The most convenient option is to fly directly to Sarajevo Airport, but it may not be the cheapest option.

Tuzla and Banja Luka offer significantly more genuinely cheap low-cost flights, but the journey from these airports to Sarajevo takes several hours. From neighbouring countries, on the other hand, travelling by bus or car usually makes the most sense.

• For a short stay, choose Sarajevo Airport. The time saved usually outweighs the higher ticket price.
• Always check Tuzla when looking for the cheapest flight. It mainly makes sense if, after factoring in transport, you save at least around 60 eur per person.
• Banja Luka is a better option if there’s a really significant price difference, during a longer trip around Bosnia, or if you also want to visit Banja Luka itself.
• From Mostar, the best option is by train or bus. From Belgrade, Podgorica, Split, Dubrovnik or Zagreb, travel is mainly by bus.
• A car is worth it for travelling around the whole of Bosnia. For Sarajevo itself, however, you don’t need one, and parking in the city centre isn’t easy.

Flying directly to Sarajevo

Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ ) is situated about 10 km from the city centre.

For most visitors, this is by far the most practical option, as the journey from the terminal to the city centre takes only about 25 to 40 minutes.

I describe how I got from the airport to the city centre in the article‘Transport from the airport to Sarajevo’.

Sarajevo has a fairly extensive network of major airlines.

With just one change, you can easily get here via, for example, Vienna, Dubai, Frankfurt, Zurich, Warsaw, Belgrade, Zagreb or Istanbul.

The range of genuinely cheap, year-round low-cost flights from Western and Central Europe is somewhat limited.

Direct low-cost flights

• During the summer season,Ryanair flies to destinations such as Paris-Beauvais, Milan-Bergamo, Brussels-Charleroi, Girona, Gothenburg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, London-Stansted, Memmingen, Stockholm-Arlanda, Thessaloniki and Düsseldorf-Weeze during the summer season.
• Wizz Air operates routes to destinations such as Berlin, Bratislava, Prague, Rome-Fiumicino and London-Luton.

How much do flights to Sarajevo cost?

As a rough guide, we consider the following to be a good price:

• 80 eur for a return low-cost ticket within Europe, including only a small piece of hand luggage,
• 80 eur 150 eur for a return ticket during a typical peak travel period,
• 150 eur 250 eur for a return ticket with a traditional airline and one stopover.

Prices, of course, vary significantly depending on the departure airport, the season and baggage allowances.

Compared with Tirana, Skopje or, in summer, Zadar, the cheapest dates for flights to Sarajevo are less frequent.

Sarajevo does not have a similarly large year-round low-cost base, and a large proportion of routes operate only a few times a week.

Find the cheapest flights to Sarajevo

In December and January, you should also expect more frequent fog. This can cause delays or cancellations, so make sure you allow plenty of time if you’re booking connecting flights separately.

Cheap flights via Tuzla

Tuzla Airport ( TZL ) is the most important low-cost alternative to Sarajevo.

Wizz Air operates a base here and offers flights to around 20 European destinations.

Very low fares are often available to Germany, Scandinavia or Bratislava.

The downside is the airport’s location, approximately 120 km from Sarajevo. There is no direct public bus from the terminal to Sarajevo, and you’ll need to change buses in the centre of Tuzla:

1. City bus route 34 runs from the airport to the main bus station in Tuzla. A ticket costs 2,50 bam, the journey takes about 25 minutes, and the bus runs only once every two hours.
2. An alternative is the airport minibus, which costs 10 bam, which departs approximately 30 to 40 minutes after scheduled arrivals.
3. The bus journey from Tuzla to Sarajevo takes approximately 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 15 minutes. Tickets cost around 35 bam.

The entire journey from Tuzla Airport to Sarajevo realistically takes at least 4 hours. It can take significantly longer if connections are poor. You can find the latest details in our guide to transport from Tuzla Airport, and you can check the bus timetable on Buskarta.ba.

Tuzla is worth considering if, after adding the cost of luggage and transport, the ticket is at least 60 eur cheaper than a direct flight to Sarajevo, or if the departure time fits your itinerary much better. If you’re travelling with several people, hiring a car might be a better option.

Compare flight prices to Tuzla

Cheap flights via Banja Luka

Banja Luka Airport ( BNX ) is mainly served by Ryanair and Wizz Air. In August 2026, there are direct flights from here to Memmingen, Basel, Gothenburg, Dortmund, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Stockholm, Vienna, Brussels-Charleroi and Belgrade. Some of these are seasonal only, so please check the current list of flights from Banja Luka.

For travelling to Sarajevo, Banja Luka is significantly less convenient than Tuzla. The airport is more than 230 km from Sarajevo and there is no direct public bus service between the airport and Sarajevo.

The cheapest option by public transport is as follows:

1. The Smiljić airport minibus to Banja Luka costs 10 bam and takes about 30 minutes. Departures are timed to match the flight schedule.
2. The bus from Banja Luka to Sarajevo takes 5 hours and costs 55 bam. The current service is operated by Centrotrans.

Taking waiting times into account, you should expect the journey to take longer than 6.5 hours from the moment you land. By car, the journey takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.

We would mainly recommend a flight via Banja Luka if you save at least around 100 eur per person, if you also want to visit the northern part of Bosnia, or if you’re continuing your journey in a hire car. You can find further information in the guide to transport from Banja Luka Airport.

By bus to Sarajevo

Buses are the main form of public transport between Sarajevo and other cities in Bosnia and neighbouring countries.

Services are much more frequent than the rail network, but journey times are often long due to mountainous roads and border controls.

Examples of one-way fares and journey times:

• Mostar:3 hours, 34 bam, 6–7 times a day
  • online tickets for Centrotrans
• Tuzla: 3 .5 hours, 36 bam, once an hour
  • online tickets for Centrotrans
• Banja Luka:5 hours, 55 bam, twice a day 
  • online tickets for Centrotrans
• Zagreb: 8.5hours, 100 bam, 3–4 times a day
  • online tickets for Flixbus
• Split:7 hours, 75 bam, twice a day
  • online ticket for Flixbus
• Belgrade:9 hours, 77 bam, once a day
  • online ticket for Flixbus
• Podgorica:7.5 hours, 60 bam, twice daily
  • online ticket on busticket4.me

Allow plenty of time when travelling across the border. In summer, at weekends and during public holidays, the bus can be delayed by several hours.

For timetables and tickets, check primarily at:

• Centrotrans – covers a large proportion of domestic and international routes
• Buskarta.ba – you’ll usually find the same routes cheaper on the Centrotrans website; I don’t think I’ve ever used Buskarta.ba
• FlixBus – selected international routes

Don’t rely on just one search engine. Some local operators only sell tickets via their own website or at the bus station. With some companies, you’ll also have to pay the driver 1 KM to 3 KM per item of luggage in the luggage compartment. So make sure you have a small amount of cash to hand.

Where is the bus station?

Sarajevo has two main bus stations

The most important thing is to check the exact station listed on your ticket.

Sarajevo’s main bus station is located next to the railway station at Put života 8. Services arrive here from, for example, Mostar, Tuzla, Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik and many cities in Western Europe.

• It is close to the city centre
• Location on Google Maps

The Istočno Sarajevo bus station, also known as Lukavica, is situated on the south-eastern outskirts of the city. It is mainly used by buses from Belgrade, Montenegro and towns in the Republika Srpska.

• It is a long way from the city centre (approx. 25 minutes by taxi or 40 minutes by public transport)
• Location on Google Maps

From the East Sarajevo bus station, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Dobrinja trolleybus terminus, from where route 103 continues to the city centre.

Book a hotel in Sarajevo

By train to Sarajevo

The railway network in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very limited.

There are currently no regular passenger trains to Sarajevo from Zagreb, Belgrade, Split, Dubrovnik, Tuzla or Banja Luka.

The Mostar–Sarajevo line is particularly useful for tourists, as it is one of the most scenic railway routes in Europe. It runs through the Neretva Valley via Jablanica, Konjic, over bridges and through dozens of tunnels.

According to the ŽFBH timetable, there are two trains in each direction every day.

The service in the opposite direction is similar. A one-way ticket costs from approximately 13.90 KM. The bus offers more frequent services, but the train is cheaper, faster and considerably more interesting.

From the end of June to the end of September, a seasonal international train service running between Sarajevo, Mostar and Ploče also operates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets to Ploče are not sold online, and you’ll need a travel document when crossing the Croatian border. Furthermore, online sales of domestic tickets don’t always work reliably, so the safest option is to buy them at the railway station.

Travelling to Sarajevo by car

Travelling by car makes sense particularly for longer journeys around Bosnia and Herzegovina. It isn’t necessary for a visit to Sarajevo itself – the city centre is easily accessible on foot, and driving there is more difficult due to traffic and parking issues.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not part of the EU or the Schengen Area.

When travelling by car, expect border checks and ensure your vehicle insurance is valid. If you are not the car’s owner, also take written confirmation that you are authorised to use it.

The motorways do not form a continuous network. Much of the journey takes place on dual-carriageway roads through the mountains and towns, so the actual journey time is often significantly longer than the distance would suggest.

Tolls in Bosnia and Herzegovina

You do not need to buy a motorway vignette in Bosnia. On completed sections of motorway, tolls are paid based on the distance travelled directly at the toll gates.

Approximate prices for a passenger car:

• Sarajevo North – Zenica North: 14 bam
• Sarajevo West – Bradina: 7 bam

Tolls can be paid in convertible marks, euros or by payment card. When paying in euros, you will usually receive change in marks.

You can find an up-to-date overview of toll sections on the JP Autoceste FBiH website.

From 1 November to 1 April, winter equipment is compulsory regardless of the current weather conditions.

If you are arriving by air and wish to visit Mostar, the mountainous regions or other parts of the country in addition to Sarajevo, it is worth comparing car hire prices at Sarajevo Airport.

Parking in Sarajevo

Parking is one of the biggest drawbacks of travelling by car. There is no large, guaranteed secure and, at the same time, free car park in the historic centre.

The following rates apply at municipal car parks operated by KJKP RAD:

• Zone I:3 bam per hour, 30 bam per day or 65 bam per week
• Zone II:2 bam per hour, 15 bam per day or 35 bam per week

In Zone I, parking fees apply from Monday to Saturday between 7.00 and 22.00; in Zone II, between 7.00 and 20.00. On Sundays and on public or major religious holidays, parking in standard city car parks is free of charge.

This rule does not apply to car parks with barriers, private garages or certain car parks in the Stari Grad district.

Current prices can be found on the officialKJKP RAD website. Parking fees can also be paid by card via the Parking Sarajevo portal. Payment by text message only works with SIM cards from Bosnian mobile network operators.

Where to park for free

The best legal option in the city centre is to use a municipal parking space on Sundays or public holidays.

On other days, you can find free spaces on residential streets outside the designated zones, but only where traffic signs do not prohibit parking.

Such spaces are not monitored. Therefore, despite the abundance of free on-street parking spaces, we do not recommend it.

Foreign safety advisories highlight an increase in thefts from cars in Sarajevo and on Mount Trebević.

It is also common for items left in cars to be stolen.

Never leave luggage, electronic devices, documents or small items in plain sight inside your car. If you have foreign number plates or luggage in the boot, it is worth paying for a secure car park. Move your valuables before you arrive at the car park, not after you have parked.

Recommended car parks

Sarajevo City Centre

A large underground car park near Marijin Dvor is suitable for visitors staying in the wider city centre. It is open 24 hours a day.

• First 15 minutes free
• First hour 3 bam
• Each additional hour 2 bam
• Between 10.00 pm and 8.00 am, each hour costs 1 bam
• A 24-hour pass costs 30 bam
• A weekly pass costs 80 bam
• Official SCC price list
• Location on Google Maps

Avdage Šahinagić underground car park

The most convenient secure car park for Baščaršija is situated opposite Sarajevo Town Hall. It is open 24 hours a day and features CCTV and security guards.

• 3,50 bam per hour
• 70 bam per 24 hours

It’s expensive for long-term parking, but it’s in the best location for a visit to the historic centre lasting a few hours.

• Official information and price list
• Location on Google Maps

If you’re staying for several nights, it’s usually easiest – and often cheaper – to book accommodation with its own car park.

Always check the description to ensure the space is genuinely private and bookable – the phrase ‘parking nearby’ may simply mean on-street parking.

Find accommodation with parking