Dos and donts when traveling for the first time to B&H
Do go to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. It is a wonderful and multicultural city, with many mosques and a few Catholic and Orthodox churches.
When youre there, make sure to visit the place where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, it was an important historical event. What do you think?
Do try the local food. In Sarajevo you have to try cevapi and burek, two specialties of the local kitchen. But dont exaggerate because this kind of food is oily and spicy.What do you think?
Dont talk about war with local people, no matter in which part of Bosnia and Herzegovina you are. Young people dont like it and they avoid it. With older people, you could try talking but it is unnecessary because there are more beautiful things to visit and talk about than the war.What do you think?
Do visit other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dont stay only in the capital, there are many beautiful thing to see in other parts of the country.What do you think?
Dont give to anyone alive a bouquet with even number of flowers. In Bosnia and Eastern Europe even number of flowers is carried to funerals.
Do drink rakija. It is a fruit brandy and it is popular in all countries of Ex Yugoslavia. Rakija is commonly made of plums (ljivovica), but it can be made of many other kinds of fruits. Its alcohol content varies from 40%-80%. This is a kind of a national drink and you have to try it!What do you think?
Dont leave your money and baggage unattended. Unfortunately, like in most other countries, there are thieves that will just take your stuff in front of your eyes and run away with them. So, when you are sight-seeing always keep your money and passport with you.What do you think?
Do go to Banja Luka. It is the capital of Republic of Srpska. A beautiful city which is a mixture of natural beauties and old building, like the Kastel fortress. Near Banja Luka there is a place called Krupa na Vrbasu, where the European Rafting Championship was held on the river Vrbas in 2005. There are a lot beautiful churches and mosques in Banja Luka to visit.What do you think?
Dont enter any church, Catholic or Orthodox, without covering your shoulders or half-naked, it is a symbol of respect. In some Orthodox monasteries you have to cover your head also with a scarf. It is the same for mosques, you cant even enter the courtyard without being appropriately dressed
Do eat cevapi in Banja Luka style. It differs from cevapi in other parts of the country. It has a different look and differs a bit in taste. It it with onions, its delicious!What do you think?
Dont miss visiting these places: Mostar with its Old Bridge, Viegrad with the Mehmed Paa Sokolovic Brigde, a city which inspired a Nobel prize winner Ivo Andric to write Na Drini cuprija, Waterfalls on the Una River and the National Park Una and Medugorje a site of religious pilgrimage. If you visit the country in the summer, you can go and take a break in Neum, the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: Sarajevo Times
Do try the local food. In Sarajevo you have to try cevapi and burek, two specialties of the local kitchen. But dont exaggerate because this kind of food is oily and spicy.What do you think?
Dont talk about war with local people, no matter in which part of Bosnia and Herzegovina you are. Young people dont like it and they avoid it. With older people, you could try talking but it is unnecessary because there are more beautiful things to visit and talk about than the war.What do you think?
Do visit other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dont stay only in the capital, there are many beautiful thing to see in other parts of the country.What do you think?
Dont give to anyone alive a bouquet with even number of flowers. In Bosnia and Eastern Europe even number of flowers is carried to funerals.
Do drink rakija. It is a fruit brandy and it is popular in all countries of Ex Yugoslavia. Rakija is commonly made of plums (ljivovica), but it can be made of many other kinds of fruits. Its alcohol content varies from 40%-80%. This is a kind of a national drink and you have to try it!What do you think?
Dont leave your money and baggage unattended. Unfortunately, like in most other countries, there are thieves that will just take your stuff in front of your eyes and run away with them. So, when you are sight-seeing always keep your money and passport with you.What do you think?
Do go to Banja Luka. It is the capital of Republic of Srpska. A beautiful city which is a mixture of natural beauties and old building, like the Kastel fortress. Near Banja Luka there is a place called Krupa na Vrbasu, where the European Rafting Championship was held on the river Vrbas in 2005. There are a lot beautiful churches and mosques in Banja Luka to visit.What do you think?
Dont enter any church, Catholic or Orthodox, without covering your shoulders or half-naked, it is a symbol of respect. In some Orthodox monasteries you have to cover your head also with a scarf. It is the same for mosques, you cant even enter the courtyard without being appropriately dressed
Do eat cevapi in Banja Luka style. It differs from cevapi in other parts of the country. It has a different look and differs a bit in taste. It it with onions, its delicious!What do you think?
Dont miss visiting these places: Mostar with its Old Bridge, Viegrad with the Mehmed Paa Sokolovic Brigde, a city which inspired a Nobel prize winner Ivo Andric to write Na Drini cuprija, Waterfalls on the Una River and the National Park Una and Medugorje a site of religious pilgrimage. If you visit the country in the summer, you can go and take a break in Neum, the only coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: Sarajevo Times
