Bosnians are very child friendly and kids will be extremely well looked after in most establishments. Special highlights for the young, and the young at heart, include the beaches on the Adriatic Sea, wildlife and an annual festival celebrating the young generation. Many children will also like to enjoy the excellent winter sports facilities in the mountains near Sarajevo.

Adriatic Sea
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tiny strip of Adriatic Sea coast is a wonderful beach paradise for old and young alike. The country’s little claim to the sea is called Neum, a newly built resort town just an hour’s drive from the famous cities of Dubrovnik and Mostar. Neum offers sandy beaches and an abundance of water sports in the crystal clear waters of the Adriatic. Located just north of the Peljesac Peninsula, the Neum Bay is a wonderful place for family holidays with many full service hotels offering complete programmes for families.

Hutovo Blato Bird Reserve 
This is the largest reserve of its kind in this part of Europe. Over 240 types of migratory birds visit here and dozens make these sub-Mediterranean wetlands surrounding Deransko Lake their permanent home. During the migration season, tens of thousands of birds flock to the lake and its surroundings. 

The best way to get up close to the birds is to rent a boat, which are available from the reserve's only hotel. The reserve is a unique sanctuary in the middle of the harsh, parched karsts of western Herzegovina. Swarming with freshwater fish, wild duck, geese, coots, hawks, herons, pheasants, wild boar and wild horses, it welcomes birdwatchers, nature lovers and families with children alike. For the younger ones, there is a very short but pretty educational walk starting from the hotel. (http://www.hutovo-blato.ba/)

Kid’s Festival
The annual Kid’s Festival in Sarajevo is the biggest independent children’s event in south-eastern Europe. It is eagerly awaited and expected by all children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The festival is a unique blend of education and fun, held over one week and offering a range of over 20 activities and movies each day. These include: creative, artistic and pedagogic workshops, international booths, performances, magic shows, jugglers and dancers. The main show puts on a wide and popular collection of cartoons and feature movies for kids. (www.kidsfest.ba/2006/index.php?lang=en)

Bosnia-Herzegovina is a sportsman’s paradise, with a range of water sports, winter sports and adventure activities on offer. The capital, Sarajevo, hosted the 1984 Olympic Winter Games. Hiking and walking through the highlands and white-water rafting and kayaking down some of Europe’s most testing rivers is exciting and fun for beginners and pros alike. Further options include fishing, mountain biking and paragliding.

Eco Adventures
The Central Dinaric Alps offer wild and untouched wilderness which are a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The diversity of the landscapes and eco-systems has created a stunning example of the wonders of nature. Trekking through the mountains and sampling the ancient lifestyles flourishing in the highlands are memorable experiences. White-water rafting and kayaking can be enjoyed on some of Europe’s most challenging rivers with a range of difficulty levels available. Visitors can also find world class fly fishing rivers and an abundance of animal life, including bears, wolves, chamois, eagles and deer for nature watching. Mountain biking, paragliding and fishing can also be enjoyed in the mountains and rivers.

Spas
Bosnia comes from the term ‘bosana’, meaning water, and the country is home to a large number of pristine rivers as well as thermal springs. The country has invested heavily in modernising and upgrading its thermal spa facilities and can offer guests world class spa treatments for just a fraction of the price of its European neighbours. Spa facilities can be found in 19 locations throughout the country, so visitors can enjoy being pampered wherever they decide to go. The Terme in Sarajevo is ideally located close to the city centre and the Bjelasnica/Igman ski centre. The spas in Teslic, Fojnica and Banja Luka also provide spas services featuring modern facilities and sporting beautiful natural surroundings.

Winter sports
The mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina provide a perfect climate for winter sports from December to March, with plentiful and consistent snowfall. With modern facilities and a vast choice of quality accommodation, Sarajevo is among the best skiing resorts in south-eastern Europe. Snowboarding, snow shoeing, cross country and tour skiing are all popular activities in addition to downhill skiing in the mountains.

Sarajevo is not the only ski centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Near the old town of Travnik, Vlasic Mountain is the prime ski resort in central Bosnia. With several new hotels and pensions sprouting up, Vlasic features high on the agenda of many winter sport enthusiasts.

Western Bosnia is home to two great off-the-beaten track ski and snow boarding destinations. Kupres and Blidinje Nature Park are located in the vast wilderness area in the country’s far west.

As elsewhere in the Balkans, cuisine in Bosnia-Herzegovina tends to be rich and relying heavily on dairy products and meat, particularly beef, lamb and pork, which is often grilled or barbecued. People usually shop for ingredients daily. Meat is always well prepared and often organic. In the towns and cities, a wide variety of quality restaurants can be found serving mainly Italian, Mediterranean, Viennese and traditional cuisine.

A popular entree is Bosanski lonac, a mixture of meat and vegetables slow roasted and served in a ceramic pot with a long, wide neck. Other popular dishes are japrak, cabbage rolls stuffed with meat and rice and pies such as sirnica, made with cheese, and zeljanica, made with spinach. Fresh fish is eaten close to seaside areas. Many Bosnian dishes, such as shish kebabs and burek, a kind of pastry filled with meat, bear testimony to the influence of Turkish cuisine.

Bosnians often drink beer and sometimes wine to accompany their meals and many local varieties are available. Men also like locally produced rakija (brandy), which comes in several flavours, such as grape and plum. The wine-making tradition of Herzegovina dates back to Roman times and as for price and quality the savoury reds and dry whites of Herzegovina easily take their deserved place in the world wine market.

Much of the social life centres on coffee. The traditional coffee is bosanska kafa, similar to what is commonly known as Turkish coffee. Espresso and white coffee are also served in towns and cities. Drinking tea is also a local tradition, although herbal teas are preferred. Often they are organic, coming straight from the forest. 

Bosnia-Herzegovina offers shoppers a wide range of goods and some excellent bargains. Bartering is a way of life here and enjoyed equally by buyer and seller.

Brass Alley is an alley in Sarajevo's tourist district known as Old Town. It is lined with tiny shops overflowing with brass, silver and copper goods. Every seller wants to persuade you to visit their store, so plan some extra time here and be warned, they can be very persuasive! Many of the shops look much like each other and nearly every vendor offers identical items to his neighbour. Even if they are not mass-produced, you need to do a little digging to find something unique.

There are hundreds of small entrepreneurial kiosks in dozens of towns. Here, shoppers can find almost anything they could want such as CDs, handicrafts, souvenirs and jewellery.

When looking for the perfect souvenir to buy in Sarajevo, many visitors want to pick up something made locally. Typical Bosnian handicrafts include items made of copper or brass, rugs, jewellery and ceramic items.