Sarajevo is probably one of the most underestimated cities in Europe and is probably one of the last real insider tips. Despite its proximity to popular holiday destinations such as Dubrovnik and Split, Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of those countries that are only gradually becoming a popular tourist destination.

Besides beautiful nature, you will find incredibly hospitable people, delicious food and a mix of different cultures that is unique in #europe. Hardly any other city combines eastern and western values in such a peaceful and impressive way as #sarajevo. 

Of the approximately 200 mosques you should visit the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque. Built in 1530, it is not only the largest but also one of the oldest mosques in Sarajevo. Also as a tourist you can visit the mosque outside of the prayer times. Please behave respectfully and dress appropriately. You can borrow a headscarf at the entrance.

With its sad history Sarajevo is a true witness of the last centuries. Today #bosniaandherzegovina is a safe country. But it is precisely because of its past that the city is now one of the most impressive #cultural assets of the #balkan region.

The history of Sarajevo goes back to the high middle ages. In the course of time, the city has been plagued by takeovers time and again: once founded as a Slavic settlement, Sarajevo developed into part of the Ottoman Empire, later became part of Austria-Hungary, was in socialist hands after the Second World War and is now a democratic country. 

Many of you may be more familiar with the city because of dark chapters in #history, such as the Bosnian War or the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the Latin Bridge, which led to the First World War in 1914. During the Bosnian war Sarajevo had to resist a four-year siege. Even today, countless scars from that period can be found in the city, reminding us of the dark days of the past. If you walk through the city, you will also discover the one or other rose of Sarajevo. The apparent splashes of paint on the ground of the streets tell a sad story: Everywhere a grenade hit and left holes in the asphalt, the inhabitants filled them up with red resin - in memory of the deceased.

Sarajevo has changed a lot since the end of the war in 1995. That's why you'll find glittering, hip shopping malls here, alongside old Ottoman or magnificent Soviet buildings, and lively, trendy cafés alongside residential buildings with bullet holes.

The old town is the heart of Sarajevo. Pure life cavorts here. Veiled women next to young girls in miniskirts, traditional coppersmiths next to the usual souvenir sellers and Coffee-To-Go next to a café serving traditional Bosnian coffee and tea. As in all of Sarajevo, tradition and modernity go hand in hand here. In the old town you will also find Baščaršija, the big market place, and the Sebilj fountain, a real landmark of the city. Stroll through the narrow streets, visit one of the coffee houses and enjoy the oriental flair.

The Sarajevo Tunnel, which was used during the siege as a transport route for food, medicine, weapons, fuel and also for injured people, can be visited today. From the house of the Kolar family you can walk through a part of the tunnel and get an impression of what life must have been like there at that time. 

Coffee culture and local cuisine

The dough speciality Burek is filled with different fillings like meat, but also with spinach and sheep's cheese.

Ćevapčići is mostly made from lamb or beef. The longish, intensely seasoned minced meat rolls are grilled and usually served pure, but sometimes also with some bread. 

Vegetarians may find it a bit difficult in Sarajevo. The Bosnian cuisine is meat-heavy. Minced meat in dough rolls, minced meat in sauerkraut, minced sausages, lamb on a spit - all these are specialties of the Bosnian cuisine.

Dolma is a local vegetable dish that is sometimes served with or without meat. 

The tea and coffee culture in Sarajevo is as traditional as the local cuisine. The city is teeming with small tea rooms and coffee houses. Bosnian coffee is made in a very special way. The finely ground powder is infused with hot water and then boiled up on the stove. It is accompanied by sugar and a sweet, the Lokum.

Maybe you prefer to enjoy a local beer. Sarajevsko Pivo not only tastes good, but also has a very special meaning for the city. During the siege the brewery in Sarajevo was of immeasurable value because of the water source to which the brewery is connected.