While packing your formal shoes and heels for the Sarajevo Film Festival make sure to pack up some hiking gear! While the city of Sarajevo is known for its diversity and rich history- it is where Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in 1914 by Bosnian-Serb student Gavrilo Princip, prompting WWI, and was the site of the 1984 winter Olympics- it is also surrounded by stunning nature. The peaks surrounding Sarajevo are part of the Dinaric Alps, a mountain range in Southern and Southcentral Europe, separating the continental Balkan Peninsula from the Adriatic Sea. This region in Bosnia is home to many glacial mountains and breathtaking landscape views, making it a great place for some awesome trails to hike through. This incredible city has easy access to breathtaking trails and routes that showcase some of the most gorgeous views and will make you love Sarajevo hiking. Founder of Health Fitness Revolution, author of the book ReSYNC Your Life, and Official Fitness Czar for the City of Houston, Samir Becic, is highlighting some of his favorite hikes to do while in Sarajevo, Bosnia:
Aleja Ambasadora
Ambassadors Walk is a beautiful place located near the neighborhood of Kovaci, just toward the end of the city. The route starts off as a short walk commemorating the memorial of the ambassadors sent to Sarajevo and each tree planted along the path has a name dedicated to an ambassador. People that want to hike the mountains can start off walking the path which then leads to the mountains through a detour (the mountains can also be an excellent place to rock climb!) The Aleja Ambasadora is a great way to get out of the busy city streets of Sarajevo and enjoy the beautiful nature of this city.
Skakavac Vodopad
The Skakavac waterfall is one of the main tourist attractions in the Bosnian region. To get the most out of this trail, you need to get dropped off by bus 69 in the nearest town which is Nahorevo. The walk from the city to the mountain can be a good hike for some and usually lasts around two hours if you go slow. The waterfall stands 98 meters high and is surrounded by spruce and fir tree forests. Getting to the top of the mountain can be a little strenuous but the view from up there is one to experience.
Trebević Mountain
Head out on this 12.7-mile loop trail near Sarajevo, Sarajevo. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 51 min to complete. This is a popular trail for backpacking, hiking, and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The 1984 Olympic bobsled is one of the perfect outdoor destinations just few min away from Sarajevo old town by cable car. If you plan to visit Trebević mountain make sure to walk the whole distance of this mystical wonder, now being overgrown by the vivid vegetation in last 25 years since the end of the Siege of Sarajevo.
Lukomir Highland Village
The Lukomir Village hike offers stunning scenery and beautiful highland landscapes: a well-defined hiking trail from Lukomir village into the adjacent Rakitnica valley, an amble through the authentic medieval village of Lukomir, itself a reason to visit, a drive across an expansive glacial karst as you approach the village, and reasonable access by car from Sarajevo. Lukomir is the most remote, permanent settlement in the country of Bosnia, as well as being the highest. It’s definitely worth a visit!
Bjelašnica, Umoljani
This is a great place for both beginners and professional hikers. The trail starts in the Umoljani village and heads toward the Bjelasnica mountain. This mountain is also known as the Olympic Mountain in Bosnia, having received its name as the highest peak in Sarajevo. Both routes go through the Lukomir village but the harder route is a higher hike as it goes through the tall mountains. Though this might be the tougher route the reward is amazing as you get one of the best views of Sarajevo while at the top. Needless to say, this a true experience for hikers of all levels and is a must visit.
Hrasnicka Cesta
This straight-route trail is great for both hiking and biking but most renowned for its biking trail. The route starts at the International University of Sarajevo and continues for another 1.5 miles. This route is fairly simply to conquer while biking.
Vrelo Bosne (Igman)
Spring of Bosne River – that’s what Vrelo Bosne translates to in English, and Vrelo Bosne is the trail rightfully named as the beautiful Bosne River flows through the trail itself. This is a great trail for people who love the beautiful green outdoors as the trail goes through the Igman Mountain.The presence of water provides dense vegetation through the forest, allowing for a cool breeze to whisk through the trail.
Vilsonovo Setaliste
This park is known to many nature lovers throughout the Bosnian region. The route is most vivid to visit during the spring season as the leaves turn yellow and orange and the cool breeze through the trees makes it a refreshing trail to walk or bike through. To boot, the trail also features a workout area and a kids park – putting a little bit of man-made modernity in nature.
Bulevar Mese Selimovica
Bulevar Mese Selimovica is a boulevard just off the main highway of the city. This route is a big history marker for the Bosnian War, a boulevard having served as a sniper alley. If you are a fan of taking a run by the city while also visiting the historical artifacts of this region, this trail is a great one to visit.
Safeta Hadzica
This route is 1.3 miles in distance and is 1,840 feet above sea level. The route runs through a neighborhood and, like Bulevar Messe Selimovica, is a historical marker of the war area and holds a historical marker in memory of the lives lost during the Bosnian War. Granted, this hike isn’t too much of a challenge – making it great for new hikers – here but the gradual elevation makes it a nice route to bike through. This neighborhood also holds a historical marker in remembrance of the soldiers’ lives lost during the Bosnian War.
