Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country rich with culture and history. However, it is definitely one of the most underrated destinations for travelers visiting Europe. Back in the day, the country was known as a great force in the Ottoman Empire. But now, Bosnia usually is nowhere to be found on the travel bucket list of millennial and Gen-Z travelers.
Despite being a tad underrated, Bosnia has much to offer to visitors who have a love for history and ancient cities. There’s ruins to explore, delicious homegrown coffee to taste, and endless tours that showcase the legendary and modest wonder of Bosnia. Here are seven cultural hidden gems to discover when visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Explore The Old Town Of Sarajevo
Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city’s “Old Town” sits right in the heart of the capital and is one of the best places to experience authentic, local culture. Here travelers will find an array of traditional mosques, cultural landmarks, shopping and dining centers. There’s a marketplace in Sarajevo that’s been open since the 1400s for travelers to explore. The Old Clock Tower is still synced to the lunar cycles and Muslim prayer times as well as a museum showcasing Bosnia’s medieval history.
Visit The Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
In 1995, over 8,000 Bosnia Muslim refugees were murdered during an act of genocide. It became known as the Srebrenica Massacre and travelers visiting Bosnia can learn more about the tragic incident by visiting the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial. It cost $5.8 million dollars to build the memorial and visitors come from all over the world each year to pay their respects to those who brutally lost their lives in 1995.
Walk Through The Tunnel Of Hope
During the Bosnian War in the early 1990s, soldiers used a hidden tunnel in Sarajevo to funnel supplies and communicate. Today, that space has been renamed the Tunnel Of Hope. Travelers can visit the Tunnel of Hope in Bosnia at a special museum dedicated to educating visitors on wartime in the country. Visitors can walk through the wartime tunnel, take photos, and get a glimpse into what it was like smuggling food and supplies into Sarajevo.
Book The Death Of Yugoslavia Tour
The Bosnian War changed the landscape of Southern Europe and there’s no better way to learn about it than the Death Of Yugoslavia Tour. After the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina split away from Yugoslavia for good. However, the road to independence was long. This tour takes travelers through four historic sites to learn the true history of what happened before Bosnia broke away from Yugoslavia. Travelers will gain insight into the fall of communism in the country, explore the city of Mostar, and learn Tito’s secret bunker.
Go Inside Tito’s Secret Bunker
Although it may appear to be a hotel on the outside, a small building in Konjic in Herzegovina is more than what it may look like. Recently, more travelers visiting Bosnia have stumbled upon what’s known as Tito’s secret bunker. Hidden in the house down a secret passageway is a bunker used during wartime when threats of a nuclear attack seemed imminent. Today, tourists can visit the bunker to get a look at where Bosnia government officials planned to go if an atomic bomb hit the city. The underground chamber was originally designed to hold 350 people in case of attack.
