The Balkans of southeastern Europe is becoming more popular as a travel destination, and we’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the best hostels in Sarajevo.
Not only is Sarajevo the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it is also surrounded by the Dinaric Alps which loom gracefully over the city.
Cool fact: There are three languages spoken in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian.
In this guide we bring you only the coolest hostels in Sarajevo, saving you precious time and energy.
Your shortcut:
- Balkan Han Hostel – best for solo travellers
- Hostel Franz Ferdinand – ideal for female solo travellers
- Travellers Home Hostel – top pick for older travellers
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We did our best to collect three great hostels to suit a wide range of travellers, whether you love organised activities or prefer to relax; we’ve got you covered.
This guide is perfect for YOU, when …
- tired of bad and crappy hostels
- want to avoid the “young party kids”
- happy to spend 1-2€ for a better experience
Exploring more of the Balkans? To help you out we collected the 24 best hostels in Croatia.
Over in Serbia you can discover the 3 best hostels in Belgrade.
What we cover in this article?
- Introduction
- 3 best hostels in detail
- cheapest hostels in Sarajevo
- best hostels in Sarajevo for solo travellers
- fun party hostels in Sarajevo
- best hostels in Sarajevo for couples
- discounts and promo codes
- How to book?
- all hostel and sights on a map
- Flights
- FAQ
You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.
Quick Introduction to Sarajevo
Average price for a bed: Hostels in Sarajevo cost 6€ – 11€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 16€ up to 40€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.
Up and Coming Hostel: We’d just like to mention a brand new hostel called Hostel Walter Sarajevo here. There aren’t many reviews yet, but it looks like travellers are loving it and we think it had the potential to be a great hostel. We’ll keep our eye on it.
New to Hostels? Read our full hostel starter guide here. We especially recommend reading:
- how to book hostels (and websites to use)
- 23 items for the hostel packing list
- Are hostels safe? 13 safety tips for hostels
The 3 Best Hostels in Sarajevo
Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Sarajevo.
We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.
Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type
| 🦸 Solo Traveler: | Balkan Han Hostel |
| 🙎♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: | Franz Ferdinand Hostel |
| 🎒 For Backpackers: | Balkan Han Hostel |
| 👩❤️👨Couple Hostel: | Franz Ferdinand Hostel |
| 👨👩👦 Family Hostel: | Travellers Home Hostel |
| 👩💻 For Digital Nomads: | Franz Ferdinand Hostel |
| 🧘 Cozy Hostel: | Hostel Residence |
1. Balkan Han Hostel
Let’s introduce our top hostel choice by uncovering the meaning of Han. Dating from the Ottoman era, Han means ‘lodging for travelers and their caravans’.
Simple, but effective. Certainly the best ‘hostel city center’ on offer.
And Balkan Han Hostel offers a real lodging oasis of peace right in the centre of the city!
The centrepiece of this place is the green garden area which the staff are particularly proud of.
“In the natural shade of trees, arranged with chairs, hammocks and benches, it’s a perfect place for relaxing, having coffee, tea or even a BBQ, with possibility of Open Air Cinema!”
So even though Balkan Han is right on the main street of Titova, it’s possible to enjoy peace and quiet.
Not only that, but there’s a newly opened stylish bar which works as both a common area and Party Zone!
Note: You won’t come across crazy parties here, just plenty of social vibes flowing.
There is not one but two self-service kitchens on the premises, so there shouldn’t be any waiting around to get your food prepared.
Altogether there are 6 bedrooms here.
You can either opt for one of the five dorms that come with 7, 8, 9 and 10-beds, or book your stay in the private room.
Everywhere you go in the hostel there are warm and bright colours decorating the place. We love the homely feeling this brings.
Location: Right in the middle of the city, just 200 meters from the promenade (Ferhadija street) and all the attractions the city has to offer. There is free parking here.
This is one of the best hostels in Sarajevo for
- Solo travellers
- Backpackers
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
2. Hostel Franz Ferdinand
Moving on, we want to introduce a stylish boutique hostel with a groovy design we just know you’re going to love.
Welcome to Franz Ferdinand Hostel in Sarajevo Bosnia!
Walk around the rooms and common areas and spot sepia photographs from the 1800s on walls and ceilings. They add such a cool contrast to the white linen and wooden floors.
Every night the local drink Rakia is provided with an aim of bringing people together. Don’t worry though, this is not a crazy party hostel!
Having said that, if after a few drinks you fancy carrying on the night, there is a regular pub crawl to join.
Let’s show you some more cool reasons to stay:
- Very strong free WiFi
- Free breakfast & 24/7 drinking water
- Free walking tour
- Weekly indoor parties
- Strong security & surveillance
Good to know: Reception is open limited hours so make sure you match this up with your arrival time.
As there is a balance of shared and private accommodation here, there are a few different traveller types that choose Hostel Franz Ferdinand.
All rooms come with A/C, big windows and groovy design. There are big lockers in the dorm rooms, too.
We reckon it’s most suited to couples that enjoy mixing with other backpackers. Some of the private rooms come with an ensuite which is a bonus.
Female solo travellers that enjoy their own room should consider staying here, too.
Location: Located right next to the Main Street in Sarajevo, close to all major attractions and great restaurants and bars. Baščaršija, a beautiful part of the old town, is just a few minutes walk away. This is the best old town hostel Sarajevo has to offer.
This is one of the best hostels in Sarajevo for
- Female solo travellers
- Couples
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
3. Travellers Home Hostel
For our final recommendation, we want to include Travellers Home Hostel as an option for a more relaxed environment.
This hostel is set within a stylishly restored Austro-Hungarian building that has kept most of its traditional design.
Whilst it isn’t a flashy place, the consistently high reviews speak for themselves that this is a great place to stay.
If you’re more about spending all day (and perhaps most of the night) exploring and doing you own thing, Travellers Home is ideal.
Why? Well, because these guys don’t offer any organised activities or events.
Instead, you can make the most of a top location in the city center Sarajevo right between the Miljacka river and the main promenade Ferhadija.
The hostel is open 24/7 so you don’t need to worry about a curfew!
When you feel like staying in and relaxing, head to the TV room.
What about room choices? Let us show you:
- 8-bed mixed dorm
- Double room private
- Twin room private
Just a heads up that breakfast is available upon request, but it’s not included in your booking.
There’s also a handy, modern kitchen onsite with a cute little dining area if you’re looking to save some money on food.
This is one of the best hostels in Sarajevo for
- Older travellers
Compare prices and check availability at: Hostelworld
What about cheapest hostels in Sarajevo?
Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget hotels!
We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.
Why?
The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.
However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Sarajevo.
- Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Sarajevo
- Order the listing by price
Simple as that.
Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels
Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.
Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.
Best Hostels in Sarajevo for Solo Travellers?
What is seriously the best hostel in Sarajevo for solo-travellers?
We’re sticking strong with our #1 hostel in this guide, Balkan Han Hostel.
It really has everything any solo travellers needs and expects: organised activities, great social areas, an onsite bar and big dorm rooms.
Not only that but it’s slap bang in the middle of the city so getting around is easy. That’s always a weight off if you’re a bit nervous to a new city explore by yourself!
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Another option for solo guests is Haris Youth Hostel.
This is one of those all-round comfortable hostels that allows you to relax, meet others or simply do your own thing.
There is a bar onsite which offers a welcome drink each evening, but there isn’t any force to socialise unless you want to.
We’d say this is a better choice for older solo travellers and travelling friends.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Hostelworld
Party Hostels in Sarajevo
Looking for a party hostel Sarajevo?
Over at Hostel Franz Ferdinand you’re very welcome to get the night started before heading into the city.
The team here offer a regular pub crawl, plus weekly indoor parties that don’t get too out of control.
Each night the local drink called Rakia is on offer for everyone to try. Once you’ve met some fun people and had a drink or two, we recommend heading out to some local bars to continue the party.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld
Best Hostels in Sarajevo for Couples?
Alright love birds, we have the perfect option for you which is both slightly posh and affordable.
We want to introduce Hostel Residence, aka Residence Rooms.
Would it be enough to tempt you by saying that the double room bathrooms come with a bathtub?! Heck yeah!
It has a wonderful eloquent vibe, top cleanliness and wonderfully helpful staff that stand out.
The onsite shared kitchen has everything you need if you want an evening in, and the big living room is quaint and a good setup for meeting other couples or those staying in the mixed dorms.
Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com
How to book?
We recommend using Booking.com or Hostelworld for your reservations.
Hostelworld is the most popular website when it comes to hostel bookings.
Read: step-by-step guide on how to book with Hostelworld
On both platforms your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.
We included the handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.
Here is the overview:
- Balkan Han Hostel: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Hostel Franz Ferdinand: Booking.com | Hostelworld
- Travellers Home Hostel: Hostelworld
We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible!
All of Sarajevo best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish hostels, secure your room or bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.
Any Discounts?
Currently, we have no special hostel discounts in Sarajevo. I know, it’s a pity. You can subscribe to our newsletter to receive our newest hostel discounts always to your inbox.
You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here.
Airbnb Sarajevo is also worth considering. Read our full review of Airbnb including a discount code for first time bookings.
All 3 Hostels put on a map + sights
Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Sarajevo hostels on a map.
Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.
We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:
- Baščaršija
- Sarajevo Tunnel
- Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- Sebilj
- Latin Bridge
- Sacred Heart Cathedral
- The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (learn about the Sarajevo war)
Tip: Mostar is a two hour drive from Sarajevo and well worth a visit to see the Old Town and medieval arched bridge.
Flights to Sarajevo?
We enjoy Skyscanner, Omio.com and Kiwi.com to find cheap flights all over Sarajevo.
This new website has super cool features like a so-called radius search. Just draw a circle over Bosnia and Herzegovina and find the cheapest rates for the area.
Here is our review of Kiwi.
FAQ
Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.
What are the best hostels in Sarajevo?
Welcome to the only guide you need for finding the best hostels in Sarajevo! The top 3 hostels we recommend are:
- Balkan Han Hostel – best for solo travellers
- Hostel Franz Ferdinand – ideal for female solo travellers
- Travellers Home Hostel – top pick for older travellers
What is the best hostel for solo travellers in Sarajevo?
We’re sticking strong with our #1 hostel in this guide, Balkan Han Hostel.
What is Sarajevo best known for?
Here are the Sarajevo main tourist attractions:
- Baščaršija
- Sarajevo Tunnel
- Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
- Sebilj
- Latin Bridge
- Sacred Heart Cathedral
- The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (learn about the Sarajevo war)
Are hostels in Sarajevo safe?
Not all hostels in Sarajevo are necessarily safe, especially the one that offers the cheapest price in sketchy areas. It might be an illegal hostel, without proper license to run and safety measures.
So in all fairness, it is best to check out Hostelgeeks.com because we feature safe hostels in Sarajevo. You can find backpacker hostel with top ratings! Keep a close eye on the overall ratings on booking platforms!
If you are not secure, you can also send us an email and ask us!
How much are hostels in Sarajevo?
Hostels in Sarajevo cost 6€ – 11€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 16€ up to 40€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.
Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.
What are the best sites for finding hostels?
Of course, the best site to find hostels is Hostelgeeks.com
We are doing our best to deliver the best hostels to you. Check out the best hostels in the world guides; from Paris to Tokyo.
You can also have a look at Hostelworld.
More guides
Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Sarajevo.
We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations in the Balkans:
- best hostels in Mostar
- best hostels in Ljubljana with Hostel Celica
- best hostels in Slovenia
- best hostels in Budva, Montenegro
- best hostels In Kotor, Montenegro
- best hostels in Skopje, Macedonia
- best hostels in Bucharest, Romania
- 3 best hostels in Tirana, Albania
- best hostels in Albania
- best hostels in Sofia, Bulgaria
- best hostels in Bled
You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.
We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.
Over to you
By now you have a good idea of the best Sarajevo hostels on offer, and hopefully you’ve picked out your favourite.
Was this useful? Do you have any questions, doubts?
Then please please leave us a comment. This list of awesome Sarajevo hostels should be as informative and useful as possible.
Your question will help me to understand what I have missed to mention.
Therefore, drop us a comment, we are keen to help you!
Last note: Our commitment
This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter and find the best place on a budget! We ONLY recommend places we know you will enjoy, no matter what.
At Hostelgeeks we will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. Our promise is to only share with you places we also recommend to our best friends and family!
Enjoy this fine hostel selection and all 5 Star Hostels.
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How to find cheaper Flights ✈️
The first websites we always check are Skyscanner and Google Flights.
Find our step-by-step process in our review about Skyscanner.
Travel Insurance made easy 🤒
We are currently using Safetywing and Hey Mondo. We wrote detailed guides about these insurances:
- Our review of Safetywing, compared to others
- a detailed review of HeyMondo Travel Insurance
Smartest Travel Tools you need to know 🤓
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