Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, set in a valley ringed by the Dinaric Alps. Known as the "Jerusalem of Europe" for its religious and cultural diversity, the city blends Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav-era influences within a compact, walkable historic core.

The city's layered history began in earnest as a 15th-century Ottoman stronghold and continued under Austro-Hungarian rule from 1878. Sarajevo gained world attention in 1914 as the site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination, later hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics, and endured the longest siege of a modern capital during the 1990s Bosnian War.

Baščaršija, the old Ottoman bazaar, remains the historic heart of the city, with its Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Sebilj fountain and traditional coppersmith workshops. Nearby, the Austro-Hungarian quarter, Latin Bridge, Sarajevo City Hall and institutions such as the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the War Childhood Museum reflect the city's many historical layers.

Neighbourhoods range from the cobbled lanes of Baščaršija and the central shopping streets around Ferhadija to the quieter green district of Ilidža and hillside viewpoints above the Miljacka River. The Sarajevo Film Festival, lively café culture, ćevapi restaurants and an emerging technology and start-up scene add to the city's year-round energy.

For both leisure and business travellers, Sarajevo offers a distinctive mix of Balkan heritage, resilient urban culture, mountain access and major events, all within an approachable and welcoming centre.