Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel Forum

Hi everybody!

the next summer I'm planning to spend two weeks around Croatia and Bosnai Herzegovina and my schedule would be:

Plitvice Lakes 1 day- Sarajevo 2days - Mostar 1 or 2 days - Kravica 1 day and then go on the Croatian coast and take a ferry to Brac island.

My question is: tell me 10 reasons why I should go to Sarajevo and Mostar, what is the atmosphere that I can feel there and maybe a couple of curious place that I could visit during my itinerary and that I have not considered. I have to convince my travel mates that Bosnia Erzegovina worhs a visit!

Thanks in advance!!!!

Sarajevo and Mostar are definitely worth a visit! Take a look at some of the pages written here on VT about them and you will find plenty of reasons why you should include them in your Balkan holiday. I've been twice to Mostar now and last year went to Sarajevo for the first time, and I know we will go back again.

Sarajevo - http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/92cd3/57d34/

Mostar - http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/92cd3/57eff/

and, if you're interested,

Brac - http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/92cd3/5ed61/

Bosnia Herzogovina is an amazing country with so much to see.

I didn't visit Sarajevo, but Mostar is like a town from another time. As you drive towards the City you can already see, from a distance, the ravages of war. We parked by the modern fashion store, Benetton, but all around us were bullet-pitted buildings.

We walked for perhaps five minutes and the entire scene changed. We were in a fairyland of stone buildings, cobbled streets, and a kingfisher coloured torrent of a river. That day the rain poured down around us but it couldn't dampen the wonders of what we saw.

Apart from Mostar, Bosnia is well worth seeing for several other reasons. It's considerably less expensive than Croatia, for one! If you're on a budget that will make a difference. If you have time take a trip to the Religious shrine of Medugorje. There's a real buzz about the place, plus at the foot of the walkway leading to the shrine there's a sculptor's studio. Jozo, the sculptor, has mainly religious pieces on display but in fact he is a world famous sculptor and has had exhibitions all over the USA. He also fought in the war and is very interesting to talk to.

Come back to me if you have more questions.

Thanks for the quick reply! I know that they both worth a visit...this is the reason why I want to go there again...I have just to convince my travel mates that are more focused on a classic seaside holiday!
But I will convince them ^___^

I have been in Mostar in 1989, there was still the original Stari Most...I'm sure it will be a visiti full of significance.

Do you think we have to book in advance or we can easily find an accomodation once there? it will be August...

thank again, I will have a look to the pages that you have indicated!

I would booko in advance for August - it's the busiest time there.

the people are very very nice and welcoming - the shop keepers were curious rather than pushy - it is a fascinating country

i was told by a bosnian friend that bosnia has three wonderful things

the clean air
the abundent clean water
and the smile

eh eh eh...about clean air, I think it was before uraniun...

But I'm sure regarding the smail and the clear water!

i also very much liked the way everyone in the country seemed to be a gardener - every front yard seemed to be full of strawberries or cucumbers

and there were people leading cows down the road, and little girls running after a herd of goats

Have you read any pages about Sarajevo and Mostar here on VT?

Yes, I have read some pages but only of VT travellers living in Sarajevo but I read them quickly because I'm at work...

The mix of Brac's laid back holiday island sun and sea and Sarajevo/Mostar's mix of history, charm and more than a whiff of a Turkish bazaar, makes a great combination. Add in a leg on one of Europe's great train journey's (Sarajevo to Mostar) and you really have a wonderful holiday planned.

The train leaves Sarajevo at 0645 and has you in Mostar at 0930 - you could spend the day there, catch a bus at 1645 and be in Split at 2035. Spend the night in Split, take a wander around the amazing old city centre next morning and then take the ferry to Brac.

Are any of your friends readers? Give them a copy of "People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks or "The Cellist of Sarjevo" by Steven Galloway - novels based on real events - an dsee how they feel about the possibility of visiting Sarajevo then.

Speaking of Turkish - that divine Turkish delight that's sold by the kilo from the little open air cafes on the cobbled streets of Mostar.

and i just love sevdah - their regional music - i had a great night in mostar with a crowd of people in a restaurant and a sevdah band