Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar, rugged rivers and hospitable villages.
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Where do you go when you want to head off with the kids, the car and the tent? On this page we've gathered everything about Bosnia and Herzegovina for you: what there is to see, where to camp and what you need to know on the way.
Compiled and checked by Arjan (Zuidlaren) · sources are given with the text · updated 20 October 2026 · About this site
Introduction
To Bosnia and Herzegovina with the family
Bosnia and Herzegovina lies right behind the Croatian coast and makes a nice excursion from Dalmatia. Mostar with its old bridge, the Kravica waterfalls and the rivers where you can go rafting make the country varied. In nature, do watch out for landmines, see below.
Everything for Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Overview
In brief
- Travel time
- 5–7 days (our estimate)
- Best time to travel
- may–Jun, Sep (our estimate · Full table)
- Distance from London
- ± 2,000 km to Sarajevo (approx., via route planner · plus the Channel crossing by Eurotunnel or ferry)
- Driving days
- 3 driving days (our estimate)
- Tolls and vignettes
- No vignette; toll on the A1 motorway (Details and source)
- Paying
- convertible mark (BAM)
- EU member
- no
Distances were calculated once with OpenStreetMap (OSRM) from London to the capital; your actual route may be longer or shorter. For London, the Channel crossing (Eurotunnel or ferry) is not included. Driving days assume at most about 750 km per day with children (our estimate).
Practical
Good to know
Money and payments
You pay with the convertible mark (BAM). Withdraw from a bank cash machine and, if the screen asks whether you want to pay in euros, choose the local currency: then your own bank converts, which is usually cheaper (our tip). In cities and at larger campsites you can often pay by card; in the countryside, at small campsites and at markets cash is handy (our experience).
Language and handy words
A few words work wonders, even with the campsite neighbour's kids:
- Dobar dan: good day
- Hvala: thank you
- Molim: please
- Doviđenja: goodbye
Documents and border
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about what is compulsory in the car
Photo: Horizon206 · CC0 · all photo credits
Health and safety
This country is not an EU member, so the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid here. Ask your health insurer before you leave what your cover is, and take out travel insurance with medical cover. Read the current travel advice of the Dutch government just before you leave; it also lists entry rules and emergency numbers.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
Photo: Friedrich Haag · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Traffic rules that matter
The alcohol limit is 0.3 per mille, and 0 for anyone who has had a driving licence for less than three years. You also drive with dipped headlights or daytime running lights during the day. From 1 November to 1 April winter tyres are mandatory (or snow chains with tyres of at least 4 mm tread). Must be carried: warning triangle, safety vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, tow rope or bar and a spare wheel or repair kit. Children under 12 may not sit in front.
Source: ANWB
More about tolls and vignettes
Photo: Igor123121 · CC BY 4.0 · all photo credits
Best time to travel
May, June and September. In July and August Mostar can get very hot (our estimate).
Always check the current rules (tolls, vignette, entry requirements) just before you leave.
🚗 Getting there & distance from Utrecht (NL)
- Destination
- Sarajevo
- Distance
- ± 1,699 km (one way)
- Driving time
- ± 18.2 h (one way)
- Route via
- NL → DE → AT → SI → HR → BA
- Fuel (estimate)
- ± € 360 (return)
Estimate for the return trip: 6.5 l/100 km Euro 95 at each country's average price (EU Weekly Oil Bulletin, price date 19-10-2026). Fuel for Bosnia not included (not in the EU bulletin). - Vignettes
- Austria: 10-day vignette: € 12.80
- Slovenia: 7-day e-vinjeta: € 16.00 (2 x)
- Tolls
- Distance-based tolls in Croatia Bosnia: not calculated, see the official toll operator.
Route: OSRM/OpenStreetMap, calculated 21-10-2026, without breaks or traffic. 2026 vignette prices from the official sellers, checked 21-10-2026. For an 8-day trip, 7-day vignettes count twice.
On the road by car
Tolls and vignettes
| What | Price passenger car | Where to arrange it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 motorway (per section) | current price: see source | Toll gates | Autoceste FBiH price checked Oct 2026 |
Destinations
Most beautiful places in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo
A capital with an Ottoman bazaar quarter and a cable car to Mount Trebević.
Where are you going?
Regions explained
Herzegovina and Mostar
The sunny south, with Mostar and its famous old bridge (World Heritage), the source of the Buna at Blagaj and the Kravica waterfalls. Warm in summer and easy to combine with the Croatian coast.
Source: UNESCO: Mostar
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Sarajevo
The capital lies in a valley between the mountains, with an old Ottoman bazaar quarter (Baščaršija). A city full of history; explain to children beforehand why you sometimes see bullet holes in walls.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Mountains and rivers
The interior is green and mountainous, with clear rivers such as the Neretva. Always stay on paths and roads here because of possible landmines.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
On the road
Suggested route by car
A loop of 5 to 7 days from Croatia (for example from Split or Dubrovnik) (our estimate). Check the driving times in your route planner.
- Days 1-2: Kravica waterfalls and Blagaj.
- Day 3: Mostar, early in the morning at the bridge.
- Days 4-5: along the Neretva to Sarajevo.
- Days 6-7: back to the coast.
Where to stay
Camping
Where do you camp?
Campsites near Mostar and Blagaj
Near Blagaj and Mostar, ACSI Eurocampings lists Autocamp Blagaj, Camp Laks and River Camp Aganovac (Blagaj) and Auto Camp Green Park and Camping Neretva (Mostar), among others. Most campsites are small-scale and simpler than in Western Europe. Note: camping gas is not for sale in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so bring enough.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Bosnia and Herzegovina
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
No wild camping
Never camp in the wild and do not leave roads or paths: landmines still lie in parts of the country. This is also in the travel advice.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Gear for this region → (tent, gas, mosquitoes, sleeping bag)
Outings
With kids
Kravica waterfalls
A semicircle of waterfalls with a small lake below. Check on the spot whether swimming is allowed.
Source: kravica.ba
The old bridge of Mostar
Children find the bridge jumpers exciting: they dive from the high bridge into the cold Neretva.
Source: UNESCO: Mostar
Blagaj
A dervish monastery (tekke) at the spring where the river Buna emerges from the rock face; it is a national monument. The tekke is open every day from 08:30 to 20:30 and you pay a small entrance fee. In the garden by the water you can drink tea or Bosnian coffee.
Source: tekijablagaj.ba
Outings
Fun activities with kids
Water parks, karting, trampolines, bowling, zoos and outings for a rainy day: concrete addresses, chosen with children of about 7 and 9 in mind. We only mention places with their own website, which we checked on 14 October 2026. Opening times and prices change: always check the website.
Our favourites
Pionirska dolina (Zoo Sarajevo)
A zoo and recreation park with playgrounds, electric cars, a small train and a carousel.
🎟️ Tickets & info → official website
Photo: Smooth_O · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Trebević cable car
A cable car from the city up Mount Trebević, with views over Sarajevo and walking at the top.
🎟️ Tickets & info → official website
Photo: MarinaSimic · CC BY-SA 4.0 · all photo credits
Bazen Veni Vidi
A swimming pool complex with jacuzzi and geysers; close to Una National Park.
🎟️ Tickets & info → official website
Illustrative photo · Photo: Cybularny · CC0 · all photo credits
Kravica waterfall
A wide waterfall with a natural swimming pool in Herzegovina.
🎟️ Tickets/tour via Viator → 🎟️ Also on GetYourGuide → Ad · affiliate link
Photo: Rkoster · CC BY 4.0 · all photo credits
Termalna rivijera Ilidža
A large thermal swimming complex of 15 hectares on the edge of Sarajevo, with indoor pools open all year and, in summer, outdoor pools with a wave pool. Handy from campsites around Sarajevo/Ilidža.
🎟️ Tickets & info → official website
Illustrative photo · Photo: Cybularny · CC0 · all photo credits
Jahorina
An Olympic mountain area near Sarajevo with lifts, also in summer.
🎟️ Book tickets → official website
Photo: Alfred · Public domain · all photo credits
Winter
Winter sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The mountains around Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics; the country's largest ski areas are there today.
Ski areas (checked on the official websites, October 2026)
- Jahorina: Olympic ski area about 30 kilometres from Sarajevo. Website: oc-jahorina.com
Ski pass: Day pass adult 73 to 86 KM (about €37.50 to €44), depending on the period (2025/26 season). Source: OC Jahorina: ski pass price list 2025/26
Snow reliability: altitude 1300–1916 m; snowmaking on about 80% of the pistes. Source (2026): oc-jahorina.com, oc-jahorina.com - Bjelašnica: The second Olympic ski area near Sarajevo. Website: bjelasnica.ba
When we checked on 20 October 2026, most 2026/27 prices had not yet been published; see the ski area's website for current rates. We only quote amounts that appear in an official price list.
Renting skis: at home or on the spot?
At the ski areas above you can rent skis, snowboards and boots from rental shops by the lifts or in the village; you can often book online in advance. We do not quote rental prices, because we found no official price lists for them.
Renting on the spot saves carrying and car space, and you can swap boots that pinch. Renting at home or bringing your own gear makes sense if you combine several ski areas, already know which boots fit, or the area is small with little choice.
Winter packing list
Pack layers (thermal underwear, fleece, waterproof jacket and trousers), ski socks, gloves, a hat, goggles and sunscreen. A helmet is strongly recommended for children.
Insurance
Check whether your travel insurance covers winter sports; it is often a separate add-on. Also check mountain rescue and transport after an accident (for example by helicopter). Some ski passes include mountain insurance, as in Bansko.
Winter tyres and snow chains
- Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November through 1 April. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Exception: summer tyres with at least 4 mm tread are allowed if you carry snow chains in the car. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
More rules per country: winter tyres and mountain passes.
🏨 Stay in Jahorina on Booking.com*🎟️ Winter tours nearby on GetYourGuide*🚗 Rental car (ask for winter tyres) via DiscoverCars*
* Affiliate link: if you book through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Rules
Rules, fines and quiet places
Wild camping, fines, camper stops, quiet places, smoking, alcohol and nature rules in this country, only with a verifiable source.
Show all rules (15)
Wild camping and fines
- Landmines: Bosnia and Herzegovina still has mine-suspected areas. The Ministry of Civil Affairs points to the official app with BHMAC (mine action centre) data on suspected locations. Stay on paved roads and well-known paths, especially if you camp or hike outside villages, and heed mine warning signs. Source: mcp.gov.ba, bhmac.org
Alcohol
- Drivers: 0.3 per mille. A total alcohol ban applies to drivers with less than three years' licence. Source: anwb.nl
Emergency numbers and breakdown
- Emergency number: 112. Police 122, ambulance 124, fire brigade 123. Emergency staff often do not speak English. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Green card: recognised and mandatory. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Health, drinking water and ticks
- The EHIC is not valid here: the European Commission lists only EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. Take out travel insurance with medical cover. Source: European Commission: European Health Insurance Card
- Tap water is generally not safe; boil it or use bottled water. In Sarajevo it is lightly chlorinated and safe. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Money and mobile
- Currency: Bosnia-Herzegovina convertible mark (BAM), pegged to the euro: € 1 = 1.95583 BAM. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Debit and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere; there are enough cash machines in the big cities. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Contactless payment with a watch or phone only works in cities, in large shops, hotels and restaurants. Source: ANWB: travel preparation, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Roaming charges may still apply here: on 4 June 2026 the Council of the EU authorised talks on extending 'Roam like at home' to the Western Balkans. Check your provider's rate. Source: Council of the EU: 'Roam like at home' and the Western Balkans
Fuel and LPG
- For LPG you need the dish (schotel) adapter, a filling nipple for your tank inlet. Source: Prins Autogassystemen: refuelling LPG
Winter tyres and mountain passes
- Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November through 1 April. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Exception: summer tyres with at least 4 mm tread are allowed if you carry snow chains in the car. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Children in the car
- Children under 12 may not ride in the front seat; they sit in the back in a suitable child car seat. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A child under 2 may ride rear-facing in the front if the airbag is switched off. Source: ANWB: traffic rules, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Rules and fines may change and confuse by municipality. Each line contains the source; see if you're in park management before you go. This isn't legal confuse.
All countries compared: rules, fines and quiet places → · Smoking and alcohol by country → · Practically by country →
Local cuisine
Food to taste
A few dishes you can try with the whole family:
Show all dishes (4)
Ćevapi
Grilled minced-meat rolls in flatbread (somun) with onion; a classic in Sarajevo.
Burek
A rolled spiral of filo pastry with meat; with cheese it is called sirnica, with spinach zeljanica.
Begova čorba
A creamy chicken soup with vegetables, 'the bey's soup'.
Tufahija
Poached apple filled with walnuts and whipped cream.
Look further
Discover more
Campsites by name, day trips, events and things you had better avoid, each with a source.
Show all tips (4)
Waterfalls and old town of Jajce
In Jajce the river Pliva plunges into the Vrbas as a waterfall in the middle of the town. There is also a campsite (Auto Camp Jajce, on ACSI). A nice stopover on the way from Croatia to Sarajevo (our tip).
Bridge in Višegrad
The Ottoman Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge over the Drina is on the World Heritage list. Handy if you drive via eastern Bosnia to Serbia or Montenegro.
Source: UNESCO: Višegrad
Avoid: leaving the paths
Landmines and unexploded ordnance still lie around. Always stay on the main roads or marked paths, says the Dutch travel advice.
Avoid: driving in the dark
There are almost no real motorways; main roads are often narrow and winding. ACSI strongly advises against driving in the dark.
Camping & on the road
Rules worth knowing
Passport or ID card
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member. You need a valid passport or ID card that is still valid for at least 3 months when you leave the country. Read the current travel advice before you leave. Source: Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Landmines: no wild camping
Landmines and unexploded ordnance still lie around, sometimes at the edge of the road. The travel advice says: stay on main roads and marked paths, hike in nature with someone who knows the area and do not wild camp. Source: Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Photo: Darij & Ana · CC BY 2.0 · all photo credits
Sources
Where does this information come from?
- Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
- Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
- UNESCO: Mostar
- kravica.ba
- ANWB (traffic rules)
- ACSI Eurocampings: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- tekijablagaj.ba
- UNESCO: Višegrad
Checked on 14 October 2026. "Our estimate" is personal advice, not official information.
Affiliate disclaimer: Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you book or buy through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our experiences and tips remain independent.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No, no vignette; there is a toll on the A1 motorway. Prices, where to buy it and the official source are in the ‘Tolls and vignettes’ block on this page. To tolls and vignettes
Can you wild camp in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No, it is prohibited. Also stay on roads and paths because of landmines. (source: ACSI Eurocampings)
What is the best time to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
May, June and September. In July and August Mostar can get very hot (our estimate).
How far is Bosnia and Herzegovina from London?
From London to Sarajevo it is about 2,000 km (calculated with OpenStreetMap; check your route planner). The Channel crossing is not included: with the Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) it takes 35 minutes according to the operator; a Dover–Calais ferry is the alternative. With children, expect about 3 driving days (our estimate).
What must you carry in the car in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Must be carried: warning triangle, safety vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, tow rope or bar and a spare wheel or repair kit. Source: ANWB. All traffic rules are on our Traffic rules & equipment page. To traffic rules · ANWB
Which travel documents do I need for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country. Read the current travel advice just before you leave.