If you're planning to move to Sarajevo or spend more than a week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you'll need to move between cities. Tourists usually taxi to Mostar and back. Expats and long-term travelers do the math differently. This is the guide to how people actually get around.
Bus companies: which one actually runs the route you need.
Bosnia has no national bus system. Instead, dozens of private operators run overlapping routes, which means the same Sarajevo-to-Mostar journey is served by five different companies, each leaving at slightly different times and charging slightly different fares. There's no single booking site that covers all of them. You'll either buy tickets at the station or book online through individual company sites.
The two main operators that cover the most routes are Centrotrans and Globtour. Cazare Trans runs frequent services on the Sarajevo-Mostar-Trebinje corridor and northeast to Banja Luka. Centrotrans covers similar ground but with different departure times, so if Cazare is full, Centrotrans often has seats. BusPlus focuses on Sarajevo and surrounding towns, including Konjic and Jajce. Globtour runs longer-distance services to Zagreb and Split.
Ticket prices as of September 2026: Sarajevo to Mostar costs 15-18 KM (7.50-9 EUR) and takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic. If you're weighing where to actually base yourself, comparing the two cities is worth the hour to read - the transport cost is cheap either way, but the decision between them shapes your whole stay. Sarajevo to Banja Luka runs 25-30 KM (12.50-15 EUR) and takes 3 to 3.5 hours. Sarajevo to Trebinje costs 35-40 KM (17.50-20 EUR) and takes 4 to 4.5 hours. These fares are genuinely cheap by European standards, but they vary by operator and season. Book directly with the company website or ask your accommodation to book for you if you're staying at a hostel or guesthouse-most can handle it without markup.
Buses leave from the Sarajevo main bus station (Autobusni kolodvor Sarajevo) in Bascarsija, which is walkable from the old town. The station is clean, has a café, and ticket windows for the main operators. Arrive 30 minutes early if you're buying a ticket on the day; during summer weekends, services fill up. If you're traveling mid-week in September through May, you can usually book the morning before.
The buses themselves vary wildly. New coaches on busy routes have air conditioning, WiFi, and a toilet. Older buses on quieter routes sometimes don't. Driving standards are what you'd expect in the Balkans: fast, competitive, but most drivers are professionals who've run these routes a hundred times.
Trains: cheaper than buses if you know which routes to take.
Bosnia's railway network is slow and skeletal compared to buses, but for specific routes, it's cheaper and often more comfortable. The national operator is ŽRB (Željeznice Republike Srpske in the north, and Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine in the south), and they run about six major lines. You will not get anywhere faster by train than by bus. You will save money on certain routes, and you will sit by the window with decent legroom while the bus driver tailgates trucks for three hours.
The Sarajevo-Mostar train costs 8–10 KM (4–5 EUR) and takes roughly 3.5 hours (slower than the bus, yes, but more scenic). The Sarajevo-Banja Luka train is less frequent and takes most of a day. Sarajevo to Zenica takes 45 minutes by train and costs about 4 KM (2 EUR)-useful if you're visiting the steel city or connecting to Jajce. The trains run once or twice daily on most routes, so you need to check schedules in advance.
Buy tickets at the station ticket window in the hour before departure, or call ahead to reserve. The stations are typically outside the city center (Sarajevo's is south of Bascarsija), so factor in transport time. Trains are slower and less frequent than buses but they're cheaper per kilometer and give you space to read or work.
Renting a car: international chains vs. local agencies.
Car rental prices in Sarajevo span a massive range depending on whether you book through Hertz or a local company. A one-week rental through Hertz or Avis costs 250–350 EUR. The same car from a local agency like Rentalcar.ba or Tuzla Rent costs 100-150 EUR. The difference is that international chains take out insurance and charge you for every scratch; locals often charge a flat rate and assume normal wear.
Fuel costs roughly 2 KM per liter (1 EUR per liter) for 95-octane petrol, so a 400 km round trip Sarajevo-Mostar-Sarajevo will cost about 20 EUR in gas. Highways are tolled on some sections-the Sarajevo bypass costs 3 KM one way. Parking in Sarajevo city center is metered and costs 1 KM per hour in most zones; outside the center, it's free.
International driving licenses work fine, but your home country's license is sufficient. Car insurance is mandatory and usually included in the rental. Check that it covers you in neighboring countries (Croatia, Serbia) if you plan to cross borders; some local agencies have geographical limits.
Roads are generally good on major routes (M1 to Mostar, M16 to Banja Luka), though mountain sections have sharp turns. Sarajevo drivers are aggressive but predictable; outside the city, traffic is lighter and driving is less stressful. Keep your documents (license, registration, insurance) visible because police occasionally stop drivers on highways.
A car makes sense if you're spending more than a week and planning multiple day trips-say, Sarajevo to Mostar, Trebinje, Konjic, and back. If you're thinking longer-term, the relocation guide covers whether a car fits into the actual logistics of moving here, not just visiting. If you're on a single route or staying put, buses are cheaper and you don't have to drive mountain roads at night.
Inter-regional connections: getting to Croatia and Serbia.
If you're moving between Bosnia and neighboring countries, buses dominate. Centrotrans and Globtour run daily services from Sarajevo to Zagreb (8-10 hours, 40-50 KM or 20-25 EUR). Banja Luka has regular buses to Belgrade (5 hours, 25-35 KM or 12.50-17.50 EUR). Trebinje and Mostar have buses to Split on the Croatian coast, which is where many expats do their medical tourism or weekend shopping.
The Sarajevo-Zagreb bus is comfortable and costs less than a plane ticket if you book a few days ahead. Driving to Croatia requires a Green Card (international insurance) and your car documents; rental agencies provide these automatically.
Taxis, Uber, and alternatives.
In Sarajevo, official taxis cost about 2 KM (1 EUR) flag fall plus 1.50 KM (0.75 EUR) per kilometer. From the airport to the city center is roughly 30 km, so expect 50-60 KM (25-30 EUR). Use official yellow or green taxis from the rank or call ahead; negotiate fares with unmarked cabs beforehand or use the meter. Uber operates in Sarajevo and costs slightly less than taxis for longer trips but surges during rush hours. For a quick trip across town, a yellow taxi is fine.
In smaller cities like Mostar or Banja Luka, taxis are cheaper per kilometer but also less regulated. Agreeing on a fare before getting in is standard practice.
Practical logistics for expats and long-term travelers.
If you're planning to commute between cities regularly, buy a bulk ticket or monthly pass if available-some bus operators offer 10-ticket packs at a 10-15 percent discount. Keep a list of operator phone numbers and station phone numbers on your phone; spotty English at ticketing windows is normal, so calling ahead and having your dates written down helps.
The main bus and train stations are in or near the old towns, which is convenient for tourists but awkward if you're living in a residential neighborhood. Plan your transport the night before and leave 30 minutes earlier than you think necessary. Off-season (October to April), buses are emptier and you can often book the day of travel. Summer weekends and holiday weeks fill up, so book ahead.
For regularly planned trips-say, Sarajevo to Mostar every other weekend to visit a friend-compare the per-trip cost of regular bus tickets versus a monthly car rental and see which wins. Once you've picked your base and know your rhythm, knowing which neighborhoods work for your actual commute (rather than just for tourists) changes everything. For spontaneous one-off trips, buses win.
