Bosnia and Herzegovina in December

Snow arrives; smog in Sarajevo; ski season opens.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatExcellent: warm valleys, rafting starts, roads clear of snow.
• JuneGreatHiking and rafting; Mostar heating up.
• SeptemberGreatBest month overall; harvest and warm evenings.
• AprilGoodMostar and Herzegovina green and mild; Sarajevo cool.

• Sarajevo and the mountains · Sarajevo, Jahorina, Bjelašnica, Sutjeskasmoke haze

  Cold snowy winters with smog trapped in the Sarajevo basin; summers pleasant at 500+ m. Ski season December–March.

• Herzegovina · Mostar, Blagaj, Počitelj, Trebinjerainy

  Mediterranean-influenced: Mostar is often 38–40 °C (100–104 °F) in July–August; autumn rains heavy.Mediterranean-influenced: Mostar is often 100–104 °F (38–40 °C) in July–August; autumn rains heavy.

• Central and north-west Bosnia · Jajce, Travnik, Bihać, Una valleycool

  Green and wet; rafting on the Una May–September.

• Bosanska Krajina: Banja Luka and the Vrbas valley · North-east of the regioncold

  Continental: hot summers around 30 °C (86 °F), cold winters with snow; May, June and September are the comfortable months.Continental: hot summers around 86 °F (30 °C), cold winters with snow; May, June and September are the comfortable months.

• Bosanska Krajina: Bihać and the Una valley · North-west, toward Croatiacold

  Slightly wetter and cooler than Banja Luka; river levels are highest after spring rain and snowmelt.

• Bosanska Krajina: Glamoč plateau · South of the regioncold

  Higher and windier; snow can linger into April.

• Central Bosnia: Bosna and Lašva valleys · Travnik, Zenica, Jajcecold

  Continental: warm summers, cold winters with snow. May, June, September and October are the comfortable months; July and August can pass 30 °C (86 °F).Continental: warm summers, cold winters with snow. May, June, September and October are the comfortable months; July and August can pass 86 °F (30 °C).

• Herzegovina: Neretva valley (Mostar, Počitelj, Čapljina) · Southern Herzegovina, inlandcool

  Mediterranean-leaning; Mostar is one of the hottest places in the country in July–August, often 35 °C (95 °F)+. Rain falls mostly in autumn and winter.Mediterranean-leaning; Mostar is one of the hottest places in the country in July–August, often 95 °F (35 °C)+. Rain falls mostly in autumn and winter.

• Herzegovina: Neum and the Adriatic strip · The country's short coastlinecool

  Mildest winters in the country; sea swimming roughly May–October, peaking July–August.

• Herzegovina: Eastern Herzegovina (Trebinje) · Near the Montenegro and Dubrovnik borderscool

  Sheltered and warm; strong summer heat, mild winters.

• Northeastern Bosnia: Tuzla basin and Drina valley · Northeastern Bosniacold

  Continental: cold winters with snow, warm summers. May, June, September and early October are the comfortable months; July and August can pass 30 °C (86 °F).Continental: cold winters with snow, warm summers. May, June, September and early October are the comfortable months; July and August can pass 86 °F (30 °C).

• Posavina: Sava plain (Brčko, Orašje, Derventa) · Lowland along the Sava and Bosna riverscold

  Continental: hot, humid summers around 30 °C (86 °F)+ and cold winters with fog on the plain. May–June and September–early October are the comfortable windows.Continental: hot, humid summers around 86 °F (30 °C)+ and cold winters with fog on the plain. May–June and September–early October are the comfortable windows.

• Sarajevo Region: Sarajevo basin · city and valley floorcold

  Continental: cold, often foggy winters; warm summers. May–June and September–October are the walking months. Month ratings check.

• Sarajevo Region: Bjelašnica and Jahorina · mountains south and eastcold

  Snow period check; the 1984 Olympic slopes are ski areas in winter and hiking in summer.

• Sarajevo4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Banja Luka5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Bihać6 °C (43 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 10 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 10 rain days
• Bosanska Krupa5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Brčko5 °C (41 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Derventa5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Doboj3 °C (37 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 12 rain days
• Foča4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 13 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 13 rain days
• Glamoč4 °C (39 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Gradiška5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Grude9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 11 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 11 rain days
• Jablanica8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 11 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 11 rain days
• Jajce4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 12 rain days
• Konjic7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Krupa na Vrbasu5 °C (41 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 14 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 14 rain days
• Međugorje8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 10 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 10 rain days
• Mostar10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 11 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 11 rain days
• Mrkonjić Grad5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Neum12 °C (54 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 12 rain days54 °F (12 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 12 rain days
• Olovo5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Pale3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 13 rain days
• Prijedor6 °C (43 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 11 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 11 rain days
• Široki Brijeg7 °C (45 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 8 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 8 rain days
• Srebrenica4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
• Teslic5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days
• Travnik4 °C (39 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 9 rain days
• Trebinje9 °C (48 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 8 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 8 rain days
• Tuzla6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 11 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 11 rain days
• Vareš4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
• Višegrad5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
• Zenica5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 13 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 13 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Catholic Christmas

  25 Dec

  Holiday for Catholics; Herzegovina towns quieter.

• Christmas and New Year markets check

  Late December · Sarajevo

  Lights and stalls; cold and busy.

• Winter smog season check

  December to February · Sarajevo

  Poor air on still days; check an air app.

• Winter and New Year

  Late Dec–Jan · Sarajevo

  Cold, smog days and busy restaurants; book tables and rooms early.

Crowds · Bosnia and Herzegovina

Low

Prices · Bosnia and Herzegovina

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Bosnia and Herzegovina, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

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Rated best or good this month

• Pale

  Best months: Dec–Mar (skiing), Jun–Sep (hiking on Jahorina)