Bosnia & Herzegovina in 7 Days: The Best 1 Week Itinerary

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of those countries that completely takes you by surprise. Tucked away in the heart of the Balkans, it’s a destination filled with dramatic mountain landscapes, fairytale-like towns, turquoise rivers, impressive waterfalls, and some of the most fascinating history in Europe.

And while many travelers only visit Mostar on a quick day trip from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves so much more than just a few hours. With one week, you can experience the best of the country: wander through the cobbled streets of Mostar, stand on the iconic Stari Most, explore the lively capital of Sarajevo, visit peaceful monasteries and Ottoman villages, swim at waterfalls, and drive through some seriously beautiful scenery!

This 7-day Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary is perfect if you’re planning a road trip and want to combine culture, history, nature, and a little adventure. It’s a compact country, which means you can see a lot in just one week without spending every single day in the car.

In this guide, I’ll take you through the best places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 7 days, where to stay, how to get around, and all my personal tips to help you plan an unforgettable one-week trip through this underrated Balkan gem!

Where to start and end your Bosnia & Herzegovina road trip

For this 7-day Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary, I recommend starting and ending your road trip in Sarajevo. The capital is the most convenient place to fly into, pick up your rental car, and begin exploring the country.

🚗 Rent a car by using SunnyCars. There’s never any hidden costs with them and free cancellation up to 1 hour before rental start. Their price is transparent and everything is included.

Sarajevo International Airport is located just outside the city, making it easy to collect your car and drive straight into the mountains or towards Mostar, depending on how you want to structure your trip. Since this itinerary is designed as a loop, returning to Sarajevo at the end also keeps things simple when it comes to car rental and flights.

Starting in Sarajevo also gives you the perfect introduction to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city is full of history, culture, beautiful viewpoints, traditional food, and a unique mix of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences. It’s one of those places where you immediately feel the character of the country.

I recommend spending your first night in Sarajevo before hitting the road. This gives you time to settle in, explore the old town, enjoy your first Bosnian coffee, and get a feel for the country before continuing your one-week Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip.

How much time do you need for this Bosnia & Herzegovina Itinerary

We recommend to spend at least 7 full days in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Even though a lot of people only visit the country on a day trip from Croatia. Bosnia & Herzegovina just has so much to offer that you don’t want to shorten your stay here!

Transportation for this Bosnia & Herzegovina itinerary

For this 7-day Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary, I highly recommend renting a car. While you can travel between some of the main cities by bus or train, having your own car gives you so much more freedom to explore the country properly, especially if you want to visit waterfalls, viewpoints, historic villages, and smaller places along the way.

The easiest option is to pick up your rental car directly at Sarajevo International Airport when you arrive and drop it off there again at the end of your trip. Since this itinerary starts and ends in Sarajevo, you won’t have to worry about one-way rental fees or complicated transfers.

🚗 Rent a car by using SunnyCars. There’s never any hidden costs with them and free cancellation up to 1 hour before rental start. Their price is transparent and everything is included.

Driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina is also part of the experience. The roads take you through mountain valleys, along turquoise rivers, past little villages, and through some seriously beautiful landscapes. Some roads can be winding and narrow, especially in the mountains, so take your time and don’t plan your driving days too tightly.

Having a rental car also means you can follow this itinerary at your own pace. You can stop for photos whenever you want, add spontaneous detours, and visit places like Blagaj, Počitelj, Kravica Waterfalls, Jajce, and the surrounding nature areas without depending on tour schedules or public transport.

Best time to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina

`The best time to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina is during spring or early autumn, when the weather is pleasant, nature is at its most beautiful, and the main sights are not as crowded as during the peak summer months.

May, June, September, and early October are especially lovely months for a Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip. During this time, temperatures are usually warm enough for sightseeing, outdoor cafés, scenic drives, and visiting places like Mostar, Sarajevo, Blagaj, Počitelj, and Kravica Waterfalls, without the intense summer heat.

Spring is a wonderful time if you want lush green landscapes, flowing waterfalls, and comfortable hiking weather. Autumn, on the other hand, brings golden colors, softer light, and a more peaceful atmosphere, especially in the mountains and around the river valleys.

Where to stay in Bosnia & Herzegovina

Before we dive into our 1 week Bosnia & Herzegovina itinerary itself, here’s a list of the exact accommodations that we stayed at and how many days.

Central Apartments Sarajevo – 1 night

If you’re looking for a stay in Sarajevo then I highly recommend staying at Central Apartments Sarajevo. As their name already suggests, these modern and stylishly decorated apartments are centrally located in the capital city. Within 15 minutes walking you’ll find yourself in the heart of Old Town Sarajevo.

The apartments have 2 bedrooms and right across from it is a shopping mall with an underground parking lot.

Cottages Relax – 2 nights

Cottages Relax is the perfect base for exploring the area of Jajce and Pliva Lake, without a big price ticket being attached to it. The location is absolutely perfect and the view from the chalet is a million dollar one! The chalet comes with its own jacuzzi and also has an infra-red sauna inside.

The Cozy Chalet – 1 night

The Cozy Chalet is the perfect place to stay when visiting Una National Park. You’re staying completely off the grid (though the WiFi and TV are excellent) in a luxury chalet in the woods. There’s an indoor and outdoor fireplace, a grill and a hot tub to soak and relax in after a day of exploring. We absolutely loved staying here!

Old Town Oasis – 2 nights

If you’re looking for a stay in Mostar that combines epic views with a very good price, then Old Town Oasis is the one you should book! The appartement itself is simple with 1 bedroom, a kitchen, a living area and a small bathroom. But the view, the location and the price simply can’t be beat! We booked the appartement on the ground floor, the ones on the top floor don’t come with a garden terrace.

The Perfect 1 Week Bosnia & Herzegovina Travel Itinerary

Day 1
Sarajevo

We started our Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip by flying into Sarajevo, the capital of the country. After picking up our rental car at the airport, we made our way into the city where we spent our first night.

🚗 Rent a car by using SunnyCars. There’s never any hidden costs with them and free cancellation up to 1 hour before rental start. Their price is transparent and everything is included.

Sarajevo was the perfect introduction to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city has such a unique atmosphere, with a fascinating mix of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian influences, lively streets, traditional cafés, and so much history around every corner.

We absolutely loved exploring the old town, also known as Baščaršija. Wandering through its narrow streets, admiring the old wooden shopfronts, watching the copper craftsmen at work, and sitting down for Bosnian coffee immediately made us fall in love with the city.

That being said, we only had one night in Sarajevo and honestly, we both wished we had one extra day here. The city was that amazing. There’s so much more to see and experience, from viewpoints and museums to hidden corners, local restaurants, and surrounding mountain scenery.

So while this itinerary starts with one night in Sarajevo, I would definitely recommend adding an extra day if your schedule allows it.

💡 TIP – Grab the best Cevapi in the country at Ćevabdžinica Petica

Day 2-3
Jajce & Piva Lakes

Driving time – 2.5 hours ( 158km)

After our first night in Sarajevo, it was time to properly start our Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip. We left the capital behind and made our way towards Jajce, one of the most beautiful and underrated towns in the country.

Jajce is best known for its impressive waterfall, which is located right in the middle of town. It’s not every day that you see a waterfall crashing down at the edge of a historic city center, and it makes Jajce feel incredibly special from the moment you arrive. The town itself is also lovely to explore, with its old fortress, charming streets, and beautiful views over the surrounding landscape.

We spent our time wandering around the historic center, visiting the waterfall, and taking in the views from above. Jajce has a much quieter feel than Sarajevo, which made it a perfect second stop on our itinerary.

Close to Jajce, you’ll find the beautiful Pliva Lakes, which ended up being one of our favorite places in the area. The water is calm and surrounded by greenery, making it a lovely spot to slow down, go for a walk, take photos, or simply enjoy the peaceful scenery.

One of the highlights near Pliva Lakes is the collection of old wooden watermills. They’re incredibly photogenic and give this part of Bosnia and Herzegovina such a fairytale-like feeling. It’s the kind of place where you don’t need a packed schedule; just take your time and enjoy the surroundings.

I recommend spending two days in this area so you don’t have to rush. You can use one day to explore Jajce itself and another to enjoy Pliva Lakes, the watermills, and the nearby viewpoints. It’s a wonderful combination of history, nature, and peaceful landscapes, and a great contrast after the buzz of Sarajevo.

📖 READ MORE – 7 Top Things To Do in Jajce

Day 4
Una National Park

Driving time – 2.5 hours ( 166km)

On day 4 of our Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary, we visited Una National Park, one of the most beautiful natural areas in the country. Located in the northwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, close to the Croatian border, this national park is all about emerald rivers, waterfalls, forested landscapes, and peaceful scenery.

The star of Una National Park is the Una River, famous for its incredibly clear turquoise water. It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you want to slow down and spend the day surrounded by nature.

One of the main highlights in the park is Štrbački Buk, a spectacular series of waterfalls and cascades surrounded by lush greenery. The sound of the water, the bright blue-green colors, and the wooden walkways make it one of the most impressive places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Another beautiful place to visit inside Una National Park is Martin Brod. This peaceful village is home to more waterfalls, wooden bridges, and some truly beautiful river scenery. It feels quieter and a little more tucked away than Štrbački Buk, which makes it a lovely stop if you want to explore a different side of the park.

Una National Park does require a bit of a detour compared to the more classic Sarajevo–Mostar route, but for us, it was absolutely worth it. It adds a completely different side to the itinerary and shows just how diverse Bosnia and Herzegovina really is.

I recommend setting aside most of the day for this visit, especially because the driving distances in this part of the country can take longer than expected. Take your time, enjoy the waterfalls, stop for photos along the way, and soak up the peaceful atmosphere before continuing your road trip.

📖 READ MORE – Visiting Una National Park – The Ultimate Guide

Day 5 – 7
Mostar

Driving time – 4.5 hours ( 292km)

For the final part of our Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary, we made our way to Mostar, one of the most beautiful and iconic places in the country. After the waterfalls, lakes, and national parks of the previous days, Mostar felt like the perfect place to slow down and soak up the atmosphere.

We spent the next couple of days exploring the Old Town, crossing the famous Stari Most, wandering through the old bazaar, and enjoying the views over the turquoise Neretva River. Mostar is definitely the kind of place that is best experienced early in the morning or later in the evening, when the day-trippers have left and the city feels much calmer.

This is also why I recommend staying at least two nights in Mostar. During the day, you can use the city as a base for nearby day trips, such as Blagaj Tekija, Počitelj, and Kravica Waterfalls. Then in the morning and evening, you can enjoy Mostar itself at its most magical.

Some of our favorite moments were simply walking through the cobbled streets, watching the light change over Stari Most, and sitting down for Bosnian coffee with a view. Mostar may be one of the most visited places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it absolutely lives up to the hype.

💡 TIP – Make sure to grab breakfast at URBAN taste of orient in Mostar for the best oriental breakfast with a 5-star view.

Driving time – 2 hours ( 121km)

On the final day, we drove back to Sarajevo to catch our flight home. Depending on your flight time, you can either drive straight to Sarajevo International Airport or leave early enough to enjoy one last stop along the way. Either way, ending the trip back in Sarajevo makes this itinerary easy and practical, especially if you’re picking up and dropping off your rental car at the airport.

📖 READ MORE – Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina – The Ultimate Travel Guide

If you have any questions about how to visit Bosnia & Herzegovina or if you want to share your experience, comment below!

More information on Bosnia & Herzegovina

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Bosnia & Herzegovina in 7 Days: The Best 1 Week Itinerary

Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina – The Ultimate Travel Guide

Visiting Una National Park – The Ultimate Guide

7 Top Things To Do in Jajce

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Charlotte

Hi! We’re Charlotte, Christof & César!

Armed with our cameras & drone we’re always on the lookout for the next adventure!
We’ve been traveling together since 2020 and the best adventures are yet to come!
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