BOSNIA AND HERZ.

Halal-friendly holidays

• Beautiful Natural Landscape

The lush green mountain scenery of Bosnia and Herzegovina is extremely beautiful. It is the setting for cascading waterfalls and picturesque medieval castles. Wherever you stay on your halal-friendly holiday, you should definitely make time to go out and explore the countryside. Don’t miss the impressive Kravice Waterfalls, which tumble some 25 metres down the rock face, and are easily reached from Mostar and the dramatic double cascade of the Strbacki Buk Waterfalls, close to Bihac.

• Fascinating History

The area where Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated today has been inhabited since Neolithic times. It was part of the Western Roman Empire and then ruled by Germanic tribes, Slavs and Hungarians before being proclaimed a kingdom in 1377. In 1463 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, and remained part of it until 1878 when the Ottomans ceded it to Austria-Hungary. It was during this period that many of its inhabitants converted to Islam.
In 1929 it became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1941 Bosnia-Herzegovina was annexed by pro-Hitler Croatia and liberated in 1945, after which time it became part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In March 1992, following the fall of Communism, Bosnia and Herzegovina became an independent state. Later that same month, however, war broke out between the different ethnic groups: Serbs, Croats and Muslim Bosnians. In 1995, hostilities ended and a period of reconciliation and rebuilding followed. In 2016 Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its formal application to join the EU.

The recent history of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the genocide of the Muslim Bosnians

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a history of conflict. It was in Sarajevo where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated by a Bosnian Serb nationalist in 1914, triggering the start of the First World War.

In more recent years, Bosnia Herzegovina was at the heart of the Yugoslav Wars, which followed the fall of Communism and the break-up of Yugoslavia. During this period, divisions between ethnic Serbs, Croats and Bosnians escalated, resulting in the ethnic cleansing of Muslim Bosnians and damage to many mosques. Of the many atrocities committed during this period, perhaps the worst was the Massacre of Srebrenica in 1995, an act of genocide, when more than 8,000 Muslim Bosnian men and boys were killed at the hands of the Bosnian Serb Army.

• Top historic sites for Muslims to visit

Stari Most and the old town of Mostar
In 1566 a stone bridge was built across the Neretva River, by the Ottoman architect Mimar Hajruddin, to a design prepared by the great architect, Mimar Sinan and was a powerful symbol of multiculturalism and ethnic tolerance. The town was well known for its old Ottoman houses and its Austro-Hungarian architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1993 the old bridge was destroyed under shelling by Croat forces. After the conflict, it was decided that the bridge should be rebuilt as a symbol of reconciliation. It was re-built using the same local materials and Ottoman construction techniques which the original Turkish architects employed nearly 500 years ago. The reconstruction was carried out by an expert Turkish company specialised in the renovation and reconstruction of historical monuments from the Ottoman era utilising some of the original stone recovered from the river bed. Stari Most was reopened in 2004.

Kajitas House, Mostar
This half-timbered Ottoman house, in the old town of Mostar, was originally the harem of a much larger house built in the 16th century for a Turkish judge. It is full of original artefacts and is still owned by the descendants of its original owners.

The Tunnel Museum, Sarajevo
This museum is a terrible but timely reminder of the period from 1992-1995 when Sarajevo was under siege by hostile Serb forces. The hand-dug tunnel was the only way to enter and exit the city.

Grave of Alija Izetbegović in the Kovači War Memorial and Cemetery
The Kovači War Memorial and Cemetery is the main cemetery for soldiers from the Bosnian Army who were killed during the siege of Sarajevo. It is also known for the grave of Alija Izetbegović, the first President of the Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina who requested to be buried amongst the martyrs. Many Muslims choose to pay their respects to the “Wise King of Bosnia Herzegovina” also widely referred as “father” and pray here at the Martyrs’ Memorial Cemetery for the victims who died in this senseless war.

Srebrenica Potocari Genocide Memorial
This moving memorial cemetery is the place to pay your respects to the victims at the site of the 1995 Massacre of Srebrenica. The cemetery is dedicated to the 8,372 Srebrenica civilians murdered by members of the Serbian Army from July 11-16, 1995 during the Bosnian War. It is situated in Eastern Bosnia around 10kms from the border with Serbia and is easily reached on a day trip from Sarajevo.

• Friendly, Welcoming People

A large proportion of the overseas visitors who come to Bosnia and Herzegovina on holiday are from predominantly Muslim countries such as Turkey, Qatar and Bahrain. The local people are very hospitable and have an especially warm welcome for their Muslim visitors. Since the majority of the population is Muslim they also have a good understanding of the needs of Muslim guests and their halal requirements.

• Sarajevo

This fascinating city is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, offering a rich blend of eastern and western influences. It boasts a diverse historic heritage with majestic buildings dating from its Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslavian past. You will enjoy exploring the Old Town of Bascarsija with its bazaar, atmospheric alleys and grand squares. To get away from the hustle and bustle escape to the beautiful suburb of Ilidza, known for its unspoilt natural setting.

Must-see places in and around Sarajevo:

• Old Town of Bascarsija
• Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and Medresa
• The Emperor’s Mosque
• Vrelo Bosne
• Clock Tower
• Tunnel Museum
• Sarajevo City Hall / National Library
• Take the Cable Car to Mount Trebevic
• Grave of Alija Izetbegović in the Kovači War Memorial and Cemetery

Those planning to stay in the capital city can find more details about halal-friendly holidays in Sarajevo in our Halalbooking guide to halal-friendly holiday in Sarajevo at the bottom of our Sarajevo webpage.

• Mostar

The name, Mostar, means ‘the bridge keepers’ and the city is famous for its beautiful bridge spanning the Neretva River, which was designed by the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan, and built in 1566. It was destroyed in 1993 during the Yugoslav Wars and later rebuilt as a symbol of reconciliation. The town of Mostar is a wonderful place to stay, with its beautiful scenery and charming architecture. It is also one of the most important historic sites to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Just 30 kms south of Mostar is the picturesque walled village of Pocitelj, set on the banks of the river Neretva. It was first built in the medieval era and developed by the Ottomans. It was a strategic army town under the Hungarians, Ottomans and Venetians and is well worth a visit. Also close by is the Sufi Lodge of Blagaj, just 6kms from Mostar, which is set at the base of a sheer rock face, in a peaceful setting, on the shores of a river.

• Bihac

Bihac is set on the banks of the river Una in northwest Bosnia, close to the Croatian border. The vast majority of its population is Muslim, making it a great place for a halal-friendly holiday. It is predominantly an agricultural area and is renowned for its fertile soil. The Una National Park is nearby and is well worth visiting for its beautiful scenery, and the spectacular cascading waterfalls of Strbacki Buk.

• Tuzla

Tuzla is Bosnia’s third largest city, set in the northeast of Bosnia, on the Jala River, in the shelter of the Majevica Mountains. It takes its name from the Turkish, meaning ‘with salt’, and is the only city in Europe to have a salt lake at its centre, a reminder of the ancient Pannonian Sea, which dried up around 10 million years ago. The salt lakes are part of an archaeological park, which includes replica Neolithic lake dwellings. Tuzla is home to two universities and is also an important city for the arts, hosting an annual book festival and home to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s oldest theatre.

Most of the meat served in Bosnia and Herzegovina is halal and it is extremely unusual to find pork on the menu. If you aren’t sure then just ask – many restaurants are owned by Muslims. It is also relatively easy to find alcohol-free restaurants. Look for restaurants frequented by locals. There are over 90 local companies producing halal food in Bosnia, so it is very widespread, however, it is not usual for restaurants to have halal certification. It is also a popular destination with tourists from Muslim countries as diverse as Turkey, Qatar and Bahrain so local people, even if they are not Muslim themselves, are used to assisting with requirements for halal food.

Generally speaking it is very cheap to eat out. Much of the local cuisine owes its origins to the Ottoman Empire and there are some delicious local variations.

Top halal dishes to try in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cevapcici - Succulent kebabs made from minced meat baked in a traditional charcoal oven, usually made from lamb, beef or veal, and served wrapped in soft bread with sour cream and onions.

Burek - Fine flaky filo pastry filled with cheese, spinach or meat. The traditional Bosnian variety is a long, thin pastry ‘snake’ filled with meat and rolled into a spiral, which is cut into sections for serving.

Klepe - Bosnian steamed dumplings, which are made from dough stuffed with lamb, beef or cheese and served with a garlic or yoghurt sauce.

Ustipci - Small balls of fried dough, a bit like doughnuts, with savoury or sweet fillings, stuffed with cheese, meat, jam or honey – each recipe is slightly different.

Begova Corba - Another Ottoman dish, named after the local name for the Ottoman provincial governors, which is a thick, tasty soup made from slow-cooked chicken and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and celery.

Bosnian coffee - Served thick and strong like Turkish coffee. Traditionally in Bosnia, however, rather than putting sugar in your coffee, you take a sugar cube and chew it alongside your coffee.

Those who are attracted by Bosnia and Herzegovina’s beautiful landscape should consider a stay in the Pino Nature Hotel, set in the foothills of the Trebevic Mountain, just 15 minutes’ drive from Sarajevo’s Old Town. It is a ‘dry’ hotel, which is completely alcohol-free and all of the food served is halal. It also has a spa centre with an indoor pool, which is open to ladies only at certain times.

A popular alternative in Sarajevo is the Malak Regency Hotel which also serves only halal food and is an alcohol-free hotel. It has a spa centre with hammam, fitness room and indoor pool, which is open for ladies only at certain times.

Halalbooking offers a good choice of hotels elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina including in Ilidza, Tuzla and Mostar which offer an alcohol-free environment and only serve halal food.

An alternative is to consider a stay in a halal-friendly villa or apartment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These offer more freedom to larger families and many have their own private fully-secluded pool. Depending on your preference, some of Halalbooking’s villas are more traditional in style and others more contemporary.

• Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Sarajevo
  This 16th century Mosque in the old town of Sarajevo, is the largest historical mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is still in use as the main congregational mosque for the Muslim community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Emperor’s Mosque (Careva Dzamija), Sarajevo
  This impressive mosque was the first mosque to be built after the Ottomans conquered Bosnia in 1457.

• Fehtija Mosque, Bihac
  This interesting mosque was originally constructed in 1266 as a Catholic church and became a mosque following the Ottoman conquest

• Koskin-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque, Mostar
  This charming mosque is worth visiting for its original interior decorations – its gardens and minaret are also a great place from which to take pictures of Stari Most.

• Karadoz Bey Mosque, Mostar
  This beautiful mosque, situated close to Mostar’s old bazaar, was completed in 1557 and is well worth a visit.