Bosnia and Herzegovina by campervan
Two entities, two sets of rules and one shared legacy: parts of the countryside are still mine contaminated, and the state publishes exactly where and how much. Everything else you need before you cross the border, including why you do not need a green card here and do need to stay on the path.
Published 18 September 2026Last checked 19 September 2026
Currency
Convertible mark
BAM, not the euro. 1.95583 KM to €1 at the fixed rate
Languages
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Latin and Cyrillic script both in use
Driving
Right
Motorway 130 km/h, other roads 80 km/h
Insurance
No green card needed
EU checks dropped on 19 October 2020
Landmines
775 km² still suspect
Stay on roads and marked paths
Emergency
112
Ambulance 124
Basics
Basics
Bosnia and Herzegovina is one state made of two entities with their own laws, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, plus the self-governing Brčko District. For a traveller that mostly shows up in small things: the script on the signs, which holidays a town keeps, and occasionally a taxi driver who will not cross from one entity into the other. It also means that a rule you read about may only apply to half the country.
Two entities, one country
- The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina covers roughly the centre, the west and Herzegovina, and is itself split into ten cantons with their own competences.
- Republika Srpska wraps around the north and the east, and has its own laws on most things a traveller meets.
Power, water and getting online
- 230V, type F sockets, the same round two-pin plug as Croatia and most of the continent. UK and Irish plugs need an adapter.
- An EU SIM does not roam at home rates. Bosnia and Herzegovina is outside the EU, so check your tariff or buy a local prepaid card.
Non-working days in 2026
| Date | Holiday | Whose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 and 2 January | New Year | Everyone |
| 6 and 7 January | Christmas Eve and Christmas | Orthodox |
| 20 and 21 March | Ramazanski bajram, Eid al-Fitr | Muslim. The date moves with the lunar calendar |
| 3, 5 and 6 April | Good Friday and Easter | Catholic |
| 10, 12 and 13 April | Good Friday and Easter | Orthodox |
This is the published list of non-working days for 2026. Some dates are observed by government decision rather than automatically, 9 January is one of them, and the two Islamic holidays are calculated from the lunar calendar so they can shift by a day. The practical effect for a van is that a town can be closed on a date that is an ordinary working day twenty kilometres away.
Common questions about Bosnia and Herzegovina by campervan
Are landmines still a danger in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Yes, in rural areas, and the state publishes the figures. In its August 2026 request to extend its Mine Ban Convention deadline, Bosnia and Herzegovina reported about 775 square kilometres still recorded as suspected hazardous area across 439 sites. Populated areas and major routes are largely clear. The rule for a visitor is to stay on roads and paved areas and not to step off marked paths without an experienced guide.
How likely is a tourist to be hurt by a landmine in Bosnia?
Very unlikely if you stay on made ground. The state's own figures record 1,782 post-war casualties since 1996, of whom 625 were killed, but the annual total has fallen to between zero and four through the 2020s. The people hurt are overwhelmingly farmers, hunters and loggers entering land they know is suspect. The single death in 2025 was a man who walked into a marked minefield to retrieve goats.
Can you sleep in a campervan in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the hospitality law permits camping only in a registered camp and prohibits setting up a tent, camping hut, caravan or other camping equipment outside one, with a fine of 50 to 500 convertible marks. It does not name a motorhome and its prohibition is about setting equipment up. Republika Srpska legislates separately and its position could not be established for this guide.
Do you need a green card to drive in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No. EU member states stopped checking insurance on vehicles normally based in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 19 October 2020, and the arrangement works in both directions. Check that your own policy lists the country anyway, because the Border Police can ask for printed proof, and border insurance is sold at nine named crossings if it does not.