Bosnia and Herzegovina operates on the Convertible Mark (BAM or KM), fixed at 1.95583 BAM to 1 EUR since its introduction in 1998. This peg has never changed. The euro does not circulate as legal tender, but many businesses in tourist areas accept it at or near the official rate, typically rounded to 2 BAM per euro. Dual pricing exists in some establishments. ATMs dispense marks and appear in all cities and most towns. Cards with Visa and Mastercard logos work at machines labeled Bancomat or with international network symbols. Machines at ProCredit Bank, UniCredit, and Raiffeisen Bank reliably accept foreign cards. Withdrawal fees charged by Bosnian banks range from 2 to 5 BAM per transaction. Your home bank adds its own fees and exchange markup. Daily withdrawal limits sit between 500 and 1000 BAM depending on the machine and network.
Currency exchange offices cluster in Sarajevo around Baščaršija, along Ferhadija Street, and near the main bus and train stations. In Mostar they line the streets approaching Stari Most. Rates vary by up to 3 percent between offices within a single block. Offices do not charge separate commission when the sign reads "no commission" but build margin into the rate itself. Compare the rate to 1.95583 per euro to assess the markup. Banks exchange currency during business hours, typically 8:00 to 16:00 Monday through Friday, with a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00 in smaller branches. Exchange rates at banks track closer to the official peg than street offices but transactions take longer due to paperwork.
Cash remains necessary throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. Card acceptance exists in hotels, larger restaurants in cities, and some museums, but cash-only businesses dominate outside urban centers. Grocery stores in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, and Mostar increasingly accept cards. Gas stations on major routes take cards, but rural stations require cash. Intercity buses accept only cash for tickets. Taxis operate on cash unless you use a ride app that processes card payments. Markets, small restaurants, guesthouses, and nearly all street vendors deal exclusively in marks. Carry denominations of 10, 20, and 50 BAM. Breaking a 100 or 200 BAM note causes problems in small establishments and taxis.
International airports sit at Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar, and Tuzla. Sarajevo International Airport lies 12 kilometers southwest of the city center. The public bus line 36 connects the airport to Baščaršija in approximately 40 minutes for 1.60 BAM when purchased from the driver, 1.30 BAM from a kiosk. Buses depart every 30 minutes from 5:00 to 23:00. Taxis charge 20 to 25 BAM for the same route using a meter, 30 to 40 BAM when negotiated without a meter. Pre-arranged transfers through hotels or booking platforms cost 25 to 35 BAM. Mostar Airport sits 7 kilometers south of the city with no public bus connection. Taxis charge 15 to 20 BAM to the center. Banja Luka Airport lies 23 kilometers north of the city. No scheduled public transport runs this route. Taxis ask 30 to 40 BAM. Tuzla Airport serves the northeast, located 13 kilometers from Tuzla city. Shuttle buses coordinate with Ryanair and Wizz Air flights, costing 5 BAM to Tuzla center.
Land borders connect Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro at multiple crossings. Entering from Split, Croatia via the E73 highway leads to Mostar in approximately two hours covering 140 kilometers. The Klek corridor gives Croatia access to Dubrovnik, creating a short section where the highway crosses Bosnian territory for 9 kilometers. Border formalities at Metković on the Croatian side and Neum on the Bosnian side typically take 10 to 30 minutes. Entering from Belgrade via the E70 leads to Bijeljina at 340 kilometers. The Šepak crossing connects Serbia and Republika Srpska. From Podgorica, Montenegro, the E762 reaches Trebinje in Herzegovina after 90 kilometers through the Sitnica border crossing. Bus services run daily between Sarajevo and Zagreb (8 hours, approximately 30 BAM), Sarajevo and Belgrade (7 hours, approximately 25 BAM), and Sarajevo and Dubrovnik (4.5 hours, approximately 20 BAM).