Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

522 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE

Practical & Travel Information

Bosnians are traditionally hospitable people and will
often go out of their way to help visitors. Visitor infor-
mation centres with English-speaking staff are rare
out side big towns. With the increasing influx of visitors,
accom modation is now readily available in most towns.
The country’s good network of trains and buses ensures
easy travel, although a lack of sleeper carriages means
that overnight train journeys can be exhausting. It is
most conve nient to travel by car but drivers need to be
aware of the danger of land mines. Hiking is also a great
way to explore the countryside, but not without guides.

THE CLIMATE OF BOSNIA

AND HERZEGOVINA

The south and west of Bosnia

as well as Herzegovina, has a

Mediterranean climate with

long, hot summers and mild,

wet winters. In the north and

east, much of the country has

warm summers and cold

winters, with snow at higher

altitudes benefiting ski resorts

close to Sarajevo and Mount

Vlašic. Sarajevo aver ages

20° C (68° F) in summer

and -1° C (30° F) in winter.

SARAJEVO

26 /79

15 /59^16 /61

monthApr Jul Oct Jan

3 /37

5

hrs

9

hrs

4

hrs

2

hrs

64

mm

71

mm

103

mm

66

mm

5 /41

13 /55

6 /43

-4/25

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time to visit Bosnia
and Herzegovina is in summer,
when days are warm and
evenings pleasant. In general,
summer is from June to
September, although in
Herzegovina, it begins earlier
in May. Bosnia experiences
severe cold winters, while in
Herzegovina they are rela tively
mild. For skiers, the best time
to visit Bosnia is from January
to March.

DOCUMENTATION

All European Union (EU),
US and Canadian citizens can
enter Bosnia without a visa for
up to 90 days, on a valid pass-
port. Other nationalities should
apply to their nearest embassy
for a visa. Visitors are required
to register with the police on
arrival, but hotels will arrange
this automatically.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Bosnia’s only official tourist
information offices with
English-speaking staff are

in Sarajevo and Mostar. The

Sarajevo Tourist Information

Centre and Mostar Tourist

Information Centre are well

equipped and have brochures

covering the whole country.

Smaller towns have tourist

association offices, but have

unreliable open ing hours

and staff is unlikely to

speak English.

HEALTH AND SECURITY

Visitors are advised to

get vaccinated against tetanus,

hepatitis A, diphtheria and

polio prior to travel. Public

health clinics are best avoided

as pri vate clinics offer better

medical care. The Emergency

Medical Service in Sarajevo

is open to visitors and has

good doctors, while in Mostar,

the Clinical Hospital Mostar

also has good medical care.

In case of any emer gency it

is advisable to contact the

relevant embassy.

Crime against visitors

is virtually non-existent,

although visitors should be

wary of pick pockets, especi-

ally in trams and trains.

FACILITIES FOR

THE DISABLED

Public awareness about the

needs of travellers with disa-

bilities is poor in Bosnia and

Herzegovina. Only hotels and

rest aurants in major towns

have facilities for the disabled.

BANKING AND CURRENCY

Although the official currency

is KM (2 KM is approxi mately

1 euro), euro notes,

but not coins, are accepted

as a second currency almost

every where. Banks will usually

exchange traveller’s cheques

and major currencies. In small

towns and villages, credit

cards are less likely to be

accepted and ATMs are

scarce, so visitors should carry

enough cash for their journey.

COMMUNICATIONS

Most towns in Bosnia

have at least one Internet

café. Many city hotels

offer free Wi-Fi to guests.

Public telephones require

phone cards, which are

sold in post offices or

newspaper kiosks.

LANDMINES

One of Bosnia’s biggest safety

concerns for both locals and

visitors are the landmines laid

during the Bosnian War, which

cover an estimated four per

cent of the country. Mine

clearance has been ongoing

since 1995, but the sheer dan-

ger of the work, combined

with lack of funding and

alleged misappropriation of

funds, has hampered progress.

Although the densely popu-

lated areas have been cleared,

there is a real danger of

unexploded mines in open

countryside and isolated build-

ings. The roads have been

largely cleared, but the possi-

bility of roadside mines means

that drivers should avoid pull-

ing over on to rough or

unmarked ground. Hikers

should consult Sarajevo’s

Tour ist Information Centre

before setting out and are

strongly advised to take a

professional guide. Bosnia’s

Mine Action Centre has

° C/F

0°C

32°F