Sarajevo
Population: 520’000
Date of visit: June 2017
Attractions & sights: 3/5
Nightlife: 2/5 (during Ramadan)
Safety: 4/5
Infrastructure: 3/5
Low budget factor: $$$$$/5
Total: 👍👍👍/5
The city in a nutshell:
The East meets the West. Sarajevo is another unique city with influences from different cultures. It is also probably the most Islamic capital in Europe.
Where to stay:
Near Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque or at least somewhere in Old Town.
The Good:
Sarajevo is a city full of history. Think about the Balkan Wars, the Winter Olympics 1984 or the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. It does feel weird somehow standing on the famous Latin Bridge where World War I began. People in Sarajevo are warm, the food is great and the city has a special vibe. If you have enough time, then head to Mostar for one day. It’s a 2-3 hours drive.
Another big plus are the prices, as Sarajevo is one of the cheapest capitals in Europe. You can have decent hotel rooms for $20-30 per night (some are even cheaper). Burek, a famous dish in the Balkans, is $1-2 only. High-quality drinks are $4-5, low-quality booze cheaper of course.
Apparently, nightlife is pretty cool in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital. However, I cannot confirm that, as most of the places were empty at night during Ramadan.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Sarajevo should be avoided during Ramadan, if nightlife is the main focus. Moreover, the city is not very big, so don’t expect to do sightseeing for 3-4 days. All the main attractions can be visited in one afternoon.
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