Bosnia and Herzegovina - is a country on the Balkan peninsula of southern Europe, estimated population of around four million people. It is known in the country's official languages as Bosna i Hercegovina. The country is a homeland to three ethnic: Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. Regardless of ethnicity, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina is usually identified in English as a Bosnian.
Bordered by Croatia to the North, West and South, Serbia to the East, and Montenegro to the South, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost entirely landlocked, except for 20 km of the Adriatic Sea coastline, centered around the town of Neum. The interior of the country is heavily mountainous and divided by various rivers, most of which are no navigable. The nation's capital and largest city is Sarajevo.
The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina no longer need the cover of fog. Since the war was halted in 1995, the country has made considerable progress toward infrastructure improvement. There is commercial air service to Sarajevo and Banja Luka, and hotels are available in major towns. Shopping malls are also beginning to appear, with the encouragement of foreign investors. Medjugorje, the religious shrine near the southern border with Croatia, draws thousands of pilgrims a year, adding tourist currencies to the local economy.
With continued economic and social progress, however, the possibility exists that Bosnia and Herzegovina may be able to join the European Union. However, there are still ethnic tensions, and visitors are better off traveling with an organized tour. The landscape is still peppered with unexploded land mines, especially in remote areas.
Bosnia's traditional attractions are spectacular mountain scenery, gorges, skiing, beautiful lakes, historical and religious sites, folk art, music and film festivals, and intermingled cultures.
Within the major tourist areas of Sarajevo, Mostar, Neum and Medjugorje, independent travel is both possible and safe. Traveling off the beaten path can still be a bit risky because of undetected land mines that are left from the war. The language barrier can also present a challenge in more remote areas, so traveling with a reputable tour operator is recommended.