Sarajevo has a very decent selection of museums, if not galleries, for a town of its size, no doubt owing to its often sad and eventful past. There are a few which, in my opinion, are must see. These include Galerija 11/07/95, and the Sarajevo Tunnel, to try to begin to get an idea of some of the past experiences of this country. You probably also shouldn't miss the National Gallery and the Old Town Hall (Vjećnica).
For something lighter, you might want to check out the Sarajevo Brewery Museum or the Museum of Optical Illusions. Then, why not check out the Walter Defends Sarajevo Museum, if you are into Yugoslav cinema. This is of course a non-exhaustive list and do check opening times and prices on each locations respective website.
Galerija 11/07/95
Galerija 11/07/95
Galerija 11/07/95 is a gallery that serves as a memorial to the Srebrenica genocide.
In their own words: “Gallery 11/07/95 is the first memorial museum/gallery in Bosnia and Herzegovina – exhibition space aiming to preserve the memory on Srebrenica tragedy and 8372 persons who tragically lost their lives during the genocide.”
The permanent exhibition presents documentary and archive material from Srebrenica and of the events that occurred there - the material is powerful, to say the least. The gallery also has temporary exhibitions.
Galerija 11/07/95 Details
Gallery serving as a memorial to the Srebrenica genocide
+387 33 953 170
Open every day: 10:00 – 18:00
Located in a building on the square of the main cathedral
The War Childhood Museum focuses on the experiences of the children who lived through the Bosnian war.
Their stories are presented through personal belongings and video testimonies. The museum also documents the experiences of children from other wars. They hope to create “the world’s largest collection dedicated to the experience of childhood affected by war.“
The Museum, which was in part crowdfunded following the publication of a crowd-sourced book on the same topic, won the 2018 Council of Europe Museum Prize.
War Childhood Museum Details
Museum focussed on the experiences of children in war
Children 6 and under: Free / Youths 7-17: 5 KM / Students: 8 KM / Adults: 10 KM / Family pass: 25 KM
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina is situated inside a beautiful building in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.
There are four main pavilions with a large courtyard with a botanical garden in the centre.
The museum covers a wide range of topics from natural history to ethnology and archaeology. The museum’s most prized possession is most likely the Sarajevo Haggadah.
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina Details
Museum with a wide focus from natural histroy to ethonology
Age 5 and under: FREE / Age 6 to 18: 3 KM / Adults: 8 BAM / Pensioners: 3 KM
+387 33 668 027
Open Tue to Fri: 10:00 - 19:00 / Sat & Sun: 10:00 - 14:00 /The museum is closed on Mondays
The Sarajevo Tunnel was dug by hand during the siege of Sarajevo, in 1993. It linked the city of Sarajevo - at the time cut off by Serb forces - with territory held by Bosnian forces.
It was used to ferry various supplies (food, newspapers, fuel, weapers, and more) and is said to have been the city’s lifeline during the siege. The tunnel was also a way for Bosnians to leave the besieged city.
At the museum you can read about the history of the tunnel and you can enter and walk through a short portion of the tunnel.
The Sarajevo Tunnel Museum Details
A preserved remnant of a tunnel used to get in and out of Sarajevo under siege
A painting by Gabrijel Jurkić on display at the National Gallery
The National Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina has been established since 1946 and is considered the most important art museum in the country.
The gallery is home to over 6,000 works, divided into a number of sub-collections, the Collection of Bosnian-Herzegovinian art, the Collection of Ferdinand Hodler’s works, the Collection of Icons, the Collection of Yugoslav art, the Collection of international works donated to the Gallery, the Collection of photographs and the archive of the “NADA” fine arts magazine.
The Sarajevo City Hall, or Gradska vijećnica, was designed in 1891 with a pseudo-Moorish design. There are a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions at the site.
Read more about Sarajevo City Hall here.
The History Museum
The History Museum focuses, as its name would suggest, on the history of the country. The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions and often holds events. Read more about The History Museum here.
Sarajevo Brewery Museum
Founded in 1864, the Sarajevo Brewery has produced beer for more than 150 years and was at one point the largest brewery in the Autro-Hungarian Empire. The building itself is beautiful and also houses a museum you can visit. Read more about the Sarajevo Brewery here. After, you should probably head to the tavern just next door.
Museum of Optical Illusions
As the name suggests, this is a museum of optical illusions. The museum is interactive, fun, and blends in elements of Bosnia and Sarajevo to give it a local feel. Read more about the Museum of Optical Illusions here.
Walter Defends Sarajevo Museum
"Walter Defends Sarajevo" is a Yugoslav Partisan film from 1972. It’s possibly the most famous film with a connection to Sarajevo and there is an entire museum dedicated to it. Read more about the Walter Defends Sarajevo Museum here.
