Quick answer
May, June and September are the best all-round months: warm days, green landscapes and fewer crowds. Choose July–August for swimming at the waterfalls (expect heat in Mostar), and mid-December to March for snow on Jahorina and Bjelašnica.
Month by month
| Month | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cold, snow in the mountains | Skiing, snowy Sarajevo |
| February | Cold, snow in the mountains | Skiing, quiet old towns |
| March | Snow fading at altitude; cool in the cities | End of ski season, low prices |
| April | Spring, rivers full from snowmelt | Waterfalls at full flow, green valleys |
| May | Warm days, fresh evenings | Sightseeing, photography, honeymoons |
| June | Warm, long days | Everything — the best all-round month |
| July | Hot, especially in Mostar; busiest month | Swimming at Kravica, rafting, mountains |
| August | Hot and busy | Waterfalls, cool mountain escapes |
| September | Warm days, fewer crowds | Sightseeing, swimming early in the month |
| October | Autumn colours, cooler | Photography, quiet towns, mountains |
| November | Grey and rainy, quiet | City breaks, low prices |
| December | Cold; snow often arrives mid-month | Christmas and New Year breaks, first snow |
Temperatures by month
Average daytime high and night-time low in °C. In July and August Sarajevo averages about 28° by day and 14° at night, while Mostar in the Neretva valley reaches 34° — the hottest place on most itineraries. The mountains stay fresh all summer.
| Month | Sarajevo | Mostar | Banja Luka | Bjelašnica (2,067 m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4° / −3° | 9° / 3° | 6° / −2° | −4° / −9° |
| February | 7° / −2° | 12° / 3° | 9° / −2° | −4° / −9° |
| March | 12° / 1° | 16° / 6° | 14° / 2° | −2° / −6° |
| April | 16° / 5° | 20° / 9° | 19° / 6° | 1° / −3° |
| May | 21° / 9° | 25° / 14° | 23° / 10° | 6° / 2° |
| June | 25° / 13° | 30° / 17° | 27° / 14° | 10° / 5° |
| July | 28° / 14° | 33° / 20° | 30° / 16° | 12° / 7° |
| August | 28° / 14° | 34° / 20° | 30° / 16° | 12° / 7° |
| September | 22° / 10° | 27° / 16° | 24° / 11° | 9° / 4° |
| October | 17° / 6° | 22° / 12° | 19° / 7° | 5° / 1° |
| November | 11° / 3° | 15° / 8° | 12° / 3° | 1° / −4° |
| December | 4° / −2° | 10° / 4° | 7° / −1° | −3° / −7° |
Long-term averages (Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka: WMO 1991–2020 normals; Bjelašnica: 1961–1990). Single days can be much hotter or colder.
Where it stays cool in summer
- Bjelašnica and Jahorina — the mountain station on Bjelašnica averages 12° in July. The ski villages lower down are much warmer, but evenings need a jacket. See Jahorina and Bjelašnica.
- Prokoško lake (about 1,600 m) and Blidinje (about 1,200 m) — high plateaus with cool air even in August. See Prokoško lake and Blidinje.
- Sarajevo itself — about 28° by day and 14° at night in July, noticeably cooler than Mostar.
- Waterfalls and rivers — Kravica, the Una and the Pliva lakes at Jajce are the classic places to cool off on hot days.
By interest
- Waterfalls: April and May for the most water; June to early September for swimming. See nature and waterfalls.
- Snow: about mid-December to March, depending on the winter — Jahorina and Bjelašnica.
- Mostar without the heat: May, June, September and early October — Mostar guide.
- Families: June and early September combine warm water with fewer crowds — family holidays.
Holidays that affect prices
Hotels fill quickly in July and August, over New Year and during the Eid holidays, when many visitors from the Gulf travel. If your dates are fixed, request early; if they are flexible, tell us and we suggest the quieter weeks.
Prices, timetables and entry rules change. We checked the facts on this page on the date shown; confirm time-sensitive details before you travel.
Sources and further reading
- Kravica waterfall — seasonal visitor information — Kravica, Ljubuški (checked 21 October 2026)
- Una National Park — official website — JU Nacionalni park Una (checked 21 October 2026)
- WMO climate normals 1991–2020 — Sarajevo, Mostar, Banja Luka (via Wikipedia weather boxes) — World Meteorological Organization / FHMZ BiH / NOAA (checked 24 October 2026)
- Bjelašnica observatory climate 1961–1990 (via Wikipedia) — MeteoBiH (checked 24 October 2026)
