Bosnia and Herzegovina is a beautiful state of South-Eastern Europe. The mountainous country amazes the imagination with picturesque landscapes and ancient architecture. And what to bring from Bosnia and Herzegovina to preserve the memories of the trip?
Food and drink
Perhaps the products of local winemakers have not yet won worldwide fame, but they definitely deserve it. Experienced travelers are advised to try on the spot and take with them: wine ("Zhilavka", "Gargash"); grape vodka ("Rakia"); homemade grape-based moonshine; beer (based on millet or barley with the addition of orchid roots).
Alcohol can be exported duty-free in unlimited quantities. You can also take away food from local farmers as an edible gift. The most common crop in Bosnia and Herzegovina is olives. As a souvenir, it is recommended to buy several jars of rare varieties. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted with local sweets: puff pastry with different fillings; rolls soaked in fruit syrups; baked nuts and plums.
Gift sets of sweets with halva, baklava or Turkish delight are often bought. Despite the fact that they belong to oriental cuisine, such edible souvenirs are in constant demand among tourists.
Handicraft products
You always want a thing bought as a keepsake to be not only beautiful, but also practical. Tourists visiting Sarajevo are best off looking for gifts at Bash Chariya, a market in the Old Town area.
Here you will find truly unique handicrafts, original souvenirs, and handicrafts. And on the next street you can walk through modern shops selling branded and designer clothes. Sheep wool products are very often on sale. You can safely buy these things. After all, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a mountainous country in which sheep breeding is very developed. This means that the goods of local farmers will be of high quality.
There is a wide range of woolen products on the market: from carpets to sweaters. Moreover, they can be made using completely different technologies: knitted or woven by hand and on looms, made by felting wool.
Bosnian kilims are very beautiful - smooth, double-sided handmade carpets. Local carpets are distinguished by original geometric patterns and bright colors. A distinctive feature of kilim is the absence of images of people and animals.
No matter how beautiful and valuable the kilims are, not everyone can bring such a gift home. Firstly, carpets are quite expensive. Secondly, they take up a lot of space in your luggage. But tourists always have plenty to choose from. Bosnia and Herzegovina has established itself in Europe and the world as a manufacturer of quality textiles and clothing. Therefore, you can buy a bag, pillow covers, bedspreads or bed linen as a souvenir.
When purchasing clothes or textiles, you should pay attention to things and traditional embroidery of the serpent. This technique is characterized by geometric patterns of dark blue threads. Handmade embroidered scarves and elements of national costume are an integral part of the original culture of the Balkan state.
What to bring from Bosnia and Herzegovina as a souvenir?
In markets and souvenir shops you can find a wide variety of items made of gold, silver or copper. Moreover, it can be not only dishes or decor items, but also jewelry. As an original and stylish gift, a woman should buy a Bosnian belenzuk.
In private shops that manufacture and sell handmade items, you can always find interesting items at a relatively inexpensive price. It can be leather shoes with national ornaments, bags made of various materials, toys, accessories and household items.
The products of local wood carvers can be found almost everywhere. Jewelry, plates, spoons, boxes and other decorative items will become a practical and interesting souvenir. In 1984, the country hosted the Winter Olympics. Therefore, you can still buy a small present with Olympic symbols in souvenir shops. The most unusual souvenir sold in Sarajevo is the articles made from shells and bullets, converted into various household items.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a religious country. A traveler who finds himself in the Medjugorje region can visit a sacred place for believers: the Apparition Hill and the temple. Here you can buy statuettes of the Virgin Mary of various sizes: from a small figurine to a 2 m high statue.
Those who are far from religion can limit themselves to a standard set of souvenirs. Fridge magnets depicting local attractions, sets of gift cards and books, T-shirts with national symbols and many other things are sold at every turn.
