The Best Day Trips from Sarajevo by Car (2026)

The best way to day-trip from Sarajevo is by car. Bosnia's most beautiful spots, waterfalls, Ottoman towns, mountain villages, are spread out and awkward to reach by bus, but easy and flexible with your own vehicle. Here are the best day trips from Sarajevo, with drive times, what to see, and how to plan them.

Mostar and Blagaj (about 2 to 2.5 hours, ~130 km)

The classic. Mostar's Ottoman Old Bridge and cobbled bazaar are unmissable, and the Blagaj Tekke, a dervish house under a cliff spring, sits just 15 minutes further. Leave early and you'll have the afternoon in the old town. See our full guide on how to get from Sarajevo to Mostar.

Kravice Waterfalls (about 2.5 to 3 hours, ~170 km)

A wide curtain of falls into a natural pool where you can swim in summer. It sits south of Mostar, so the smart move is to combine the two in one long day, Mostar first, Kravice about 40 minutes further on.

Bjelašnica (about 45 minutes, ~35 km)

An Olympic mountain right above Sarajevo, with skiing in winter and cool air, hiking and views in summer. The nearby village of Lukomir, the highest in Bosnia, is stunning but sits on a rougher mountain road, so allow extra time and drive carefully.

Konjic and Boračko Lake (about 1 hour, ~60 km)

A pretty town on the emerald Neretva with a graceful Ottoman bridge, and a launch point for rafting. The glacial Boračko Lake nearby is a calm spot for a picnic. An easy half-day or a relaxed full day.

Jajce (about 2.5 to 3 hours, ~190 km)

Famous for a waterfall that tumbles right in the middle of town, plus a hilltop fortress and the peaceful Pliva Lakes with their wooden watermills nearby. A longer drive, but a memorable one.

Višegrad (about 2 to 2.5 hours, ~120 km)

Home to the UNESCO-listed Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, made famous by Nobel laureate Ivo Andrić, and the riverside Andrićgrad complex. A scenic drive east through the mountains.

Travnik (about 1.5 hours, ~90 km)

A handsome former Ottoman capital with a hillside fortress, a colourful old quarter and the clear Plava Voda spring. Close enough to pair with Jajce on a bigger central-Bosnia loop.

How to plan your day trip

Start early, especially for the longer drives, and check opening times for anything you plan to enter. A rental car lets you combine nearby sights, Mostar with Kravice, or Jajce with Travnik, that would be very hard by bus. For comfort on the mountain roads, an automatic or an SUV is a good choice.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best day trip from Sarajevo?

Mostar is the classic, about 2 to 2.5 hours each way, and it pairs well with the Blagaj Tekke and the Kravice Waterfalls further south. Bjelašnica is the easiest, under an hour from the city.

Do I need a car for day trips from Sarajevo?

It's by far the easiest option. Buses are slow and infrequent to many of these places, and a car lets you combine nearby sights in a single day.

Can I visit Mostar and Kravice in one day?

Yes, if you start early. Kravice is about 40 minutes beyond Mostar, so many visitors do both in one long day by car.

Which car is best for these trips?

An automatic is comfortable on the winding mountain roads, and an SUV adds space and ease for longer routes like Jajce or Višegrad.

How early should I leave?

For the longer drives (Jajce, Višegrad, Kravice), leave in the morning so you have enough time on the ground and an unhurried drive back.

By Hamza Kanuric, Platinium Cars, Sarajevo.