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
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.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.
- Sarajevo3 °C (37 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 13 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 13 rain days
- Banja Luka4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Bihać4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 9 rain days
- Bosanska Krupa4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Brčko2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
- Derventa4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Doboj2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Foča2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Glamoč2 °C (36 °F) / -6 °C (21 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 21 °F (-6 °C), 12 rain days
- Gradiška4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
- Grude8 °C (46 °F) / 1 °C (34 °F), 10 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 34 °F (1 °C), 10 rain days
- Jablanica7 °C (45 °F) / -1 °C (30 °F), 10 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 30 °F (-1 °C), 10 rain days
- Jajce2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Konjic5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Krupa na Vrbasu4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 12 rain days
- Međugorje8 °C (46 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
- Mostar9 °C (48 °F) / 2 °C (36 °F), 10 rain days48 °F (9 °C) / 36 °F (2 °C), 10 rain days
- Mrkonjić Grad4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Neum10 °C (50 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 11 rain days50 °F (10 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 11 rain days
- Olovo4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Pale2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 12 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 12 rain days
- Prijedor4 °C (39 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 10 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 10 rain days
- Široki Brijeg5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
- Srebrenica2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
- Teslic4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 12 rain days
- Travnik2 °C (36 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
- Trebinje8 °C (46 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 7 rain days46 °F (8 °C) / 32 °F (0 °C), 7 rain days
- Tuzla5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 10 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 10 rain days
- Vareš3 °C (37 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 11 rain days37 °F (3 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 11 rain days
- Višegrad2 °C (36 °F) / -4 °C (25 °F), 8 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 25 °F (-4 °C), 8 rain days
- Zenica4 °C (39 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 12 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 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
Where to go in January
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Dec–Mar (skiing), Jun–Sep (hiking on Jahorina)