Halal food and mosques in Sarajevo
What to ask in restaurants, where to pray near Ilidža and in the old town, and where to find prayer times.
Sarajevo is an easy city for Muslim travellers: there are mosques across the city, and traditional restaurants serve grilled meat, pies and stews. Halal certificates are issued by an agency of the Islamic Community, but most restaurants are not certified and many serve alcohol. Ask about the meat and the menu before you order.
From River Walk in Ilidža
Baščaršija12 km
TramLine 3 to BaščaršijaIlidža tram stopThe last stop of tram line 3, which runs between Ilidža and Baščaršija in Sarajevo’s old town.600 m · about 7 min on foot, about 7 min on foot from River Walk
Car or taxiabout 17 min
In this guide
Halal food and certification
The Agency for Halal Quality Certification, founded by the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006, certifies producers, restaurants and hotels and publishes the certified companies on its website. Many packaged foods in supermarkets carry its halal mark. A restaurant without a certificate may still serve halal meat, so ask where the meat comes from and whether pork or alcohol is on the menu.
Alcohol
Alcohol is sold in many restaurants, cafés and shops in Sarajevo, and other places serve none. If an alcohol-free venue matters to you, ask before you sit down. Some traditional grills and pie shops in BaščaršijaSarajevo’s Ottoman-era bazaar and old town, with craft shops, cafés and restaurants around the Sebilj fountain. Tram line 3 from Ilidža runs here.12 km · tram line 3 · about 17 min by car do not serve it.
Eating at River Walk and cooking for yourself
On the ground floor, Del Gusto’s menu includes lamb and chicken mandi, hummus, grilled meat, fish and a children’s menu, and La Soul serves burgers and breakfast. Ask each venue directly about halal preparation. Every apartment has its own kitchen, and the hypermarket at Bingo City Center is about 200 m away, so families who prefer to cook can do so every day.
Mosques near Ilidža
There are mosques in Ilidža within about 15 minutes’ walk of River Walk; ask reception for directions to the nearest one and for the time of Friday prayer. The King Fahd Mosque in Alipašino Polje, a large mosque with a cultural centre, is about 4.6 km away, about 7 minutes by car.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque in Baščaršija, completed in 1531, is the main congregational mosque of Sarajevo and one of the best-known Ottoman buildings in the Balkans. It stands a few minutes’ walk from the Baščaršija tram stop. Visitors who are not praying are welcome outside prayer times, dressed modestly. The museum of the Gazi Husrev-beg Library next door currently charges 5 KM.
Prayer times
The Islamic Community publishes the official prayer timetable for Sarajevo at vaktija.ba, also available as a mobile app. Times change through the year, so check on the day, especially for the Friday prayer.
Privacy and space for families
The apartments have separate bedrooms, two or three bathrooms in the larger types and a living room, so a family can stay together in private. Reception speaks Arabic, Bosnian and English and is open 24 hours a day.
Questions
Is all food in Sarajevo halal?
No. Much of the traditional food is prepared with halal meat, but most restaurants are not certified, and pork and alcohol are sold in the city. Ask the restaurant, or look for the halal certificate.
Where can I find halal-certified restaurants in Sarajevo?
The Agency for Halal Quality Certification publishes certified companies on halal.ba. Certified venues display the certificate.
Is there a mosque near River Walk?
Yes, there are mosques in Ilidža within about 15 minutes’ walk. Reception will give you directions and the time of Friday prayer.
Where do I find prayer times for Sarajevo?
On vaktija.ba, the timetable published by the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Does reception speak Arabic?
Yes. Reception speaks Arabic, Bosnian and English.
Sources and visitor information
More ideas for your days
