BY TRAIN FROM SERBIA
Direct trains operate between Sarajevo and Belgrade leaving Belgrade at 8:15AM and arriving in Sarajevo at 5:30PM, which costs around €16 one way if bought a day in advance. Night trains also operate this route, with a required transfer in Doboj. The night journey takes 9-11 hours.
There are no sleeping cars available. You will be bothered at least four times for your passport (since the train crosses through a small piece of Croatia), and at least as many times for your ticket. Do not expect to be able to sleep.
Alternatively, you can also take the daytime train towards Budapest, but change Strizivojna-Vrpolje, Croatia to the connecting train to Belgrade. This train also has a dining car.
BY TRAIN FROM CROATIA
There are two daily trains between Sarajevo and Zagreb, as follows:
A train leaves Zagreb daily at 08:55, arriving in Sarajevo at 18:05. This train continues onto Ploče, arriving there at 22:15.
The return train to Zagreb, via Zenica, Doboj and Banja Luka, departs Sarajevo at 10:27 (having started in Ploče at 06:00). It arrives in Banja Luka at 15:24 and finally into Zagreb at 19:45. Tickets cost 22 KM one way, 26 KM return. The train does NOT have a dining car on board, though men with trolleys selling food and drink will board the train at various points on the journey. Be advised to bring supplies beforehand!
A night train leaves Zagreb at 21:25 arriving in Sarajevo at 06:39. The return train leaves Sarajevo at 21:27 and arrives in Zagreb at 06:42. While this train occasionally operates with a couchette car, the inconveniently-timed border crossing from Sarajevo to Zagreb (ensuring you won't get a full night's sleep) remains! Travelling on this train has the benefit of comfort (as opposed to the bus journey taking almost the same time), or the cost factor of flying and a night's accommodation in either city. Be careful (as with all overnight rail travel in Europe), that thieves may operate on the train, stealing passports, money and mobile phones.
More information: http://www.fzbh.ba
BY PLANE
Sarajevo airport is located 6.1km southwest of the railway station, in the suburb of Butmir.
The following airlines operate service to/from Sarajevo Airport:
Adria Airways, Austrian Airlines, B&H Airlines, Buraq Air, Croatia Airlines, Germanwings, Jat Airways, Lufthansa, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Norwegian, and Turkish Airlines
Getting to/from the airport can be problematic as there is no direct public transportation, and taxi fares to/from the airport are surprisingly expensive for the short distance. Your best bet is to take a taxi to the tram terminus at Ilidža and then take the tram into the city center (1.6 KM). Alternatively, you can take Bus #36 to Nedžarići (1.6 KM). The bus stop is located on the main road outside the airport parking lot. At Nedžarići, you can change for a tram to the city center (1.6 KM). Bus #36 runs about every 30 minutes. Service hours are 6-23 Mon-Fri, 6-8 and 14-18 Sat and 8-15 Sun.
More information: http://www.sarajevo-airport.ba
BY CAR
Roads in Bosnia are often only a single lane in either direction, and due to the mountainous topography tend to be very windy and speed limits are lower (mostly 80kph). Beware of trucks and people dangerously overtaking on any road. There are many tunnels, and you must always drive with your lights ON (day or night).
* From Zagreb (Croatia) - taking direction to Slavonski Brod - Derventa - Doboj - Zenica - Sarajevo
* From Adriatic Sea - taking ferry Ancona - Zadar, then by car Zadar - Split - Metkovic - Mostar - Sarajevo.
* From Belgrade (Serbia) - taking direction to Sabac - Zvornik - Vlasenica - Sokolac - Sarajevo.
There is a company which offers connections by mini-van or private cars between Sarajevo and Belgrade, the name of the company is GEA Tours, the company is based in Belgrade and Podgorica. It is compulsory to contact before the departure either by phone or by email.
The Belgrade office telephone number is +381 11 2686-635,2686-622,2643-840,2685-043, the address is Kneza Milosa 65-Belgrade, the email is: gea@eunet.rs. A single journey between Sarajevo and Belgrade costs €30 and it takes about 5 hours and a half to 6 hours.
More information: http://www.bihamk.ba
BY BUS
There are two bus stations in Sarajevo. The main bus station ("autobusna stanica", by the train station) serves Croatia and most other international destinations, as well as destinations within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is in the end of number 1 tram line that takes you to the old town (1.60 KM).
There is also another bus station in Eastern (Serb-dominated) Sarajevo on the outskirts of the city serving the Republika Srpska and destinations in both Serbia and Montenegro. To get to this bus station (called "Lukavica" or "Istočno (Источно) Sarajevo") it is probably easiest to book/order a taxi. If you prefer public transport, use 103 and 107 bus/trolleybus, or the 31E, exit at the last station, and ask people how to get to Lukavica bus station (buses
and trolleybuses to the city centre depart from a terminal around 200m from where the international buses arrive). Be warned that Lukavica is the name
of suburb/district, not just the bus station! In this bus station, Cyrillic script is prevalent so you should probably check the spelling of your destination. If you need Bosnian currency there is a Visa/Mastercard cash machine (bankomat) in the nearby Tom shopping centre.
At the main street in central Sarajevo there is an Eurolines office where is possible to get bus tickets to any other country, also it is possible to get ticket to any other major cities in Bosnia like Mostar. A compilation of departure times from the main station can be found here:
More information: http://www.autobusni-kolodvor.com
