Experience in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Samira

What is it like to live in Sarajevo? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Living in Sarajevo is definitely an experience every student should have in their life! It is the capital of our state and is quite close to all other big cities, so everyday trips are possible. There are many parks and places with lovely nature and landscape for picnic and trips with friends. The architecture is a mix of old Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture with some modern buildings and styles. There is a lovely old town - Baščaršija, where there are many souvenirs to get and traditional coffee to drink at every corner. You can also try our traditional dishes there, but also they are served in every other restaurant in the town.

What is the student lifestyle like in Sarajevo?

There is state University and several private Universities in Sarajevo, with students coming from all over the country and the world. There are many benefits for students, with cheaper tickets for the public transport or cinema tickets. There are many great cafes and night clubs where students go after classes or to a night out.

How much does it cost to live in Sarajevo?

It cost approximately 800-900 KM, which is about 450-500€ a month to live in Sarajevo. This depends on the accommodation and lifestyle of course.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Sarajevo? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not that difficult to find an accommodation! There are several dormitories where most of the students live (Bjelave and Nedžarići - state dormitories, but there are also several private dorms, which have better quality of life). Besides that, there are always flats and apartments for rent, so it is not that hard to find yourself a nice place to live. When it comes to the flat, prices are higher if the flat is closer to the old town and the city center.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Food is amazing! There are lots of traditional Bosnian dishes that you should try once coming here, like ćevapi, burek (a pie with meat), sirnica (a pie with cheese), or our sweets like baklava, ružica or trileće. The best ćevapi in town are at a place called "Željo", so you should not miss the opportunity to eat there.

What places would you recommend visiting in Sarajevo?

There are many historical spots in Sarajevo that should be seen, like Vijećnica, the Latin Bridge (or the Gavrilo Princip bridge), the old town Baščaršija, the Eternal Flame, and all the museums (there are many of them, especially in the old town). Besides this, if you like landscape and nature, you should visit Vrelo Bosne near Ilidža, waterfall Skakavac, cave Bijambare are about 1h from the city, but definitely worth the view, as well as the mountains Trebević and Bjelašnica where you can go to the cable car.

Is it good to eat out in Sarajevo? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are many great places to eat out. Some of my favorites are Chipas (they serve best chicken and pasta in town) and Žuti kutak (Yellow corner) with the best pancakes you can try.

Is the nightlife good in Sarajevo? Where is good to go?

Nightlife is great for students as it is quite diverse and everyone can find something for them. There are live rock gigs at every pub in Sarajevo. Each night you can find a gig somewhere in town. City Pub has the best gigs. Tesla pub is a nice place. Goldfish is a lovely place with old and vintage look. If you like rave and disco, then Trezor and EFSA are your go to places. Sloga has diverse program, from karaoke night, to ex-yu night, to rave and rock music, so whatever you like the most. If you would like to sit in a more peaceful atmosphere where you could drink traditional coffee, then Divan and Male Daire are your places to go.

What advice would you give future students heading to Sarajevo?

Be aware of pick-pocketers! They are everywhere, especially in trams. From Sarajevo you can visit all other beautiful towns in the country, and they are quite close, so use that opportunity for sightseeing. There are many beautiful old towns or natural landscapes worth seeing. And our mountains are great for hiking too!