Bosnia and Herzegovina Tour Guide Manual

General Informations

Language

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where Bosniak, Serb, and Croat ethnic groups reside, Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian are used as official languages. As the number of English speakers is also quite high, foreign tourists can easily communicate.

Capital City

Sarajevo, known as the Ottoman city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the capital city.

Local Time

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which uses the GMT+2 time zone, is 1 hour ahead of Turkey.

Currency

The currency in the country is the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mark. One Euro is always 1.95 BAM. The abbreviation of the currency is locally KM, and 1 Mark is equal to 100 pfennigs. One Bosnia and Herzegovina Mark is approximately equal to 16 TL (2023).

Area Measurement

Bosnia and Herzegovina cover 82 percent Bosnia and 12 percent Herzegovina, with a total surface area of 51,197 km².

Population

The population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is 3.281 million according to 2020 data, with 50.94 percent women and 49.06 percent men. Bosniaks make up 50.11 percent, Serbs 30.78 percent, and Croats 15.43 percent, while other ethnic groups constitute the rest. Religiously, 50.7 percent identify as Muslim, 30.75 percent as Orthodox, and 15.19 percent as Catholic.

Geographical Location

Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the southeastern part of the European continent, situated in the northwest of the Balkan peninsula. On the map, Bosnia and Herzegovina shares borders with Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, Croatia to the north and west, and has a coastline along the Adriatic Sea, spanning 20 km.

What and Where to Eat in Herzegovina?

For those seeking gifts specific to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a variety of options are available. Delightful choices include Bosnia and Herzegovina-specific coffee and coffee cups, dried meats, vegetables, powders, and various spices. Notable bazaars like the Bazaar and Coppersmiths’ Bazaar in Sarajevo offer a plethora of special products. If you’re in Mostar, explore Gradska Trznica and Pijaca Markale markets for country-specific flavors.

Before Travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Requirements

• There are many Turkish banks in Sarajevo.
• Sarajevo is the first place in Europe where the tramway service was made.
• Smoking is allowed everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Therefore closed
  you may be exposed to cigarette smoke in areas.
• Sarajevo is famous for its historic tram line.
• Sarajevo Film Festival is one of the biggest film festivals of the Balkans and South West Europe.
  is one of the most important festivals.
• In Sarajevo, where the venues are concentrated and preferred by tourists
  Zelenih Beretk and Muvekita streets.

Guide Magazine

The annual tourist guide, Destination Sarajevo, provides useful information in English, Turkish, Arabic, and Bosnian. Additionally, a monthly city guide called Sarajevo Navigator is organized by the same team, keeping you informed about events.

Transportation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

To travel to other cities in Bosnia, buses and trains are available. Taxi fares typically range from 6-8 KM (3-4 €) for short distances. Local buses are the preferred mode of transportation within the country, offering services both within city limits and to villages outside the city, even at night. For intercity transport, two bus terminals in Sarajevo serve destinations such as Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, with one located near the airport and the other close to the city center.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Public Holidays and Festivals

• Eid al-Fitr (Date varies)
• Eid al-Adha (Date varies)
• Easter (Date varies)
• 1 May (Labour Day)
• Independence Day (1 March)
• National Statehood Day (25 November)

Telecommunication and Internet

The country is served by three telecommunication companies: BH Telecom, M:Tel, and Eronet. Prepaid lines, as well as cards and top-ups for the Internet, can be purchased in shops and operators’ own stores. Wi-Fi is generally available for free in most hotels, restaurants, cafes, and shopping centers. However, be mindful of increasing internet costs in case of roaming.

Festivals in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Children’s Festival (April)
• Kozara Ethno Festival (July)
• Sarajevo Film Festival (August)
• Sarajevo Jazz Festival (November)
• MESS International Theatre Festival (Autumn)

Curiosities About Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its multiculturalism, unique social structure, and rich history, offers many curiosities that captivate travel enthusiasts.

What are the emergency contact numbers in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Police 122
Fire Department: 123
Ambulance: 124

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina a single state?

Bosnia and Herzegovina comprise two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

Which routes do Bosnia-Herzegovina tours generally cover?

Commonly visited routes in Bosnia and Herzegovina include Sarajevo, Mostar, Blagay, and Počitel.

Is the rate of Turkish spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina high?

The rate of Turkish spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina is high, and you will encounter many Turkish speakers in the streets of Sarajevo.

What is the meaning of the red paint on the streets of Sarajevo?

The red paint on the streets of Sarajevo serves as a poignant reminder of the civil war, where red paint resembling flowers represents the lasting scars of bombs. To preserve the memory of the war, the people of Sarajevo have chosen not to erase these traces.

The Sebilj

• The word sebilj or sebilj is of Arabic origin and is used as a rest area and clean water. In the photo, although the fountain belongs to the Austro-Hungarian period the original was only a few metres away from this fountain.
• Originally by Ottoman Bosniak vizier Mehmet Pasha Kukavitsa built by the fountain, was damaged in a fire.
• By Alexander Wittek in Pseudo Moorish architectural style designed the fountain in the photo was built in 1913 and built has been renovated twice since it was built.
• When we come to our recent time, that is, the dates 2007 the then Mayor of Bursa Osmangazi Municipality Recep Altepe signed a twinning agreement with Starigrad Municipality signed. As a result of this agreement, in 2008 in Sarajevo the same Sebilj was replicated faithfully to the original architecture in Sarajevo. It was built in Bursa as the “Fountain of Brotherhood”.

The Unquenchable Fire

• Eternal Flame or Unquenchable Flame is a film about the military dedicated to the civilian victims.
• In April 2013, a car crashed into the Unquenchable Fire as a result, the gas was cut off and the fire went out for a short time.
• The monument was designed by architect Juraj Neidhardt.

Two Gutter Fountain

• Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, which was built by Mimar Sinan and is one of the Ottoman artefacts, has two grooved fountains on the outer wall. According to the rumour, if you drink from the right fountain you will marry a Bosniak, if you drink from the left fountain you will return to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tunnel of Hope

• The Tunnel of Hope (Hayat), which was one of the most critical points for Bosnians during the Bosnian War, is located close to the airport, which is the only point where there is no Serb siege.
• Bosnian This tunnel was dug by volunteers working eight-hour shifts, during the war, especially in transport, medicine and weapons transfer and was 960 metres long when it was completed. Today, only 20 metres of the tunnel is open to visitors. Tours are organised here from Sarajevo.
• Every day between 09:00-16:00 It is possible to visit the museum between 09:00-16:00.

National Library

• In 1992, this library, with its two million books Destroyed by Chetniks (Serbian guerrillas) besieging Sarajevo has been made.
• The world-famous Sarajevo Film Festival is held every summer. It’s both tourists and locals alike can enjoy the unique beauty Exploring hiking routes in the Dinaric Alps.

Bosnian Words and Sentences

• Yes– Da
• No – Br
• Thanks – Hvala
• See you – Vidim se
• Welcome – Dobrodošli
• I am good – Dobro sam
• Good morning – Dobro jutro
• Good night– Laku noc
• Good evening – Dobro veče
• When – Kada
• Who – Ko
• I know- Znam
• I don’t know – Ne znam

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