Step into the world of Yugoslavian social-communism and uncover its fascinating history, from its golden era to its tragic downfall. This immersive tour takes you on a journey through the highlights of Yugoslavia’s past, guided by stories from locals who lived through the Siege of Sarajevo.
Begin in Konjic, a charming town where you’ll explore Tito’s Nuclear Bunker, a top-secret Cold War relic and a testament to Yugoslavia’s “soft communism.” Discover its hidden corridors, elaborate designs, and the vision of a nation prepared for a nuclear future.
Travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan to Sarajevo, where you’ll visit the War Tunnel Museum and hear firsthand accounts of survival during the longest siege in modern history. Learn about the dramatic breakup of Yugoslavia and its impact on the region.
Venture to the Igman Mountain, an essential site during the 1984 Winter Olympics, where you’ll see the Olympic Ski Jumps and the abandoned Hotel Igman, a haunting reminder of Sarajevo’s war-torn past. Finally, ascend to Trebević Mountain to explore the iconic Olympic Bobsled Track, now a canvas for street art, and enjoy stunning views of Sarajevo.
This small-group tour combines history, culture, and nature, offering a unique perspective on Yugoslavia’s complex legacy and Sarajevo’s resilience.
Useful NoticeIn just 9 to 10 hours, experience a cost-effective and immersive journey that combines Tito’s Bunker with other essential sites like the War Tunnel Museum, offering a comprehensive understanding of Yugoslavia’s history and the Siege of Sarajevo.
Why book multiple tours with added expenses when you can explore these incredible landmarks in one seamless, all-inclusive experience? This unique tour ensures you see it all while maximizing your time and value, making it the perfect choice for history and culture enthusiasts.
Departure Times Daily at 8 AM.
Pickup Locations If you are staying in the old town of Sarajevo meet us at our office. If you are bit away from us, please let us know and we can organise advance pickup.
Activity Note: The tour is adapted to all ages and is not physically demanding. Due to the distance of the locations, we use vehicles during the tour.
Meet your guide at our office, or be picked up directly at your address in the morning hours. Your guide is experienced, knowledgeable and open-minded person who is a direct siege survivor so, along the way, be sure you will hear some intriguing stories and personal experiences while involving some mind provoking and interesting debate with a small group of like-minded people.
On the way to Tito’s Nuclear Bunker in nearby town of Konjic, we will observe the Markale Massacre sites, the Bosnian Presidency building, Sniper Alley, Marshall Tito Barracks, the Bosnian Parliament and some other sites crucial for understanding the irreversible crash of Yugoslavia and Sarajevo under the siege.
Drive will continue the ride through suburbs of Sarajevo and areas of central Bosnia until we pass Ivan Mt. and enter the region of Herzegovina. As soon as in Herzegovina, we’ll start descending as region of Herzegovina is generally on lower altitudes and is totally different climate, so you’ll notice dramatic natural, environmental and usually climate change.
First stop of the day is a short visit to old part of unique, prehistorically inhabited Konjic, town famous for its 17th century 6-arch Old Bridge, looming over turquoise Neretva river, usually very sunny place and a home to one of the most expensive Yugoslavian projects – Tito’s Nuclear Bunker, or also called: Facility D-0, Atomic War Command (ARK).
We pass by:
It took 26 years to build this 6500 m2 miracle of construction with a purpose of withstanding a possible nuclear war and providing a shelter to over 350 Yugoslav leaders and army generals.
We will wander around this amazing structure and venue for a biennial of contemporary art while discovering the labyrinth of Yugoslavia mysteries, cold war fanaticism and communists paranoia while discussing the possible reasons of fall of Yugoslavia and it’s rigid consequences.
As a third most expensive JNA military project with spendings of cca. 4.6 billion USD, facility D-0, Tito’s atomic war command (ARK), was built to accept, accommodate and protect 350 people and enable successful management and command over the armed forces in case of nuclear warfare.
Later we will head towards Sarajevo and follow up the story of besieged city and harsh position its citizens went through in a barbaric bargain for life. Initial visit will be Igman Olympic mountain and its Olympic heritage in shape of Olympic Ski Jumps. Take photos at Olympic podium or climb the ski jumps and imagine the atmosphere from 1984 Olympics.
Also structure we can not miss at Igman mountain is, Igman Olympic hotel. As Yahoo Travel wrote: “Built in a spirit of optimism, unity, and teamwork for the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics, the 162-room Igman Hotel was a showplace for mountain luxury but was brutally torn apart, along with the rest of the city, during the Balkan War and siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s.”
Surely place not to miss.
Later we will visit the Sarajevo War Tunnel where we will explore the museum exhibition and see many interesting exhibits directly associated with Siege of Sarajevo, watch a short movie about the urgent need for building this essential underpass, followed by going through the Tunnel itself.
If you only plan to visit Tito’s Nuclear Bunker at Konjic, without other stops in our itinerary, that is fine and we can easily modify this tour for you.
However, most of the tour offer on the market does cover Tito’s Bunker, but usually as solo visit from and back to Sarajevo. Funky Tours alternatively, offers several other stops which are on the way, and which crucially maximise your time, understanding of the topic and your money.
Why visiting Sarajevo War Tunnel, Olympic Bobsled, Igman hotel, Olympic ski jumps or Tito’s Nuclear Bunker in two or even three different days, when you can put everything easily into one day, and still get much more.
We believe that mix of stories covering utopia and breakup of Yugoslavia, in combination with Siege of Sarajevo chronology is the best way to spend a day.
1945-1980
February 1984
1980-1991
1992-1995
1995-1996
1996 – Present
Learn more among our carefully chosen articles about Yugoslavia and story of Siege of Sarajevo.
What Do I Need to Bring?
Tuesday, September 24th, 9am tour.
My wife and I were on the 9am tour. Our meeting point was at the Funky Tours office, about a 2 minute walk from our hotel. There we met Amela. We had a very nice visit with her while we waited for 2 others that would be on the tour with us, and the guide.
We all met minutes later. Harm was our guide for the day. Let me just say that he was a great guide, and driver. We were driven around in a comfy van, with good visibility out the windows.
We visited the tunnel of hope first. Harm was our own personal guide too. From there we drove to the Tito bunker. We arrived right at noon, and began the tour immediately.
After that we started our drive back to Sarajevo, with a quick lunch break snack. Then a drive to the Olympic ski jumps, and then on to the medal presentation stand at the base of the ski jump area.
All of this was super cool. And the drive from Sarajevo proper, to the ski jumps was quite lovely. Along the Way we could make stops for pictures. From there it was off to the bobsled track. Another fun drive to get there.
Harm dropped us off at a cool section of the track, then offered to us that we could walk downhill a ways, on the track, and meet him and the van at that point. A fun walk, and very scenic. Heading back down in to Sarajevo we made a stop at the abandoned Olympic hotel, and an abandoned restaurant, perched above the city, used and destroyed in the war.
We were then dropped off in town, walking distance to our pickup point. This was a full day of touring. I think we got back between 5-6pm. We loved this tour, and I would do it again if I had the chance. Harm made the tour so enjoyable.
Funky Tour of Tito’s Bunker and Siege of Sarajevo.
Excellent tour! Highly recommend it. Our guide was knowledgeable and personable and he shared his personal perspective of fighting in the war. A highlight of our vacation!
Fascinating and well paced day excursion.
What a fascinating and varied day trip! It also included the 1984 Winter Olympics sites.
Besides the day excursion e booked, Funky Tours went out of their way giving us tips on restaurants and typical Bosnian cuisine.
Our guide Mustafa was great! Very knowledgeable and a great sense of humour. The pace and value for money of the day excursion was good.
We can highly recommend Funky Tours!
Awesome Free Walking Tour with Almir
Almir is an amazing guide, and one of the best we have ever had – he seamlessly weaves in his personal history of having lived and fought during the war, and his breadth of knowledge across various topics, including history, politics and psychology, that enhances our experience of the tour.
His easy-going personality also made it seem like we are going on an adventure to explore abandoned places like the Igman Hotel, and the Olympic bobsled track.
Highly recommended over exploring these places on your own 🙂
Absolutely brilliant!
This tour was incredible – Mustafa was a brilliant guide and shared some incredible stories, he really brought some of the sights we saw in museums etc to life. Cannot recommend this enough.