Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures

The city that is commonly associated with the siege in the 1990s has plenty more to offer. City that from which First World War started and where you had first Winter Olympic Games  in communistic country have more history to offer. Join us on a journey through the past where the guide will reveal the small and big secrets of this city and introduce you to the mysticism of Sarajevo streets and alleys. The tour will take you to the main sights of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture and will show you a unique line where East meets West. Enjoy the scent of fresh made coffee, flavors from hookah, sound of church bells and call from the minarets. Learn about the assassination that triggered the First World War and discover why Sarajevo is called European Jerusalem. City Hall/National Library Spite House Sarajevo fortresses Streets Bravadziluk and Kazandziluk (old handcrafts) Sebilj Street Saraci Morica han (caravan-saray) Ghazi Husrev Bey's Mosque and Maddresah Clock tower Sarajevo Assassination 1914 Ghazi Husrev Bey's Bazaar Sephardic neighborhood and synagogues Cathedral of Holly Hearth of Jesus Synod Orthodox Church Eternal Flame.

Sarajevo is often called the Jerusalem of Europe. Throughout this tour you will discover how different religions and empires shaped the history of this beautiful city. Join a group of other travelers or have your guide all to yourself in a private group. Your local guide will explain what caused the Sarajevo Assassination of 1914, as well as how this event changed the course of the world’s history. You'll learn how to make and drink Bosnian coffee, before discovering what to eat and where to party during your Sarajevo adventure. You will also find out the differences between the Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian languages, including whether or not the different countries actually need a translator when they speak to each other.

The first stop on your tour will be the city of Konjic, one of the oldest towns in the country with archaeological traces dating back 4,000 years. The written documents date way back from 14th century, but the appearance of the town as it stands today started to form once the Ottomans came onto the scene. Utilizing a well-maintained road, you will then weave through a landscape of beautiful Bosnian canyons, mountains, lakes, and historic towns to reach Sarajevo. Your second stop is the most famous museum: the Tunnel of Hope. There you will learn about the position of the museum and its famous mark in front of the entrance named "Sarajevo Rose". After seeing a short movie, a 1-hour long presentation starts which will explain the fall of Yugoslavia, the war in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the creation and importance of the tunnel.  Following the tunnel, you'll advance towards the 1984 Olympics mountain of Trebević. It is the closest mountain to the center of Sarajevo and was part of the front line during the siege of Sarajevo. At this site you will have the opportunity to see and walk on the former bobsleigh and luge track, experiencing the most beautiful panoramic views of Sarajevo which unfortunately were also the main positions of the enemy army.   Just under the Trebevic Mountain lies the second-largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. The cemetery contains unique-shaped tombstones that can only be seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is believed their shape is influenced by medieval Bosnian tombstones named "Stecak". Once finished with the Jewish Cemetery, you will head to Sarajevo Old Town for a traditional Bosnian lunch. Following lunch the best way to explore the city is a walking tour. Your tour guide will accentuate to you a combination of Oriental, European, and Yugoslav influences, which create uniqueness and beauty seen nowhere else but Sarajevo. You'll see Muslim, Catholic Christian, Orthodox Christian, and Jewish architecture just a few minutes away from each other, whilst listening to Muslim calls to prayer at the same time as the sound of bells from nearby churches. You'll learn about the assassination that triggered World War I, as well as how Muslims and Jews protected each other through the different wars. At the conclusion of your scenic and education experience, it will be time to return to Mostar.

Enjoy your morning and early afternoon with a unique local experience. Treat your senses with traditional delicacies, learn about Bosnian hospitality, and the meaning behind a cup of Bosnian coffee. You can admire the symbol of the Austro-Hungarian rule, hear stories about the House of Spite, and walk through streets where you’ll learn more about different crafts which have existed in Sarajevo since the 15th century. You can discover the heart of Ottoman architecture, Sarajevo’s Baščaršija, before learning of the difference between “burek” and all other pies. Pray in four places of worship in Sarajevo, and find out why people call it a “European Jerusalem”. Later on, you will learn about the local hospitality over a cup of warm Bosnian coffee, as you share the importance and meaning of this special drink.