Not yet a member of the European Union, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a lesser-known Eastern European country, still largely untouched by tourism. We’ve compiled some essential and (hopefully) useful information about this country, covering culture, customs, road networks, environment, and more. The goal is to ensure everything goes smoothly when you’re there. With this, you’ll be well-prepared for the adventure.
Yes, it’s strange, but in French, we say "Bosnie-Herzégovine," while the correct translation is actually "Bosnie-et-Herzégovine" (Bosna i Hercegovina). It doesn’t change much, but upon arriving in the country and seeing the name on signs, we kept wondering where the "i" came from... Is it actually two countries that merged?
The explanation is simple: the "i" does indeed link something together, not two countries as we thought, but two large historical regions of the country (though note that these two regions don’t match the two current autonomous political entities). If you get confused, don’t worry; we were too 🤣. That’s why we included these maps below. Without them, we were completely lost!
Another unusual fact... Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is not yet part of the European Union (its candidacy was recently accepted in June 2022) or the Eurozone, it has its own currency. This makes sense! It’s called the "Bosnian Convertible Mark" or "BAM." The exchange rate is €1 = 1.96 BAM (as of October 2022).
What’s truly surprising here is that it’s impossible to obtain or exchange Convertible Marks outside of the country. So, if you plan to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, make sure to have cash (in euros) to exchange once there or be prepared to use your bank card (for withdrawals and payments).
The same goes for returning home: you can’t exchange leftover local currency for euros once you’ve left the country, so remember to exchange it before leaving!
As mentioned, you can either bring cash to exchange locally or use your bank card. Both are possible! However, be aware that even though card payments are becoming more common in the capital, many businesses still don’t accept them. Try to keep some cash on hand to avoid last-minute ATM runs.
If you decide to rely on your bank card (as we did during our time in the country), you’ll have to use ATMs. They are generally available everywhere, but be cautious, as some have hefty withdrawal fees!
We had to try three different ATMs before finding one without withdrawal fees! For us, being with Boursorama and CIC, ZiraatBank was the best option (plus, you can find the nearest ATM on their website!).
With the link below or our referral code LEGA1596, any first-time account opening at BoursoBank will grant you a bonus (between €80 and €220, depending on the current offer and conditions).
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an affordable destination where you can enjoy local delicacies! Here, you’ll find many Balkan specialties as well as more oriental dishes (due to the long Ottoman Empire occupation):
A true delight and treat for the taste buds!
If you’re looking for other ways to enjoy the country, here’s a list of fun activities to do in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Islam is the majority religion in Bosnia and Herzegovina (at 51%), followed by Orthodox and Catholic Christians. You’ll find many mosques in the country, and you’ll frequently hear the five daily prayers marking the rhythm of local life. We found this ambiance really enjoyable.
However, we learned that the country’s Muslim community is more "cultural" than strictly "practicing." This is due to the country's history and how Islam was introduced by the Turks during the Ottoman occupation in a rather institutional way. When the Austro-Hungarian monarchy took over, reforms led to the adoption of a mixed curriculum, where traditional subjects were taught alongside modern sciences.
Islam is practiced by some, but many do not practice it regularly.
We’ve dedicated an entire section to Islam in our article on Egypt. If you’d like to learn more about this religion and its pillars, feel free to check out our article ici (the relevant information is in part 5).
Due to its past (as part of the former Yugoslavia), Bosnia and Herzegovina has three official languages: Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian.
They’re essentially dialects, as speakers understand each other regardless of the “language” spoken. The distinction is more historical and political.
There are slight differences in vocabulary or expressions among these languages (like different dialects), but the main difference is that Bosnian and Croatian use Latin alphabets, while Serbian uses a Cyrillic alphabet (making it harder to read).
If you want to learn more about Serbia and Croatia, check out our articles: 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Serbia and 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Croatia
On the topic of languages, Bosnians, especially younger people, tend to speak English quite well. So, communicating during your stay should be manageable. If not, gestures or Google Translate work well!
We’re not talking about skiing or biking here! No, this is on another level. You really need to stay vigilant during your stay, as Bosnia and Herzegovina has some areas that aren’t safe for the public:
So, there you go. It might sound intimidating, but don’t worry; this is mostly for awareness. During our stay, we didn’t encounter any problems, and I think accidents aren’t common. It’s always better to be informed and cautious rather than to go in unprepared and risk an accident!
If you want to rent a car in the country, we recommend using DiscoverCars, which offers the best deals with top guarantees at the best price (without any hidden fees).
Aside from hidden landmines, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that was deeply affected by war. Today, most traces are less visible as everything has been rebuilt, but if you pay attention, you’ll notice some reminders.
In Sarajevo, some buildings still bear marks from grenade explosions. To commemorate where grenades fell, you’ll see what are known as "Sarajevo Roses." These are cavities caused by grenades, filled with red paint to create a rose-like shape with petals blown open. It’s quite poetic and serves as a subtle reminder without being visually overwhelming. When we visited, we expected to see them everywhere, based on what we’d read, but we only saw one near a church, and the red paint had faded… 😅
Throughout the country, especially if you venture into smaller villages, you may see traces of the war. It’s a real and, unfortunately, still visible part of the country’s past.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, if you interact with locals, there are a few customs to follow to avoid awkwardness or misunderstandings:
So, there you have it—our 10 essential things to know about Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope you learned something and that this will be helpful in planning your trip 😊.
If this article makes you want to visit, you can book a flight using the link below:
1. If you’re entering the country with a passport (not just an ID card), make sure customs stamps it on arrival and departure to avoid any issues during your stay (or later).
2. On the road: don’t contest a fine (you could risk a license suspension or a higher fine). Also, remember that headlights must be on 24/7, even on sunny days, or you might get fined.
3. French phone plans don’t typically cover Bosnia and Herzegovina… While there, you’ll either have to manage without the internet, rely on Wi-Fi when available, or buy a local phone or internet card.
During our Europe tour, Free Mobile covered almost all countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina (and a few others), so we opted for a Vodafone card. We bought it in Albania for around €16, with 35GB valid for one month. It was the best option we found, as this plan covered several Balkan countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. You should find a similar card in the country.
Bonjour je voudrais aller en Bosnie est ce qu'il faut un papier attestation de ou je vais séjourné l'ABA car j'ai eu des infos qui disent que je dois aller faire une attestation de ce genre la police A mon arrivé ??? Merci de votre réponse
Bonjour Maxime,
Lors de notre passage en Bosnie en van en 2022, nous n'avions pas fait d'attestation mais sur le site du gouvernement (qu'on vous conseille de regarder : https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs), on voit qu'une attestation d’enregistrement de séjour (appelée "carte blanche") est nécessaire (souvent délivrée par les hébergements) si vous comptez rester plus de 3 jours.
En plus de ça, vous aurez besoin de votre passeport (qui doit bien être tamponné avec la date d'entrée sur le territoire, puis la date de sortie. Attention à ça, car ils sont assez pointilleux là-dessus !). 😉
How about we chat?