Bosnia and Herzegovina Transport

International Transport

Air

Major air hubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina include the country’s busiest airport, Sarajevo’s International, Mostar Airport and Banja Luka International Airport.

Sarajevo International Airport, located very close to the capital city, is the country’s main air gateway. It operates limited domestic flights as well as connections to Central and Eastern Europe. Airlines operating from here include Air Bosnia, Turkish Airlines, Czech Airlines, Air Austria and Lufthansa. Facilities at the airport are excellent, with waiting lounges, restaurants and shopping facilities. You can change money at the airport exchange desk, rent a car from one of the car rental booths located in the arrival hall and, in case you need to contact your hotel, buy a phone card at the post office. There is also a small tourist information point offering information and guides about the country.

Sarajevo Airport is approximately 12kms from the city centre, with the only transport options for transfers to the city being taxis, hire cars or limited courtesy shuttles.

Mostar International Airport was reopened for air traffic on 7 July, 1998. The burned and destroyed terminal building and its infrastructure was completely reconstructed with financing by the European Union. The airport offers regular flights to several European destinations including Frankfurt, London and Paris. Hire cars are available in the arrivals hall while taxis can be found outside.

Banja Luka International Airport is located 23kms from the city. It has regular connections to Zurich and Istanbul with JAT Airlines. Taxis are available outside the terminal.

Rail

A train service operates from Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, to Sarajevo. Zagreb has good rail connections to the rest of Europe. The journey takes about 9 hours, 30 minutes. It is also possible to get to Sarajevo from Budapest, taking about 12 hours.

Bus

Centrotrans offers regular and comfortable bus connections to many European destinations including Amsterdam, Berlin and Vienna. There is also a coach service from Sarajevo to Split on the Croatian coast, stopping in Mostar. The connection between Zagreb and Sarejevo takes 8 hours, while the route between Belgrade and Sarajevo can take 9 hours. Other destinations include Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia. For more information, visit www.centrotrans.com.

Car

Bosnia-Herzegovina’s road network is still undergoing reconstruction following the huge damage inflicted during the 1992-1995 civil war. There are numerous border crossings from Croatia in the west and north and Serbia and Montenegro in the east and south.

Domestic Transport

Air

The only regular domestic connection is from Sarajevo to Mostar, operated by JAT Airways once a week.

Rail

The railway network was severely damaged during the civil war but restoration is in progress. Getting around by train is a little slower than other modes of transport, but much more comfortable. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, trains are punctual and inexpensive. Rail services now connect Sarajevo, Mostar, Doboj and Banja Luka.

Bus

The bus network is more extensive and buses run more frequently than trains. Centrotrans and a choice of smaller bus companies have regular bus routes to many locations throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the smaller stations, you can pay when you get on the bus. At the main bus stations, you are required to buy your ticket at the ticket booth.

Car

Road conditions have greatly improved recently, making driving a safer and more enjoyable experience. The road system is quite curvy as many of the major motorways run through mountain valleys. Although driving at speeds common in other European destinations may not be possible, driving from town to town in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great way to see the country.

The driving habits of local drivers are poor, and many vehicles are in bad condition. Many accidents occur when drivers exceed safe speeds along winding mountain roads. Care should be taken when approaching traffic lights as local drivers often brake suddenly when traffic lights turn to orange. Accidents involving drunk driving are an increasing problem.

Taxi

Taxis in Sarajevo and the major towns are well-regulated, metered and generally safe to use. It is advisable to look for taxi stands to ensure that you are using an official taxi driver.