Travel alerts & warnings
Bosnia and Herzegovina driving guide.
Driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina offers dramatic mountain scenery and historic towns, but winding roads, tunnels and village traffic can make journeys slower than distances suggest. Drive defensively and stay on established roads and paths in rural areas, where unmarked land and abandoned sites may contain mines.
- Advisory
- Increased caution
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- May to June or…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased cautionin Bosnia and Herzegovina due to risk of crime, landmines, and terrorism.
- Recent unrest has been politically related. While it has not impacted tourists or members of the international community, there is a risk that bystanders can be affected.
- Review our Travel Guidance for Bosnia and Herzegovina to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
- Crime
- Sarajevo has a high rate of property-related crime, including robberies, residential and vehicle break-ins, and theft.
- Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay
- aware of your surroundings.
Driving there
Your permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bosnia and Herzegovina honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Not party to the 1949 convention; the International Driving Permit is honored.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Headlights and winter equipment
Use dipped headlights during the day as well as at night, and wear seat belts in every seat. Winter equipment is mandatory from November 1 to April 1; confirm that your rental has compliant tires and any required chains before entering mountain areas.
Speed limits
For passenger cars, general limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on ordinary roads outside towns, 100 km/h on roads reserved for motor vehicles and expressways, and 130 km/h on motorways. Posted limits override these defaults; expect lower limits through villages, tunnels and roadworks.
Motorway tolls
Bosnia and Herzegovina uses toll plazas rather than a nationwide vignette. Charges on the A1 and tolled motorways in Republika Srpska depend on the section and vehicle category. Keep any entry ticket, carry convertible marks (BAM), and use a staffed or card-payment lane unless your rental has an activated electronic toll device.
Fuel and payment
Unleaded petrol and diesel are widely available along main routes; petrol may be labeled 'Benzin,' while diesel is labeled 'Dizel.' Major stations generally accept cards, but carry BAM for smaller outlets. Fill up before remote mountain drives, where stations and late-opening services are less frequent.
Rental documents and police checks
Carry your original driver's license alongside your International Driving Permit, plus your passport, rental agreement, vehicle registration and proof of valid insurance. Police conduct roadside document and speed checks. Obtain the rental company's written permission before crossing borders and confirm insurance coverage for every country on your itinerary.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stari Most and Mostar Old Town
Herzegovina · About 5–15 minutes from central Mostar to nearby parking, followed by a walk.
The reconstructed Ottoman bridge spans the Neretva beside stone lanes and riverside viewpoints; park outside the pedestrian old town.
Blagaj Tekke and the Buna Spring
Herzegovina, southeast of Mostar · About 20–30 minutes from Mostar.
A historic dervish house sits beneath a towering cliff beside a vivid karst spring.
Kravica Waterfalls
Western Herzegovina, near Ljubuški · About 50–60 minutes from Mostar.
A broad semicircle of waterfalls makes a rewarding nature stop, especially when spring water levels are high; paths down from parking can be steep.
Jajce and the Pliva Lakes
Central Bosnia · About 1 hour 20 minutes–1 hour 40 minutes from Banja Luka to Jajce; another 10–15 minutes to the lakes.
Combine Jajce's town-center waterfall and medieval fortress with nearby lakes and traditional wooden watermills.
Štrbački Buk, Una National Park
Northwestern Bosnia, near Bihać · About 1–1.5 hours from Bihać, depending on the access route and road conditions.
Powerful cascades and riverside boardwalks showcase the emerald Una River; check the park's recommended vehicle entrance and current access-road conditions.
Trebević Mountain
Sarajevo area · About 25–40 minutes from central Sarajevo to the main recreation areas, longer for higher trailheads.
Forest walks, city views and the abandoned Olympic bobsleigh track offer an easy mountain excursion; keep to established paths.
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