How to connect with other expats or nomads in Sarajevo?

in Sarajevo, Bosnia by @captaincake | 5yr 5yr | 1 comment

I will be staying indefinitely in Sarajevo soon (not sure where I would go next), what would be the best way to connect with other expats or nomads there?

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@hannahvictorius | 5yr 5yr

I always found couchsurfing meet ups to be pretty useful during my year in Sarajevo, but nomad list didn’t exist back then. There are a few expats I could put you in touch with.

Maybe organise your own meet up?

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Dubrovnik vs. Mostar: Which Would You Pick for a Two-Month Stay?

in Mostar, Bosnia by @gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr | 18 comments

Hey guys!

Doing some travel planning for when my boyfriend and I have to be out of the Schengen in the spring. I’m looking at Dubrovnik and Mostar. We’ll probably get to both of them, but was wondering - for those who have been - which one would you recommend basing in longer-term?

Some context on us: we love food and the outdoors. Both of us are cyclists (and should have folding bikes with us by then) and enjoy hiking/walking. Great views are a must. And neither of us are bar or party people, so the night scene isn’t a factor for us. Quiet places are great and I love small towns.

Keep in mind that this will be March/April/maybe May next year, so not high tourist season. I don’t mind if things are generally bustling, but I hate super crowded touristy spots (for example: I love Rome in winter and hate it in summer).

If anyone has insight, would love to hear it!

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@justinbosco | 3yr 3yr

Hi Gigi, I’ve been to both cities and I think Dubrovnik is more live-able. I agree with your hesitation in visiting it during tourist season… we went in the winter and it was awesome to have the place to ourselves, but I think I might avoid the city center in the summer. However, I’d check out housing near Park šuma Velika i Mala Petka. That side of the city seems muck more low-key/local and the park itself is gorgeous.

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@gigigriffis | 3yr 3yr

Thanks! This is actually an old thread, so spent last winter in both cities.

For those reading the thread in future, my take: Two months was definitely too much for me in Dubrovnik. It’s a cool place to visit for a few days, but for longer stays I’d pick Split instead. It’s got more access to more places, a younger more vibrant population, a bit of a lower cost of living, and ferries to so many great places even in winter.

Mostar was okay for a month, but it’s also a place I’d be more likely to recommend short-term. A week would have been enough to see all the cool stuff, take some great bike rides along the river, and try all the Bosnian cuisine.

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@justinbosco | 3yr 3yr

Hi Gigi, I totally agree, given the choice Split is a better place to live. We stayed there for about two months and would really recommend homes in the Marjan Park area. The neighborhood is a short bike ride from downtown but is separated from much of the city by a tunnel, which definitely makes it feel like it’s own neighborhood. Best of both worlds if you’re visiting Split!

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@playworking | 4yr 4yr

Hi Gigi. If you get down this way and don’t want to haul them with you, we have some great bikes, and a few new folders by Giant which you can rent on a long term basis. Best, Jeffrey

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

Thanks, Jeff. We’re both buying folding bikes, so they should be easy to cart around.

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

We’ll probably Airbnb it, but thanks!

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@theunisk | 4yr 4yr

I haven’t been to Mostar, but personally I would not want to spend two months in Dubrovnik - there’s a crazy amount of tourists and due to that, it’s more expensive than elsewhere in Croatia. It’s a beautiful little town, but I was glad to gtfo. ymmv

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@kdjfrei | 4yr 4yr

There’s a huge price difference between Dubrovnik and Mostar, in case that’s a factor. I haven’t visited Dubrovnik but I stayed in Mostar for ten days. The old town is pretty for a day visit, but there’s not much to do there. My impression is that Mostar is an average small city with a spectacular old town, whereas Sarajevo is a spectacular medium-sized city with an average old town.

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

Not much to do in what sense? City things? Nightlife? Hiking? I’ve heard the hills are full of hiking trails and there’s a famous waterfall nearby…are you just talking about city things?

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@kdjfrei | 4yr 4yr

I did take a nice day trip out to Kravice Falls and to a cool Dervish monastery called Blagaj, but those are both a little ways outside of town. Kravice is about an hour outside of Mostar and 3 hours outside of Sarajevo, so you could do that same trip from Sarajevo. Plus in Sarajevo you can get a five minute taxi ride and be high up in the greenest hills. For proximity to great hiking, I’d definitely go Sarajevo, but to be fair it was too hot when I was in Mostar to try hiking the nearby hills.

In town, I wasn’t blown away by the food in either city, but Sarajevo has more variety. I also felt that Sarajevo had more of a night life. If you just want to go out for a drink and hear some live music, you’re going to have more options in Sarajevo.

All that said, I can easily imagine falling in love with Mostar, especially when the weather is cooler. The people are wonderful in both cities. At the hotel where I was staying, I mentioned to the guy at the desk that I couldn’t rent a car in Europe because I never learned to drive stick shift and there are hardly any automatic transmissions. He said “Meet me here 9am tomorrow and I will teach you in my car!” Sure enough, he did!

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

Yeah. We’re not into night life and cities start to all feel the same to me after awhile, so probably Sarajevo isn’t a good choice for us. I’m super happy just sitting somewhere with a great view and a book, so I tend to like small places.

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@wanderingdev | 4yr 4yr

if you end up needing a hotel in mostar for a couple days i have a great recommendation.

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@kathrynoh | 4yr 4yr

When I was in Dubrovnik, I was told there is no shoulder season now because so many people decide to travel then. No idea what winter is like but I was there in high season and there were about a zillion big cruise ships in port. It’d not be an option I’d look at for longer term.

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

I’ve been reading up and it sounds like the cruise ships are May - Sept/October. I’m anticipating some tourists, for sure, but it looks like it wouldn’t be the crazy shoulder-to-shoulder of summer…? I wonder if anyone here has been there in winter and can speak to that directly? March/April is when we’re looking at.

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@wanderingdev | 4yr 4yr

Neither. Both are OK little towns, bit not for more than a couple days. If I had to choose one or the other, it would be Dubrovnik.

As for tourists, I was in both in April and bith were TEEMING with tourists. Even in the off season, they’re tourist traps and definitely not the place to be if you don’t like tourists.

I would visit but skip living in both of those places and instead look at Sarajevo or Split.

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

@wanderingdev Thanks! Are you normally a big city person or do you generally like staying in small towns, just not those two? I lived in a town of less than 2,000 for awhile in Switzerland and loved it, so I’m never sure if things that seem too small to other people will still feel good to me. Sarajevo just looks so massive and I’ve already lived in Split (and it was great, but want to try something new).

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@wanderingdev | 4yr 4yr

I prefer small to mid sized cities. I don’t like the huge ones. I think you’re underestimating how touristy these places are. Dubrovnik would be doable as it has other stuff going on, but mostar, once the tourists are all bussed back home in the afternoon, is a ghost town. I stayed over night and it was pretty shocking. A bit like a creepy zombie movie where you’re the only person still alive in the whole city. Perhaps that’s what you’re after (so many people you can’t walk during the day but empty at night). Another option though might be one of the winter resort areas? They’re small towns with all the outdoor stuff going on but without the thousands of imported tourists wandering through daily.

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@gigigriffis | 4yr 4yr

Thank you! That’s helpful.

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How to connect with other expats or nomads in Sarajevo?

in Sarajevo, Bosnia by @captaincake | 5yr 5yr | 1 comment

I will be staying indefinitely in Sarajevo soon (not sure where I would go next), what would be the best way to connect with other expats or nomads there?

👍

👎

👍

👎

@hannahvictorius | 5yr 5yr

I always found couchsurfing meet ups to be pretty useful during my year in Sarajevo, but nomad list didn’t exist back then. There are a few expats I could put you in touch with.

Maybe organise your own meet up?

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Post review

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A really amazing city, I wouldn't agree that it's small, there's much more to it than just the historical core, 20th century architecture is like 4/5 of the city and there are many vibrant neighbourhoods, restaurants and places where the normie locals hang out.

29 days ago

Nice looking city in the rolling green hills. Quite small. If you're looking for any sort of nightlife you'll be disappointed, there are pretty much just 3 bars in the city center. People and service were more friendly than elsewhere in the Balkans - but that's not staying too much. I'd say it's worth checking out but would not stay for more than a week.

5 months ago

This summer I worked from Sarajevo, and it was great! The city has so much history and character. It's an affordable place to stay and eat, and WiFi was easily accessible at many independent cafes and restaurants. There are public transportation buses and trams (as well as taxis, had a good experience with Crveni taxi - red taxi), but I found walking easier for exploration and getting in 10K steps a day. There are great mountain hikes and parks very close to the city (Trebevic, Skakavac Waterfall, Park Prijateljstva). If you rent a car, historic towns like Mostar, Lukomir village, Konjic and Jablanicko jezero (lake), and the wine country are within ~2 hrs from the city. If you want to take a road trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia, you can go through Sutjeska National Park, which is great for hikes on Via Dinarica trail, mountain biking, and rafting (there are tour groups from Sarajevo as well).

9 months ago

I arrived a couple of days ago in SARAJEVO and first impression was of a ex-comunist capital with a tough/harsh image seen on people's faces. But once you advance and check the Old Town + some pedestrian streets you become astonished about the mix of Austro-Hungarian architecture, Istanbulish streets/markets and so on. Some of the parts of the Center have Orthodox/Catholic + Muslim heritage, so it's a Babel Tower somehow. Fully recommend if you wanna see a city that rised from it's ashes after the 90's war like a Phoenix Bird.

1 year ago

Sarajevo is a fantastic city that offers much to those who visit with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the local people and culture. It compares extremely favourably to other capital cities in the region and more generally, as it open, accessible (it is a small city) and low-cost. It is relatively straightforward to find accommodation (also seek local guidance on this and all other economic interactions) and costs of living are generally low. Local people are friendly and also keen to engage with internationals, which provides a welcome alternative to Croatia, for example, where you are more likely to be treated as tourist fodder. I would be interested to hear more about how Sarajevo is Islamifying, as in my experience this is not definitely not the case. Islam is practised here (along with other religions, as Sarajevo has a long-established tradition of religious tolerance and diversity) by an Islamic community who are clearly distinct from the largely secular society. This applies in Sarajevo to exactly the same extent as it applies in London (my home capital) and any tolerant, open, inclusive city. Setting this aside, Bosnia's Islamic community appear comparatively more 'modernised' and 'progressive' than separate religious communities in the Islamic world or other religious communities within the region. The war, which ended 25 years ago, is still an important part of the city's present: both Sarajevo and the wider country are still struggling to recover and I would encourage readers to take this into account when making judgements/demands about working spaces or the resources available to internationals more generally.

A former progressive beacon of the Balkans, Sarajevo is now Islamifying — fast. Even the locals think so. Otherwise, a beautiful city, jampacked with historical richness, delicious and cheap food, and amazing nature destinations are a day-trip away.

As a non-Yugoslav you'll probably love it. As a progressive Bosnian you'll likely have a love-hate relationship with it.

Coworking spaces are mediocre.

Nestled in a valley surrounded by amazing mountains, the once host city to the 1984 Winter Olympic Games, is a charming and adorable city. It is very friendly to foreigners. The city itself is a wonderful mix of Western and Eastern cultures, and you can sample architecture from the Ottoman period, Austo-Hungarian period, as well as the Yugoslav period. It is a cosmopolitan city, with a mix of Catholic, Muslim, Orthodox and Jewish religions. It has a great caffe culture with many different cafes all across the city. The central and old town areas are the most interesting to both live and work. Amazing mountains, for the outdoorsy types are just minutes away. If you are a fan of hiking, the mountains surrounding Sarajevo and elsewhere across Bosnia will offer you an unforgettable experience. There are several co-working places, with new ones seemingly coming up every year. I've been spending time in Sarajevo for the past three years on and off. I would definitely recommend coming in late spring through summer and early fall. The winters can be harsh, and the city covered in fog and smog which is not fun (sometimes the airport closes due to the density of fog). In August there is a phenomenal film festival - SFF - which lasts for a week and is a Mecca for filmophiles and party animals alike. Should definitely not be missed. The beautiful town of Mostar is a mesmerizing two hour drive from Sarajevo and also has much character and history.
The cost of living is relatively inexpensive and you can find decent accommodation for very reasonable amounts. Eating out is also cheap with many different offerings. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may find it slightly more challenging as Bosnia and the Balkans in general are very meat intensive in their cuisine.
If you are based in the center or old part of town, walking everywhere is easy and convenient. Taxis are also cheap. There are enough decent gyms for exercise that are relatively inexpensive, as well as trails for jogging. Biking is also popular in the summer months, especially mountain biking and you can easily find people and crews to join in on tours.

⭐️ Overall Score	3.85/5 214 reviews
🎒 Nomad Score™	3.85/5
👍 Quality of life score	Good
👶 Family score	Okay
💵 Cost	😙 Affordable: $1,297 / mo
📡 Internet	🏎 Fast: 17Mbps (avg)
😝 Fun	Bad
⛅️ Temperature (now)	🌞 Nice: 20°C68°F (feels 20°C68°F)
💦 Humidity (now)	😊 Comfy: 84%
💨 Air quality (now)	🌱 Great: 35 US AQI
💨 Air quality (annual)	😷 Unhealthy for some: 137 US AQI
👌 Safety	Good
🎓 Education level	Okay
❤️ Liked by members	👍9 likes vs. 👎0 dislikes
🙊 English speaking	Okay
🚶 Walkability	Great
✌️ Peace	Okay
🚦 Traffic safety	Okay
🏥 Hospitals
🍸 Nightlife	Good
📶 Free WiFi in city	Great
🖥 Places to work from	Great
❄️ A/C or heating	Bad
😁 Friendly to foreigners	Great
🗯 Freedom of speech	Good
👩 Female friendly	Okay
🌈 LGBTQ+ friendly	Bad
🎅 Startup Score	Okay

🌍 Region	Europe
🚩 Country	Bosnia
⏱ Average trip duration	4 days
📡 Internet speed (avg)	17 Mbps
⛅️ Weather (now)	🌧 20°C 68°F + Humid (84%) = feels 20°C 68°F
💨 Air quality (now)	👍 35 US AQI 🍃 good
💨 Air quality (annual avg)	😷 137 US AQI = 🚬 🚬 / day
🔌 Power	230V 50Hz
🚕 Best taxi app (in country)	MojTaxi
🚑 Travel medical insurance	Safetywing
📱 Best wireless carrier	BH Telecom
💸 10 BAM in USD	USD 6.07
🏧 Suggested ATM take out:	BAM 100 = USD 61
💻 Best coworking space	NEST71
🚰 Safe tap water	👌 Yes, drinkable
♻️ Return rate	5% of visitors return
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Population	530,000 people
🏞 Foreign land ownership allowed	Yes
👫 Gender ratio (overall)	👨 47% 👱‍♀️ 53%
👫 Gender ratio (young adults)	👨 0% 👱‍♀️ 100%
⛪️ Religious government	Religious
🏠 Apartment listings	Pik
✈️ Best short-haul air carrier	Lufthansa
✈️ Best int'l air carrier	Etihad Airways

💵 Cost of living for nomad	$1,297 / month
💵 Cost of living for expat	$883 / month
💵 Cost of living for family	$1,837 / month
💵 Cost of living for local	$525 / month
🏠 1br studio rent in center	$486 / month
🏢 Coworking	$182 / month
🏨 Hotel	$851 / month
🏨 Hotel	$40 / night
🏠 Airbnb (308 listings)	$1,398 / month
🏠 Airbnb	$46 / night
🍛 Dinner	$2
🥤 Coca-Cola (0.3L)	$0.41
🍺 Beer (0.5L)	$1
☕️ Coffee	$1

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Sarajevo

How to connect with other expats or nomads in Sarajevo?

Dubrovnik vs. Mostar: Which Would You Pick for a Two-Month Stay?

How to connect with other expats or nomads in Sarajevo?

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