Sarajevo on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes — Sarajevo is one of Europe's best-value cities, and a budget traveller can live well. A realistic minimum is about KM 74 (around €38) a day per person sharing a room: KM 35 for a bed, KM 25 for food, KM 10 for sights and KM 4 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | KM35 | KM80 | KM170 |
| Food & drink | KM25 | KM50 | KM100 |
| Sights & tickets | KM10 | KM30 | KM70 |
| Local transport | KM4 | KM10 | KM30 |
| Per person, per day | KM74 | KM170 | KM370 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Sarajevo day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Sebilj fountain and the lanes of Baščaršija
- The 'Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures' line on Ferhadija street
- The Latin Bridge, where Franz Ferdinand was shot in 1914
- Sunset from the Yellow Fortress (Žuta tabija)
- The Sacred Heart Cathedral
- Looking for Sarajevo Roses, the resin-filled mortar scars in the pavements
Cheap eats
- Ćevapi in somun bread — about KM 10–12
- Burek or sirnica from a buregdžinica — a few marks per portion
- Bosnian coffee with rahat lokum — about KM 2–4
- Begova čorba (bey's soup) — about KM 6–10
- Tufahija (poached apple with walnuts) — about KM 4–6
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in the hostels of Baščaršija, right in the old town, where dorm beds often cost about KM 20–35 and private doubles about KM 60–100. The area is central and safe, though it can be noisy in summer evenings.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the old town and centre, and use trams for longer distances (about KM 1.80 a ride from a kiosk). From the airport, the shuttle bus is cheapest; taxis cost about KM 25–35. Take tram 3 to Ilidža for Vrelo Bosne.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Bosnian coffee (about KM 3), Baščaršija, Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (about KM 5)
- Lunch: ćevapi (about KM 11)
- Afternoon: Latin Bridge and Museum Sarajevo 1878–1918 (about KM 5), walk along Ferhadija
- Evening: sunset at the Yellow Fortress (free), burek dinner (about KM 6)
- Total: about KM 74 including a hostel bed or shared room (about KM 35)
More ways to save
- Visit in May, June, September or October for good weather and lower prices than August.
- Fill your bottle at the public fountains in the old town.
- Eat burek or ćevapi for lunch and save restaurant meals for dinner.
- Buy a guided siege tour that includes the Tunnel of Hope instead of paying for separate transport.
- Take tram 3 to Ilidža instead of a taxi to Vrelo Bosne.
- Carry some marks in small notes for markets and bakeries.
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Common questions
How much money do I need per day in Sarajevo?
About KM 74 (around €38) per person on a budget, KM 170 mid-range and KM 370 for comfort, sharing a room.
How do I get from Sarajevo airport to the centre?
By shuttle bus, or by taxi for about KM 25–35 (20–30 minutes).
Is a siege tour worth it?
Yes. A guided tour with the Tunnel of Hope costs about KM 60–80 and is led by locals who lived through the siege.