museum
Sarajevo Tunnel of Hope
A preserved section of the underground tunnel that served as the only lifeline for besieged Sarajevo during the 1990s war, now a powerful museum.
2 km · about 5 min drive
Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina · Europe
Sarajevo works well as a base: 10 minutes from Ilidža, 7km from Vrelo Bosne.
Sarajevo is a city located in Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina. With a population of 696,731, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Sarajevo sits in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Sarajevo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Sarajevo to your route.
The siege of Sarajevo (Serbo-Croatian: Опсада Сарајева, romanized: Opsada Sarajeva) was a prolonged military blockade of Sarajevo, the capital of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the ethnically charged Bosnian War. The city was initially besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army, before they were replacedRead more
by elements of the newly-formed Army of Republika Srpska. Lasting from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 (1,425 days), the siege was three times longer than the Battle of Stalingrad and more than a year longer than the siege of Leningrad, making it the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare.
When Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia after the 1992 Bosnian independence referendum, the Bosnian Serbs—whose strategic goal was to create a new Bosnian Serb state of Republika Srpska (RS) that would include Bosniak-majority areas—encircled Sarajevo with an initial siege force of 13,000 stationed in the surrounding hills. From there they blockaded the city, and assaulted it with artillery, tanks, and small arms including snipers, dropping at least 500,000 bombs. Civilians, including children, suffered significant casualties as they were caught in the crossfire during some of the conflict's most intense urban fighting, and were at times deliberately targeted by besieging forces.
Units of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) inside the capital, who numbered around 70,000 troops, defended much of the urban area throughout the war without heavy weapons or armor. Following numerous engagements, the VRS captured the suburbs of Ilidža, Azići, and Grbavica. The VRS however was unable to advance further into the city due to heavy resistance. Despite a number of attempts, the ARBiH was unable to break the siege and sustained heavy casualties. Following the Markale massacres, NATO initiated Operation Deliberate Force in 1995, a sustained air campaign which targeted VRS positions across Bosnia, including around Sarajevo itself. The siege was eventually lifted following the signing of the Dayton Agreement on 14 December 1995.
A total of 13,952 people were killed during the siege, including 5,434 civilians. The ARBiH sustained 6,137 fatalities, while Bosnian Serb military casualties numbered 2,241 killed soldiers. The 1991 census indicates that before the siege, the city and its surrounding areas had a total population of 525,980. According to some estimates, the total population of the city proper prior to the siege was 435,000. Estimates of the population of Sarajevo after the siege ranged from 300,000 to 380,000. Sarajevo's population endured up to six months without gas, electricity or water supply during certain stages of the siege.
After the war, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) convicted four Serb officials for numerous counts of crimes against humanity which they committed during the siege, including terrorism. Stanislav Galić and Dragomir Milošević were sentenced to life imprisonment and 29 years imprisonment respectively. Their superiors, Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, were also convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
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Sarajevo offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Sarajevo is located in Federation of B&H, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe. The coordinates are 43.8486 latitude, 18.3564 longitude.
Sarajevo has a population of approximately 696,731 people, making it a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Essential numbers in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Full driving guide for Bosnia and Herzegovina8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
A preserved section of the underground tunnel that served as the only lifeline for besieged Sarajevo during the 1990s war, now a powerful museum.
2 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Sarajevo's enchanting Ottoman-era old bazaar quarter where East meets West, filled with copper workshops, mosques, and ćevapi restaurants.
6 km · about 10 min drive
landmark
The historic Ottoman bridge where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, triggering the start of World War I.
6 km · about 10 min drive
natural wonder
A landscaped park at the spring source of the Bosna river below Mount Igman, reached by a tree-lined avenue on Sarajevo's western edge.
7 km · about 15 min drive
waterfall
A 98 m waterfall, among the highest in the Dinarides: hidden in forest above Nahorevo, a half-hour drive plus walk from central Sarajevo. A beloved local picnic escape that few visitors to the city ever find.
13 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Bosnia's highest permanent village at 1,469 m on the Bjelašnica plateau: stone houses with cherry-shingle roofs, medieval stećci tombstones, and a dramatic view into the 800 m Rakitnica canyon. Gravel road passable in summer.
27 km · about 30 min drive
bridge
A graceful six-arch Ottoman stone bridge from 1682 spanning the jade-green Neretva in Konjic, a natural leg-stretch stop on the celebrated Sarajevo-Mostar drive.
39 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
A glacial lake at about 1,635 metres on Vranica mountain surrounded by shepherds' huts, reached by a steep unsurfaced road from Fojnica.
49 km · about 55 min drive
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