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When to go · Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina in January

Mixed month. Snow and ski season; Sarajevo smog on still days; Mostar quiet and grey.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Low
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Prices
Low
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Bosnia and Herzegovina

Snow and ski season; Sarajevo smog on still days; Mostar quiet and grey.

Is another month better than January?

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in January

  • 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, Trebinjecool

    Mediterranean-influenced: Mostar is often 38–40 °C (100–104 °F) 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.

  • Continental: hot summers around 30 °C (86 °F), 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).

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Sarajevo3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days
  • Banja Luka4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Bihać4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days
  • Bosanska Krupa4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Brčko2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days
  • Derventa4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Doboj2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Foča2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Glamoč2 °C (36 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days
  • Gradiška4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days
  • Grude8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 10 rain days
  • Jablanica7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days
  • Jajce2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Konjic5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Krupa na Vrbasu4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days
  • Međugorje8 °C (46 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mostar9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days
  • Mrkonjić Grad4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Neum10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 11 rain days
  • Olovo4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Pale2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days
  • Prijedor4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days
  • Široki Brijeg5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days
  • Srebrenica2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days
  • Teslic4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days
  • Travnik2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days
  • Trebinje8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days
  • Tuzla5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days
  • Vareš3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days
  • Višegrad2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days
  • Zenica4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days

Festivals and holidays

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.

  • New Year and Orthodox Christmas

    1–2 Jan; 7 Jan (Orthodox Christmas)

    Offices closed; Orthodox Christmas is a holiday in Republika Srpska.

  • 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 and prices

Crowds · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Low
Prices · Bosnia and Herzegovina
Low

Compare two months

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

  • Verdict

    Jan: Mixed

    May: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    Jan: Low

    May: Medium

  • Prices

    Jan: Low

    May: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    Jan: 3

    May: 4

January: Snow and ski season; Sarajevo smog on still days; Mostar quiet and grey.

May: Excellent: warm valleys, rafting starts, roads clear of snow.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • Layers: a fleece or light jacket

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in January

Rated best or good this month

  • Pale

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