Explore Sarajevo by Car: 8 Places Worth the Drive (2026)

Where a rental car really helps in Sarajevo: 8 places in and around the city with drive times, parking, entry fees and local tips, plus a half-day and a full-day route.

Photo: @amina__cengic

AB RENT A CAR•October 11, 2026•8 min read

The best way to see Sarajevo with a rental car is simple: park once and walk the old town, then use the car for everything outside it. Baščaršija and the centre are small and mostly pedestrian, but many of the best places, like the Tunnel of Hope, Trebević mountain, Vrelo Bosne and the Olympic mountains Igman and Bjelašnica, are much easier to reach by car than by bus or taxi.

This guide lists 8 places worth the drive, with drive times, parking and entry fees, and two ready-made routes. It's written by the AB Rent a Car team, based on the trips we recommend to our own customers.

In this guide

The old town: park once and walk
8 places worth the drive (overview)
Tunnel of Hope
Yellow Fortress
Trebević and the Olympic bobsled track
Vrelo Bosne
Igman and Bjelašnica
Konjic
Jahorina
Suggested routes
Tips for driving to the sights
Frequently asked questions

The old town: park once and walk

Baščaršija, the Sebilj fountain, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Latin Bridge and the City Hall (Vijećnica) are all within a 10-minute walk of each other. Don't try to drive between them: the streets are narrow, many are pedestrian, and parking is limited.

Where to park: the parking across from the City Hall (Vijećnica) is the best choice. It's right next to Baščaršija, so you're in the old town in a couple of minutes. Street parking in the centre is paid 24/7. Read our guide to driving and parking in Sarajevo for zones and prices.

Tip: come early in the morning for quiet streets and the best photos, then come back in the evening for ćevapi and Bosnian coffee.

8 places worth the drive

Place	Drive from the centre	Parking	Entry
Tunnel of Hope	About 20 minutes	At the museum, about 2 KM	20 KM, cash only
Yellow Fortress	About 5 minutes	Very limited, walking is easier	Free
Trebević and bobsled track	About 20 minutes	Free near the bobsled track	Free (cable car 30 KM return)
Vrelo Bosne	About 25 minutes	Paid car parks at the park	About 6 KM
Igman	About 40 minutes	Free	Free
Bjelašnica	About 45 minutes	Free	Free (ski passes in winter)
Konjic	About 1 hour	Street parking in the centre	Free (bunker tour extra)
Jahorina	About 45 minutes	Free or paid near the lifts	Free (ski passes in winter)

Drive times are approximate and longer in rush hour, in snow or in summer traffic. Prices are what we last saw. Check on the spot.

Tunnel of Hope

During the siege of Sarajevo (1992–1995), an 800-metre tunnel under the airport runway was the city's only link to the outside world. The museum keeps the original house, part of the tunnel you can walk through, and a moving exhibition.

Drive: about 20 minutes from the centre. It's in Butmir, on the other side of the runway from Sarajevo Airport
Parking: at the museum, about 2 KM
Entry: 20 KM for adults, cash only (KM or euro)
Opening hours: daily, 8:30–17:00 from April to October and 9:00–16:00 from November to March
Tip: it's the easiest stop on your way to or from the airport when you pick up or return the car

Yellow Fortress (Žuta tabija)

The best free viewpoint over the old town, especially at sunset. During Ramadan, the cannon that marks iftar is fired from here.

Drive: about 5 minutes from Baščaršija, but parking nearby is very limited
Better: leave the car at the Vijećnica parking and walk up, about 15 minutes uphill
Entry: free

Trebević and the Olympic bobsled track

Trebević is Sarajevo's own mountain, with forest trails, picnic spots and the graffiti-covered bobsled track from the 1984 Winter Olympics.

Drive: about 20 minutes on the road towards Jahorina. A car lets you stop right by the bobsled track, which is hard to do by taxi
Parking: free near the bobsled track
Cable car: if you'd rather not drive, the Trebević cable car leaves from near the old town. A return ticket costs 30 KM for foreign visitors. From the top station it's a 5–10 minute walk down to the bobsled track
Tip: the view over the city from the top is best in the late afternoon

Vrelo Bosne

A large park at the source of the Bosna river, with streams, small bridges, swans and a long tree-lined avenue (Velika aleja). It's one of the most popular escapes from the city for local families.

Drive: about 25 minutes, via Ilidža
Parking: paid car parks at the park entrances
Entry: about 6 KM for adults, less for children
Tip: go early in the morning on weekends, before the crowds. You can also walk or take a horse-drawn carriage along Velika aleja

Igman and Bjelašnica

Two mountains of the 1984 Olympics, both just outside Sarajevo. In summer they're cool, green and great for walking. In winter Bjelašnica is a ski resort.

Drive: about 40 minutes to Igman and 45 minutes to Bjelašnica, on a mountain road with good asphalt
Parking: free in most places
Don't miss: the old Olympic ski jumps on Igman, and the restaurants with lamb and local cheese along the way
Winter: winter tyres are required from 1 November to 1 April, and our cars have them. Snow chains can be needed during heavy snowfall

Konjic

A small town on the emerald-green Neretva river, with a rebuilt Ottoman stone bridge, woodcarving workshops and riverside cafés. It's also home to Tito's secret Cold War bunker (ARK D-0), which you can visit on a guided tour.

Drive: about 1 hour, on the A1 motorway and the M17 main road towards Mostar
Don't miss: the old bridge, and the bunker tour, which you need to book in advance. In summer, rafting on the Neretva is popular
Parking: street parking in the centre, within a short walk of the bridge
What about Lukomir? The mountain village of Lukomir is beautiful, but the last part of the road is rough gravel full of potholes. Rental cars, including ours, aren't allowed on it, because it can seriously damage the car. Visit with an off-road or quad tour instead

Jahorina

The largest ski resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a pleasant mountain drive in summer too.

Drive: about 45 minutes via Trebević. Combine it with the bobsled track on the same trip
Parking: free or paid near the lifts, depending on the season
Winter: check road conditions before you go, and carry snow chains in heavy snowfall

Suggested routes

Half day (about 4 hours)

Tunnel of Hope (morning, when it opens)
Vrelo Bosne, for a walk and lunch in Ilidža
Back to the centre for the evening in Baščaršija

Full day (about 8 hours)

Trebević and the bobsled track in the morning
On to Jahorina for lunch with a view
Back to the city, and the Yellow Fortress at sunset

Full day in the mountains (late spring to autumn)

Igman in the morning
Bjelašnica, for lunch and a walk on the mountain
Back to Sarajevo before dark

Doing the Tunnel of Hope on your arrival or departure day? Pick up the car at Sarajevo Airport for free. Read our complete guide to renting a car in Sarajevo.

Tips for driving to the sights

Bring cash. Many museums, car parks and village restaurants only take KM or euro in cash.
Fill up before mountain trips. There are few petrol stations in the mountains.
Start early. Popular places get busy by late morning, especially at weekends.
Use an automatic. The mountain roads have lots of curves and steep sections. All our cars are automatic. See our automatic vs manual guide.
Check the weather in winter. Mountain roads can change quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car in Sarajevo?

Not for the old town, which is best on foot. But a car makes it much easier to see the Tunnel of Hope, Trebević, Vrelo Bosne, Igman, Bjelašnica and Konjic, which are hard to reach by public transport.

Where should I park to visit Baščaršija?

The parking across from the City Hall (Vijećnica) is the best choice. It's right next to Baščaršija.

How far is the Tunnel of Hope from Sarajevo?

About 20 minutes by car from the centre. It's next to Sarajevo Airport, on the Butmir side of the runway.

Can you drive to the Sarajevo bobsled track?

Yes. It's about 20 minutes from the centre on the road towards Jahorina, with free parking nearby.

Can you drive to Lukomir with a rental car?

No. The last part of the road to Lukomir is rough gravel full of potholes, and rental cars, including ours, aren't allowed on it because it can seriously damage the car. Visit with an off-road or quad tour instead.