- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel or apartment
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- The perfect trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which appeared on the world map in the 90s of the last century as a result of the division of Yugoslavia, cannot yet boast of large tourist flows, unlike its closest neighbors in the Balkan Peninsula. But the huge natural and cultural potential of the country and the desire for the well-being and prosperity of its inhabitants are gradually changing the situation in favor of the republic. Russian tourists can now also feel the special favor of the Bosnians - the visa regime for Russian citizens has been canceled and travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer associated with additional bureaucratic delays.
Important points
- If you are going on a trip for no more than 30 days, and the purpose of the visit is tourism, you only need a valid foreign passport. Sometimes border guards are interested in health insurance and a return ticket, but this is more the exception than the rule.
- In order to easily exchange the unused currency of the country for euros on departure, you must save the receipt from the bank or exchange office about its purchase.
- In the provinces, credit cards are rarely accepted, and ATMs are not found everywhere. Therefore, when going to the Bosnian hinterland, grab some cash.
Choosing wings
Directly Moscow and Sarajevo are connected only by charters, which are raised in winter, when the active skiing season begins on the ski slopes. In the rest of the year, it will be possible to get to Bosnia and Herzegovina only with transit connections:
- The cheapest Turkish low-cost airline Pegasus Airlines carries passengers from the Russian to the Bosnian capital. In the sky, excluding the transfer in Istanbul, you will have to spend about 5 hours, and pay 180 euros for a ticket.
- The budget flight option is offered by Air Serbia. In this case, the connection will be in Belgrade, the travel time is reduced to 4 hours excluding the transfer, and the ticket will cost 215 euros.
- With a connection in Vienna and Frankfurt, Austrian airlines and Lufthansa aircraft fly from Moscow to Sarajevo. The price of the issue is from 225 euros.
The second route to the Balkan Republic lies through Montenegro or Croatia, where you can fly directly from Russia. Bus and rail transportation is organized from Podgorica and Dubrovnik, but in the second case, the traveler will need a Schengen visa in the passport.
Hotel or apartment
The hotel fund in the country is very diverse, and before going on a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you should carefully study the reviews of guests about this or that hotel. There are few new hotels in the country, and the old ones represent a rather rare heritage of socialist times.
Prices for "five" in Sarajevo traditionally start at 100 euros, and there are very few truly ideal hotels with so many stars on the facade, even in the capital. More affordable 3 * hotels are numerous and you can spend a night in one of them without much effort for 25-35 euros. Many of the "treshki" are private suites with great reviews, offering guests cleanliness, comfort and great service with free internet and parking to boot.
It is best to book private houses and apartments on specialized sites on the Internet in order to avoid fraud and disappointment.
Transport subtleties
Public transport in the cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented by traditional buses. Some cities have tram and trolleybus lines. The fare for any type of transport is about 1 euro. If you have a rich excursion program and many transfers, it is better to stock up on a travel card. A daily ticket will cost a little less than 3 euros.
It is convenient to travel between cities by trains or buses. It is important to buy tickets in advance, especially when it comes to weekends or holidays. The republic, not too recovered from the war, does not yet have a sufficient number of vehicles, and therefore they are often overcrowded. Trains in the country are not too new and one should not expect much comfort from such a trip. The buses, on the other hand, are modern, air-conditioned and very comfortable. They can be "caught" at intermediate stops between cities. Usually there is a conductor in the salon, from whom the ticket is purchased.
Intercity bus fares are not very high. For example, to get from Sarajevo to Banja Luka, you have to pay 15 euros.
EuroLines buses are also suitable for traveling to neighboring countries. You can get to Vienna from Sarajevo for 50 euros, to Ljubljana for 45 euros, and to Belgrade for 22 euros.
If you decide to use a taxi service, be sure to negotiate the price before getting into the car.
Nightingales are not fed with fables
Local cafes and restaurants offer a wide range of Balkan dishes based on fish and meat, vegetables and fruits, dairy products and sweets. If you choose a cafe without any special claims and big names, a hearty lunch of the first, second, pastries and tea will cost 10 euros, and the portions in local establishments are so solid that one hot one can easily feed two. For meat soup or pasta, a visitor will be asked for 2.5-4 euros, and a salad of fresh vegetables will cost from 1.5 to 3 euros.
Local wines are inexpensive and delicious. You can diversify your table with a bottle of dry red wine in a restaurant for 6-8 euros, and in a store the same bottle will cost from 3 to 5 euros.
Useful details
- The closest neighbor of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Montenegro, which also does not require Russian citizens to have a visa in their passport. Resting in the Balkans, you can visit two states at once without additional costs and efforts.
- Dollars are not popular in the country, they are not accepted everywhere and are exchanged at a not very favorable rate. But the euro can not only be exchanged, but also offered in many places as a means of payment.
- You can get from the airport to Sarajevo by taxi or tram, however, in the second case, it will take about 10 minutes to get to the stop. The price of the issue is 5-6 and 1.5 euros, respectively.
- Some road sections in Bosnia and Herzegovina are subject to toll charges. Keep this in mind when planning to rent a car. Daytime running lights and wearing seat belts are mandatory for all passengers and the driver. The use of anti-radars is prohibited.
- The cost of gasoline in the country is approximately 1, 1 euro per liter.
The perfect trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
The moderate continental climate of the republic provides its residents and guests with pleasant and comfortable weather throughout the year. In summer, it is warm and rather dry here, and the thermometers show an average of + 26 ° C in July. In winter, it can be down to –2 ° С on the plains, while in the mountains it is much colder - down to –10 ° С.
The ski season on the slopes opens at the end of November, when a stable snow cover sets in. Comfortable skiing continues until mid-April.
On the beaches of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Neum resort, the first vacationers appear at the end of May. In summer, the air and water warm up to + 29 ° С and + 25 ° С, respectively, and the tourist season on the Bosnian Riviera ends at the end of September.
The best time for excursions to the cities of the country is the end of spring and the first half of autumn. At this time, precipitation is unlikely, and the thermometers show the most pleasant temperature values for long walks.
