Free summer festival events:

Bascarsija Nights (Bascarsiskije Noci)most nights in July, mostly in the center by the Library. When there are special events like exhibitions, you can get into the (destroyed on the inside at the beginning of the war) National Library - it's repaired on the outside but still remarkable from inside.
Cheap, New Movies, Documentaries and Short Films:
Sarajevo Film Festival; tickets costs from €2-5; in late August. Foreign (ie non-Bosnian) films should have English subtitles - double check on whether ex-Yugoslav country films will have subtitles.

Bakeries ...in general, they are cheap and with hot, fresh bread often. 25c for a loaf of freshly baked bread, etc. Visit Pekara Alifakovac to get freshly baked, ie warm out of the oven somun (the bread featured in willis' picture below), 25c/full round piece. Near the library, cross the river to the south side, turn left and you should see it Alifakovac written on the wall about 100m up; it is literally a door in the wall and there is a tiny room to order and then just the kitchen part - I think they deliver to the restaurants in town.

Restaurants serving local food such as cevapcici (meat w/onions and bread - SEE WILLIS' PHOTO BELOW) and pita (phyllo-type dough with either meat, cheese, spinach or potato) will be cheaper than "general" restaurants. Bosnian food is really good, if not that healthy to eat all the time.

Recommended cevabdzinice are: both near the main/"pigeon" square: Cevabdzinica Hodzic and Cevabdzinica Zeljo or Zeljo II. Get kajmak - an "untranslateable" Bosnian dairy product (it's not cheese!) for a KM or so/ half a euro more.

Good quality pita is sometimes a matter of personal taste...try for something cooked "ispod saca" which is a special traditional oven. It's cheap everywhere - 2€ is more than the average person can eat - but check out a small place about halfway between the main square in bascarsija and the eternal flame at the end of Ferhadija. It's along the west-running tram tracks and has an interesting and creative picture of Bill and Hilary on the wall. (oh, near Markale market, see below)

Markets: Markale market, a daily covered outdoor market with mainly fruit and veg. Small but with a nice atmosphere and some of the best fruit I've had...I don't think things have some official "organic" label but you can taste the quality. 7 days a week til early evening, a little earlier closing on the weekends. Located right in the center, along the western-direction tram tracks.

Ciglane market, about a five minute walk past the US embassy. There is only a small entrance area from the road, but it just keeps on going - get all kind of food here - fresh fruit and veg, meat, dairy, chicken on a spit, etc. - and also cheap household stuff and clothes. Much larger than Markale. Free to look around and cheap to buy. Open 7 days a week.


A banker student confirmed what I've heard around somewhere: there isn't really inflation in BiH...the KM is tied to the euro, I guess, and there are other regulatory things about the economy. I don't fully understand it, but it means that prices really do not rise like they do in other places in Eastern Europe - so the thing is, most things will seem cheap. So I'm thinking here to focus on good quality for that price...

More to come!

I missed your post earlier Ms Kate.

Oh, don't worry. I don't mind people bowing to me though! Thanks

I actually just went ahead and added it to Jessie's sticky in this forum...kind of sneaky of me but I pester Jessie with enough mod questions as it is.

Other thread is bumped - can people do more cities in Europe while they are traveling this summer?? Or elsewhere of course!

Definitely go get some Turkish coffee in Bosnia. A fantastic authentic treat - and a great kick start for your morning. And the going rate is 1/2 Euro for a cup!

quote:

Originally posted by KateL57:
pita (phyllo-type dough with either meat, cheese, spinach or potato) will be cheaper than "general" restaurants. Bosnian food is really good, if not that healthy to eat all the time.

A second vote for Bosnian pita. Nothing like what you see at the grocery stores at home. it's almost like a stuffed pizza! And be sure to get a glass of the goopy sour yogurt with your pita.

Good call - and you may not see "Turkish" coffee on the menu but rather Bosnian coffee...same thing.

Glad the see the love for pita. Yum!

Definitely the cheapest city for food and drink of all my stops in the region.
Ćevapi is great dish. So simple, but sooo good. I think the bread was the best part--so soft, so fresh, almost moist.

If you're hungry, don't be discouraged by all the cafes--you'll find many nice (but small) food places mainly on one side of the old town.

Here's my TASTY ćevapi...

Wow - I am so psyched to see that picture...awesome!

The bread is called somun and it gives me another idea to add to the guide...

Another good food to look for:

Borek, a pastry like dish with filllings. Not for the dieter, full of calories.

Places to go:

The top of the hill. On it is a nice park inhabited by families and lovers.

One can see across the entire valley.

Glad you like the pic Kate.
Somun..Ok. Beautiful stuff.


btw Katie, I did end up catching that Peppers concert in Serbia. Met up with a group at the hostel who had an extra tic and had a great time.

Excellent - I'm glad to hear it worked out.

You can't go wrong in the region with a good concert and also cevapi. Unless the concert is turbofolk.

When in Sarajevo, make sure to do the following things:

1. Drink cheaper turkish coffee. It's a delight

2. Climb to the top of the hill, all the way to the top up a winding road, and there you will find an enchanting park. It looks down over the entire city, and has benches and rocks to sit on. Lovers go there. I don't wonder why.

3. Wander around the Turkish section. Its a treat, and the food there is good.