Overview
Sarajevo is one of Europe's most characterful short-break cities, where Ottoman bazaars, Austro-Hungarian boulevards, mosques, churches and synagogues sit within a few minutes' walk. Still marked by its 1990s siege and ringed by green hills, the Bosnian capital offers warm hospitality, superb grilled food and famously good coffee. This guide covers when to fly, the airlines serving the route from the UK and how to find cheap flights to Sarajevo.
Best time to fly to Sarajevo
Sarajevo has a continental climate: warm summers and cold, snowy winters. May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot, with mild days and thinner crowds. July and August are the warmest and busiest months. Winter brings reliable snow and easy access to the Olympic ski resorts of Jahorina and Bjelasnica, so fares over Christmas, New Year and half-term climb. See the When to book chart above for the pattern across the year.
Airlines and routes
Wizz Air operates the main direct service, flying London Luton to Sarajevo (SJJ) several times a week in around 2 hours 45 minutes. From Manchester, Birmingham or Edinburgh you will usually connect through a European hub — Austrian Airlines via Vienna, Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, Swiss via Zurich, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Croatia Airlines via Zagreb. With the transfer, one-stop trips typically take 5 to 9 hours, and connecting fares sometimes undercut the direct flight, so it pays to compare both.
Things to do in Sarajevo
Compact and walkable, the centre packs a lot of history into a small area.
- Bascarsija: the 15th-century Ottoman bazaar, with the Sebilj fountain and coppersmith lanes.
- Latin Bridge: where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in 1914, triggering the First World War.
- Tunnel of Hope: part of the hand-dug tunnel under the airport that supplied the besieged city in the 1990s.
- Vijecnica: the restored pseudo-Moorish former city hall and national library.
- Trebevic cable car: a quick ride up for mountain views and the abandoned 1984 Olympic bobsleigh track.
At Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ)
Sarajevo International Airport, also known as Butmir, lies about 12 km — roughly 7 miles — south-west of the centre, usually a 15 to 25 minute drive. Metered taxis wait outside arrivals and a Centrotrans airport minibus links with the city; pre-booked transfers and car hire are also available. In town, trams and trolleybuses cover most of the sights, though the old town is best explored on foot.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Sarajevo
- Book in the sweet spot: for the direct flight, roughly six to ten weeks ahead usually offers the best value — check the price charts on this page.
- Fly midweek and off-peak: Tuesday and Wednesday departures, and dates outside July, August and the ski holidays, tend to be cheaper.
- Stay flexible: shifting your trip by a day or two, or mixing airlines for the outbound and return, can cut the total.
- Compare direct with connections: from regional airports a one-stop fare on Austrian, Lufthansa or Turkish Airlines can beat adding a domestic hop to Luton.
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. Bosnia and Herzegovina is outside the EU and Schengen area. The currency is the convertible mark (KM/BAM), pegged to the euro; cards are widely accepted in Sarajevo, but carry some cash for markets and small cafes. No vaccinations are required, but the UK GHIC is not valid here, so travel with comprehensive medical insurance. Sarajevo is one hour ahead of the UK.
