An East-meets-West crossroads in Sarajevo, the legendary bridge in Mostar, and a small Adriatic coastline at Neum — a Balkan destination rich in history, including a distinctive Jewish heritage. Note the travel advisory status further down this page.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a rare East-meets-West crossroads — ancient Sarajevo with its Ottoman-era bazaar and Austro-Hungarian architecture, Mostar with its famous stone bridge, and Neum, Bosnia's short and only Adriatic coastline. It's a destination with deep history — including the 1990s siege of Sarajevo, still visible in the city today — alongside an old and fascinating Sephardic Jewish community.
Israeli carrier Israir launched a seasonal direct flight between Tel Aviv and Sarajevo (SJJ) — once a week, on an Airbus A320, in partnership with Hello Jets, starting 23 May 2026 (source: Sarajevo Times, checked 15.09.2026). This is a summer-season route, so frequency and availability may vary between seasons — check current availability and pricing via the live search tool before booking. Connecting flights are also available, as is flying to a nearby airport (such as Dubrovnik or Zagreb) and continuing overland.
A consolidated list of services worth arranging before your flight. Prices vary by provider and date — always confirm the final price with the provider at booking time.
Israeli citizens do not need a visa for a short visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and can stay up to 90 days visa-free (checked 15.09.2026). Make sure your passport has sufficient validity for your travel dates, and check current entry requirements with an official source or a Bosnian embassy/consulate before booking a flight, as visa policy can change.
Bosnia's only town on the Adriatic coast — a short strip of coastline between northern and southern Croatia. Since the Pelješac Bridge in Croatia opened in 2022, travellers no longer need to pass through Neum along the Dalmatian coastal route, but it remains a pleasant seaside stop in its own right.
Bosnia, and Sarajevo in particular, has a rich Jewish history beginning with the arrival of Sephardic Jews in the early 16th century following the 1492 expulsion from Spain. At its peak, on the eve of World War II, Sarajevo's Jewish community numbered around 10,000-12,000 — roughly a fifth of the city's population. Of Bosnia's approximately 14,000 Jews, around 10,000 were murdered in the Holocaust; today about 280 Jews remain in the country.
If renting a car for self-drive touring in Bosnia, an international driving permit is required. Winter equipment (winter tyres and snow chains) is mandatory from 1 November to 15 April. Further detail on distances, travel times and public transport between the cities is worth checking closer to your travel dates, as this kind of information changes fairly often.
An eSIM is a convenient way to stay connected across a trip spanning several Bosnian cities — no need to hunt for a local SIM shop.