The growth rate of Bosnian tourism has been immense, increasing by about a quarter year on year since the end of the war in the middle of the nineties. Most of the sites are of a historical and cultural nature with skiing and ecotourism also proving popular. Basically there is something for everyone; a wonderful and attractive mix of sites a which are, because of the size of the country, is easy to reach.

Natural Sights

If skiing is your thing then you needn’t look any further than the Jahorina Mountain, which hosted the XIV Winter Olympics. The slopes, which have seen the skiing world greats, can also be used by you and what’s more, it’s only little way form the capital and so can make a perfect day trip as well as a suitable place for a longer stay. If you fancy something which is a little more challenging then the Bjelasnica Mountain is also well worth a visit. This is a good spot for cross country or down hill skiing, and if you come in the summer months then it makes a perfect walking or biking environment. Of course you don’t have to be so active, as you can just sit and take in the wonderful scenery or wander round the ancient highland villages.

Maybe your trip is set around discovering some of the country’s most amazing natural sights and places of outstanding beauty. If so, then a good place to start would be the Sutjeska National Park which as well as housing one of Europe’s last remaining primeval forests in Perucica is also locally well known as the place where peasants rose up and defeated a large German army in World War Two. You could spend days, weeks or months getting lost in the forest and the mountains; whether you want to swim, hike, bike or just relax it is a wonderful place for those who have a love of the great outdoors.

The Kravica Waterfalls are created from the Trebizat River, which itself brings life into a dry region, and both are refreshing sights for the traveller’s eyes. The waterfall is one hundred metres long and falls twenty five metres before crashing into the river below. You can swim here (but don’t get too close to the edge) or wonder in the local area which offers those who look hard enough even more natural treats. For those beach bums among you, you can head down to Neum which has become an important seaside resort over recent years and is a nice place for topping up the tan.

Finally, the Jajce and the Pliva Lake region offer the visitor wonderful aqua delights including the large water fall at the heart of Jajce city, itself a pace of historical interest because of its role as the last stronghold of the Bosnian kings as well as good opportunities for swimming in the lakes which are found in the area immediately surrounding the city.

Religious

One of the most important points for Catholic Pilgrimages is the formally little village of Medugorje, ever since teenagers saw a vision of the Virgin Mary back in the 1980s. Even if you are not that way inclined, then its still interesting from an observational point of view as you can see how a place can be transformed into an area of immense international importance from sleepy village. Meanwhile the Tekija (Blagaj) has been important in the religious world since the sixteenth century, when the dervish order monastery was built. As well was the stunning structure, the area is also beautiful and it makes a brilliant photo opportunity as the monastery sits at the largest source for the Herzegovina, pouring from a cave at the bottom of a gigantic cliff face. The Tvrdos Monastery is also an interesting place to visit with frescoes of outstanding beauty and icons in the complex dating back to the 5th and 6th century.

Towns and Historical Sights

If historical sites are your cup of tea then Sarajevo's Bascarsija (Old Town) is a must see. This part of Sarajevo has been an important place since the 15th Century when it was a prime location or trading and meeting, as it sat on the trade route between the Middle East and the west. It is a stunning and charming market centre, so even if you haven’t come to sell anything you can still marvel at the beauty of the place and leave happy. Further historical beauty and an east-west meeting point can be found in the shape of Mostar's Stari Most (Old Bridge) which has been described as the ‘finest example of Ottoman ingenuity and Dalmatian masonry in the western Balkans.’ Stretching across the Neretva River it is a wonder to behold.

A town which still maintains rural tranquillity is Kraljeva Sutjeska, which was once a medieval seat of the Bosnian Kingdom. The wonderful fort, Franciscan monastery and the county’s oldest mosque provide the visitor with more than enough to do. Meanwhile a visit to Travnik will allow you to see why the town was once called the European Istanbul. The fortress and ancient Mosque jut out from the city and this, coupled with the charming original style Bosnian architecture gives the place a really special feeling.