surrounded by mountain ranges from all sides. Miljacka River divides it into two unequal parts and the city expands from its shores. Therefore, the journey through Sarajevo is best taken down the river for which many people say there is no smaller river with a larger number of bridges to cross it.
In the Sarajevo Canton, municipalities of Centar, Novi Grad, Novo Sarajevo and Stari Grad make up the City of Sarajevo as a unit of local self-government. The City of Sarajevo in all four of its municipalities has the population of 297,416.
Downtown Sarajevo, at just a hundred meters away, is a home to many sacred buildings of four world religions – mosques from the Ottoman times, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Evangelical churches, the synagogue and other cultural and historical landmarks.
Bascarsija and Sebilj Fountain (Old Town)
Bascarsija (tur. – the main market) was established in the 15th century by Isa-Bey Ishakovic, the founder of Sarajevo, and Ghazi Husrev-Bey who left an exquisite endowment as a legacy to the city.
City Hall (Old Town)
The need to construct a new building for the city administration came along with the Austro-Hungarian conquerors. The area of a medieval village (Brodac), where Isa-Bey’s Ishakovic established the city itself in the 15th cwas identified as ideal for the new government.
Museum of Sarajevo Assassination and Latin Bridge (Old Town)
At the junction of the Apel key and Franjo Josip streets (today Obala Kulina bana and Zelenih beretki streets), Gavrilo Princip, a high school student and a member of Mlada Bosna, a secret organization established by the Black Hand movement completed the organization’s gloomy plan on June 28th, 1914. Gavrilo assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. The Austro-Hungarian Monarchy considered Serbia to be involved and sent their ultimatum on July 23, 1914. The First World War commenced soon after.
Monumental Complex ˝Tunnel of Salvation˝ (Ilidza & Airport Area)
The war tunnel was constructed during the 1425-day long siege Sarajevo (1992 to 1995 siege) to connect two free territories. The entrance and exit of the tunnel are two houses situated at the opposite sides of the airport.
European Jerusalem (Old Town)
For over four centuries, Sarajevo has been the city of multiculturalism. In one single street, one can step into a mosque, synagogue, Catholic or Orthodox church.
Bijambare Caves (Natural Sites & Mountains)
Bijambare Speleological Area is a protected natural site located northeast of Sarajevo on Sarajevo-Tuzla Highway (approximately 40 km from Sarajevo).
Bjelasnica and Igman (Natural Sites & Mountains)
Bjelasnica and Igman mountains are very popular winter resorts located only 25 km from Sarajevo.These two mountains were the host of the 14th Winter Olympic Games in 1984, featuring Alpine and Nordic skiing and ski jumping competitions.
Skakavac Waterfall (Natural Sites & Mountains)
Skakavac Waterfall is located 12 km north of Sarajevo, above the Nahorevo Village. It is a 98-m high waterfall, the second tallest in Europe.
Vrelo Bosne (Ilidza & Airport Area)
A three-kilometer long plane-tree and chestnut tree alley which runs from Ilidza will take you to a beautiful natural monument – Vrelo Bosne. The alley has 726 trees planted in 1894 and it is ideal for family day out long walks, bicycle and roller skate rides, jogging…
Lukomir Village (Natural Sites & Mountains)
There is no better way to experience how the locals lived in the old times than the Lukomir Village (1496 m). This living museum which portrays day-to-day life of the Lukomir people is only 42 km from Sarajevo.
Ottoman era begins in 1461 when the city was founded by the first Bosnian governor Ishak-beg Isaković (Ishak Bay Isaković), a pioneer in planned construction. He had the Careva džamija (Emperor’s Mosque) built first; followed by Tekija (Khanqah), lodgings, administrative center and housing court he named Saraj, which is how Sarajevo got its name. In Baščaršija, he builds Kolobara Han (Kolobara Inn), a hotel in modern terms, which was soon surrounded by a multitude of shops creating the economic basis for the development of the city.
During the 15th and 16th century, like many Levant cities at the time, Sarajevo was divided on Čaršija – a commercial area and the peaceful residential areas – Mahala. Mahalas were built on the surrounding slopes from the center towards the outskirts. People lived in mahalas and they did their business in čaršija. The commercial center of the city is Baščaršija. There are over 1000 shops located there. The streets of Čaršija bare names of old crafts: Kazazi (button makers), Kujundžiluk (jewelers), Kazandžiluk (copper smiths), Sarači (sewing quilts and rugs), Mudželiti (bookbinders), Kovači (blacksmiths), Sarači (leather workers), Bazerdžani (head of trade), Ašćiluk (restaurants), while the streets of residential areas had names like Behar (buds), Cvijetna (flower), Karanfil Mahala (coronation mahala), Pod Trešnjom (under the cherry tree), Višnjik (black cherry), Podhrastovi (under the oak tree), Sedam šuma (seven woods).
Sarajevo is also famous for its large number of public taps, shadirvans and fountains (sebilj), which supplied the city with water, as well as decorating it. Sarajevo had water supply system as early as mid-15th century which was not the case in many European cities at the time.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the population of Sarajevo was almost entirely Muslim. But that was not always the case, nor will it be in times to come. This area is the borderline between Eastern and Western Roman Empire and the Romans were never able to Romanize ancient Illyrians. The Slavs managed to impose their language and culture between 5th and 11th century. Between 11th and 15th century, a multireligious state was created and is still remembered for not belonging to anyone but its own people.
Baščaršija
We will start with today's bathing area Bentbaša, which was once known as medieval village of Brodac. The founder of Sarajevo, Isa beg Isaković thought this location was just perfect for establishing the city. In Baščaršija, he builds Kolobara Han (Kolobara Inn), a hotel in modern terms, which was soon surrounded by a multitude of shops creating the economic basis for the development of the city.
Bistrik
Behind Careva džamija stretches one of the largest neighborhoods of Sarajevo – Bistrik, the home of two national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Konak and crkva sv. Ante (Church of St Anthony).
Džidžikovac
Above the Big park there was an almost unihabitated area dotted with flowering bushes and orchards, which was soon known as "Džidžikovac", from the word "džidži" (tur. güzel - pretty, decorated). Perched on the top of Džidžikovac is the Kulin hadži-Bali Mosque (Kulin Hadji Bali) which was erected by the scholar Hadji-Bali towards the end of the 16th century.
Koševo
Koševo Street is one of the busiest and most eventful streets in Sarajevo, apart from the central city streets. Walking along Koševo Street, you can experience Sarajevo outside tourist locations.
Novo Sarajevo
Place where first two victims lost their lives during the forthcoming three year long siege of Sarajevo. This Sarajevo neighborhood became famous again in 2006, when Bosnian-Herzegovinian director Jasmila Žbanić won the Golden Bear for her film “Grbavica”.
Alifakovac
Above Šeher-Čekajina Ćuprija is Alifakovac, today perhaps the best preserved part of the old ways of residential construction in Sarajevo, with steep alleys dotted with houses in a way that each has a great view and nobody blocks each other.
Drvenija
Drvenija Bridge, place with which almost all Sarajevans have a special connection. It was the inevitable place for all romantic meetings because on one side was high school for girls, and on the other side was boy's high school, today's Prva gimnazija (First Gymnasium), famous for it's Nobel Prize winning pupils Ivo Andrić and Vladimir Prelog.
Mejtaš
“Mejtaš is a square above the city” wrote the famous Sarajevo author Miljenko Jergović. True, Mejtaš is one of the most presentable Sarajevo neighborhoods located on a hill just above the city center.
Marijin Dvor
In 1899 August Braun, the owner of the building materials factory, erects a building and names it after his wife Mary (Germ. Marienhof), which is how this part of the city became known as Marijin Dvor (Mary’s Castle). Before he met his wife, August Braun produces bricks with embedded initials.
Novi grad
Novi grad (New City) is both youngest and largest of all local municipalities. It is located at the southern entrance into the city, also location of Sarajevo Airport.
Vratnik
It is easy to get to Vratnik. From Baščaršija, we go up the road and through Kovači neighborhood after which we can immediately see the two towers: Širokac and Ploča, which are now an integral part of the Alija Izetbegović Museum. This is where Vratnik begins. Fortified walls and gates around the city – along Vratnik, were built in 1697, after Eugene of Savoy burned the city.
Center
Journey through the central part of the city starts with Čobanija Bridge. Way back in 1557, Čoban-Hasan neighborhood was established on the left bank of Miljacka. Here also, was a wooden bridge, later replaced by steel one. It was built in 1888 and is famous for having many names: Čobanija, Masarikov most (Masarik’s Bridge),
Skenderija
There are two bridges, side by side, and they are both called Skenderija. Legend says that the old Skenderija, a pedestrian bridge, was built with the same materials as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and to this day, some people refer to it as the “Eiffel Bridge”.
Kampus
Next to Sarajevo’s business and political center is a string of cultural and educational institutions. Just next to the Faculty of Philosophy is the largest and most significant museum institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina – The National Museum of BiH. The museum complex, with neo-Renaissance style features consists of four pavilions connected by an accessible terrace and a botanical garden occupying the central space.
Ilidža
There are several landmark buildings from the Austro-Hungarian period: the old railway station, residential villas along the Avenue leading to Vrelo Bosne (spring of the river Bosna) built in alpine style, the old Hotel Igman building (now town hall), Hippodrome Butmir, as well as hotels “Hungarija”, “Bosna” and “Austria”, where Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Ferdinand and his wife Sofia stayed on the eve of Sarajevo Assassination. It is still remembered that the first Fiacre (horse drawn carriage) came to Sarajevo with the Archduke Ferdinand in 1895, while today fiacres are a famous recognizable symbol of Ilidža, and for the last 105 years have been transporting visitors down Velika aleja (The Great Avenue) to Vrelo Bosne.
Towards the end of the four-year siege of Sarajevo, in 1995, Obala Art Centar initiated the Sarajevo Film Festival with the aim of helping to reconstruct civil society and retain the cosmopolitan spirit of the city.
Today, two decades later, the Sarajevo Film Festival is the leading film festival in the region, recognized by both film professionals and the wider audience. The Sarajevo Film Festival is an international film festival with a special focus on the region of South-East Europe (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine), shining an international spotlight on films, talent and future projects from the region.
High quality programming, a strong industry segment, an educational and networking platform for young filmmakers and thus generated presence of the international film industry, film authors and media representatives alongside a paying audience of over 100,000, confirm its status as the leading film festival in the region, recognised by both professionals and the wider audiences.
In an emerging territory of more than 140 million inhabitants, Sarajevo Film Festival serves as a common platform for film businesses from all over the region, setting the future standards in festival organisation, film promotion and presentation in South-East Europe.
Feel the creative energy of our Festival and share our passion for films in the remarkable atmosphere of the city of Sarajevo.
Sixty mountains in Bosnia and Herzegovina have peaks over 1500 meters above sea level, while 11 have peaks are over 2000 meters above see level, including Maglić, with the highest peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina measuring 2386 meters.
The city of Sarajevo is surrounded by four Olympic mountains of Trebević, Jahorina, Igman, Bjelašnica, as well as Treskavica and Romanija which is famous for it’s rare natural beauty.
Situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, Sarajevo and its mountains have been on the roads of different civilisations that had left their marks throughout the history. The most striking remnants of the past are necropolis of medieval tombstones known as stećak, found at altitudes close to 2,000 meters. These are medieval monolithic tombstones found across the entire territory of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina (60,000 tombstones), parts of Serbia (4,100), Montenegro (3,500) and Croatia (4,400). They are on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and are national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Excuse me for saying Mrs. Europe, but you don’t have historical monuments. The Incas in America have monuments. Egypt has the real cultural monuments. Excuse me for saying Mrs. Europe, but only Bosnia has monuments, stećak tombstones. What’s a stećak? The embodiment of a highlander, a Bosnian! What is a Bosnian doing on stećak? He stands upright! His head up high, his arm raised! But nowhere did anyone ever find a stećak showing a Bosnian kneeling or begging, showing him as a slave.” (Miroslav Krleža, 1960)
Sarajevo restaurants are characerised by a high level of service, and most of them offer a diverse and so-called "international" cuisine.
