Bosnia

Bosnia and Herzegovina has long had one of the most fragile mixes of religions and nationalities in the Balkans. The Ottoman Turks challenged Christian dominance after their 15th-century conquest, and today the population is a mix of Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslims.

Inter-ethnic civil strife has had a devastating effect on the country since the spring of 1992, when the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence from the former Yugoslavia. The Serbs, with the support of neighbouring Serbia, answered with armed resistance. Their aim was to partition the republic along ethnic lines and to create, along with other Serb-held areas, a “greater Serbia”. A bloody civil war eventually ended with a settlement that divided the country roughly into two equal parts, at the same time keeping Bosnia and Herzegovina within its internationally recognised borders. NATO took control of the peace-keeping force under the terms of the Dayton Agreement in December 1995.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a largely mountainous country, with high massifs in the west and centre and vast expanses of barren limestone plateau to the south. Sarajevo, the capital, mirrors the country's eclectic history, with a strongly Turkish flavour in the old town and an Austrian sector of typical turn-of-the-century Central European-style municipal buildings. Mostar used to be famed for its 16th-century Turkish bridge, unfortunately destroyed by artillery fire in 1993, and the walled medieval city of Jajce is now remembered as the scene of some of the worst atrocities of the civil war. The country as a whole still has considerable tourist potential, but until its political problems are resolved, it is not a place that tourists can expect to visit safely or with any degree of comfort.

Travel Preparation

Entry Requirements

All nationals are advised to consult the foreign affairs department in their own country before travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer at war with its neighbours, the Balkans remain politically unstable.

Emergency phone numbers

All travellers are advised to consult the foreign office in their country of residence before departure regarding emergency assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Time zones

Central European Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks are put forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the end of October.

Driving

Vehicle documents

Consult the foreign office in your country of residence before travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Rules of the road

No current information is available.

Roads, tolls and speed limits

Check local conditions before embarking on a journey.

Driving tips

There are still many land mines scattered around Bosnia and Herzegovina. Do not drive off the hard shoulder of roads. Hijacking of vehicles and armed robbery are still very real hazards.

Assistance

No current information is available.

Electrical devices

The electrical current in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 220 volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used.

Money

Notes and coins

The official currency in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation is the Bosnian dinar, but in the Croat-dominated region of Western Herzegovina the Croatian kuna is more likely to be used. In the Serb Republic the currency is the Yugoslav dinar. The German deutschmark and US dollar are widely accepted for payment throughout Bosnia.

Currency exchange

Cash is the normal means of payment. Normal banking services are only gradually being restored.

Tipping

It is best to top up bills to the nearest round sum.

Public holidays

Public holidays and events are likely to be disrupted.

Travellers with disabilities

Facilities for travellers with disabilities are likely to be non-existent.

Transport

Metro, buses and trams

There are bus services operating in and between cities. Trams operate in Sarejevo. There are no metro systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ferries

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a landlocked country.

City & Town Overview

Sarajevo

Sarajevo used to be a byword for the rich ethnic mix of Bosnia and Herzegovina; now it is synonymous with the savage war that tore apart the country and its capital between 1992 and 1995. At least the city is now reunited and gradually returning to normal life. It is one of the prime centres of Turkish architecture in the Balkans, with some fine mosques and the Bascarsija bazaar quarter with its narrow alleys. Equally interesting is the juxtaposition of Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish religious buildings. The devastation all this suffered, however, will take many years to repair.