If you’re in Sarajevo for long enough, someone will mention the 1984 Winter Olympics. It’s also true that infinite monkeys behind typewriters would write the works of Shakespeare. If you don’t get told about the 1984 Winter Olympics and you take more than a handful of taxis, you probably will get asked which football team you support.
Sport in Sarajevo, as with everywhere on this globe, has its place. Sarajevo in particular is famous for hosting the 1984 Winter Olympics, has a heated football derby, an outdoor climbing spot inside the city, a handful of tennis courts, an Olympic sized swimming pool, and gyms with day passes. Of course, you can also hike on Mt. Trebevic, which is literally within sight of the city.
So, if you’re in Sarajevo and you can’t leave sport alone for a long weekend, either as a spectator or a participant, you’ll manage to get your hit in different forms in this city.
According to Wikipedia, football is the most popular sport in Sarajevo. The two biggest clubs in the town are FK Željezničar (known simply as Željo) and FK Sarajevo. Koševo Stadium in Sarajevo is Bosnia's biggest stadium (though international games are often played in the city of Zenica).
Coming from the same city, these two clubs share a big rivalry and many people are hardcore fans (there's even a documentary about it). In the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as of 4 November 2020, Željo had won 16 and FK Sarajevo 15, with 28 draws. Each team had scored 53 goals against their adversary.
Generally, but don’t quote me on this, you can get your ticket at the gate at a very reasonable price.
FK Sarajevo and Željo
Sarajevo's two biggest football clubs with a heated derby
Sarajevo is gifted with wonderful mountains, on which you can ski, just an hour or so away (Bjelašnica, Jahorina, Igman) and a bob sled (now abandonned) was constructed on Mt. Trebević, which you can access directly from the city by cable car.
Fancy some rock climbing? The closest crag is Dariva, literally minutes from the city center. Described as “quite technical on mostly vertical limestone faces”, there are 41 marked routes across a range of grades.
The walk there is also quite pleasant. Heading east out of Sarajevo, you can reach the spot walking along the river on a well kept path. Just follow the river. If you keep walking, you eventually get to the “Goat Bridge” or “Kozija Cuprija”, built in the 16th century.
A picture of the river in Sarajevo: somewhere I don't recommend you swim
Fancy a swim in Sarajevo? Opened in 2008, the pool in Otoka is the only Olympic size swimming pool in Sarajevo. It apparently meets FINA requirements, if that’s something you’re into.
Fancy something a bit more casual? Then check out the “Thermal Riviera” in Ilidža. Here you can find a large swimming complex with indoor and outdoor sections as well as water slides. This is a great spot when the oppressive heat of summer gets too much.
If you want to play a game of tennis (and you have a racket) you can book a court at Tennis Klub Bosna, an unpretentious location with no membership requirements. You can call them on +387 62 342 499 (good luck with the language). They do not have rackets for rent.
Gym
There are gyms all over Sarajevo. Two that I have used and know have day passes are Avalon Fitness and City Gym. Just give it a little Google though and you will find others.
Running or Jogging
If the weather is right, Sarajevo is a wonderful place to go running. If you are a runner, I really recommend a winding run from the Yellow Fortress all the way down through Baščaršija, along the river, and Wilsonovo Setaliste, and through Grbavica. Otherwise, if you are into trail running, you can run all the way up to Mt. Trebević.
