Bosnia has become a treasure for solo travelers in recent times. From its amazing cuisine and traditions to beautiful buildings and scenery, the country has really hit the jackpot in the tourism industry. If you are planning to go solo to Bosnia, you have come to the right place.
In today’s blog, I will give you all the travel tips and tricks that will make you the most comfortable and confident solo traveler of all time. If you are excited, continue reading below!
Is Bosnia safe to travel alone? Well, no matter how experienced traveler you are, you will always see this question pop up in your head when you start planning. And it is not wrong. With the recent war stories and the ongoing tensions between the Balkan countries, anybody will think twice before planning a solo trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, let me give you the best answer. It is completely safe to travel alone in Bosnia.
Despite popular belief, Bosnia has evolved into a beautiful country where not just any traveler but even solo female travelers can feel safe and have fun without having to worry about everything subconsciously. So, if you are thinking to travel solo, you must go for it! And to make your landing at the Sarajevo international airport a memorable experience, read all the solo travel tips given below!
Is Bosnia Safe To Travel Alone? Context Is Important!
Although I already answered your question, it is never harmful to be a bit careful when you are on for solo travel. Especially with Bosnia or the Balkan countries, you must have some idea about their political situation when you are traveling solo. Not knowing anything might cause you to offend sentiments unknowingly or put you in awkward situations where you never intended to be in the first place.
The Bosnian war took place in 1992-1995. It was an ethnically rooted war that occurred in the former Yugoslavia, which consisted of the Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. After long and bitter fighting between the groups, the Western countries, with the support of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), put an end to it, and the war finally concluded. Since it is very recent, you are sure to see many sights with abandoned and broken buildings, walls with bullet holes, and a lot of war remnants that might still look fresh.
However, ever since the war ended, the country has been working in full swing to restore peace. So, if you are still worried about hearing gunshots and screams, you are delusional. It is no longer a country of ongoing war, and the locals have made peace with their situation. Nevertheless, it is important to know the context because you might unknowingly hurt someone with ignorant political questions. It is best that you stay away from such discussions in Bosnia.
So, it is safe to say that Bosnia is a very safe country for you to travel alone. However, to make you confident enough to not have second thoughts, this blog has come prepared to serve you all the safety tips. So buckle up for an exciting ride!
Safety Tips For Solo Travel In Bosnia
Dress Conservatively
Let us start with a very basic rule, dress appropriately. Although it is a tourist place, you must not forget that Bosnia is still a very conservative country. The majority of the population follows Islamic traditions where wearing decent clothes is a must. Especially if you are a woman on solo female travel, never wear revealing clothes. Make sure whatever you wear falls below your knees and covers your chest and shoulder properly. You will find local women wearing hijabs as a way of showing respect for their traditions and culture. So, you will be appreciated, if you wear decent clothes.
For men, you can wear comfortable clothes but not roam around with a bare upper body. Although it might be normal in Western countries, in the Balkans, you might want to be a little more careful. However, if you find the climate a bit humid, you can wear shorts and loose shirts, both men and women. You must only be careful that your dress is not too distracting in the middle of a crowd for personal safety.
Stay In Lit Areas
No matter how safe a country is, always try to stay with people and in lit areas. Especially when you are traveling alone, even a stunningly beautiful country can become a traumatizing space if you are overconfident. There have been cases of thefts and burglary in Bosnia, and despite the security codes, they have not vanished completely. So, whenever the sun goes down, try to stay in areas where there is light and people.
Although you might like to wander around in abandoned places and walk the silent streets, try to live in the moment when the sun is still up. Especially for a solo woman, it is important to get in the crowd once the sun goes down and avoid dark alleys and streets to protect yourself from any unwanted situations. As long as you stay in well-lit areas, you can have all the fun you want.
Try To Avoid Hitchhiking
If you have a habit of hitchhiking, you might want to calm down here for safety concerns. Although hitchhiking is not much trouble because of the friendly locals in Bosnia, it can be dangerous. You can expect nice strangers to pick you up and drop you at your desired destination, although the locals are not very familiar with the concept of hitchhiking, you have to be careful.
There are always cases where the driver takes advantage of the passenger, leading to terrifying situations of threat, assault, and theft. So, even if you have no choice and decide to hitchhike, keep an eye on the road. If you find the driver taking sudden turns, stop the car immediately and get down. Nevertheless, sometimes such behavior can also be because the driver is a private taxi driver and he thinks he knows where he is going. Guide them through and tell them where you want to go. Lastly, it is only polite to ask if they seek any fee.
Get The Right Accommodation
In a solo travel, you have to be cautious about the type of accommodation you choose. Especially when it comes to saving money, it is best not to opt for extravagant hotels. Firstly, they might make you feel a little secluded, and you will not get an authentic experience. The best and the most common choice of many international solo travelers is hostels. You will find many affordable and beautiful ones in Sarajevo and Mostar with a serene ambiance. Staying in hostels also means that you are not completely alone and always have a chance of making friends.
You can choose Air Bnbs and homestays also if you are looking for a more local experience. The renters will welcome you with open arms and make you feel at home away from home. However, one tip is to choose a host who speaks English. It will make communication easier for you.
Getting Around Safely
Another problem that can arise is transportation. Although private taxis are very common, they can be costly if you want to travel from one place to another a lot. And since Bosnian people are not well acquainted with the English language, it becomes even more difficult to book a taxi or call for a ride at the moment. Hence, the best you can do is enquire about public transportation like buses a day before and don’t wait for on-the-spot bookings. Ask the locals for the time and place, and always take phone numbers.
In case they are not able to understand you, take a pen and paper and ask them to write down the details. Double-check everything, and don’t let the cunning ones fool you. The common scene for public transport is that you buy a ticket, and the driver comes to check it.
Be Careful Of Beggers
As solo female travelers, you will catch the attention of roadside beggars. Although you have learned to show generosity towards people, you must not trust them blindly. As in all cities, they target tourists, and when you are alone, you will surely be their priority. So, instead of giving money, try to buy food or essentials from roadside vendors who are trying hard to sustain themselves.
In many areas, people beg under third-party orders, who then take away all the money. So, try to make your best judgement and differentiate the more authentic ones from others. And as mentioned, buy them essential stuff instead of giving away good money whenever possible.
Look For Marked Areas
Although the war situation ended long back, it is dangerous to walk around in empty fields without any guidance. No matter where you want to explore to have a unique experience, don’t get carried away. Always look for marks or display boards that give warnings. It is mainly because there are still places that have land mines which can explode if you disturb them.
Hence, it is better to stay in crowded places as they are safe from any danger. And in case you are exploring nature, you have to be very careful with the landmines.
Don’t Hurt Sentiments
As mentioned earlier, Bosnia is a conservative country with strict religious traditions and is also politically unstable. So, whenever you are talking to your new friends about the Balkan country, try to be on the safe side. Avoid giving opinions on war situations, and it is best to skip political questions. Although people have moved on from the past, you might end up hurting someone’s sentiments with your judgment.
Moreover, use your common sense and don’t talk too much about their religion if you don’t have any idea. It is a Muslim-dominated country, and they are known to have very strict rules and traditions. If you are an atheist or don’t follow the same religion, it is better to observe from a distance.
Learn The Language
Lastly, most tourists who have traveled solo before commented that Bosnia has a very minimal population that understands English. So, instead of making them learn English, you can do yourself a favor and learn their language. Although it can be a hassle before your journey, learning a few words of their local language will only make communication easier at difficult times and remove the language barrier when you are making friends.
English might be widely spoken in other countries, but in Bosnia, you have a responsibility instead. Especially because you are a man or a woman traveling solo, you cannot miss out on some exciting things while visiting Sarajevo or Mostar due to some communication gap.
Over To You!
So now that you are prepared with all the tips and tricks for your solo adventure, you will surely have a good time. But if you want to make your trip to Bosnia, a complete natural beauty, more fun, I recommend you download the Ling app now!
Ling is of the best language learning apps that cover 60+ foreign languages and gives content on different topics like culture, love words, food, transport, and many more. With this app, you will learn the country’s language and also its culture and traditions. The best part of the app is the AI chatbot that will be constantly in touch with you with interactive lessons, improving your skills. So, if you want to become a pro at Bosnian, download the Ling app from App Store or Play Store now and learn the official language!
