Bosnia with kids
From Mostar: Half-Day Trip to the Kravica Waterfall
Is Bosnia a good destination for families with children?
Yes — Bosnia is excellent for families. Kids love Kravice Falls, the Sarajevo cable car, gentle Una River rafting and the quirky Bosnian Pyramids. Costs are low, locals are genuinely warm towards children, and the country is safe in cities and well-touristed areas.
Bosnia & Herzegovina is one of the Balkans’ most underrated family destinations. Prices are low, people are friendly and genuinely warm towards children, the landscapes are spectacular, and the mix of history, waterfalls and outdoor adventure keeps curious kids entertained for days. This guide tells you what works best for families, where to go, and a few practical things to know before you arrive.
Why Bosnia works well for families
Bosnians love children. Don’t be surprised if your toddler is fussed over in a restaurant, or if a local insists on letting your kids try a piece of homemade baklava. This warmth creates a relaxed atmosphere that takes a lot of pressure off parents.
The country is also extremely affordable. A family meal at a good local restaurant might cost 40-60 BAM (20-30 EUR). Entrance to most sights runs 5-10 BAM per adult; children are often free or half-price. Ice cream, burek (flaky meat or cheese pastry) and fresh juice are cheap and delicious.
For younger children, the sensory richness of Sarajevo’s old bazaar Baščaršija — coppersmiths hammering in tiny workshops, the smell of grilled ćevapi, fountains to splash at — creates genuine wonder. Older kids often become fascinated by the layers of history: Roman, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and the more recent war years.
Top family-friendly activities across Bosnia
Kravice Falls — Herzegovina’s best splash
Kravice (also spelled Kravica) is a chain of tufa waterfalls 40 m wide and 25 m high, set in a horseshoe canyon on the Trebižat River near Ljubuški. In summer, families swim in the turquoise pool below the falls, rent inflatable rings and eat grilled fish at the small restaurants above. The water is cool and refreshing even in August.
Access is easy: a short walk down to the canyon from the car park, or you can join a half-day tour from Mostar that handles all logistics. Entrance is around 5 BAM per adult in peak season; children under 7 are usually free. Go early or late to avoid the midday rush in July-August.
Sarajevo Cable Car and Olympic Museum
The Trebević cable car, rebuilt after the war, whisks families from the city centre up to the mountain in 7 minutes. At the top, the remains of the 1984 Olympic bobsled track are now a popular graffiti-covered attraction — eerie and fascinating for older kids. The views of Sarajevo spread below are outstanding.
The Olympic Museum at Zetra (near the start station) tells the story of the 1984 Winter Games with exhibits that engage children interested in sport and history. A dedicated cable car and Olympic Museum tour combines both in a guided morning out.
Una River — gentle rafting for all ages
The Una River in north-western Bosnia (Una National Park, near Bihać) is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe, running in shades of deep green and turquoise through a canyon of natural waterfalls. The lower Una offers calm, gentle sections perfect for families with younger children. Štrbački Buk waterfall, a dramatic curtain of water 25 m high, can be reached by a short riverside walk and is one of the most impressive natural sights in Bosnia.
A relaxed family rafting trip on the lower Una lasts 2-3 hours and is suitable for children aged 6 and up. The area is green, quiet and refreshingly off the typical tourist trail.
Vrelo Bosne nature park — Sarajevo’s backyard
Just 12 km from central Sarajevo, Vrelo Bosne is a lush park where the Bosna River springs from multiple karst sources. Horse-drawn carriages (fijaker) are available for hire, ducks bob on the clear water, and well-maintained paths make it ideal for pushchairs and young walkers. Families often combine it with a trip to Ilidža for ice cream and a stroll. Entry to the park is free; carriage rides cost around 10-15 BAM per person.
Bosnian Pyramids at Visoko — history mystery for older kids
Whether you believe the Bosnian Pyramids are ancient man-made structures or natural geological formations, the site 30 km north of Sarajevo is a genuinely engaging outing for curious older children and teenagers. The tunnel network beneath the hill is cool and atmospheric; the hilltop viewpoints are excellent. A day trip from Sarajevo runs around 2-3 hours each way by car or organised tour.
Jahorina and Bjelašnica — ski mountains near Sarajevo
Bosnia’s 1984 Olympic ski resorts are compact, affordable and family-friendly. Jahorina (east of Sarajevo) and Bjelašnica (south-west) both have ski schools, gentle beginner slopes and cosy mountain huts serving hearty soups. A ski day including rentals costs a fraction of Alpine prices — roughly 40-60 BAM per person. The ski season runs December to March.
Sarajevo with kids — a half-day itinerary
- Start at Baščaršija: let children find the Sebilj fountain and try a piece of tufahija (walnut-stuffed poached apple) at one of the tea houses.
- Walk along the old market lanes to the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (shoes off, scarves available) and courtyard.
- Head to the Sarajevo War Childhood Museum (Muzej Ratnog Djetinjstva) — appropriate for children aged 10 and up, this intimate museum uses objects and stories from children who lived through the siege. Powerful and respectful.
- Ride the cable car to Trebević, walk the bobsled track, eat lunch at the mountain restaurant.
- Return to Baščaršija for ćevapi and juice in the evening.
Practical family logistics
Accommodation: Family rooms are available in most Sarajevo hotels and guesthouses. Airbnb apartments offer more space and kitchen access, useful for families with young children. In Mostar, the old town is compact and walkable; family-friendly guesthouses line the Neretva.
Food: Bosnian food is very child-friendly — grilled meats, pita pastries, fresh bread, soups, grilled vegetables. Allergies are less well-understood in smaller towns; clarify in advance if needed. Most restaurants serve quickly and welcome children.
Getting around with children: A rental car is strongly recommended for families. Car seats are available from international rental companies in Sarajevo; book in advance. Bus travel is fine for long-haul routes (Sarajevo to Mostar, for example), but local exploration is much easier with a car.
Health and safety: Bosnia’s city tap water is generally safe. Mountain and rural streams should not be drunk untreated. Pharmacies (apoteka) are well stocked in all cities. The main European emergency number (112) works in Bosnia.
Landmine awareness: This is the single most important safety point. Stay strictly on marked paths when hiking or exploring rural areas — do not walk into forests, fields or off-trail zones outside city limits. See our landmine safety guide for full details.
Building a family itinerary
5 days, city + waterfall focus
- Days 1-2: Sarajevo — cable car, Baščaršija, War Childhood Museum, Vrelo Bosne
- Day 3: drive to Kravice Falls via Mostar (swim, lunch)
- Day 4: Mostar old town, Stari Most, Blagaj Tekija
- Day 5: return to Sarajevo via Počitelj
7 days, adding Una valley
- Days 1-3: Sarajevo as above
- Day 4: drive north to Jajce (waterfall in the town centre, fortress)
- Days 5-6: Una National Park — Bihać, Štrbački Buk, gentle rafting
- Day 7: return south to Sarajevo or fly from Banja Luka
Budget snapshot for families
| Item | BAM | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Family meal (4 people) in a local restaurant | 60-100 | 30-50 |
| Kravice entrance (2 adults + 2 kids) | ~15 | ~8 |
| Cable car, Sarajevo (family) | ~60 | ~30 |
| Una rafting per child (guided tour) | ~40 | ~20 |
| Mid-range family room per night | 100-180 | 50-90 |
Bosnia remains one of the best-value family destinations in Europe. A week for four people, including flights, typically costs less than a long weekend in many Western European cities.
What families say
First-time visitors frequently mention three things: the warmth of Bosnian hospitality, the shock of how beautiful the landscapes are, and the guilt of not having come sooner. Bosnia doesn’t advertise itself well, which means you’re likely to have major sights almost to yourselves outside peak July-August. That’s a very good thing when you’re herding children through a historical site.
For more specific Sarajevo family ideas, see the Sarajevo with family guide. For a full list of kid-friendly activities across the country, visit the family activities Bosnia guide.
Frequently asked questions about Bosnia with kids
What is the best age range for kids visiting Bosnia?
Is Bosnia safe for family travel?
How much does a family trip to Bosnia cost?
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Can I do a Bosnia trip without a rental car with kids?
Top experiences
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