Sarajevo International Airport is Bosnia and Herzegovina's primary hub, located approximately 10 km southwest of the historic city center, at the foot of the mountains that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics.
It is a small but growing airport with connections to major European cities.
How to get to Sarajevo International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to SJJ
Parking near Sarajevo International Airport
The parking lot managed by the airport is a few minutes walk from the terminal.
It is not supervised by dedicated staff but is video-monitored; approximately 2.50€ for the first hour, with a maximum daily rate of approximately 12-13€ (25 KM); private parking lots in the vicinity with shuttle service drop to approximately 4-5€ per day.
How to get to Sarajevo from SJJ
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Airport transfers you can book in advance
Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.
Car rental at Sarajevo International Airport
Major international car rental companies have desks in the arrivals area, useful for exploring Herzegovina and the surrounding mountains.
Bring your driver's license, passport, and credit card in the driver's name for the security deposit. EU citizens can generally use their national license; for others, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is also recommended. In winter, it's useful to check for winter tire availability for mountain areas.
Hotels near Sarajevo International Airport
Dobrinja and Ilidža, next to the airport
Hotel Brkić is about 2 km from the terminal, a few minutes by car; Sunset Dream Apartment is about 3 minutes on foot from the passenger entrance.
Best for: Departures before 6 or arrivals after 22, when the Centrotrans bus is not running, and one-night stopovers.
- Check-in reachable in a few minutes even outside the Centrotrans bus hours
- Generally lower rates than in the old town, useful for short stays
- Only the residential district of Dobrinja/Ilidža around: for dinner you almost always stay in the area
- Baščaršija still takes 10 minutes by taxi or 30-40 by bus
Recommended hotels
- Hotel Brkić Sarajevo Airport - Free Parking About 2 km from the terminal, in the Ilidža district; city bus stop right at the entrance and tram terminus about 300 metres away, useful for anyone who wants to get around without a taxi. View availability
- Sunset Dream Apartment -- 2 minutes from the Airport Apartment in a recently built building about 3 minutes on foot from the passenger entrance, with custom-made furnishings and a full kitchenette: useful for anyone with a dawn flight who wants to stay a step from check-in. View availability
Baščaršija and the centre
Centrotrans bus line 36 from the terminal to Baščaršija in about 30 minutes (5 KM), departures every 30-40 minutes from 6 to 22; by taxi about 10 minutes for 20-30 KM.
Best for: For anyone who wants to visit the old town, the museums and the restaurants of the centre, accepting the bus or taxi to the airport.
- Mosques, museums and alleys of Baščaršija within walking distance of the hotels in the centre
- Direct bus connection to the airport, no car needed
- The bus does not run at night: for very early or very late flights only the taxi remains
- A central area, so traffic and noise along the main streets until late
Recommended hotels
- Courtyard by Marriott Sarajevo On the bank of the Miljacka, about five blocks from the old town; opened in 2015, 132 rooms across 8 floors with a panoramic terrace and airport shuttle on request. View availability
- Swissotel Sarajevo Opened in July 2018 at Vrbanja 1, a few steps from the Latin Bridge and from Baščaršija; 218 rooms with views over the city and the surrounding mountains, next to the City Center shopping mall. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, compact but modern, is easily navigable. From check-in to gate is generally a 5–10 minute walk.
Customs and security screening are generally quick; for international flights, arriving 2 hours in advance is still advisable.
Map of Sarajevo International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need a visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No, for EU citizens, the UK, the US, Canada and over 98 other nationalities: you can stay up to 90 days without a visa.
Q. Are landmines a risk for tourists?
On the normal tourist routes the risk is essentially nil: mines left over from the conflict are confined to remote, marked rural areas, not to cities, paved roads or well-trodden trails. The rule is simple: never leave marked paths in the countryside.
Q. Is it worth renting a car to visit Bosnia?
Yes, it's the most practical way to link Sarajevo, Mostar and the mountain areas: international companies have desks at the airport and EU citizens can generally drive with their national licence.
Q. Why is Sarajevo called the "Jerusalem of Europe"?
Because of the historic coexistence, within a few hundred metres in the centre, of a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic church and an Orthodox one: one of the densest concentrations of places of worship of different religions on the continent, a testament to the city's multicultural past.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights
