One world intellectual said: „If all the cities of the world were destroyed and only Sarajevo remained, civilization could be reborn in Sarajevo.“ Sarajevo was founded by Isa-beg Ishaković, a Bosnian sanjak-bey during the Ottoman Empire, in 1462. Due to its long history of religious and cultural diversity, Sarajevo is sometimes called the “Jerusalem of Europe” or “Jerusalem of the Balkans”. It is one of a few major European cities to have a mosque, Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and synagogue within the same neighborhood.
Electricity
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in Bosnia and Herzegovina, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa), and if needed using a travel adapter to accommodate your devices’ plug style.
Food and Water
The Sarajevo public water supply has been found to meet world Health Organizations (WHO) standards. The water is not thought to pose a health risk. No lead was found in the tap water in Sarajevo, but it does not contain natural fluoride, making it necessary for children to supplement that element to promote dental health.
A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are available in the markets. They are generally considered safe, however, to protect from food borne disease it is best to thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruit that are not peeled.
It is suggested that you buy meats and fish from supermarkets or butcher shops that have passed government inspections and use refrigerated cases rather than buying them in the open markets. As with other foods make sure meat and fish is thoroughly cooked and is hot and steaming before eating.
Currency
The BAM, or Convertible Mark, is the only currency that can be used in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can exchange money at exchange offices, banks or post offices.
BAM is the internationally recognized symbol for the Convertible Mark, while KM is used locally. One Mark is divided into 100 pfennigs and notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 KM.
The exchange rate for the Convertible Mark is fixed to the Euro: 1.95583BAM = 1 Euro.
The majority of exchange offices in Sarajevo work from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., while most banks are open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
The main post office is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
Emergency Services
Sarajevo’s ambulance, police, fire and mountain rescue services are well equipped and have extensive experience in handling emergency responses.
Should visitors have some kind of accident, they are sure to receive medical help in time. If they are unable to reach the nearest medical facility on their own, then the number to call for emergency medical assistance is 124.
There are several 24-hour pharmacies in Sarajevo.
Security
Should visitors have any security issues during their stay in Sarajevo, they should immediately contact the nearest police department or call 122 for police assistance.
The number for the fire department is 123, and mountain rescue services can be reached at 061/299-443 and 066/333-000.
Udruženje Sportski klub Pravi put – Realway
Semira Frašte 21, 71000 Sarajevo
+387 61 551 704