10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Bosnia & Herzegovina

The history of Bosnia and Herzegovina is a complex blend of culture, religion, and an effortless beauty of lush greenery and colourful rooftops. While the masses of media focus on a turbulent past and ever-changing border lines, the Bosnia and Herzegovina that exists today has many more appealing layers beyond a turbulent history, and now presents travellers with a unique opportunity to visit one of the most underrated countries in Europe without hoards of tourists to fight your way through.

Step back in time

This country has something that is hard to find and impossible to mimic – it offers tourists and travellers a time warped experience where you will feel as though you have stepped back in time (in a good way). People drive at a slower pace, vegetables and herbs grow in neighbourhood gardens, the air feels cleaner, everyone knows everyone, and it’s impossible not to immediately begin to appreciate the simpler things in life.

Effortless beauty and epic landscapes

Bosnia and Herzegovina has it all – lush green landscapes, unspoiled nature, incredible views, and enchanting forests that are home to wolves and wild animals. In the south you will also find a small stretch of the coastline with crystal clear waters, but much of the country is home to some of Europe’s most scenic countryside that changes at almost every turn.

Be welcomed into a family home as one of their own

One of the first things I noticed upon arriving into Blagaj, Herzegovina, was the warmest and most hospitable welcoming I have encountered in Europe. The guest house I had booked for my week long stay in this small fisherman’s village just 12kms from popular Mostar was run by a family of four who welcomed me with coffee and chocolate on arrival, a brief introduction to the area and surrounding towns, as well as a comfortably appointed guest room with a cooked breakfast daily. Throughout my stay I was also offered coffee and sweet treats in the afternoon, as well as assistance with my travel plans in the vicinity. 

Get active

Whether you want to bike, hike, raft or swim…. You can do it all in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Activities are of course weather dependent, but all year round you can find something outdoorsy to partake in. My Spring visit was the perfect time to hike around the countryside and explore with absolutely no tourists around and almost perfect weather conditions.

It’s cheap

Budgeting can easily become one of the immediate downfalls to travel, but if you’re travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina you can forget the thought of constantly watching your budget, as it is incredibly cheap to get by with food and living costs (particularly when comparing to other European countries). You could easily get by here for around $30-$50 per day.

Quality food

Not just will you find quality Bosnian food… but also quality produce and products used in the process of making said food. When I asked a local about ‘organic products’ I was greeted with a smile and reassurance that almost everything grown here is organic. You can expect juice oranges, luscious red tomatoes, and whatever else you can think of.

A central base to explore the nearby Balkans

The positioning just out of Mostar in Blagaj was the perfect base to see the nearby countries and towns. From here it was easy to access Mostar, Dubrovnik (Croatia), and Budva (Montenegro) – three ‘must-sees’ during the visit to this area.

Diversity

The culture of Sarajevo, the nature in the countryside, the warm welcoming in the villages…. Everywhere you look in Bosnia and Herzegovina is so diverse and eclectic that it is difficult to pinpoint just one facet of the country that makes you fall in love with it so easily.

Tourism is still picking up here

The war that ended in 1995 has sadly had a lasting impact on the countries’ tourism industry. This was a devastating era in Bosnia’s history with over 100,000 people losing their lives during the war. Even today there are still prominent signs of the war throughout the country, with derelict buildings and bullet holes in walls. But to say this is reflective of the B&H of the present day is to severely misconstrue reality. Season by season, the country is seeing more and more visitors make their way here to discover the beauty on offer… so it’s just a matter of time before tourism really kicks into overdrive. Now is the perfect time to visit B&H.

Visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina helps the future of the country

Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a turbulent past, which has proven to be a reputation that has been hard to shake. Visiting the country not only supports the economy, but will also boost tourism and the future prospects of the country. Without a doubt the country has re-opened its doors to tourism, which is constantly on the increase, but the country is still relatively undermined for all it has to offer. This creates a win-win for tourists and locals alike as the country continues to rebuild in the 21st Century.

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