My name is Jovana and I was born in Zenica, Bosnia in 1990. This was one year before the war started. In 1995, because of the war, I moved with my family to Serbia to a city in the northern part of the country called Subotica.
Unfortunately, I don’t remember a lot about my early childhood in Bosnia. Although I was born in Bosnia, I see Serbia as my homeland. Due to having lots of relatives who live in Bosnia, I used to visit this country frequently and have many sentimental memories of this wonderful place.
I finished my elementary and high school in Subotica, moved to Novi Sad for my studies and afterwards I got my masters degree in pharmacy. I then enrolled into my PhD studies at the University of Belgrade where I have been living for the past five years. In the meantime, I started travelling. So instead of becoming a pharmacist I ended up becoming a travel blogger!
Exploring the world and experiencing new cultures was always something that I was curious about. So I knew that one day I would need to start travelling to fulfill my passion. You can follow my travels at: @jovana_kvrzic.
Visiting Bosnia in January, 2020
Besides family, I have many friends all over Bosnia. The main reason I visit the country is to spend time with family and friends. I can’t really recall how many times I have visited Bosnia but let’s just say I go at least twice a year.
The last time I visited Bosnia was in January, 2020. I stayed for seven days and travelled to Banja Luka, Kozara, Jajce and Travnik. My favourite place during this trip was Banja Luka as it’s the second largest city and the place with the most diversity, although other places were interesting as well. You need time to see Banja Luka, while other places you can see in a day.
I also loved visiting the old town of Travnik and climbing to the 15th century fortress. It was like being transported back into the middle ages. The sunset at the top of the fortress was spectacular. Highly recommended!
Must-Visit Places in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A must-visit place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, besides Banja Luka and Travnik, is Sarajevo. You can’t visit Bosnia without exploring this city! The food here is awesome and nightlife even better with many clubs and discos to party the night away. Plus, the history of Sarajevo is fascinating.
In winter, visitors should try skiing or snowboarding at one of the many beautiful mountains like Jahorina or Vlasic. In summer, nature-lovers can flock to Sutjeska National Park and the Zelengora mountain range. Kozara National Park is a unique place to visit especially for those who love forests.
If one is looking for a real adventure then try searching for the wild horses of Livno. This expedition is exciting in winter! The only major city in Bosnia that has a seaside is Neum. So head here if you want to relax at the beach. Another summer activity would be rafting or sailing on the Drina River.
Amazing People of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Another highlight of this country is the amazing people. Bosnia is a safe country with the most welcoming locals. Travellers shouldn’t be afraid of visiting, despite the somewhat bad reputation caused by the recent war.
People can speak English too, especially the young ones. So you don’t need an exact plan before coming. It’s easy to make it when you arrive and see in person what you like the most. The locals will give you travel tips on where to go and will open their doors and accept you as part of their family.
My advice is to not be afraid and look to approach people and ask them for help if needed. They will be happy to offer you the best recommendations.
Need to Know Before you Go
The food is absolutely amazing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It’s similar to other parts of the Balkan peninsula. I like to say that the food here is real food. Bosnian cuisine is meat and vegetable based – calorie dense but very delicious. Tourists should try Cevapi, Pljeskavica and Burek. Everywhere you eat in Bosnia will be delicious from the restaurants to the street kiosks!
You can see a lot in Bosnia in 10 days as it’s a small country. I would suggest renting a car and staying in different places because accommodation is affordable. You can find a nice hotel starting from $50 a night. I mostly stay with friends when I visit but I think it would be a unique experience to stay at the Etno villages like Stanisici Etno Village near Bijeljina.
Thanks for reading guys and enjoy your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina!
