Sarajevo War Tunnel Tour is a half day tour designed to fully explore locations within the eastern outskirts and central parts of Sarajevo city, which are crucial for better understanding of the story of Siege of Sarajevo.
Locations we will visit are: Špicasta Stijena, ex Holiday Inn hotel (which stands at infamous Sarajevo Sniper Alley), War Tunnel Museum, Lav Cemetery, Koševo Olympic Stadium, Jewish Cemetery and Yellow Bastion.
To properly place “life in Sarajevo during the Siege” into proper context, these are crucial, not to miss out locations.
In conclusion, please do not leave Sarajevo without being properly introduced to the sufferings that this city has been through in the bloody 90s, because our story will make you feel as you were part of it.
Departure Times Twice a day: March – October 9 AM / 2 PM, November – February 9 AM / 1 PM.er to start from elsewhere, please let us know about it in advance.
Pickup Locations If you are staying in the old town of Sarajevo meet us at our office. If you are bit away from us, please let us know and we can organise advance pickup.
Activity Note: The tour is adapted to all ages and is not physically demanding. Due to the distance of the locations, we use vehicles during the tour, but most of the tour is done on foot.
First stop of the day is location infamously known to Sarajevo people, as Špicasta stijena. It was one of the most notorious sniper and artillery nests of the Army of Republic of Srpska. This viewpoint used to give clear view of Sarajevo old town, city centre and famous sniper alley. Dozes of Sarajevo citizens have been killed and wounded by Republic of Srpska forces occupying this location.
Memorial to Bosnian Army soldiers at Špicasta Stijena
Lav (Eng: Lion / Sleeping Lion) Cemetery originally military, but today Sarajevo’s (if not the Balkans) most multi-confessional and multi-religious cemetery. At these plots one next to each other, often without much order, are buried soldiers of the Austria-Hungarian monarchy, opposing soldiers and Nazi victims of WW2, Partisan heroes, Muslims, Orthodox and Catholic Christians, Jewish, victims of Siege of Sarajevo and many many others persons of various religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Often not so much on the tourists itinerary when visiting Sarajevo, Lion Cemetery surely is the most “multiculturalism radiating” place in Sarajevo, with “radiation” by far stronger then all of the Sarajevo churches, mosques, synagogues, monasteries, cathedrals and tekijas, together.
Story here is not about the temples and their grandiosity, but about the people and their colorful lives, of which, every single tombstone was made.
Once at the cemetery we shall learn facts about Dragan Dabić and his relation to Radovan Karadžić (Bosnian Serb War criminal), Kurt Erich Schork (Bosnian wartime US reporter who uncovered story about Sarajevo Romeo and Juliet – altogether buried here) and few other interesting figures laying at Sarajevo Lav Cemetery.
We pass by:
Cellist of Sarajevo playing requiem at Lav Cemetery during the Siege
Next stop is ex Hotel Holiday Inn and story about infamous Sarajevo Sniper Alley. Built for the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics, today called Hotel Holiday, during the Siege used to be home to various foreign journalists and reporters who were reporting on Bosnian war and Siege of Sarajevo.
We pass by:
Hotel Holiday Inn during the Sarajevo Siege and After
As we continue, tour will take us to Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum – Tunnel of Hope, which in period of 1993-1995 was the major “blood line” for heavily besieged and destroyed city.
At the Tunnel we shall see a short movie about the War in Sarajevo and Tunnel, followed by going through the Tunnel itself. At the exhibition part of the museum we shall have the opportunity to see many interesting exhibits directly connected with Siege of Sarajevo.
The trip to the tunnel and all the way in the tunnel is covered with a true first person experience of classy guide, survivor of the Siege of Sarajevo, who is always willing to answer question, no matter what they are. We shall learn about the origins of the War on Balkans and Death of Yugoslavia, the dreams Serbian leaders have had, and how they succeeded to seduce large number of Serbian nationalist throughout the whole Balkans, and made them go to war.
We pass by:
Sarajevo War Tunnel
Returning towards the central parts of Sarajevo, we shall pass through regions of East Sarajevo and Lukavica, until we make another stop at famous Sarajevo Jewish Cemetery.
Once there, we will learn about one of the European’s largest Jewish cemeteries, dating from mid 17th century and its importance during the Siege of Sarajevo. Jewish cemetery used to be one of the main frontlines from which Serbian army had advanced position, and were able to “sniper down” many civilians on the already mentioned sniper alley and wider region of central parts of Sarajevo.
We pass by:
Jewish Cemetery – Sarajevo
What you will learn during the Sarajevo Siege Tour?
What Do I Need to Bring?
1. Does this tour itinerary includes visit to Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum?
Yes, our Sarajevo Siege tour does include a visit to Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum.
2. Does this tour include Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum entrance fee?
Yes it does.
3. How can I pay this tour?
You can pay this tour either in cash (EUR, BAM, USD, GBP) or by credit card (VISA and MasterCard).
4. Can this tour be combined with Sarajevo airport pickup or drop off?
This tour is the best way to combine Sarajevo airport pickup or drop off, and save the costs. Our tour departs at 9 AM and 2 PM every day. If your arrival flight is around 12 or 1 PM, it is ideal that we pick you up at 2 PM at the airport and go straight for the tour. The first stop of the tour is the Tunnel Museum, and being under the airport it is ideal. If your flight is leaving Sarajevo at 3 PM or later 7 PM or so, you can join our tour with you luggage and at the end of tour we drop you off at the airport.
In this way you only pay the costs of the tour and get transfer for free.
5. What time does Sarajevo War Tunnel open and close?
Opening times of the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum are:
1st April – 31st October
09:00 – 17:00 (last entrance 16:30)
1st November – 31st March
09:00 – 16:00 (last entrance 15:30)
6. How do I get to the War Tunnel Museum on my own?
The best way to get to the Sarajevo War Tunnel on your own is to take Tram number three from Sarajevo city centre to Ilidza (last station). Once off the train you have three options:
1) Take a TAXI (price around 6 BAM – cca.3 EUR)
2) Take a bus #32A which leaves from Ilidza bus station to Donji Kotorac
3) Take a 30-40 min walk to address Tuneli 1 at Donji Kotorac
Additional option is to use trolley bus #103 from Sarajevo city centre – Trg Austrije to Dobrinja. Once you get out on the last station at Dobrinja, find your way with Google Maps for another 25-30 min walk to the Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum.
7. Do I need to book in advance my visit to Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum?
Our Sarajevo War Tunnel tour is limited to maximum 8 travelers and two daily departures, meaning if you are traveling in the peak of the season from May to October, it might happen that tour is booked out on certain dates, so that is why we recommend booking War Tunnel Tour in advance if possible. Also make use of Funky Tours 24hrs free of charge cancellation and cancel tour anytime.
8. How far is Sarajevo War Tunnel from Sarajevo city centre?
Depending on the road you take, Sarajevo War Tunnel is between 11.5 and 13.5 km far away from the Sarajevo old town Bascarsija. Driving time is around 25 minutes.
The available routes to get to Sarajevo War Tunnel are via Ilidza or East Sarajevo – Lukavica.
9. Can children visit Sarajevo War Tunnel museum?
The story narrative, video and photo material at the Sarajevo War Tunnel is adjusted to any age and even young kids can visit without a fear that the story is too strong for them.
10. Is the Sarajevo War Tunnel wheelchair friendly to visit?
Sarajevo War Tunnel most of the open space video and photo exhibition is “relatively” wheelchair friendly. However you need to have someone to assist you.
The actual part of the tunnel, museum part in the house and basement part of the exhibition are not wheelchair or accessible friendly.
For more information please contact the Tunnel management directly at: info@tunelspasa.ba.
Mustafa is the best guide in the world
Mustafa was definitely the best guide I ever met in the world. He in one of the few guide who can tell his story during the seige.
Absolute must-do
This is an absolute must if visiting Bosnia. It’s so important to learn about difficult topic of the war and genocide in the Balkans (more specifically Sarajevo/Bosnia on this tour) and Mustapha offered us a rare insight by someone who went through it all.
We gained very precious information and I would recommend it to anyone.
Warm , friendly and reliable experience – Multiple tours
My friends and I had used services of Funky Tour during our short vacation in Bosnia
The tours we booked were
1) Sarajevo War Tunnel Tour
2) Mostar Day Tour + Kravice falls
3) Travnik, Jajce & Pliva Lakes With Central Bosnia
4) East Bosnia and West Serbia Day Tour
For First tour we had Taib as our guide along with Faris driving the van.
The tour was well done , therefore we booked the second tour while in the van itself.
Needless to say our Mostar trip was also a success with same guide & driver , so we booked the Travnik tour with them.
This time we had Arna , who turned out to be equally good and she bonded easily with the girls.
The last tour was with Haris, another charming fellow and an equally good guide.
On the whole we unanimously agreed that selecting Funky Tours was one of the best decisions we had ever taken, and one of the best experiences we have had with a tour agency.
Needless to say it was an memorable trip majorly thanks to Funky tours, what really made the trip special was the warmth and friendliness of the guides and staff of Funky Tours.
The staff with whom we interacted were all down to earth, accommodating, friendly and always happy to help be it endless stops for photos or extra time at a place or even helping us buy Bosnian sweets without getting ripped off. All these were done without impression or indication that they were looking for tips, but were really genuine heartfelt gestures.
A big shout out to Taib, Arna , Haris , Faris and not to forget Ema
Amazing company with amazing tours!
Sarajevo Funky Tours is absolutely incredible. I ended up doing three tours with them, the Free Walking Tour, a day trip to Jajce and Travnik, and the War Siege tour. All three tours were wonderful.
Not only are the tours really interesting, but Sarajevo Funky Tours goes out of its way to ensure the comfort of its customers. All three tours I went on are incredible in their own way.
The free walking tour is more than just a walking tour as you get to try food and drink along the way. It is what every walking tour should be. The Siege tour was incredible because it really brings the war to life.
In part because of the incredible tours I went on, Sarajevo is now my favorite place in Eastern Europe. I hope I can get back there soon to do more tours with Sarajevo Funky Tours!
Best tour compagnie
Sarajevo Funky Tours made my holiday in Sarajevo the best i ever had!
The communication from the booking of my tours were exellent. The tour guides where amazing. I want to say a big thank you to Damir, what a wonderful guy!
If u visit Sarajevo, you should book your tours with them!!
