Utopia of Tito’s Yugoslavia, Tito’s Bunker & Siege of Sarajevo – Full Day Tour

INCLUDED

Guide
English speaking local-expert guide and driver. Guide in different language available on request.
Free pickup on request
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.
All Transfers
All tour transfers are provided by Funky Tours.
Entrance Fees, Taxes & Flexible Cancellation Policy
Tito’s Bunker (20 BAM ~ 10 EUR) and Sarajevo War Tunnel (10 BAM ~ 5 EUR) ticket included. No hidden costs. VAT 17% included in the price. Cancel 1 day prior for full refund or change dates anytime.
Availability
Tour is available throughout the year.
Group Discounts
For bigger group bookings, discounts are available.

NOT INCLUDED

Insurance
Travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
Guide Tipping
Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
Private Tour
All tours are shared, unless specifically booked as private.
Food
Lunch break is planned at Igman or Bjelasnica mountain, and food costs are paid at the spot directly to the restaurant. Typical lunch cost is around 8-10 EUR per person.

Logistics

• Tour departs from Funky Tours office. If you need pickup please let us know in advance.
• Departure Times: Daily at 8 AM.

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. 

• STOP 1: Konjic Old Town (30min) 

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:

• Markale Markets (largest massacre sites in Sarajevo during the 1992-1995)
• Eternal Flame (memorial dedicated to the victims of the WW2)
• Children Memorial (memorial dedicated to 1601 killed child in Sarajevo during the 1992-1995)
• Presidency (Bosnian Presidency house)
• Parliament (Bosnian Parliament building)
• Holiday Inn Hotel (Built for the 1984 Olympics, and used by journalists and reporters during the Siege)
• National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Home to famous  for Sarajevo Haggadah among other exhibits)
• US Embassy
• Ex Marshall Tito Military Barracks (Home to JNA troops at the beginning of the Siege)
• Neighbourhoods of Pofalići, Grbavica, Nedžarići, Alipašino Polje, Stup, Ilidža  and Butmir
  Suburbs of Sarajevo such as Hadžići, Pazarić, Tarćin and Bradina

• STOP 2: Tito’s Nuclear Bunker (1.30h)

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.

• STOP 3: Igman Olympic Mountain with Ski Jumps and Igman Hotel (1.30h)

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.

• STOP 4: Sarajevo War Tunnel Museum (1.30h)

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.

• STOP 5: Trebević Mountain & Olympic Bobsled (1.30h)

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.

What Do I Need to Bring?

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle

1945-1980

• Utopia of Yugoslavia
• Understand Tito’s Yugoslavia. Who Tito was, Hero or a Dictator? Communism or Socialism? Golden Era of Yugoslavia.

February 1984

• 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo
• The brightest moment of history of Sarajevo and pride of Yugoslavia

1980-1991

• Downfall of Yugoslavia. Death of Tito, economic breakdown, nationalism and Milošević ideas of Greater Serbia. Wars in Slovenia and Croatia.

1992-1995

• Siege of Sarajevo & Bosnian War
• Learn first-hand detailed story about Siege of Sarajevo & understand Bosnian War

1995-1996

• End of Bosnian War and Dayton Peace Accord
• Srebrenica Genocide, NATO bombings and role of US / International Community

1996 – Present

• Balkans and Bosnia Today
• Aftermath of wars and life today

Learn more among our carefully chosen articles about Yugoslavia and story of Siege of Sarajevo.

• Remeber Sarajevo by Roger Richards
• 20 Years Since the Bosnian War [photo gallery]
• BBC (Sarajevo 1992-1995: looking back after 20 years)
• Yugoslavia Transformed (must read for better understanding of pre-war Yugoslavia)
• We ‘re never gonna survive unless we get little crazy (Youtube).
• The Death of Yugoslavia
• Independent.co.uk
• RAM Plan
• Sarajevo Sniper
• Radio Free Europe (Amazing photo gallery)
• Tito’s top secret bunker in Bosnia is a time capsule back to 1950s Yugoslavia
• War tore apart the city that hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics — here’s what the abandoned venues look like today (Business Insider)

1. Does this tour include entrance fee to Titos Bunker and Sarajevo War Tunnel?
   Yes, the tour covers the costs of the entrance fees.
2. Can I start this tour from some other point rather than Sarajevo? 
   Yes, in case you are staying somewhere else besides Sarajevo please contact out team and we will go above and beyond to find a convenient option.
3. Can I book as solo traveller?
   Yes you can. Significant number of our fellow travelers are solo.
4. How much should I tip?
   Tips are not included in the tour costs, nor they are heavily expected in Balkan culture. However when you receive excellent service, we recommend tipping.
5. Can I book a private customised trip based on this one? 
   Yes, you can. Custom-tailored trips are our speciality. Please contact our team with your preferences and we will be happy to work on it accordingly and suggest some amazing options. 
6. Can I book this tour in other than English language?
   Tours are possible to book in other than English languages in private option. Do contact our team for further information.
7. How much in advance I need to book this tour?
   It is recommended to book at least 15 days in advance but our team will go above and beyond to confirm the trips even 24 hrs before the supposed departure. 
8. Is the prepayment necessary? 
   Prepayment is not obligatory. You can easily pay on a day of departure.
9. Can I pay for the tour with credit card?
   Yes, we accept VISA and Maestro. Please note that, in case you would like to make a credit card payment, you will need to do it at our office or by prepayment via credit card authorisation form. Our guides can NOT accept credit cards. 
10. Which currency is accepted for cash payment?
    We are fans of our local currency (BAM), but you can also pay in EUR, HRK, USD, GBP or even combined.