1. It's got a rich history.
So much has happened in the region in the last century alone! Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, which marked the beginning of World War I. The car he was murdered in is on display, for those who are interested in seeing it!
As the country’s capital, Sarajevo was a central zone of conflict during the Bosnian War in the early 1990s. There are still multiple reminders of the war in and around the city. The gorgeous hills surrounding Sarajevo still have landmines scattered through them. The buildings are covered in bullet holes. The presence of the Sarajevo Roses (mortar shells in asphalt filled with red resin) is ample, though many have been filled. These all serve as grim reminders of the war but also go to show the positivity of the Bosnian people and their ability and willingness to rebuild.
2. It's pretty cheap.
Unfortunately for Bosnia, its economy isn't doing so well at the moment. Obviously, this is terrible news for them. Silver lining? It's pretty cheap for people from the U.S. to travel there (and spend a lot of money to boost their economy!). So really, it's kind of a win-win.
3. Baščaršija
This is the cultural center of the city. It’s Sarajevo’s old bazaar and will actually make you feel like you’ve jumped back in time. The streets are small with little shops on either side. The smell of fresh food emanates throughout the marketplace. No better place to pick up souvenirs to remind you of this beautiful country!
According to locals, if you drink from the fountain (shown above), you will return to Sarajevo. So don't forget to drink!
4. Their food game is on point.
Some of the best food I’ve ever had was in Bosnia. Ćevapi, which is to Bosnians what hamburgers are to Americans, is minced meat in a skinless sausage stuffed into some kind of bread and served with kajmak (a Bosnian cheese). Another common food is burek, which is essentially a filled pastry made of phyllo dough. I could honestly write an ode to their coffee. My day wasn’t over without having at least one cappuccino.
The snacks were also in a league of their own. We went to the little corner store to pick up sustenance to get us through the night and decided to try some of the Bosnian chips. We were not disappointed at all. There was one kind that tasted exactly like pizza and another kind that tasted like chicken wings. Not only that — the chicken wings chips had one or two super spicy chips thrown in as a fun (or not-so-fun) surprise. It was like Russian roulette with spice. Amazing.
Gelato. Everywhere. There's one pretty much on every block. One scoop costs less than a dollar, which means you won't feel too bad about getting gelato all the time. Words to live by: "Don't think, just buy."
5. Gorgeous pictures just happen.
Want to get a million likes on Instagram? Go to Bosnia, aim your camera at literally anything, and take a picture. Post it on Instagram (or any social media platform of your choice) and watch the likes pile up. #nofilter
