Discover Sarajevo: History, Museums and Culture

Sarajevo offers a window into different historical periods and cultural themes: from Baščaršija’s beginnings in the 15th century to exhibitions about the siege and the Winter Olympic Games. Museums, historic sites and a botanical garden each offer a different focus. When choosing a hotel in Sarajevo, this overview can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Historic Sites and Collections

Vijećnica was ceremonially opened on April 20, 1896. Reconstructed on the basis of the original documentation, it reopened on May 9, 2014. Today, the building is used for ceremonial occasions at the state and city levels, as well as for cultural, artistic and business events; it also houses permanent and temporary museum facilities. If you are planning a visit, check the current program in advance.

Baščaršija is Sarajevo’s old marketplace and is considered the city’s historic and cultural center. It dates back to the 15th century: in 1462, Isa-bey Ishaković built an inn and a number of shops there. This founding story makes the square a tangible point of reference when exploring Sarajevo’s early beginnings.

The Sarajevo Museum consists of a main building and five annexes: Svrzo’s House, Despić House, the Jewish Museum, Brusa Bezistan and the Museum of Sarajevo 1878–1914. Its historical themes span prehistoric settlements in Butmir, Illyrian and Roman settlements, medieval Bosnia, the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods, and the present day. Brusa Bezistan was built in 1551 by Rustem Pasha, Grand Vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent.

Museums, Nature and City History

The Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers 14,270 square meters and includes twelve scientific and exhibition collections. About 1,000 plant species grow there; the garden also conveys knowledge about native flora and the importance of protecting biodiversity. The museum’s archaeological collections cover aspects of human life in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the Early Stone Age to the Late Middle Ages. Natural history and archaeology thus offer different ways to explore the National Museum’s collections.

The National Museum can be reached by every tram line. Depending on your direction of travel, you can get off at the “Technical School” stop; a city bus also runs on the Baščaršija–Dobrinja route. Check public transport information before your journey.

The “Besieged Sarajevo” exhibition at the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina depicts everyday life for the city’s population during the Siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1995. Photographs, documents and objects made by Sarajevo residents offer insight into the history of the siege, including improvised household items from wartime.

The Tunel D-B memorial complex also deals with the siege, but with a different focus: an exhibition explains it using a map of the siege of the city. The complex, publicly known as Tunel spasa (“Tunnel of Hope”), includes an authentic 25-meter-long tunnel section and a revitalized 100-meter-long section. The Butmir side is open to visitors and offers a historic experience at the authentic site where the D-B facility was created and used. Check visitor information before your trip.

More Cultural Themes

The permanent exhibition at the Gazi Husrev-beg Library Museum is devoted to the Islamic tradition of the Bosniaks in this area. The foyer houses a lapidarium of stone works. The Gazi Husrev-beg Library collection comprises more than 1,200 objects. Alongside the city’s historical and wartime exhibitions, the museum offers its own perspective on religious tradition and stone works.

The Olympic Museum in Sarajevo preserves the memory of the organization and staging of the XIV Olympic Winter Games. Its sports section covers the preparation and staging of the Games. The museum screens films about the opening, course and closing of the Games for groups and visitors. The exhibition themes and films thus offer different insights into the same Olympic event.

The Sarajevo Film Festival focuses on cinema from Southeast Europe and the South Caucasus. Its profile also includes the film industry through CineLink and the training of young filmmakers through Talents Sarajevo. The program features competitions for feature, short and documentary films. Sarajevo’s cultural range thus extends from historical collections to cinema, industry connections and support for emerging filmmakers.

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