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Bosnia and Herzegovina Practical information Bosnia and Herzegovina

 
 
Area : 19772  sq.mi - Population 4552198 hab.
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Our expert Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Practical information Bosnia and Herzegovina

superficie

Area

19772  sq.mi
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Flights

There are no direct flights. The flight from London to Sarajevo via Budapest takes 5 hrs. Sarajevo is 1,005 mi from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

4552198 hab.
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Airports

The Butmir international airport of Sarajevo is located 6 miles from the capital. Taxis are available to take you into town for around DM 10 (£4). You will need to pay a departure tax of USD 15 (£10).
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Security

Despite the signing of the Dayton agreements in November 1995 which put an end to the civil war, there is still bitterness between the three main communities in the country, although they are from the same ethnic group. These tensions can be expressed in sporadic and violent incidents, due to the return of refugees or displaced people. Particular prudence is compulsory, in the case of military action by the UNF (United Nations Forces). Visitors are also recommended not to leave the tarmacked roads as various areas (which are not always correctly located), are still mined. If you are travelling in the Serbian Republic, be careful, as anti-Western feeling is particularly raw in this region.
Police (Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina): 122
Police (Republika SRPSKA): 92
Mine Action Centre (MAC): www.bhmac.org
langue

Languages

Serbo-Croat. Muslims and Croats use the Roman alphabet, and the Serbs use the Cyrillic alphabet.
formalites

Requirements

No visa ris equired for British citizens. A valid passport or identity card is enough to enter the territory.
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Religion

The main religions are Islam (40%), Orthodoxy (31%) and Roman Catholicism (15%), Protestantism (4%) and others (10%).
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Currency

The currency is the Convertible Mark (BAM), which was pegged at a par with the Deutschmark. £1 = 2.19 BAM. The Deutschmark is the most commonly exchanged currency. Unlike the US Dollar, which is only accepted in a few hotels, the Croatian Kuna and the Serbian Dinar are also accepted. Credit cards are not accepted and travellers cheques are rarely exchanged. Only a few banks will cash them, and when they do, it can take up to a few weeks! Bank opening hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
transports

Local transportation

Plane: the airports of Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka are again open to civil aviation companies from abroad. There are no air connections between these three airports.
Train: the railway network is gradually coming into operation. It basically connects the main towns to the interior of the country.
Bus: there are daily departures from Sarajevo to the main European cities. Travelling around the country by bus is not a very good idea, however, as the road conditions remain mediocre, despite restoration work that began after the end of the war.
Car: local driving is dangerous; you can come across drunk drivers, domestic animals on the roads, and the absence of marking on the ground. Moreover, there are several places which are still mined, which means that you are strongly advised not to leave the tarmacked roads. Cars can also be hiired at Sarajevo airport, although an international license is required and the minimum age is 21.
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Health

No vaccine is required to enter Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, it is recommended that you have the DT polio booster jab done. You are advised to drink bottled water, with the cap removed in front of you, to not eat eat raw or half-cooked food (meat, fish, vegetables or fruits) and to take all the necessary precautions to avoid ?traveller's dysentery'.

Useful numbers: Sarajevo Hospital (033) 664 724; Sarajevo Hospital Emergency: (033) 611 111; Hospital Banja Luka: (051) 33 725 or 38 111; Fire brigade: 123.

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Electricity

220 V. An adaptor is unnecessary
frequentation

Flood of tourists

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Taxes and tips

telephone

Telephone

To telephone from the UK to Bosnia and Herzegovina, dial: 00 + 387 + town code (Sarajevo: 71; Banja Luka: 78;
Bihac: 77; Mostar: 88; Foca: 73; Zenica: 72) + the number of your correspondent. To telephone from Bosnia Herzegovina to the UK, dial: 99 + 44 + the number of your correspondent(without the initial 0).