How Expensive Is Sarajevo? My £311 Trip & 2026 Travel Costs
Some hotel, tour and photo links are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The photos of my actual trip are my own; linked hotels or tours are separate booking options.
Sarajevo is one of the most affordable capital cities I've visited in Europe, and a brilliant choice if you want a city break that feels a little different from the usual destinations. It has a fascinating mix of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture, wonderful food, traditional coffee shops and dramatic scenery beyond the historic centre.
But how expensive is Sarajevo really? I travelled there with two friends for a short, two-night trip after finding an incredibly cheap flight. I'd just returned from New York, where almost everything seemed to cost a small fortune, so this time I wanted somewhere interesting without spending too much.
My entire trip cost £311 per person, including return flights, two nights of accommodation, food, taxis and sightseeing. Below is exactly how that money was spent, followed by useful 2026 prices for planning your own visit.
Sarajevo Trip Costs at a Glance
| Expense | What I paid (per person) |
|---|---|
| Return flights | £48 |
| Two nights in a shared apartment | £80 |
| Food, local travel, sightseeing & other spending | £183 |
| Total trip cost | £311 |
| Equivalent per day across two days, including flights | £155.50 |
We were a group of three, so sharing the apartment and some taxi costs made a big difference. The £183 figure already contains my other spending: it is not an additional budget to which you should add the same taxi, cash withdrawal or restaurant expenses again.
About the dates: £311 is what I actually spent on my own trip, not a guaranteed October 2026 package price. The newer transport and attraction fees below are labelled separately.
Is Sarajevo Cheap or Expensive?
Sarajevo is relatively inexpensive compared with many Western European capitals, especially for restaurants, local transport and comfortable accommodation. You can have a proper meal for a few pounds, enjoy excellent Bosnian coffee without worrying about the bill and see much of the city on foot.
What I liked most is that it didn't feel like a budget holiday. We had a great apartment, fantastic food and more than enough to keep us occupied. The biggest variable is likely to be your flight price, followed by whether you're travelling alone or can share accommodation.
How Much Should You Budget Per Day?
| Travel style | Suggested daily budget |
|---|---|
| Budget | £25–£40 |
| Comfortable mid-range | £50–£90 |
| Higher-end | £100–£200+ |
These are planning allowances excluding return flights, not fixed prices. The actual cost depends on your hotel, what you eat and how many paid attractions you visit. As my own trip demonstrates, very cheap flights can make a short stay particularly attractive.
I loved the atmosphere around Baščaršija. Even when you're travelling on a budget, simply wandering around the fountain, coffee shops and market streets is one of the best things to do.
What Currency Does Sarajevo Use?
Bosnia and Herzegovina uses the convertible mark, written KM or BAM. It is pegged to the euro at €1 = 1.95583 KM. Exchange rates against sterling and dollars fluctuate, so the equivalents below are only rough guides.
| Bosnian marks | GBP approx. | USD approx. |
|---|---|---|
| 5 KM | £2.17 | $2.86 |
| 10 KM | £4.33 | $5.73 |
| 20 KM | £8.67 | $11.46 |
| 50 KM | £21.67 | $28.65 |
| 100 KM | £43.34 | $57.30 |
I used cash for a lot of my everyday spending and withdrew £130 during the trip. Cards are widely accepted in hotels and many established restaurants, but I'd carry some local currency for small cafés, markets and incidental purchases.
My Actual Sarajevo Trip Cost: £311
Return Flights: £48
I paid just £48 return, which is an excellent fare for a European city break. Sarajevo had been on my list for years, and when I found flights that cheap the decision was easy. Of course, fares change by date and baggage requirements, and you shouldn't assume you'll find the same deal.
Two Nights' Accommodation: £80 Each
My two friends and I booked a lovely Airbnb apartment with several rooms and plenty of character. The whole apartment was £240 for two nights, divided equally between us, so my share came to £80 — effectively £40 per night. It was comfortable, nicely decorated and suited a relaxed city break much better than three separate hotel rooms.
My own Airbnb apartment, not one of the Expedia properties featured below.
General Spending: £183
My remaining £183 covered meals, coffee shops, taxis, sightseeing and other purchases. Our pre-booked airport taxi was £15 in total, or just £5 each. I also withdrew £130 in cash to cover much of the day-to-day spending.
Our most indulgent meal was a brilliant evening at Klopa, with a bill of about £90 for three — £30 each. Even with that meal included, my full two-night trip still finished at £311 per person. I thought it was excellent value.
Flights to Sarajevo: What Should You Budget?
Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) is the main arrival point. From the UK, check direct options from London and connecting services via hubs such as Istanbul, Vienna or Munich. Airlines and frequencies can change by season, so confirm the route for your actual dates.
For an initial search, I'd allow around £60–£150 return, with the understanding that this is a planning budget rather than a currently bookable quote. My £48 fare shows that cheaper deals can appear. Always compare the final price with cabin bags, checked luggage and travel to your departure airport included.
Getting from Sarajevo Airport to the Centre
By road, the airport is typically around 20–30 minutes from central Sarajevo in normal conditions, although traffic and your hotel location will affect that.
Airport Bus
The airport publishes a city connection serving areas including Baščaršija/Bentbaša. Its advertised single fare is 5 KM (about £2.17 / $2.86), making it very good value. Check the current departure times and luggage rules with Sarajevo Airport, particularly if your flight arrives late.
Taxi or Pre-Booked Airport Transfer
We paid £15 in total for our pre-booked taxi. Split between three, that was only £5 each and saved us the hassle of finding local transport with bags. A taxi or private transfer can be worthwhile if you're arriving late or aren't staying on the bus route.
Sarajevo Airport Shuttle Service
Pre-book a pickup between Sarajevo Airport and your accommodation; check service details and your flight time.
View tour & prices →
Once you've reached the centre, it's an easy place to explore on foot. There are interesting buildings and streets almost everywhere you look, which is part of why I enjoyed Sarajevo so much.
How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Sarajevo?
You don't need to stay in a hostel to keep costs down. Sarajevo has private apartments, guesthouses and comfortable hotels across a wide price range. I'd use these indicative nightly search budgets rather than treat them as guaranteed live quotes.
| Accommodation type | Approximate nightly budget |
|---|---|
| Hostel/basic room | £15–£30 |
| Guesthouse or apartment | £30–£70 |
| Comfortable mid-range hotel | £50–£100 |
| Higher-end hotel | £100–£160+ |
For a short stay, I would put location before luxury. Baščaršija and the Old Town are ideal for walking to restaurants, museums and markets. Central pedestrian streets nearby also work well. Further-out accommodation can be good value if you're close to transport.
Six Sarajevo Accommodation Options
These are the accommodation affiliate links from my original guide. They are alternative places to stay, not hotels I personally stayed in. Click to check prices for your dates.
Old Town Lubina Design Apartments
A characterful Old Town apartment option.
Check rooms & prices →
A Peaceful and Spacious Getaway in Sarajevo
Three-bedroom option; check recent guest reviews carefully.
Check rooms & prices →
Malak Regency Hotel
A larger hotel with indoor pool and spa facilities, outside the Old Town.
Check rooms & prices →
Hotel President Sarajevo
Central option close to the historic sights.
Check rooms & prices →
Hotel Old Sarajevo
Simple, contemporary Old Town accommodation.
Check rooms & prices →
Old Town Toplik Design Apartment
Apartment-style option near the old town, pictured on a sister Expedia Group listing.
Check rooms & prices →Hotel photos are supplied in the linked accommodation listings. These are booking alternatives, not properties I personally stayed in. Check guest reviews, dates and conditions before booking.
The links above are Expedia affiliate links. Hotel availability and prices vary by date and are not verified live rates.
The old town sits in a valley surrounded by green hills. It's a striking setting for a European capital, and I found plenty of good places to photograph the city while exploring.
Food and Drink Prices in Sarajevo
This was one of the best parts of the trip. The portions can be generous, there are excellent local dishes, and stopping for coffee needn't cost much at all.
The following are examples from my original Sarajevo guide, rather than individually verified menus from October 2026. They are useful for budgeting but shouldn't be treated as prices every restaurant currently charges.
| Food or drink | Example price | GBP / USD approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Bosnian coffee | 2–3 KM | £0.87–£1.30 / $1.15–$1.72 |
| Single portion of burek | 3–6 KM | £1.30–£2.60 / $1.72–$3.44 |
| Ćevapi, depending on portion size | 7–21 KM | £3.03–£9.10 / $4.01–$12.03 |
| Mid-range restaurant main | 17–24 KM | £7.37–£10.40 / $9.74–$13.75 |
| Soft drink | 3–4 KM | £1.30–£1.73 / $1.72–$2.29 |
| Local beer | 5–6 KM | £2.17–£2.60 / $2.86–$3.44 |
| More expensive steak dish | About 42 KM | £18.20 / $24.07 |
Try Ćevapi and Burek
Ćevapi — small grilled sausages served with soft somun bread, onion and often kajmak — is one of the classic dishes to try. It's filling and relatively inexpensive. Burek and other pastries are also good choices when you want a quick meal between sightseeing stops.
Traditional Bosnian Coffee
Sarajevo has a wonderful coffee culture. Traditional Bosnian coffee often arrives in a copper pot with a small cup, sugar and water. Stopping for one is as much about the ritual as the drink itself, and it's a good excuse to sit for a while instead of rushing around the city.
My Favourite Restaurant in Sarajevo: Klopa
One of the absolute highlights was our meal at Klopa. The place was packed, but we managed to get a table. Our waiter then launched into a bizarre, hilarious performance, pretending we had a reservation and jokingly swearing at us. It was one of the funniest restaurant experiences I've had.
After that, he recommended a large mixed platter. Thankfully, we listened: it was loaded with meats, potatoes and vegetables, and tasted fantastic. We were told the ingredients had come fresh from the farm that day, and the meal genuinely lived up to the build-up.
We paid about £90 for three people, or £30 each. That was much more than a simple local lunch would cost, but it was among the best meals I ate that year. I'd happily go back.
How Much Does Transport Cost in Sarajevo?
The Old Town and many central sights are very walkable. For longer journeys, there are trams, buses, trolleybuses and taxis.
The local transport operator GRAS currently advertises a single ticket from 2.20 KM (about £0.95 / $1.26) and a day ticket of 7.10 KM (about £3.08 / $4.07). You can check the latest information at GRAS.
Short taxi journeys are generally reasonable, although the fare depends on the distance and operator. If you're travelling as a couple or group, the cost of an occasional taxi can be worthwhile.
How Much Do Sarajevo Attractions Cost in 2026?
Sarajevo has plenty of interesting attractions, including museums exploring its history and the former Olympic sites in the surrounding hills. Several worthwhile experiences are free; others are still modestly priced by European city-break standards.
| Attraction | Published price / planning guide | GBP / USD approx. |
|---|---|---|
| War Childhood Museum | 15 KM | £6.50 / $8.60 |
| National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 20 KM | £8.67 / $11.46 |
| History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 KM | £4.33 / $5.73 |
| Sarajevo Museum 1878–1918 | 5 KM | £2.17 / $2.86 |
| Trebević Cable Car return — visitors | About 30 KM; reconfirm | £13.00 / $17.19 |
| Cable Car + City Hall promotion | 35 KM; time-limited offer | £15.17 / $20.05 |
Published prices researched in October 2026; not prices I necessarily paid personally. Confirm museum rates and cable-car promotions before travelling.
War Childhood Museum
This is one of the most moving museums I've visited. It uses personal objects and memories to tell the stories of people whose childhoods were affected by war, rather than focusing only on military events. Adult admission is currently listed at 15 KM on the museum's official visitor information page.
Trebević Cable Car and the Olympic Bobsleigh Track
One of Sarajevo's most memorable excursions is the cable car up Mount Trebević. The views are fantastic, and from the upper station you can explore walking trails and visit the abandoned 1984 Winter Olympics bobsleigh track, now covered in colourful graffiti.
The usual visitor return fare is around 30 KM (£13.00 / $17.19), but confirm the current price and whether a combined City Hall promotion is available.
Important October 2026 update: the cable car has announced scheduled maintenance closures on 19–21 and 26–28 October, with further closures earlier in the month. Outside those special closures, the operator publishes opening hours on its website. Do not rely on older opening-hour information: check the official cable car website for your date.
The abandoned Olympic bobsleigh track was one of my favourite places to photograph. The graffiti and woodland make it feel very different from the city centre below.
Other Museums and Sarajevo City Hall
For natural history, archaeology and more, consider the National Museum, which lists adult admission at 20 KM. The History Museum is also interesting, while the small Sarajevo Museum 1878–1918 near Latin Bridge is convenient to combine with an Old Town walk.
Sarajevo City Hall is particularly photogenic and worth visiting for its beautiful interior and history. If you plan to visit it alongside the cable car, check whether the combined ticket offer remains valid. The published autumn 2026 promotion was 35 KM for non-residents, with an advertised end date of 31 December 2026.
Are Guided Tours in Sarajevo Worth It?
Absolutely, especially if you want to understand the city's complicated history. I enjoyed wandering independently, but a local guide can add context that isn't always obvious simply by looking at the buildings.
Sarajevo Old Town Walking Tour
A two-hour introduction to Baščaršija, cultural landmarks and the Latin Bridge with a local guide.
View tour & prices →
Mostar, Blagaj & Počitelj Day Tour
Explore historic Herzegovina towns on a full-day trip; confirm all current stops before booking.
View tour & prices →
Sutjeska National Park Hike
Mountain scenery and walking in Sutjeska National Park. This is a separate excursion from Trebević.
View tour & prices →Check each tour's current itinerary and departure point carefully; the linked tours are optional experiences and are not included in my £311 spending total.
Free Things to Do in Sarajevo
Not everything needs a ticket. Some of the best things to do are simply walking the streets of Baščaršija, exploring the market lanes, looking at the changing architecture, photographing the river and bridges, and enjoying the atmosphere in the squares.
Sarajevo is particularly interesting because of the transition between Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian buildings. There's plenty to discover at street level even on a tight budget, and its surrounding hills also give the city a wonderful setting.
Is Two Days Enough for Sarajevo?
Yes. I think two or three days is a good length for a first visit. Sarajevo isn't enormous, and you can see a lot without racing between attractions. Two days gives you time for the Old Town, local food and perhaps a museum or cable car trip. Three days gives you more time to relax or explore further.
I'd stay longer if you want to include a full-day excursion to Mostar or the surrounding mountains.
Why I Chose Sarajevo
I had just come back from New York, and everything about that trip felt expensive. I wanted another little break but not another huge bill. Bosnia and Herzegovina had been on my list for years, and I'd previously travelled around other parts of the Balkans, so Sarajevo was a destination I was excited finally to visit.
It was exactly the sort of trip I wanted: fascinating history, fantastic food, interesting architecture and enough time to enjoy the place without trying to see everything. The total of £311 was the icing on the cake.
If you enjoy affordable and less obvious European destinations, have a look at my other article: Five Short European City Breaks I Personally Recommend.
Sarajevo Travel Costs: FAQs
Is Sarajevo expensive for tourists?
Generally no. Compared with many Western European capitals, local food, transport and accommodation can be excellent value.
How much did my Sarajevo trip cost?
£311 per person for two nights, including £48 flights, £80 for my share of the apartment and £183 of general spending.
How much money should I take for two days?
For a comfortable, cost-conscious visit, a planning budget of around £100–£180 per person excluding flights can be reasonable, but the actual total depends on hotel prices and how much sightseeing you do.
What is the currency in Sarajevo?
The convertible mark (KM/BAM), which is pegged to the euro. Carry a little cash even if you normally pay by card.
How much is a tram ticket?
GRAS currently lists a standard single fare from 2.20 KM (about £0.95 / $1.26).
How much is a Bosnian coffee?
My original guide used 2–3 KM as a typical example, although prices vary by café and may have changed.
Can you pay by card in Sarajevo?
Yes, in many larger businesses, hotels and restaurants, but cash remains useful for smaller purchases.
Is Sarajevo worth visiting for a weekend?
Definitely. Two or three days is a great introduction, especially if you enjoy food, history, photography and characterful cities.
Final Verdict: Is Sarajevo a Good Budget City Break?
Absolutely. I managed a full two-night break for £311 per person without feeling that I was missing out. We stayed somewhere comfortable, ate fantastic food, explored properly and enjoyed experiences that felt very different from the usual European city break.
I particularly loved the coffee culture, historic streets, great food and the abandoned Olympic bobsleigh track. Sarajevo is one of the best-value European city breaks I've personally experienced, and somewhere I'd happily return to.
Last researched: October 2026. Personal spending is from my original trip. Attraction prices, fares, tour itineraries and currency conversions can change; always check current official prices before travelling.
