Traditions of Sarajevo
A city where mosque, church and synagogue stand together, with a coffee ritual of the džezva and a cuisine of ćevapi.
Sarajevo has long been called the Jerusalem of Europe for its mix of Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic and Jewish communities, whose festivals are all part of the city calendar. In the old Baščaršija market, copper-beaters shape coffee pots, and Bosnian coffee is served in a small pot with a lump of sugar.
Coffee and shared festivals
A Bosnian coffee, served in a džezva with a cup and a Turkish delight, is a ritual for friends who sit for an hour. At Eid, Easter and Christmas, neighbours of different faiths exchange food. The Sarajevo Film Festival and the Baščaršija nights of summer fill the town with music.
At the table
Ćevapi in somun, a flatbread, with onions, is Bosnian street food. Burek, filled with meat, and pita with cheese, spinach or potato, are baked in large trays. Baklava and hurmašice are sweets for Eid. Bosnian cuisine uses little spice, and the sogan dolma, stuffed onions, is a feast dish.
Signature traditions of Sarajevo
Also part of it, and being written: Bosnian coffee (The coffee.), Ćevapi (The grilled meat.), Burek (The pie.), Baščaršija (The market.).
A trail idea for Sarajevo
- Baščaršija Sit for a coffee.
- Latin Bridge See the bridge.
- Sarajevo Tunnel Learn about the siege.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Independence Day of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Smooth O, CC BY-SA 4.0, source