Sarajevo - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Most cars will be fine here. SUVs are helpful for the mountains but not necessary. Snow tires are required from November to April but you can buy them locally. - Apr 2021
I've got a Jeep Liberty which has been great for getting around the hills but a bit of a pain in the butt for parts (we order them from Amazon). I imagine it'd be hard to navigate in a car much larger than that outside of the city. All-wheel drive is good to have if you plan to go up in the mountains, but not necessary. Cost of labor is really cheap. - Dec 2017
You can bring any car- there is no particular car that is better or worse for roads here. You should invest in snow tires or chains though, regardless of the car. The roads are brutal in winter. - Sep 2017
Smaller car for tiny downtown streets. However, given the harsh winters and mountainous terrain, an SUV worked out the best for us. - Feb 2017
We have a small SUV and have done well with it. We know people with big cars, small cars, vans and everything in between. There are some very small narrow roads in the city, but we take a taxi when we are going to those areas. - May 2016
You'll need something small due to the narrow roads, but good tires are a must for the steep hills and wintry weather. We ordered parts online and had no problem with repairs or oil changes with our Japanese model. - Aug 2014
You don't need an SUV, though they are helpful given the steep hills, snow, and generally long time it takes to drive out of Bosnia. However, I would recommend a smaller car, as parking in Sarajevo is horrendous. Snow tires are manadatory by law. 19"+ snow tires are unavailable in country, regardless of the make of your car. US dips - ship them in your HHE. - Nov 2012
A small SUV is perfect (Toyota RAV-4, etc). Snow tires are mandatory during winter months. Local roads are pretty poor and are not always plowed. - Aug 2011
4x4's are nice to have but not necessary. Parts can be expensive. - May 2011
Bring snow tires. You don't need a 4-wheel drive unless you really intend to do heavy touring in the mountains. - May 2010
Small. The parking tends to be in tight quarters and small spaces. In some of the streets you are really squeezing by the often illegally parked cars. High ground clearance would be a plus, as at times you will need to park on the sidewalk. We have had no problem getting our car serviced here. - Jun 2009
Most cars are OK. Strets (especially downtown) are very narrow, so it would not be a good idea to bring a huge truck or SUV. Small suvs are fine. Most popular brands are Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Opel. Many other brands are also available such as Toyota, Nissan, Hyunday, Ford, Mercedez, but they are European specs. - Mar 2009
Some people prefer small cars because the garages are small and roads in the old town narrow. Others prefer SUVs because of the mountains, bad roads and unpredictable drivers. - Dec 2008
