Bosnia and Herzegovina
Southeast Europe · BIH
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina delivers a high-contrast mix of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian heritage, river valleys, and mountain scenery in a compact footprint. A Sarajevo and Mostar core with one nature stop covers most first visits well.
Popular For
Things To See
- Sarajevo
- Mostar
- Blagaj Tekke
- Jajce
- Sutjeska National Park
- Una National Park
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Sarajevo and Mostar are the natural anchors, so build day trips around them.
- Mountain weather can change quickly, so plan buffer time for nature stops.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Bosnia and Herzegovina Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Sarajevo
- Population
- 3,422,000
- Area
- 51,209 km²
- Region
- Southeast Europe
Languages
- Bosnian
- Croatian
- Serbian
Currency
Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark (KM)
BAM
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
37.4
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 39.0
- Restaurants
- 32.1
- Rent
- 8.1
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Sarajevo (43.87°N, 18.42°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
50/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 45/100
- Lived safety
- 60/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws✅
- Employment protections✅
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.804
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.019
- 10-year change
- +0.048
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.967
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.157
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.701
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (5)
- 🌿
Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno
Inscribed 2024
- 🏛️
Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards
Inscribed 2016
- 🌿
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar
Inscribed 2005
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 9.5%
- Forest cover
- 42.7%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 5
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 9
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
41/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
27/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
79/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise increased caution in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to terrorism, crime, and land mines. Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. Theft and other crimes of opportunity are common, especially against tourists. Violent crimes, such as robbery and murder, also occur due to the availability of firearms remaining from the war. Minefields and land mines are present throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. While suspected hazardous areas are normally clearly marked, several people are killed or injured each year. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you decide to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina: Be aware of your surroundings and maintain situational awareness when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues. Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information. Remain on hard-surfaced roads and stay out of abandoned buildings due to risks from land mines. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Check
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data