Whether you’re sightseeing, shopping, or looking for somewhere to try local cuisine, visiting the Bascarsija Bazaar at least once is almost guaranteed to happen while in Sarajevo. Any and every sightseeing tour in Sarajevo will bring you to the market area, although they’ll each likely focus on different parts.
A general look around the bazaar can be done in about 20 minutes, but you could easily spend half a day here depending on how many attractions, shops, and establishments you stop at along the way.
Dining options around Bascarsija Bazaar tend to be open all day until late in the evening and range from fast food and cafés to restaurants serving typical Bosnian dishes.
The area surrounding the Bascarsija Bazaar is mostly flat and paved, making it accessible for people with wheelchairs or strollers, but crowds and narrow streets make bicycling difficult.
Fill up your water bottle for free at the Sebilj fountain.
Because of all the attractions at and around the Bascarsija Bazaar, you may find that walking is easiest if you’re already near the eastern end of Stari Grad. When coming from other parts of Sarajevo, such as the modern city center, take the number 3 tram around to the Baščaršija tram stop at the northern end of the bazaar. Tourists with cars will find multiple parking garages and lots nearby.
There’s no wrong time to visit the Bascarsija Bazaar and it’s good to pass through it at different times of the day to see how it changes with the ebb and flow of daily life. That said, the bazaar’s square and prominent wooden fountain do look exceptionally picturesque around sunset. Expect it to be just as busy or busier in the evening than during the day, like most public spaces in the Balkans.
Among the shops and eateries around Bascarsija Bazaar, there are several historic landmarks that almost fade into the background if you’re not actively looking for them. The Baščaršija Mosque may not be the most important mosque in the city, but nonetheless is a national monument from the Ottoman era. Another local attraction to visit in the bazaar area is the Brusa Bezistan, the former covered bazaar, which now acts as a history museum.
