According to ethnicityology, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a “tourist” country, there are many different architectural monuments, many of which, alas, were destroyed during the fighting of the Balkan conflict. In the capital of the country, Sarajevo, most of all cultural attractions are concentrated. The city, built in the 13th century, managed to almost completely preserve the appearance of the old districts, created in the oriental style with its characteristic flavor. Here, for your pleasure, there is a noisy Turkish bazaar, colorful stone houses, and cozy narrow streets. Of particular interest is the inn of Moritz Khan, the only heritage of the Ottoman period preserved in the country. One of the most popular places in Sarajevo is the Latin Bridge, where the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand took place in 1914. which was the main reason for the First World War. Be sure to take a walk along the embankment near the Bosna River, climb the yellow fortress with its gorgeous views of the city, take a look at the Art Gallery, as well as the National Museum and the Bosnian Historical Museum. Mostar and Banja Luka are two other equally popular tourist cities in the country. In the first, the Muslibegovica mansion from the Ottoman period, the old bridge from the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Revolution Boulevard and the Mehmet Pasha Mosque are worth visiting. Do not miss the seemingly unremarkable village of Medugorje, 17 kilometers from Mostar, because it was here that the Virgin Mary herself appeared to the locals in 1981. In Banja Luka, the presidential palace, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the 16th-century fortress on the banks of the Vrbas River and sulfur springs are of interest.
National cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The traditional cuisine of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a fusion of cultures, so from Turkey came a love for minced meat dishes, from the Mediterranean – for vegetables and juicy greens, from the Slavs – an addiction to milk, dairy products and cheese. Since the coastline of the country is extremely small, fish and seafood are common only in coastal towns. If meat is cooked in Bosnia and Herzegovina, then it is most likely to be lamb or beef, the main methods of cooking are stewing (often with an abundance of vegetables) or grilling. Traditionally, as an appetizer or snack, they choose “burek” – a cheburek with meat filling, “chevap” – a local kebab, “simitsa” – a cheburek with cheese or its own, but with an apple – “yabukovatsu”. Of the fish dishes on the coast, be sure to try fish goulash and “pastrmkoy” – a special local dish made from freshly caught trout. The main meal is “shish” – meat kebab, roast with stewed vegetables – “bosanski lonas”, grilled chop “hayduk”, cabbage rolls “zhaprak” and cutlets “splash”. All this is necessarily accompanied by a bowl of a simple “Serbian” salad of fresh herbs, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers, as well as local beer, wine or a drink “buza” from millet. After tasting local sweets and desserts, you will inevitably feel Turkish and oriental flavor in them, mainly the well-known baklava, halva, Turkish delight, as well as Sujuk nut cookies and Gurabye shortbread cookies. Not without the Slavs here: pies with apples, jam and cottage cheese can be found on every corner. The main drinks served with desserts are
Transport
Since tourism in the country is just starting to get back on its feet after the civil war, regular flights and charters here operate only in the winter season (from December to March they are operated by Muscovy and others). The rest of the year, you can get to Bosnia and Herzegovina only with a transfer, there are two options. You can choose a connecting flight in one of the European cities, for example (Istanbul, Vienna and Munich) or fly to one of the neighboring countries (Montenegro, Croatia, Serbia), and from there get to Bosnia and Herzegovina by land: by train or bus. Regular land connections connect Bosnia and Herzegovina with Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, Split and Podgorica. There is no domestic aviation in the country, however, given its modest area, this is not particularly necessary. Bus service is established between all settlements, transport runs on schedule, although not very often. Please note that due to the religious division of the country into three regions, it is extremely difficult to travel from one to another, but it is quite convenient to move within each zone. The fare is quite reasonable and affordable. The railway in Bosnia and Herzegovina is operational, but it has not yet fully recovered from internal military conflicts. Many branches remain inactive, there are not enough trains on some routes. On the other hand, a train ride will be an extremely interesting adventure for connoisseurs of untouched nature, as part of the railway tracks here are laid right along the slopes of the mountains. A particularly beautiful direction: Sarajevo – Mostar. In the capital of the country, Sarajevo, buses, trolleybuses and trams serve as public transport. Travel is extremely inexpensive. Taxis are available both in Sarajevo and other relatively large cities in the country. Many drivers do not have meters installed, so the fare must be negotiated in advance. Taxis usually wait for customers in tourist areas, and also just ply along the main streets. You can rent a car in Bosnia and Herzegovina only in the three largest cities: Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka. You will need an international driving license, driving experience of at least 1 year and, of course, a sufficient amount of money. Carefully check the condition of the rented vehicles, cars are often issued to customers that are far from new. It should also be noted that most of the local roads pass along the slopes of the mountains, this requires more travel time, as well as extreme care and caution from the driver. When driving independently, do not leave the main roads, most of the provincial areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina have not yet been cleared of mines after the war. However, there are also positive aspects, in a rented car you can also go to neighboring countries, just like coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina in cars rented in them.
