Getting to Sarajevo
Sarajevo Airport is still recovering from the 1990s, when the city was under siege, but is now receiving many international flights from European cities. Its also possible to travel to the city overland by train or bus, with connections available to most countries in the region including Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro and Austria. While its possible to travel to the city by car, its generally not recommended, as many of the roads are still undergoing repair.
By car
You can drive to Sarajevo by car, though its not recommended. Many of the roads are in an advanced state of disrepair, and it can be perilous to venture away from the main roads due to the large presence of land mines across the country. Sarajevo is approximately 4 hours from Zagreb by car.
By rail
The night train service from Budapest Dli Station to Sarajevo ended in December 2006. A train now departs from Budapest Keleti Station daily at 09:30, arriving in Sarajevo 12 hours later. Passport controls are rigorous and you may be asked to display your documents up to four times during the journey.
A train also travels from Zagreb daily at 08:57, arriving in Sarajevo at 18:24. The return train to Zagreb, via Zenica, Doboj and Banja Luka, leaves at 10:41.
By bus
There are two bus stations in Sarajevo. The main bus station, Autobusna Stanica, is located near the train station and serves Croatia and destinations within the Bosnian Federation. However, there is also a bus station in eastern Sarajevo which serves regional destinations and places in both Serbia and Montenegro.
From the main bus station, there are several buses a day to and from Mostar, with the journey taking approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. There are also buses to Split and Dubrovnik, with journeys taking 5 to 6 hours. Podgorica in Montenegro is also accessible in around 7 hours, and is an immensely scenic journey.
International connections include a daily bus to Graz and Vienna, which leave from the main bus station in the morning and reach Graz by evening. Travelling to Belgrade by bus will take 7 to 9 hours, and the bus departs from Lukavica Bus Station in eastern Sarajevo.
By air
Sarajevo International Airport is situated just a few kilometres southwest of the city. During the 1990s, the airport was used for UN flights and humanitarian relief. However, since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has reopened as a major commercial transport hub in the region, receiving flights from a number of major airlines including B&H Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Aero Flight, Lufthansa, Jat Airways, Croatia Airlines and others.
In 2006, almost half a million passengers travelled through the airport and this continues to rise. Flights are available to major European destinations, and also to a number of cities in Turkey including Istanbul. Facilities at the airport are limited, but include two restaurants, a bank and a post office. The airport is connected to the city centre by a taxi service, and there is also an airport bus service that runs to the Air Bosnia office in the city.
Sarajevo International Airport
Sarajevo International Airport is the main international airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is situated just a few kilometres southwest of the capital city of Sarajevo. The national airline is B&H Airlines and it offers flights to Cologne, Bonn and Stuttgart as well as Istanbul and Izmir. Flights to London are operated by Adria Airlines (via Ljubljana) and Croatia Airlines (via Zagreb).
Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has become a thriving commercial airport, receiving flights from B&H Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Jat Airways, Croatia Airlines and others. In 2006, almost half a million passengers travelled through the airport.
The airport has fairly limited facilities but passengers will find a newsagent, a post office, two restaurants and a duty-free shop. There are also five car rental outlets at the airport and one bank.
Sarajevo airport transport
Air Bosnia offers a bus to the city centre, but the most practical way of travelling to the centre is by taxi. These depart from in front of Terminal B and are closely controlled by the local taxi organisation, and drivers are obliged to issue customers with a receipt.