Bascarsija
★ 4.7🇧🇦 SarajevoSuggested visit 2-3 hoursBest season April to October, with mild weather
Historic siteCity walkMarket
The Ottoman-era bazaar of Sarajevo, where copper workshops, a wooden fountain and mosques keep the meeting of East and West alive.
Overview
Formed in the 15th century as Sarajevo grew under Ottoman rule, Bascarsija is the city's old bazaar. It holds the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, the Sebilj wooden fountain, a clock tower and dozens of craft lanes where coppersmiths, cafés and sweet shops still trade. The eastern end is Ottoman while the west shifts into Austro-Hungarian architecture, so two cityscapes meet within a single street.
History
It grew as a commercial centre under Ottoman rule in the 15th century and peaked in the 16th as one of the largest bazaars in the Balkans; the Austro-Hungarian period extended the city westwards in the late 19th century.
Highlights
- •Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- •The Sebilj wooden fountain
- •The coppersmiths' lane
- •Where Ottoman and Austrian architecture meet
Practical tips
- •Haggling over copper is normal — check whether pieces are hand-beaten
- •The teahouses are at their best in the evening
Practical information
- Best time
- April-October
- Tickets
- The old town is free; the mosque accepts a small donation
- Opening hours
- Old town open all day; shops roughly 9:00-20:00
- Local food
- Cevapi, Bosnian coffee, baklava
- Getting around
- In central Sarajevo, five minutes on foot from the tram terminus.
- Visa
- Visa-free for stays up to 90 days with a valid passport.
Traveller reviews
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