Car Hire in Sarajevo – from runway to road in 5 minutes

Jahorina Ski & Hike (45 min, 30 km) – A snaking Dinaric-Alps ascent from Sarajevo’s eastern suburbs to pine-lined switchbacks and 1 900 m peaks. Winter brings Austria-level snow on uncrowded slopes; summer swaps skis for hiking boots and mountain-bike trails. See our Jahorina driving guide.

Jajce & Pliva Waterfalls (2 h 30 min, 160 km) – Follow the A1 motorway north, then peel into lush canyon curves along the Vrbas River. Medieval fortresses, island watermills and a 22 m waterfall crashing into the town centre make Jajce a photographers’ playground.

Mostar via Konjic & Jablanica Lake (2 h 10 min, 130 km) – The classic road-trip. Cruise past emerald Neretva rapids, stop at Konjic’s 17-arched Ottoman bridge, refuel on lamb at Jablanica’s roadside roasters, then watch the golden-hour glow on Mostar’s Stari Most. Grab directions in our Mostar car-hire tips.

• City-centre parking – Cheapest guarded option is the multi-storey beneath Sarajevo City Center Mall (open 24/7, cards accepted). Street zones are colour-coded; blue lines mean pay-and-display, white lines are free after 18:00.
• Paying your meter – Machines read “KJKP”. Coins or contactless cards work, but they don’t give change.
• Local pro-tip – Download the EasyPark app before you land. Top-up from your phone and dodge a walk back to the meter if your cevapi lunch overruns.
• Fuel etiquette – Most stations are self-service. Pump first, then pay inside. Visa/Mastercard widely accepted; keep BAM cash for remote pumps.
• Cheap refuel – Diesel averages €1.50/L, 20–30 % less than Italy or Croatia. Fill up before border crossings.

Spring (April–May) – Cherry blossoms on Wilson’s Promenade and empty mountain roads. Daily highs 15–22 °C, light traffic, low rates.
Summer (June–August) – The Sarajevo Film Festival transforms the city into a giant open-air cinema. Book accommodation early and choose a hire car with decent A/C – temps hit 35 °C.
Autumn (September–October) – Blaze-orange beech forests on every mountain pass. Ideal for photographers and hikers, with mild 20 °C days.
Winter (mid-Nov–mid-Mar) – Ski Jahorina, Bjelašnica and Igman. Winter tyres are mandatory and included in our rates; chains available on request.

Border crossings are straightforward when you arrive prepared. Select the Cross-Border Permit add-on during booking and we’ll place a green card in your glovebox – proof of insurance accepted at all EU borders. For travel towards Split or Zagreb, the main border crossings are Ivanica (south) and Gradiška (north); expect queues in peak summer months, so it's wise to add 30-60 minutes to your travel time. Keep passports ready; EU queues move faster than non-EU lanes. Bosnia charges no exit tax, but Croatian tolls start almost immediately: pick up a ticket on entry and pay by card or cash (EUR since 2023) at the exit booth.

Carry the vehicle registration (found in the black booklet), and remember headlights remain on 24 h in both countries. If you plan to circle back via the Adriatic coast, factor the ferry from Trpanj to Ploče into your timings – sailings every 90 minutes in summer.

With car hire Sarajevo Airport sorted in advance, crossing borders is a matter of paperwork, not guesswork – leaving you free to chase sunsets along Croatia’s D8 coastal highway or Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor without a hitch.