Overview
Bosnia and Herzegovina packs an astonishing amount into a small, mountainous country: Ottoman bazaars, Austro-Hungarian avenues, emerald rivers and some of the warmest hospitality in Europe. It sits just a short hop from the UK, roughly a three-hour flight, yet still feels genuinely off the beaten track. This hub covers every Bosnian city we fly to. Use the price charts on this page to see current fares and the cheapest departure dates.
Best time to fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September and October) are the sweet spot, with warm days, quieter sights and comfortable hiking weather. July and August are hot, especially in Herzegovina around Mostar, where temperatures regularly climb into the mid-30s. Winter brings reliable snow to the resorts of Jahorina and Bjelasnica, both used in the 1984 Winter Olympics and popular for affordable skiing. Fares tend to be lowest in the shoulder months and over winter, outside the Christmas and New Year peak; check the When to book chart above for this year's pattern.
Main gateway cities & airports
Most UK travellers arrive into Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ), about 12km from the city centre and a 15 to 20 minute taxi ride. The other options are Tuzla (TZL) in the north-east, around two hours from Sarajevo by road; Banja Luka (BNX) in Republika Srpska; and small, seasonal Mostar (OMO) in the south, handy for Herzegovina and the Adriatic coast.
Airlines and routes
Direct flights are dominated by the low-cost carriers. Wizz Air flies from London Luton to Sarajevo and Tuzla, and Ryanair serves Banja Luka and Tuzla from London Stansted, with easyJet and British Airways operating seasonal routes to Sarajevo from Gatwick and Heathrow. From Manchester and other regional airports you can sometimes catch a seasonal direct service, but more often you will connect through a European hub such as Vienna with Austrian Airlines, Munich or Frankfurt with Lufthansa, Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Zurich with Swiss. Nonstop flying time from London is around 2 hours 45 minutes; allow roughly 3 hours from Manchester.
Popular places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sarajevo: the atmospheric capital, where the Bascarsija bazaar, Ottoman mosques and modern cafes sit side by side.
- Mostar: home to the rebuilt Stari Most, the arched stone bridge over the turquoise Neretva.
- Blagaj: a Dervish house built into a cliff beside the powerful Buna spring, a short trip from Mostar.
- Kravice Waterfalls: a wide curtain of falls near Ljubuski, lovely for a summer swim.
- Trebinje: a sunny, wine-growing town in the far south, easily paired with a day in Dubrovnik.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Be flexible by a day or two; midweek departures on the low-cost carriers are usually cheaper than weekends.
- Compare arriving into Tuzla or Banja Luka as well as Sarajevo, then factor in the transfer time and cost.
- Book roughly two to four months ahead for summer and ski-season travel, when seats sell out fastest.
- Watch the price charts on this page and set a fare alert so you can move when a price drops.
Travel essentials
British passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period; your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay. The currency is the convertible mark (KM/BAM), which is pegged to the euro; cards are widely accepted in cities, but carry some cash for rural areas, markets and small cafes. Book a couple of months ahead and use the fare tools on this page to time it well.
