Best Time to Visit Bosnia and Herzegovina
The best time to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).
Spring in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Spring in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a beautiful time of the year, with the days becoming longer and warmer. The average temperature during this season is around 15°C (59°F). The countryside is alive with wildflowers and the trees are blooming. It’s the perfect time to explore the outdoors and take in the stunning scenery. Popular attractions during this season include the annual Sarajevo Film Festival, the International Jazz Festival, and the Sarajevo Beer Fest.
Autumn in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Autumn in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great time to visit, with the weather becoming cooler and the days becoming shorter. The average temperature during this season is around 12°C (54°F). The leaves on the trees start to change color, creating a beautiful landscape. Popular attractions during this season include the Sarajevo Marathon, the Sarajevo Film Festival, and the International Jazz Festival.
Month-by-month guide for traveling in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina in January
Weather
January in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 6°C. Snow is common, and the days are short with an average of 8 hours of daylight.
Events
- New Year’s Day: January 1 is celebrated as New Year’s Day throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. People gather in public squares to celebrate and watch fireworks displays.
- Sarajevo Winter Festival: The Sarajevo Winter Festival is held every year in January and February in Sarajevo. The festival includes a variety of cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings.
- Banja Luka Winter Festival: The Banja Luka Winter Festival is held in January and February in the city of Banja Luka. The festival includes a variety of cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings.
- Mostar Winter Festival: The Mostar Winter Festival is held in January and February in the city of Mostar. The festival includes a variety of cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings.
- Tuzla Winter Festival: The Tuzla Winter Festival is held in January and February in the city of Tuzla. The festival includes a variety of cultural events such as concerts, theatre performances, and film screenings.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in January
Weather
January in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from -5°C to 5°C. Snow is common in the mountainous regions, while the rest of the country experiences mostly rain.
Events
- The Sarajevo Winter Festival takes place in January, with a variety of cultural activities, concerts, and events.
- The International Festival of Folklore takes place in Banja Luka, featuring traditional folk dances and music from all over the world.
- The International Jazz Festival is held in Mostar, featuring some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is held in January, showcasing the best films from the region.
- The International Festival of Music and Theater is held in Sarajevo, featuring performances from local and international artists.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in March
Weather
March marks the beginning of spring in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The average temperature during this month is 6°C (43°F) and the average low is 3°C (37°F). Rainfall is common and the average precipitation is around 80mm (3.1in).
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival takes place in March, and is one of the largest film festivals in Southeast Europe. It features screenings of international and regional films, workshops, and seminars.
- The Sarajevo Jazz Festival is held in March and is a great opportunity to enjoy jazz music from around the world. It also features workshops and masterclasses.
- The Banja Luka International Fair is the largest fair in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It takes place in March and features exhibitions, conferences, and seminars.
- The Mostar International Music Festival is held in March and features a variety of musical genres, from classical to jazz to folk. It also includes workshops and masterclasses.
- The Tuzla International Film Festival takes place in March and is one of the most important film festivals in the region. It features screenings of international and regional films, workshops, and seminars.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in April
Weather
April in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually mild and pleasant. The average temperature ranges from 8°C (46°F) to 17°C (63°F). The days are usually sunny and warm, and the nights are cool.
Events
- April 6th is the Day of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a national holiday celebrated with parades and other festivities.
- April 7th is the Day of the City of Mostar, a holiday that celebrates the city’s culture and history.
- April 16th is the Day of the Republic of Srpska, a holiday that celebrates the founding of the Republic of Srpska.
- April 25th is the Day of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a holiday that celebrates the founding of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- April 29th is the Day of the Sarajevo Canton, a holiday that celebrates the culture and history of Sarajevo.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in May
Weather
May is a beautiful month in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with temperatures ranging from the low 50s to the high 70s Fahrenheit. The days are sunny and warm, and the nights are cool and pleasant.
Events
- May 1st is Labor Day, a national holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Celebrations are held throughout the country, including parades, music, and fireworks.
- May 9th is Victory Day, a national holiday that commemorates the end of World War II. Celebrations are held throughout the country, including parades, music, and fireworks.
- May 25th is Statehood Day, a national holiday that celebrates the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Celebrations are held throughout the country, including parades, music, and fireworks.
- The Sarajevo Film Festival takes place in May. This is the largest film festival in the region, and it attracts filmmakers and fans from around the world.
- The Mostar International Music Festival takes place in May. This festival features performances from local and international musicians, and it is a great opportunity to experience the music and culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in June
Weather
June in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from around 17°C (63°F) to 25°C (77°F). The days are long, with up to 16 hours of daylight.
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is one of the most important events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and takes place in June. It is a celebration of film, culture, and art, and includes screenings, workshops, and other activities.
- The International Festival of Folklore is held in the city of Mostar in June. The event celebrates traditional music, dance, and culture from around the world.
- The Banja Luka Beer Festival is held in June. It is a celebration of beer, food, and music, with over 50 different types of beer available.
- The Tuzla International Jazz Festival is held in June. It is a celebration of jazz music, with performances from local and international artists.
- The International Festival of Children’s Theater is held in June. The event showcases performances from children’s theater groups from around the world.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in July
Weather
July in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually warm and sunny. Temperatures range from the mid-20s Celsius (70s Fahrenheit) to the high-20s Celsius (80s Fahrenheit). The average rainfall is about 64mm (2.5 inches) throughout the month.
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is held in July. This is a major international film festival showcasing the best of Bosnian film and culture.
- The Baščaršija Nights Festival is held in July. This is a cultural event that celebrates traditional Bosnian music and dance.
- The Sarajevo Jazz Festival is held in July. This is a popular music festival that features some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
- The Mostar Summer Festival is held in July. This is a popular music and cultural festival that celebrates the best of Bosnian culture.
- The Sarajevo Beer Fest is held in July. This is a popular beer festival that features some of the best local and international beers.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in August
Weather
August is the hottest month of the year in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with temperatures ranging from a low of 13°C (55°F) to a high of 30°C (86°F). The days are long and sunny, and the nights are warm. Rainfall is usually low, with an average of about 4 inches (100 mm) of precipitation throughout the month.
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is held in August, bringing together filmmakers from around the world to celebrate the best of independent cinema.
- The Baščaršija Nights festival takes place in August, with performances of traditional Bosnian music, dance, and food.
- The Sarajevo Jazz Festival is held in August, featuring some of the best jazz musicians from Bosnia and beyond.
- The Mostar Summer Festival is held in August, with concerts, theater performances, and art exhibitions.
- The Sarajevo Summer Festival is held in August, with a variety of musical performances, art exhibitions, and cultural events.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in September
Weather
September in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 16-25°C (60-77°F). Rainfall is low, and the humidity is usually moderate to low.
Events
- The International Festival of Folklore is held in Banja Luka from the 1st to the 5th of September. It is one of the biggest festivals of its kind in the region and features traditional music, dance, and art from all over the world.
- The Sarajevo International Film Festival is held from the 11th to the 18th of September. It is the largest and most important film festival in the region, and features both international and local films.
- The Mostar Summer Festival is held from the 17th to the 20th of September. It is a celebration of traditional Bosnian culture, with performances of traditional music, dance, and art.
- The International Jazz Festival is held in Sarajevo from the 23rd to the 26th of September. It features performances from some of the best jazz musicians in the world.
- The International Wine Festival is held in Banja Luka from the 24th to the 27th of September. It is a celebration of the region’s wine and features tastings, food pairings, and live music.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in October
Weather
October in Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually mild with temperatures ranging from 8°C to 17°C. The days are usually sunny, with some rainfall expected.
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is usually held in the second half of October and features films from around the world.
- The Banja Luka International Marathon is an annual running event held in the city of Banja Luka in October. The event includes a full marathon, half marathon, and a 5K race.
- The MESS International Theatre Festival is an annual theatre festival held in Sarajevo. It is usually held in October and features performances from around the world.
- The Mostar International Music Festival is an annual music festival held in the city of Mostar in October. The festival features a variety of music genres from around the world.
- The Sarajevo Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival held in Sarajevo in October. The festival features jazz performances from around the world.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in November
Weather
November in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 4°C (39°F) to an average high of 10°C (50°F). Rainfall is common throughout the month, with an average of around 80mm (3.1 inches) of precipitation. Snow is rare, but can occur in some parts of the country.
Events
- November 25th is the Statehood Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which celebrates the country’s independence from Yugoslavia in 1992. This day is marked by parades, concerts, and other festivities in cities across the country.
- November 1st is All Saints’ Day, a Catholic holiday that is celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On this day, people visit cemeteries to honor the dead and light candles in their memory.
- November 28th is the Day of the Republic of Srpska, which celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Srpska in 1992. This day is marked by parades, concerts, and other festivities in cities across the country.
- November 21st is the International Day of Tolerance, which is celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On this day, people come together to promote peace, understanding, and respect for diversity.
- November 17th is the International Students’ Day, which is celebrated in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On this day, students and universities come together to celebrate the achievements of students and to promote international cooperation and understanding.
Bosnia and Herzegovina in December
Weather
In December, Bosnia and Herzegovina experiences cold temperatures and snowfall. The average temperature in December is around 2-3°C (36-37°F). The days are short, and the sun sets around 4 pm.
Events
- The Sarajevo Film Festival is held in December. This is an international film festival that celebrates the best of local and international cinema.
- The Sarajevo Winter Festival is held in December and is a celebration of winter in the city. It includes events such as ice skating, ice hockey, and snow sculpting.
- The Banja Luka International Festival of Choirs is held in December. This is an international choral festival that brings together choirs from around the world.
- The Mostar Christmas Market is held in December. This is a traditional Christmas market with local crafts and food.
- The Banja Luka Winter Festival is held in December. This is a celebration of winter in the city with events such as ice skating, ice hockey, and snow sculpting.