Sarajevo is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Sarajevo works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The city has an airport, so you can fly in directly. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Sarajevo, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 6 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Sarajevo, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.
Accommodation in Sarajevo starts at around €128 per night, with a typical rate near €177 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.
Well-reviewed hotels: Bosmal Arjaan by Rotana, 4-star, guest rating 9.6 from 769 reviews, from €153 per night; Swissotel Sarajevo, 5-star, guest rating 9.3 from 2420 reviews, from €313 per night; Malak Regency Hotel, 5-star, guest rating 9.2 from 3329 reviews, from €177 per night; Hotel President Sarajevo, 4-star, guest rating 8.9 from 2788 reviews, from €176 per night; ibis Styles Sarajevo, 4-star, guest rating 8.5 from 2231 reviews, from €151 per night.
Day trips & routes: Mostar — about 126 km, 2h 2m drive; Tuzla — about 120 km, 2h 19m drive; Niksic (Montenegro, cross-border) — about 180 km, 3h 23m drive; Makarska (Croatia, cross-border) — about 198 km, 3h 24m drive; Banja Luka — about 197 km, 3h 19m drive; Luka (Malta, cross-border) — about 255 km, 3h 9m drive. 3 of 6 routes cross a border — check the rental company's terms before you go.
Sarajevo: what to know
Things to see: "Lukomir Highland Village Hike", rated 5 from 120 reviews, from €90; "War Times Experience in Sarajevo - Half Day Tour", rated 5 from 69 reviews, from €39; "Utopia of Tito’s Yugoslavia, Tito’s Bunker & Siege of Sarajevo", rated 5 from 38 reviews, from €85; "Sarajevo to Dubrovnik: Transfer With Herzegovina Tour", rated 5 from 35 reviews, from €130; "Tandem Paragliding Experience in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina", rated 5 from 31 reviews, from €189.
Sarajevo has its own airport, so a direct flight is the fastest way in. Getting around the city and out to the 6 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Sarajevo is around €177, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.
To rent a car in Sarajevo you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 6 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Bosnia and Herzegovina, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.
