Sarajevo
 

Anyone ever go there? Any suggestions on where to stay?

Sarajevo is, IMO, delightful!

I stayed at the Kandilj Pension, which is small and not at all fancy, but very well located and very welcoming. It still gets good reviews.

Yes. Loved it. See:

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...ting-sarajevo/

https://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com...rajevo-reborn/

Thanks, kja -- I'll check it out.

thursday - enjoyed reading your postings on Sarajevo & Mostar. Interesting your comment about not taking the train from Mostar to Sarajevo. I have read the opposite on Man in Seat 61.

Glad you enjoyed the blog posts! Am sure you will enjoy Sarajevo.

Mark Smith is a professional train fan. No doubt he would recommend the ferry and train to the poster on another thread who wants to travel from Dublin to Southamptn, even though it would take nearly eleven hours at best (that's using the eight something ferry) and she could fly it in an hour and a half plus travel and wait time.)

I'm sure the scenery is great from the train, but it was fine from the bus and I didn't have to get up as early. Normally I am nealy as big a train fan as Mark Smith, but it's not always the best solution. And the trains in that part of the world can be a bit dire.

I took the train from Sarajevo to Mostar and found it perfectly satisfactory (and the scenery stunning), but that was back in 2009 -- maybe things have changed?

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...306a96fcfb.jpg
Not familiar with Mark Smith, or is he the Man in Seat61? They now have newer Spanish-designed Talgo trains, but the morning train is still at a ghastly hour. There is also a late afternoon one. We will be taking the bus from Dubrovnik to Mostar so I will likely decide after I see what that bus ride is like.

Our daughter and I stayed at Halvat Guesthouse and were extremely pleased with everything. Valida, the owner and host, went above and beyond to assist us and make our stay memorable. This was in 2013, so it's nice to see the guesthouse is still highly rated on TA.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...vo_Canton.html

Yes, Mark Smith is the Man in Seat61.

We were in Sarajevo for the first time last week (2nd trip to Bosnia though). We stayed at the Hotel Old Sarajevo. It was nothing fancy but the location was excellent - steps from sights and restaurants but still quiet at night. I loved Sarajevo and would love to go back. Not sure if anywhere else might be on your itenerary but we drove from Belgrade to Sarajevo (through Tara National Park in Serbia) and the scenery was stunning.

Me and the cook got the train from Mostar to Sarajevo, and back again a week later last October. I think it left Mostar @ 0625 arriving @ 0845. On the return it left Sarajevo @ 0700 and got to Mostar @ 0930. Tickets are very inexpensive.

Both journeys were arguably the best train journeys we've ever had, and there have been lots. The scenery is stunning....hills, valleys, rivers, streams, villages, mist, rain, tunnels short and long. Just like a dream, the train carriage was very comfortable. The carriages had wifi, which tbh with the number of tunnels it kept cutting out. JUST DO IT.

We really enjoyed Sarajevo, it's long and narrow, with hills either side which were used by Serbian snipers during the Yugoslav war in the early 1990s, which made life for the ordinary citizen in Sarajevo literally Hell. There is evidence of the atrocities everywhere, any building that was there then will probably be peppered with bullet holes, or small artillery fire......quite haunting. Why on earth did the World stand back and let it happen!

That said the city is vibrant, lots and lots to see and do. Old and Modern goes together seamlessly.

We stayed in a penthouse apartment on the main thoroughfare appropriately nicknamed 'Sniper Alley'. While the apartment itself was very comfortable, and the owner very helpful, the outside of the building bore plenty of evidence of the struggle.....but that's the norm. Forgive but never Forget.

We stayed for 6 nights, had a great time, but it was also a very humbling experience.

Definitely do the train journey.

Thanks, fourfortravel. I will check out your suggestion. Centrally located is what we want.

bgs08 - wish we were going elsewhere in Bosnia. For this trip its just Mostar and Sarajevo. Most of the trip is focused on Croatia.

LancasterLad - appreciate your train review. It's that 6:25 departure that is the killer. I fear I would sleep the whole trip if I have to get up so early. I thought I saw a late afternoon train. I will need to check. Would you recommend your apt? Do you have a link for it?

In Mostar we stayed at a liitle Motel, 5 minutes easy walk from the Train Station.....Motel Mozart. Paid €35 a night for an ensuite double with breakfast. Comfy and clean, wacky owner. We enjoyed it, and would return. 15 minute easy walk from the Old Town.

I'd definitely go for the early train. The early morning views, shrouded in mist are really dreamy, well worth making the effort for.

Our apartment in Sarajevo was called 'Cute Place @ Fair Price'. I booked it on Booking.com. It was inexpensive, and a fabulous place for us. BUT, being a Penhouse apartment it was on the top floor, no lift, and about 80+ steps.
That didn't bother us, but after a long day of exploring, the steps took a bit of effort. Great views up 'Sniper Alley', excellent wifi, small but adequate shower room, no TV [good]. A good 25 minute walk from the centre, but only a short walk from the train station. On the main tram route, and close to a few museums and the river.

You'll be spoilt for choice, but the closer to the centre the better I reckon. As always read between the lines of reviews, a trusted recommendation is always best.

While you're in Mostar, a half-day or so trip to Medugorje by public bus is very pleasant and interesting. Medugorje is a fairly recently discovered Roman Catholic Pilgrimage Site based on the [apparent] sighting of an apparition of the Virgin Mary. We visited as interested sceptics, and left exactly the same. It's a bit wacky and tacky, but there were thousands of pilgrims from all over the world there when we visited. Nice town, and very atmospheric.

You'll love B&H.

Thanks for the info LL -- I fear 80 steps would be more than my husband would want to do with his ailing knees. It's funny we used to always go for top floor regardless of the # of steps, but that changed last year.