VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ): in the Butmir area south-west of the city centre, roughly 10–12 km from the old town, with the main road to Mostar and the coast starting nearby.
Why Rent a Car at Sarajevo Airport
Sarajevo's old town is compact and best explored on foot and by tram, and taxis are cheap for short hops. The case for a car is everything beyond the capital: the stone bridge at Mostar, the old royal town of Jajce, Travnik, the waterfalls near Kravice and mountain villages that buses reach only a few times a day.
Our advice: if you plan a few days in Sarajevo first, book the car from the day you leave the city and ask the provider to deliver it to your hotel; if you land and go straight on, collect it at the airport and avoid a long mountain drive after dark.
Drive Times from SJJ
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Sarajevo old town | ~10–12 km | 20–40 min depending on traffic |
| Travnik | ~85–95 km | about 1.5–2 hours |
| Mostar | ~125–130 km | about 2–2.5 hours |
| Jajce | ~165–175 km | about 2.5–3.5 hours |
| Kravice waterfalls | ~170–180 km | about 2.5–3.5 hours |
| Neum and the coast | ~210–230 km | about 3–4 hours |
| Banja Luka | ~220–240 km | about 3.5–4.5 hours |
Picking Up at SJJ: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
How the car is handed over depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals area, some in the car park, some at a nearby yard with a shuttle, and many will deliver to a hotel in Sarajevo. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and do not rely on a named counter unless it is written on the car card. Scheduled flights are limited, so a delayed late-evening arrival is possible; give the provider your flight number.
Late arrival? Many international flights land late at night. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and check that the phone number on your voucher answers messages.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid national driving licence and, depending on where it was issued, an International Driving Permit (IDP) — rules for foreign licences differ by country and can change, so ask the agency exactly what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at SJJ
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: summer (roughly June to September) and the ski weeks around Sarajevo are the busiest and dearest; spring and autumn are calmer and usually cheaper, and mid-winter can be cheap but needs winter tyres and careful driving
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Motorway tolls, fines, parking and any cross-border fee are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Roads, Tolls and Winter Driving Around Sarajevo
The main routes leave Sarajevo along river valleys: north towards Zenica and Travnik on roads that partly run as motorway, and south-west towards Mostar on a scenic but winding road. Some motorway sections charge tolls, so ask the agency how it handles them and keep small cash and a card ready. In winter, snow and ice are common on the passes and in the hills above the city, winter tyres are generally required and chains can be useful. Fines from police and cameras are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental.
Crossing Borders From Sarajevo
Many visitors combine Sarajevo with Croatia, Montenegro or Serbia. This is normally possible only with the agency's written permission and a green card, sometimes with a fee. Ask before you book, carry the papers and passports, and allow extra time at crossings in summer. The road to the coast passes through the short Neum corridor, where you cross a border twice in a short distance; check current entry rules for your nationality.
Driving Near SJJ: Roads and Habits
Roads out of Sarajevo are narrow in places, with trucks, tight bends and sudden fog in the valleys. In town, tram tracks and one-way streets are confusing, and parking is tight and often paid. Overtaking on the mountain roads is risky; wait for a clear straight.
- Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left and give way as signed at roundabouts
- Dipped headlights are usually required day and night all year; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Speed limits are signed (typically around 50–60 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on open roads, and higher on expressways and motorways); police speed checks are common and mobile radar is used
- Very strict drink-driving rules — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone while driving
- Winter equipment: winter tyres are generally required in the cold season (roughly mid-November to mid-April) and chains may be needed on mountain passes; confirm the current rule with the agency
- Stay on paved roads and clearly used surfaces: parts of the countryside still contain landmines and unexploded ordnance from the 1990s, and insurance is not valid off-road
- Cross-border trips need the agency's written permission and a green card — see the cross-border notes on this page
- Mountain passes can close or require chains in winter; check the weather before long drives
Best Day Trips from Sarajevo Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Bosnia and Herzegovina Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.