Sarajevo's mosques — a complete guide
Discover Sarajevo Walking Tour with Local Guide
What are the main mosques in Sarajevo?
Sarajevo's most important mosques are the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (1531), the largest Ottoman mosque in the Balkans and Sarajevo's architectural centrepiece; the Emperor's Mosque (Careva džamija, 1457), the oldest mosque in the city; and the Ali Pasha Mosque (1560), known for its elegant proportions. All are in or near Baščaršija and open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times.
Sarajevo is sometimes called the “city of mosques” — an epithet that overstates things (Istanbul has more, as do many Middle Eastern cities) but captures the density of Islamic architecture in the old city. Within Baščaršija and its immediate surroundings, five significant Ottoman mosques stand within a 10-minute walk of each other, all from the 15th to 17th centuries. This guide covers the main ones and explains how to visit respectfully.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Gazi Husrev-begova džamija) is the most important mosque in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the most architecturally significant in the Balkans outside Turkey. Built in 1531 under the Ottoman governor Gazi Husrev-beg, it was designed in the classical Ottoman style associated with the period of Suleiman the Magnificent — a single dome over the prayer hall, an elegant three-arched portico, and a single slender minaret rising to 47 metres.
The interior is the finest in Sarajevo: a high central dome on a square prayer hall, with elegant calligraphic inscription bands, painted ornament and a chandelier lowered on a long chain close to the floor in the traditional manner. The wooden minber (pulpit) and muezzin’s gallery are original 16th-century work. The mihrab (prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca) is finely carved limestone.
The mosque’s waqf (religious endowment) funded by Husrev-beg was the economic engine of early Sarajevo — the income from the bazaar and caravanserai he also built supported the mosque and its attached institutions for centuries.
The mosque is open to visitors outside prayer times. Entry is free; donations appreciated. Women should cover their heads (scarves sometimes available at the door). Shoes must be removed.
The Discover Sarajevo Walking Tour with a local guide covers the mosque and the surrounding Ottoman complex in context, explaining the waqf system and the role of the mosque in Ottoman city life.
Emperor’s Mosque (Careva džamija)
The Emperor’s Mosque is a few minutes’ walk south of the Gazi Husrev-beg complex, near the Miljacka river. Despite its name, it is unpretentious — a single-domed structure with a small forecourt. It was originally built in 1457, making it the oldest mosque in Sarajevo, though it was substantially rebuilt in the early 16th century under Sultan Suleiman and again after later damage.
The name “Emperor’s Mosque” (careva = emperor’s, i.e. the sultan’s) distinguishes it from mosques built by provincial governors as private endowments — this mosque was funded directly from the imperial treasury. The interior is simple and peaceful; it sees fewer tourists than the Gazi Husrev-beg mosque.
The mosque is near the Baščaršija tram stop, a 5-minute walk from the Sebilj fountain. Entry free; remove shoes; head covering for women.
Ali Pasha Mosque (Ali-pašina džamija)
Built in 1560-1561 by Ali Pasha of Cengic, the Ali Pasha Mosque is known among Sarajevans as one of the most elegantly proportioned in the city. It is slightly off the main tourist circuit — on the south bank of the Miljacka, a 10-minute walk from Baščaršija — which means it is usually quiet. The single dome, octagonal drum and slender minaret form a particularly harmonious composition. The interior is painted in blue, green and gold in a scheme from the 19th century.
This mosque is less visited than the Gazi Husrev-beg complex but offers a more authentic experience of an active neighbourhood mosque. Entry free.
Ferhadija Mosque (Ferhat-begova džamija)
Built in 1562 by the governor Ferhad-beg Vucjakovic, the Ferhadija Mosque stands near the western edge of Baščaršija. It is architecturally important as an example of the classical Ottoman provincial style — dome, portico, single minaret — but is most notable for its location: it stands at the very point where the Ottoman city transitions into the Habsburg quarter, with the Bezistan covered market hall nearby.
Baščaršija Mosque
One of the smaller and less celebrated mosques in Baščaršija, the Baščaršija Mosque (also called Atmejdan džamija) sits in a small courtyard just south-west of the Sebilj fountain. It is often overlooked by visitors following the main tourist circuit to the Gazi Husrev-beg complex. The mosque dates from the 16th century and has been restored. It is very peaceful in the early morning.
Visiting etiquette
All of Sarajevo’s main mosques are active places of worship. These are the key points of etiquette:
Timing: Do not enter during the call to prayer (which lasts about 5 minutes) or during the actual prayer (10-15 minutes after the call). The Friday midday prayer is the most important; access for non-Muslims is restricted before and during Džuma (approximately 12:00-13:30, time varies seasonally).
Shoes: Remove shoes at the entrance threshold. Shoe storage is usually provided near the door.
Dress: Women must cover their heads. A scarf is essential; borrow one from the entrance if you have not brought one. Men should wear long trousers, not shorts. Both sexes should cover shoulders.
Photography: Ask permission before photographing inside the prayer hall. In many Sarajevo mosques this is permitted, but be discreet and do not photograph people praying. The exterior and courtyards are generally fine to photograph.
Silence and behaviour: Speak quietly; phones should be silent. Do not interrupt prayers or enter the prayer hall if prayers are underway.
Donations: A small donation (2-5 BAM) is appropriate when visiting as a tourist. Many mosques have a collection box near the entrance.
Context: Islam in Bosnia
Bosnian Islam, developed over four centuries of Ottoman rule and subsequent exposure to Central European culture, has its own character. Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) are predominantly Sunni with Hanafi legal tradition, the same mainstream Ottoman school as Turkey. The Sufi orders (tariqas) were historically influential; the Bektashi and Qadiri orders had dervish lodges in Bosnia. The Blagaj Tekija (see the Blagaj guide) is the best-surviving example.
Bosnian Muslim religious practice is generally moderate by comparison with the Arabian peninsula; the veil is not universal and alcohol is served in Sarajevo without restriction. The Communist period (1945-1992) suppressed public religious practice to varying degrees; the post-war period saw a revival of mosque attendance and Islamic institution-building, partly as an identity statement after the genocide.
For the full context of four faiths in Sarajevo, see the Jerusalem of Europe guide. For Ottoman heritage beyond the city, the Ottoman heritage guide places the mosques in the broader regional picture.
Frequently asked questions about Sarajevo's mosques — a complete
Can non-Muslims visit mosques in Sarajevo?
What are the prayer times I need to avoid?
Is there an entrance fee for the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque?
What is the oldest mosque in Sarajevo?
How many mosques are in Sarajevo?
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