Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mostar, rugged rivers and hospitable villages.
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Introduction
To Bosnia and Herzegovina with the family
Bosnia and Herzegovina lies right behind the Croatian coast and makes a nice excursion from Dalmatia. Mostar with its old bridge, the Kravica waterfalls and the rivers where you can go rafting make the country varied. In nature, do watch out for landmines, see below.
Overview
In brief
- Travel time
- 5–7 days (our estimate)
- Best time to travel
- may–Jun, Sep (our estimate · Full table)
- Distance from London
- ± 2,000 km to Sarajevo (approx., via route planner · plus the Channel crossing by Eurotunnel or ferry)
- Driving days
- 3 driving days (our estimate)
- Tolls and vignettes
- No vignette; toll on the A1 motorway (Details and source)
- Paying
- convertible mark (BAM)
- EU member
- no
Distances were calculated once with OpenStreetMap (OSRM) from London to the capital; your actual route may be longer or shorter. For London, the Channel crossing (Eurotunnel or ferry) is not included. Driving days assume at most about 750 km per day with children (our estimate).
Practical
Good to know
Money and payments
You pay with the convertible mark (BAM). Withdraw from a bank cash machine and, if the screen asks whether you want to pay in euros, choose the local currency: then your own bank converts, which is usually cheaper (our tip). In cities and at larger campsites you can often pay by card; in the countryside, at small campsites and at markets cash is handy (our experience).
Language and handy words
A few words work wonders, even with the campsite neighbour's kids:
- Dobar dan: good day
- Hvala: thank you
- Molim: please
- Doviđenja: goodbye
Documents and border
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country.
Health and safety
This country is not an EU member, so the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid here. Ask your health insurer before you leave what your cover is, and take out travel insurance with medical cover. Read the current travel advice of the Dutch government just before you leave; it also lists entry rules and emergency numbers.
Traffic rules that matter
The alcohol limit is 0.3 per mille, and 0 for anyone who has had a driving licence for less than three years. You also drive with dipped headlights or daytime running lights during the day. From 1 November to 1 April winter tyres are mandatory (or snow chains with tyres of at least 4 mm tread). Must be carried: warning triangle, safety vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, tow rope or bar and a spare wheel or repair kit. Children under 12 may not sit in front.
Source: ANWB
Best time to travel
May, June and September. In July and August Mostar can get very hot (our estimate).
Always check the current rules (tolls, vignette, entry requirements) just before you leave.
On the road by car
Tolls and vignettes
| What | Price passenger car | Where to arrange it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 motorway (per section) | current price: see source | Toll gates | Autoceste FBiH price checked Oct 2026 |
Buy vignettes only through the official channels: other sites often charge extra. A caravan or camper van may fall into a different class; check this with the source.
Destinations
Most beautiful places in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo
A capital with an Ottoman bazaar quarter and a cable car to Mount Trebević.
Where are you going?
Regions explained
Herzegovina and Mostar
The sunny south, with Mostar and its famous old bridge (World Heritage), the source of the Buna at Blagaj and the Kravica waterfalls. Warm in summer and easy to combine with the Croatian coast.
Source: UNESCO: Mostar
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Sarajevo
The capital lies in a valley between the mountains, with an old Ottoman bazaar quarter (Baščaršija). A city full of history; explain to children beforehand why you sometimes see bullet holes in walls.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
Mountains and rivers
The interior is green and mountainous, with clear rivers such as the Neretva. Always stay on paths and roads here because of possible landmines.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about where to stay by country · More about campsites in this country
On the road
Suggested route by car
A loop of 5 to 7 days from Croatia (for example from Split or Dubrovnik) (our estimate). Check the driving times in your route planner.
- Days 1-2: Kravica waterfalls and Blagaj.
- Day 3: Mostar, early in the morning at the bridge.
- Days 4-5: along the Neretva to Sarajevo.
- Days 6-7: back to the coast.
Camping
Where do you camp?
Campsites near Mostar and Blagaj
Near Blagaj and Mostar, ACSI Eurocampings lists Autocamp Blagaj, Camp Laks and River Camp Aganovac (Blagaj) and Auto Camp Green Park and Camping Neretva (Mostar), among others. Most campsites are small-scale and simpler than in Western Europe. Note: camping gas is not for sale in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so bring enough.
Source: ACSI Eurocampings: Bosnia and Herzegovina
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
No wild camping
Never camp in the wild and do not leave roads or paths: landmines still lie in parts of the country. This is also in the travel advice.
Source: nederlandwereldwijd.nl (travel advice)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping gear
Gear for this region → (tent, gas, mosquitoes, sleeping bag)
Outings
With kids
Kravica waterfalls
A semicircle of waterfalls with a small lake below. Check on the spot whether swimming is allowed.
Source: kravica.ba
The old bridge of Mostar
Children find the bridge jumpers exciting: they dive from the high bridge into the cold Neretva.
Source: UNESCO: Mostar
Blagaj
A dervish monastery (tekke) at the spring where the river Buna emerges from the rock face; it is a national monument. The tekke is open every day from 08:30 to 20:30 and you pay a small entrance fee. In the garden by the water you can drink tea or Bosnian coffee.
Source: tekijablagaj.ba
Outings
Fun activities with kids
Water parks, karting, trampolines, bowling, zoos and outings for a rainy day: concrete addresses, chosen with children of about 7 and 9 in mind. We only mention places with their own website, which we checked on 14 October 2026. Opening times and prices change: always check the website.
Our favourites
Pionirska dolina (Zoo Sarajevo)
A zoo and recreation park with playgrounds, electric cars, a small train and a carousel.
Trebević cable car
A cable car from the city up Mount Trebević, with views over Sarajevo and walking at the top.
Bazen Veni Vidi
A swimming pool complex with jacuzzi and geysers; close to Una National Park.
Kravica waterfall
A wide waterfall with a natural swimming pool in Herzegovina.
Tickets/tour via Viator → Ad · affiliate link
Termalna rivijera Ilidža
A large thermal swimming complex of 15 hectares on the edge of Sarajevo, with indoor pools open all year and, in summer, outdoor pools with a wave pool. Handy from campsites around Sarajevo/Ilidža.
Local cuisine
Food to taste
A few dishes you can try with the whole family:
Show all dishes (4)
Ćevapi
Grilled minced-meat rolls in flatbread (somun) with onion; a classic in Sarajevo.
Burek
A rolled spiral of filo pastry with meat; with cheese it is called sirnica, with spinach zeljanica.
Begova čorba
A creamy chicken soup with vegetables, 'the bey's soup'.
Tufahija
Poached apple filled with walnuts and whipped cream.
Look further
Discover more
Campsites by name, day trips, events and things you had better avoid, each with a source.
Show all tips (4)
Waterfalls and old town of Jajce
In Jajce the river Pliva plunges into the Vrbas as a waterfall in the middle of the town. There is also a campsite (Auto Camp Jajce, on ACSI). A nice stopover on the way from Croatia to Sarajevo (our tip).
Bridge in Višegrad
The Ottoman Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge over the Drina is on the World Heritage list. Handy if you drive via eastern Bosnia to Serbia or Montenegro.
Source: UNESCO: Višegrad
Avoid: leaving the paths
Landmines and unexploded ordnance still lie around. Always stay on the main roads or marked paths, says the Dutch travel advice.
Avoid: driving in the dark
There are almost no real motorways; main roads are often narrow and winding. ACSI strongly advises against driving in the dark.
Camping & on the road
Rules worth knowing
Passport or ID card
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not an EU member. You need a valid passport or ID card that is still valid for at least 3 months when you leave the country. Read the current travel advice before you leave. Source: Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Landmines: no wild camping
Landmines and unexploded ordnance still lie around, sometimes at the edge of the road. The travel advice says: stay on main roads and marked paths, hike in nature with someone who knows the area and do not wild camp. Source: Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
More about wild camping and campsites by country · More about camping for beginners
Sources
Where does this information come from?
- Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
- Travel advice Bosnia and Herzegovina (NederlandWereldwijd)
- UNESCO: Mostar
- kravica.ba
- ANWB (traffic rules)
- ACSI Eurocampings: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- tekijablagaj.ba
- UNESCO: Višegrad
Checked on 14 October 2026. "Our estimate" is personal advice, not official information.
Affiliate disclaimer: Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you book or buy through one, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Our experiences and tips remain independent.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No vignette; toll on the A1 motorway. Prices, where to arrange it and the official source are in the 'Tolls and vignettes' block on this page. To tolls and vignettes
Can you wild camp in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Prohibited. Also stay on roads and paths because of landmines. (source: ACSI Eurocampings)
What is the best time to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
May, June and September. In July and August Mostar can get very hot (our estimate).
How far is Bosnia and Herzegovina from London?
From London to Sarajevo it is about 2,000 km (calculated with OpenStreetMap; check your route planner). The Channel crossing is not included: with the Eurotunnel (LeShuttle) it takes 35 minutes according to the operator; a Dover–Calais ferry is the alternative. With children, expect about 3 driving days (our estimate).
What must you carry in the car in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Must be carried: warning triangle, safety vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, tow rope or bar and a spare wheel or repair kit. Source: ANWB. All traffic rules are on our Traffic rules & equipment page. To traffic rules · ANWB
Which travel documents do I need for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
At the EU's external border your passport or ID card is checked, and often your vehicle registration and insurance papers too. In summer, expect waiting time at the border (our estimate) and make sure the car's papers are in your name or that you have the owner's authorisation. Ask your car insurer whether your green card (international insurance card) is valid for this country. Read the current travel advice just before you leave.