The best ski resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be safely called the Olympic ski resort of Jahorina, which is located in the Serbian part of the country. Recently, this place has become very popular with tourists from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, especially Montenegro and Serbia. The cost of vacationing in Jahorina is not very high, so representatives of the middle class often come here. Jahorina is about 30 minutes drive from the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. The infrastructure in these places began to develop in the thirties of the last century. We won’t go into much history, but this area was appreciated by the world ski community, as in 1984 the Olympic Games in the alpine skiing discipline were held here.

The first ski competitions on Jahorina were organized in 1939. And in 1953, the first cable car in Bosnia and Herzegovina was built here, its length was more than a kilometer.

Winter offers on Jahorina: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, night skiing, extreme skiing, paragliding, snow scooters, snowboarding, ice skating, hiking, swimming pools and saunas, as well as various gastronomic delights and night entertainment.

At the end of February, Jahorina hosts the FIS Cup. In March, the Republika Srpska Ski Championship.

Getting there

The nearest airport is in Sarajevo, but many tourists travel via the Serbian capital, Belgrade, which is approximately 320 kilometers away.

Jahorina can be reached by public transport.

The bus to Jahorina leaves from the Sarajevo bus station.

During the ski season, there is a bus from Ilidža on Saturdays and Sundays.

Another option is to get to Pale, and from there take the Pale-Jahorina suburban bus, which runs several times a day, or by taxi.

From time to time, additional routes are introduced during the season.

History

The picturesque ski resort of Jahorina, located half an hour’s drive from Sarajevo, has a rather long history. One of the first high-ranking connoisseurs of local beauties was Archduke Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked the First World War. The first hotel in the mountains – “Romania” – was built here in 1922 and was a typical mountain hut, designed for 60 people. In the early thirties, two ski clubs were formed in Sarajevo, which later developed a rather rapid activity in the development of local slopes. However, real changes began here only after the end of World War II.

In 1947, electricity was introduced to Jahorina. In November 1952, the first chairlift was launched here, by which time four hotels were already operating in the resort.

In the 60s, another chairlift and a number of hotels were built here. In the early 70s, thanks to the efforts of Sarajevo ski clubs, the best local slopes were certified by the FIS, and the resort itself received the status of an international ski sports center. In the future, international starts of the highest level were repeatedly held on the slopes of Jahorina. In February 1984, Olympic competitions in various alpine skiing disciplines were held here. The civil war of the first half of the 1990s had almost no effect on the resort’s skiing and tourist infrastructure.

Snow

Snow on Jahorina lasts 175 days a year, reaching a meter thick by February. There are also particularly snowy winters, when the snow cover reaches 3 meters. In successful years, the ski season begins in late October and lasts until May.

Trails

There are 25 km of slopes for skiing and snowboarding. There are also 9 lifts for transporting guests.

Most of the trails have the FIS category, which makes the resort popular among professional athletes. The trails here are mainly “red” and “black”, located on the steep slope of Mount Ogorelica.

The winter sports area is located between 1300 and 1916 meters.

The peak of Mount Ogorelica is the highest point of the resort (altitude is 1916 meters). Just below this height, black slopes begin, the slope of which reaches 56 degrees. Tourists who are going to Jahorina are warned that this is not a place for beginners, but rather for experienced and advanced skiers.

Also, those who are used to riding on snowboards, as there are no special slopes for snowboarding in Jahorina, but nature has created excellent conditions for freeride enthusiasts. There are only three blue slopes for intermediate skiers, but there are schools for beginners at the resort. The longest slope is 2,350 meters long.

Jahorina Ski Resort is located in the mountain range of the same name in the Dinaric Alps south of Sarajevo. The winter sports resort was the venue for the women’s alpine competitions at the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo. There are slopes of all levels of difficulty here. However, there are also “blue” slopes for beginners – there are only three of them. Children can also ski here.

Usually, the high level of natural snowfall is supplemented by equipment for producing artificial snow. Thanks to floodlights, you can ski here at night. Cross-country ski trails and other sports facilities offer additional opportunities at the resort. There is a ski school for beginners. There is a place to go sledding and snowboarding, and for ice skating enthusiasts there is a large ice rink.

Technical characteristics:

There are many on Yahorin slopes, from difficult Olympic to beginner slopes.

The total length of the slopes is about 20 km.

Highest point: 1880 m.

Lowest point: 1300 m.

Lifts

9 lifts: 3 with six-seater seats, 2 with two-seater seats, 3 tow lifts and a baby lift. The capacity of the lifts is 11 thousand people per hour.

On Jahorina you will find several snow equipment rental points.

There are schools for both children and beginners.

If we talk specifically about prices, they can really be called affordable, in hardly any European resort you will have to pay 60 euros for a week’s rental of ski equipment, and a weekly ski pass costs about 65-70 euros.

Where to stay

You can stay in Jahorina in hotels, chalets or private apartments.

The cost of accommodation in a hotel starts from 30-50 euros per room per day, but here you need to pay attention to such a factor as seasonality (on the eve of various holidays, prices increase several times). Most of the hotels belong to the “three-star” category, some of them even have indoor pools. In addition, there are many private cottages, guesthouses and other accommodation, where the prices are about the same as in hotels. The most budget tourists are located a little further from the resort, where you can find accommodation for 10-20 euros, and come to Jahorina only for skiing.

Termag Hotel Jahorina 4 stars

Hotel Termag Jahorina is located 1.6 km above sea level, next to the ski slopes on Jahorina Mountain. It offers 2 restaurants and a wellness centre with an indoor pool, a sauna and a Turkish bath.

Free Wi-Fi is available. Free private outdoor parking is available on site. Ski instructors are available.

Rooms at Hotel Termag Jahorina feature cable TV with international channels, a safe, a minibar and a bathroom with a hydromassage shower.

Hotel Termag’s restaurant features a terrace. It serves local and international cuisine, as well as macrobiotic dishes. Guests can relax by the fireplace in the lobby.

Quad bike trips through the mountains can be arranged at the reception. The hotel’s banquet hall can be used for weddings, conferences and other events. The banquet hall can accommodate up to 350 people.

Hotel Jet Set 4-star hotel

Hotel Jet Set is located 15 km from Sarajevo and 12 km from Jahorina Ski Resort. It offers free parking and elegant rooms with free Wi-Fi. It features a bar and a restaurant. The 24-hour front desk can provide cycling, tennis and skiing equipment upon request.

All rooms and suites come with an LCD TV with cable channels. They offer mountain views. Valuables can be left in the safety deposit box at the reception.

The à la carte restaurant offers a wide range of international dishes.

A grocery store is just steps away. The bus station is 300 metres away, the centre of Pale is 700 metres away, and a tennis court is 2 km away. Several cycling routes can be found 3 km from the hotel.

Jet Set Hotel is 6 km from the source of the Miljačka River and 10 km from the Orlovača Cave. Sarajevo International Airport is 20 km away.

Apartments and rooms Max-Well 3 stars

Apartments Max-Well is a self-catering accommodation located in Jahorina, just 600 metres from the local ski slopes. Each apartment offers mountain views.

The renovated apartments feature a bedroom, a living room with 2 sofa beds, a flat-screen TV and a bathroom with free toiletries.

The open-plan kitchen is equipped with an oven, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a dining area. Free delivery is available.

Apartments Max-Well offers ski storage for easy access to the ski slopes. Sarajevo Airport is 32 km away.

Vila luna 3 stars

Vila luna is located in the Jahorina Ski Resort. Free WiFi and private parking are available on site.

The holiday home features a DVD player, a kitchen with a microwave, a fridge and an oven, and a living room with a seating area and a fireplace. The holiday home has a dining area, 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with a shower and a bath. A flat-screen TV with cable channels is available.

A sun terrace is available for guests to use. There is a garden with a barbecue. Skiing is possible nearby and the holiday home is 50 metres from the Sor Police ski slope.

Sarajevo is 26 km from Vila Luna Holiday Home, while Ilidza is 36 km away.

Entertainment and excursions

You can take a break from sports by taking excursions in the surrounding area. We recommend visiting the Orlovaca and Mokro Miljačka caves, or visiting the nearby town of Pale, where you can see the picturesque Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin and the Church of St. Joseph.

Lots of restaurants, grills (grilled fast food), bars with hot and cold img src