
Bosnia and Herzegovina has long had one of the most fragile
mixes of religions and nationalities in the Balkans. The
Ottoman Turks challenged Christian dominance after their
15th-century conquest, and today the population is a mix
of Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Muslims.
Inter-ethnic civil strife has had a devastating effect
on the country since the spring of 1992, when the government
of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a referendum on independence
from the former Yugoslavia. The Serbs, with the support
of neighbouring Serbia, answered with armed resistance.
Their aim was to partition the republic along ethnic lines
and to create, along with other Serb-held areas, a “greater
Serbia”. A bloody civil war eventually ended with
a settlement that divided the country roughly into two equal
parts, at the same time keeping Bosnia and Herzegovina within
its internationally recognised borders. NATO took control
of the peace-keeping force under the terms of the Dayton
Agreement in December 1995.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a largely mountainous country,
with high massifs in the west and centre and vast expanses
of barren limestone plateau to the south. Sarajevo, the
capital, mirrors the country's eclectic history, with a
strongly Turkish flavour in the old town and an Austrian
sector of typical turn-of-the-century Central European-style
municipal buildings. Mostar used to be famed for its 16th-century
Turkish bridge, unfortunately destroyed by artillery fire
in 1993, and the walled medieval city of Jajce is now remembered
as the scene of some of the worst atrocities of the civil
war. The country as a whole still has considerable tourist
potential, but until its political problems are resolved,
it is not a place that tourists can expect to visit safely
or with any degree of comfort.
Entry Requirements
All nationals are advised to consult the foreign affairs
department in their own country before travelling to Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer
at war with its neighbours, the Balkans remain politically
unstable.
Emergency Phone Numbers
All travellers are advised to consult the foreign office
in their country of residence before departure regarding
emergency assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Time Zones
Central European Time (GMT plus one hour). Clocks are put
forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday
before the end of October.
Driving
Vehicle documents
Consult the foreign office in your country of residence
before travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Rules Of The Road
No current information is available.
Roads, Tolls And Speed Limits
Check local conditions before embarking on a journey.
Driving Tips
There are still many land mines scattered around Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Do not drive off the hard shoulder of roads.
Hijacking of vehicles and armed robbery are still very real
hazards.
Electrical Devices
The electrical current in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 220
volts AC. Round, two-pin plugs are used.
Money
Notes and coins
The official currency in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Federation
is the Bosnian dinar, but in the Croat-dominated region
of Western Herzegovina the Croatian kuna is more likely
to be used. In the Serb Republic the currency is the Yugoslav
dinar. The German deutschmark and US dollar are widely accepted
for payment throughout Bosnia.
Currency exchange
Cash is the normal means of payment. Normal banking services
are only gradually being restored.
Tipping
It is best to top up bills to the nearest round sum.
Public Holidays
Public holidays and events are likely to be disrupted.
Travellers With Disabilities
Facilities for travellers with disabilities are likely to
be non-existent.
Transport
Metro, buses and trams
There are bus services operating in and between cities.
Trams operate in Sarejevo. There are no metro systems in
Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Camp sites Sarejevo
hoteliidza camp
City: Ilidza
Postcode: 71212
Address: Viteske brigade Ilidza
Hrasnicka cesta 14 Ilidza
Phone: +387 33 636 140
Fax: +387 33 636 141
E-mail: oaza@hoteliilidza.ba
WWW: http://www.hoteliilidza.ba
SARTOUR Camp
City: Sarajevo
Postcode: 71000
Address: M.M. Baseskije 63/3
Phone: + 387 (0)61 800 263
Fax: + 387 (0)33 238 680
E-mail: sartour@lol.ba
WWW: http://www.sartour-hostel-sarajevo.ba
|