Sarajevo

The Ottoman bazaar of Baščaršija, with its Sebilj fountain, coppersmiths and ćevapi grills, flows into Austro-Hungarian boulevards. At its edge stands the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, one of the finest Ottoman mosques in the Balkans, while the striped facade of the City Hall (Vijećnica) rises beside the river.

Nearby is the Latin Bridge, where the assassination that sparked the First World War took place. The Tunnel of Hope and the city’s museums tell the story of the 1990s siege with moving honesty. For views, take the cable car up Trebević, home to the 1984 Winter Olympics bobsled track, or watch the sunset from the old Yellow Fortress.

Sarajevo is a key stop on our All the Balkan Countries: A 16 Day Tour, the Tour of Yugoslavia in 12 Days and the Full Balkan Experience: A 10 Day Tour. Easy excursions lead to the springs of Vrelo Bosne on the edge of the city and, further afield, to the waterfall town of Jajce.

Spend at least a full day to enjoy the old town at a relaxed pace, and try a Bosnian coffee in one of the traditional cafés of Baščaršija. Spring and autumn are ideal for walking, summer evenings are lively, and in winter the nearby Olympic mountains of Jahorina and Bjelašnica turn into ski resorts.

Gallery photos: Alexey Komarov (CC BY-SA 4.0), Alexey Komarov (CC BY-SA 4.0), Fred Romero (CC BY 2.0), Fred Romero (CC BY 2.0), Adam Harangozó (CC BY-SA 4.0), Skelanard (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons