10 Places to Visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015

I recently took it upon myself to list the 5 Best Places to Visit in Herzegovina (a post that is still trending today), but ever since then I wanted to go back and do a list of amazing destinations from the whole country, not just the southern part which is called Herzegovina. 

The list here is written in anticipation for the upcoming tourist season in 2015, and I hope it will be a useful tool for visitors. To all the others, who will not be venturing out to Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, I hope it will still be an enjoyable exploration of the beauty this country has to offer.

Of course no Top 10 list could ever encompass all of the locations that can be visited, so I'm sure to miss a lot here. But these are the essentials, as well as places that you can visit conveniently on a road trip, weather you are driving north to south through the country or otherwise.

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1. Bascarsija in Sarajevo

Bascarsija is the old town center of Sarajevo, and a place that is always filled with tourists, that are exploring the various narrow streets that cut through the old houses, bazaars, mosques and many many restaurants and sweet shops. On Bascarsija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today it's the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo. You can see more from Sarajevo and the Bascarsija in my three part travel series.

2. The Old Town of Blagaj

The old town of Blagaj is a small town, only a couple of miles south from Mostar. Blagaj is situated at the spring of the Buna river. It's a spot that enchants emidiately, beginning with the cliffs that bend over the place and the fresh river spring all the way to the many restaurants and cafes that offer food and a calming place to rest. More from Blagaj here.

3. The Fortress in Jajce

The fortress was built in the 14th century, by the founder of the city Jajce. It was the seat of the kings, who engraved their coat of arms on the castle. A part of the wall was found by the Hungarian King and the Ottomans made the powder magazine. It's often an overlooked place, since it's a little bit out of the way from any other tourist spot, but it's definitely a place that will enchant you.

4. King Herceg-Stjepan Fortress in Blagaj

This fortress is a must see spot in Herzegovina. While the outer walls remain almost untouched the inside of the Herceg-Stjepan fortress is almost all but gone. The medieval building – also known as Stjepan city, is situated on the late antique fort above Blagaj, and was actually a city palace enclosed by hard walls with jagged peaks, that are still visible today. The views from up here are amazing. If you want to read more about it click here for my three-part travel series.

5. The Old Bridge in Mostar

I have written a lot about The Old Bridge and Old Town of Mostar, but the list simply wouldn't be complete without including it here again. You can find lots of accommodations in the old town center and explore some of the places in this list from there (like Blagaj, Herceg-Stjepan Fortress, Pocitelj and Kravice waterfalls). It's a great base center that offers much to see by itself.

6. Mountains: Bjelasnica, Jahorina and Vlasic

Bjelasnica

Jahorina

Vlasic

Bosnia and Herzegovina offers up many beautiful mountains for a daily or weekend visit. I only listed 3 here, but there are many more to see. These three here are the most popular ones, and they are even worth a visit when there is no snow.

7. Nature Resort Hutovo Blato

Hutovo Blato is a nature and bird reserve located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reserve is on the list of BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas. It is the largest reserve of its kind in the region, in terms of both size and diversity. For a daily trip here, make sure to get lunch in the motel located at the north entrance of the resort. My full trip to Hutovo Blato can be found here.

8. The Old Town of Pocitelj

Pocitelj presents one of few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present time developed through the several phases of the history, beginning with the medieval period. It's not far from Mostar, and surely worth a day visit. Best spot: the Tower of Pocitelj, situated above the town.

9. Kravice Waterfalls

Kravice are a well known summer tourist spot here in southern Herzegovina. These waterfalls are located a couple of miles west from Capljina. Kravice is a popular swimming and picnic area and, during the summer, it is frequently visited by tourists from Mostar, Medjugorje and Dubrovnik.

10. The Pyramids in Visoko

The Bosnian pyramids are a pseudo-archaeological claim that promote a cluster of natural hills in central Bosnia and Herzegovina as the largest human-made ancient pyramids on Earth. The hills are located near the town of Visoko, northwest of Sarajevo. Now while this has not been authenticated in any way (except the hills really resembling pyramids) it's still worth your a visit to the archaeological site. And hey, no one says anything about the fact that, for example, the Bran Castle has not really been lived in by Dracula in Romania, right?

By which place are you mostly drawn in?

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Titanic leaving Southampton, April 1912

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A Short Update from Us

It has been an uneventful couple of days here. While the days have been sunny enough, work has mostly stopped me from venturing out. I hope that this upcoming weekend will change that, since I'm more then ready to step outside of the usual 4 walls of home and office. I have already new posts planed for the start of Feburary, beginning with some winter impressions from Mostar and this region. I hope your week is going well.

Beni in his usual winter position

How are the winter days treating you?

Brigitte Helm

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An Island Adventure: Visiting Lokrum in Croatia

My journey to the island Lokrum lays a few years back now, but every once in a while I like to revisit the images and go back. These were taken with my old canon camera, and maybe it's time to freshen up on this wonderful place with my 6D.

The island is located in the Adriatic Sea, about half a mile from the city of Dubrovnik. It stretches from northwest to southeast and receives regular ferry service from the city. The name Lokrum comes from the Latin, 'acrumen', meaning sour fruit. The first mention of Lokrum in writing came in 1023, in connection with the founding of the Benedictine abbey and monastery. It's a great place to explore and it's a must-stop for any traveler visiting Dubrovnik.

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The Legend of Lokrum

According to legend, Richard the Lionheart shipwrecked in 1192 after returning home from the crusades and found himself cast ashore, safe on Lokrum, and he pledged to build a church on the island indebted for the salvation, but at the plea of Dubrovnik citizens, the church was not built on Lokrum but in the City instead. That church in Dubrovnik is still there today.

Transportation to Lokrum

For a small fee, you can take a ferry boat from the harbor in the old town of Dubrovnik. The journey to the island lasts only 10 minutes, and you arrive on a small dock. Huge pine trees immediately greet you and are a promise of the varied nature on this island.

A Jewel at the Heart of the Island

Lokrum's special attraction is a small lake, called Mrtvo More (Dead Sea), a unique lake linked with the sea, crystal clear and calm and suitable for bathing. It is a favorite resort to many visitors. But you don't have to take a swim there. You can stay on shore (as did I) and simply take in the beauty.

What to Do on Lokrum

Besides the already mentioned Dead Sea the island also houses a Botanical Garden, which offers up an relaxing walk down the olive trees. Also, a fortress called Forte Royale, star shaped and built by the French in 1806 at the highest elevated point of Lokrum, gives a marvelous view of the whole island and the city of Dubrovnik. Nearby there is a deserted Benedictine monastery, founded in 1023. A restaurant is located in the former monastery, and walking routes around the island are marked out, and are easy to follow.

Sights into the Unknown

At the southern shores of Lokrum, rugged beaches will greet you. To me, the most impressive sights were the look outs into the unknown. Somewhere in the distance the Adriatic Sea meats the sky and shades of blue are cut by the grey rocks that form the beach.

Return to Dubrovnik

After a whole afternoon on the island, the ferry will take you back to Dubrovnik, where you can explore the old city and it's outer walls. I visited Dubrovnik lots of times, but I only ventured out to Lokrum once. Even though it was a short trip, Lokrum definitely stays with you, after you leave.

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Osaka Maiko in Ceremonial Dress 1910s

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Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest

Budapest is often called the Paris of the east, and as you will hopefully discover in this post, there is a big reason why it is that way. Only, one shouldn't really compare the two. There is so much beauty in Budapest, that I often wonder if Paris shouldn't be called the Budapest of the West.

In our extensive, 6-part travel series to Budapest, I pretty much showed everything that we did in the one week that we visited this amazing city. But I never really spoke about my favorite places that we saw and things that are an absolute must. In this post, which is sort of an extension of the series, I will list my personal Top 10 Things to Do in Budapest.

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1. Explore the Danube River Front

This is a no-brainer. Budapest has many striking skylines, that are best explored from the Danube river. Weather you take a guided tour on one of the many cruisers docked along the Danube, or you snap some shots from the Buda Castle, this is the most prominent part of the city and not to be missed.

2. Visit the Budapest Zoo

Looking for a break from the busy city life? Take a couple of hours off and stroll casually through the Budapest Zoo. For a small entrance fee, you can see everything the zoo has to offer, including traditional food and drinks inside the zoo.

3. Enjoy a Trip to the Vajdahunyad Castle

Only around 100 years old the Vajdahunyad Castle looks like something from the middle ages. There is a special history to this place. Thought by many to be the home of Count Dracula, it was once a part of the Hungarian state (the Austro-Hungarian Empire).

4. Get around on the Metro

The Train and Metro system in Budapest leaves nothing to be desired. Getting around the city is a breeze and all the major attractions are connected with the underground as well as the above ground train system. But there is a reason I'm including a transportation system on this list. Budapest has one of the oldest Metro systems in Europe, and exploring the many lines (a 4th line has been adapted last year) and their stations really is a tourist attraction all by itself.

5. Explore Budapest by Night

If there is one thing you have to do while visiting Budapest, then it's definitely exploring the city by night. Budapest transforms at night. Not one single corner is not attractive in the elaborate light set up. The warm glow of the lights, really sets you in a calm mood, while the view of the Danube from the Fisherman's Bastion at night is breathtaking.

6. Buda Castle and Fisherman's Bastion

No list about Budapest would be complete if it didn't include these two iconic sights. Located one next to the other, the Buda Castle, with it's many museums, squares, cafes and restaurants and the Fisherman's Bastion that glistens above the city with all of its Gothic charm. The view from both of these places is simply amazing. You have whole Budapest at your hand.

7. Visit the Liberty Bridge and Great Market Hall

The Great Market Hall or Central Market Hall is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest.It's located right next to the Liberty Bridge. Most of the stalls on the ground floor offer produce, meats, pastries, candies and spices, so if you are on the lookout for authentic Hungarian food, this is the place to go. If you are not hungry, you can still enjoy the sights!

8. Take a trip to the Heroes Square

This is really a short stop on your way to the Budapest Zoo or Vajdahunyad Castle, but definitely one worth taking. The central site of the hero's square, as well as a landmark of Budapest, is the Millennium Memorial (also known as Millennium Monument or Millenary Monument) with statues of the leaders of the seven tribes that founded Hungary in the 9th century and other outstanding figures of Hungarian history.

9. Roam the Streets and Parks in Budapest

Many of the most wonderful sights we discovered in the city, we did so by roaming through the city. We visited the obvious tourist attractions (some of which are listed in this post), but we always made sure to venture out into the side roads, explore further. Often, when the night had set, we walked around the various city parks. Getting lost in this city is definitely an advantage.

10. The House of Terror in Budapest

Budapest, like most cities in Eastern Europe is undoubtedly linked to the Iron Curtain in Europe and it's fall. Then there are many parts of the city where you will discover remnants from World War II. One of them is the House of Terror, dedicated to the Jews killed here during the war. But it also contains exhibits related to Hungarian organizations such as the fascist Arrow Cross Party and the communist ÁVH (which was similar to the Soviet Union KGB secret police). Part of the exhibition takes place in the basement, where you can see examples of the cells that the ÁVH used to break the will of their prisoners. You can see more from the House of Terror on this blog as well.

What part of Budapest speaks most to you?

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