Culture in Bosnia & Herzegovina: social etiquette, fun facts, and important tips

While Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer the “secret” European gem that everyone on Instagram claims it is, it’s understandable why everyone wants to go there: the natural landscapes like Kravica waterfalls, the genuinely hospitable and kind people, and the culturally-rich history. 

This is a place where the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire intertwined closely, and it’s reflected in the architecture, traditions, and cuisine. Understanding the culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina isn’t just good preparation; it’s crucial to experiencing the country in an authentic way. 

So here are all the important facts, cultural etiquette, and important background information about Bosnia and Herzegovina that I learned during my visit after chatting with locals. 

PS: Bosnians are known for their hospitality. I recommend staying at a homestay rather than a hotel. Not only will you contribute to the local economy, but you will also get to have a true Bosnian experience.

Basic important facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina

1. While most people simply say Bosnia for short, the country’s official name is Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2. Bosnia makes up the northern and central part of the country, while Herzegovina is the smaller, southern region.
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina were part of Yugoslavia and became independent in 1992. 
4. The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Sarajevo.
5. Official languages in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian.
6. Geography:
   1. Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in Southeastern Europe, along the Balkan peninsula, and has a very short coastline.
   2. About 40% of the country is covered in forests.
   3. Major mountain range: Dinaric Alps.
   4. Main rivers: Sava River and Neretva River.
   5. Common animals in Bosnia and Herzegovina: bears, wolves, and foxes.
7. Currency: Convertible Mark (written as KM or BAM), though the Euro is often accepted. Cash is preferred to card payments.
8. Driving: They drive on the right-hand side of the road, like most of Europe.
9. Climate: hot summers and cold, snowy winters. The Herzegovina area experiences a Mediterranean climate.
10. There are three official ethnicgroups in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
    1. Bosniaks: they are Sunni Muslims, making up 50% of the population. Many adopted Islam during the Ottoman rule, starting in the 15th century.
    2. Bosnian Serbs: they are Orthodox, and they make up the second-largest ethnic group with 30.8% of the population. Bosnian Serbs live mostly in the north and eastern parts of Bosnia.
    3. Bosnian Croats: they are Roman Catholic and speak Croatian; they live mostly in the south-west region of Herzegovina and central Bosnia, and make up 15.43% of the population.
11. Healthcare is free, as is education until high school, and university is quite affordable. 
12. Bosnian cuisine is meat-heavy, and it’s rare to find full vegetarian meals. 
13. Outdoor tourism is the fastest-growing tourism in Bosnia.

Interesting facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Sarajevo was the first city in Europe to have an electric tram line (in 1885).
• There are about 202 waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina, more than Italy, France, and Germany combined.
• The ethnic diversity in Bosnia and Herzegovina is limited to religion. Physically, there are no differences between the three groups.
• A relatively unpopular but historically important bridge, the Latin Bridge in Sarajevo, is where the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was murdered, an event which triggered World War I.
• One of the many reasons people visit Bosnia and Herzegovina is to see its most famous waterfall: Kravica. It’s also one of the largest in the country.
  • The best time to go is during shoulder season, like April or November, before the summer crowds
• German is a popular language because many Bosnians immigrated to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland during the war period. Some came back, some didn’t. German is also a language option at school.
• Cash is generally preferred, and some say it’s because of the high taxes.
• The most venomous snake in Europe is the nose-horned viper, and can be found in Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you get bitten, you have 15 hours max to get help.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the largest populations of free-roaming wild horses in Europe.
• Rakija (pronounced rakia) has over 40% alcohol, and they use it for many things, not just drinking, such as medicine. It’s mostly consumed in winter, because in summer people prefer to drink sparkling water with white wine.
  • There’s an inside among Bosnians that “rakija connects ppl more than Nokia” because after a few shots, strangers become friendly and start speaking to each other.
• Cats in Bosnia and Herzegovina are treated as part of the community, and cared for and fed. Cats are the only animals allowed in mosques, as they are considered clean.

Historical facts about Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Bosnia and Herzegovina is a unique country because for centuries, all the ethnic and religious groups lived peacefully together.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina were part of Yugoslavia, formed after World War I. Yugoslavia was comprised of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), Kosovo, Montenegro, and Slovenia.
• A few generations who experienced Yugoslavia before Bosnia and Herzegovina became independent (particularly older Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers) tend to look back nostalgically on those days, as they believe life during Yugoslavia was good.
  • Yugoslavia had one of the strongest passports in the world, especially for a communist country, between the 1970s and 1980s.
• The hardest years in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina were in the 1990s
  • From October 1992 to February 1994, there was a war between Croats and Bosniaks. It was a “war within a war” because it happened at the same time as the genocide of Bosniaks in the eastern part of Bosnia.
  • From April 1992 to November 1995, there was an attempt at ethnic cleansing of the Bosniaks by the Serbs. This was the Serb-Bosniak war, where approximately 100,000 people were killed, the majority being Bosniaks. The worst was the genocide in July 1995, in Srebrenica, where over 8000 Bosniak men and boys were killed.
• In Mostar, there are schools for Croats and Bosniaks. In high school, everyone learns about the Croat-Bosniak war, but each school teaches its own version. Younger generations aren’t interested in learning about the war and are more accepting of other ethnic groups than older generations. 

Culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Society in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Mothers are very important figures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and are well respected. There are many songs about mothers.
• Being part of a community is a big part of life in Bosnian culture, where friends and family are very important. 

Coffee culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina

There’s a common joke among Bosnians that their national sport goes in this order: football, coffee, and smoking. Bosnia and Herzegovina rank 10th in the world for coffee consumption.  Coffee isn’t just about drinking coffee; it’s a social moment to hang out with friends and family. 

According to my tour guide, there are two types of coffee-drinking hangouts:

• One that’s for talking and hanging out
• One that’s for going away because it makes you go to the bathroom

Note: Do not offend Bosnians by calling their coffee “Turkish coffee”. It’s not the same because there’s no sugar added, and there’s a special way to prepare it for drinking when served. 

How to drink coffee in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

1. Use only coffee and water to prepare the coffee; do not add sugar. Sugar cubes are served in a separate small bowl with the coffee.
2. When your coffee is ready, add a few teaspoons of cold water and pour it on top to create foam. Then stir the foam slowly once or twice. 
3. Pour the coffee into the small cup provided.
4. Wait 2 minutes for the coffee grounds to go down. The coffee is now ready.
5. Grab a sugar cube, dip it in the coffee, then take a bit of the dipped part. Then drink the coffee.
6. In some parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, like Travnik, they bring matches and cigarettes, because they say that coffee without cigarettes is like a mosque without a minaret. 

The trusting culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Trust is really important in Bosnian culture, and it’s important to avoid offending people by implying you don’t trust them.

• If someone hands you cash, you shouldn’t count it in front of them. Just take the cash and count it later in private.
• In some places, people leave their houses unlocked to show trust in their neighbours, and to show that their homes are open for visits. Visitors can stop by any time from morning to night without calling first. 

Social etiquette in Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Always remove your shoes before entering a house.
• Weddings are huge, and everyone is invited. A wedding can have 300 guests or more. Guests bring money as a wedding gift, which is usually enough to pay off the wedding.
  • Fun fact about the trust culture regarding weddings: Wedding venues charge the couple after the wedding, not before. The same goes for the wedding dress.
• Bills aren’t usually split; one person pays the whole thing. There are also “arguments” over who will pay the bill, as everyone makes a show of wanting to pay. Sometimes people sneak out to pay the bills while pretending to go to the bathroom.

FAQs 

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina safe for tourists?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very safe country for tourists in terms of petty theft and violent crime (the country has a very low crime rate). I travelled there solo, and I felt comfortable and safe. People are incredibly hospitable and genuinely kind. The only warning I read online was about unmarked landmines from the war days, in rural and mountainous areas. 

Is Bosnia and Herzegovina expensive?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is an affordable European country to visit, especially compared to its neighbours, Montenegro and Croatia.

Why are there so many Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

About 50% of the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Muslim, due to the influence of the Ottoman Empire from 1463 to 1878.

Is it easy to find Halal food in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

It’s quite easy to find Halal food in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as there’s a large Muslim population (Bosniaks) there.