Tunnel of Hope, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Tunnel of Hope highlights

Known for museum, sightseeing

The Tunnel of Hope educates on 1990s Balkan conflicts, particularly on the siege of Sarajevo, often overlooked in mainstream history. Built secretly using shovels by Bosnian forces, the Tunnel facilitated the transport of food, fuel, weapons, and humanitarian aid. Visitors leave moved by the stark reality of war and inspired by human tenacity, making it a must-visit for history buffs and empathetic travelers alike.

You understand, it is impossible to see Bosnia and Herzegovina just in a couple of days. Come with us to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 1-2 week road trip. We will pass Tunnel of Hope, along with other Bosnia and Herzegovina' attractions, to discover the soul of the country, its way of life, culture and traditions, food and drinks. Browse our tours passing Tunnel of Hope, or contact us directly for a custom tour in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the way, we charge nothing for a custom itinerary. Contact us directly, let's plan all the details of your trip and get it done!

Other places in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we are familiar with

Banja Luka - Known for fortress, museum, river, orthodox cathedral, islam mosque

Bihać (Bihac) - Known for museum, park, river

Blagaj - Known for architecture, bridge, cave, fortress, landmark, museum, river, viewpoint, islam monastery; monastery is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Bobovac - Known for fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint

Bosnian Pyramids - Known for ancient settlement, landmark, museum, nature, park

Doboj - Known for fortress, historical center, museum

Dobrićevo (Dobricevo) - Known for orthodox monastery

Dobrun - Known for river, scenic road, viewpoint, orthodox monastery

Gradačac (Gradacac) - Known for architecture, castle, museum

Jablanica - Known for lake, landmark, monument, river

Jajce - Known for fortress, historical center, nature, park, river, waterfall; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Ključ (Kljuc) - Known for fortress, medieval old town, park

Konjic - Known for bridge, river

Kraljeva Sutjeska - Known for historical center, museum, ruines, franciscan monastery

Kravica - Known for nature, park, waterfall

Livno - Known for nature, wildlife, islam mosque

Lukomir - Known for ethno village, viewpoint

Maglaj - Known for fortress, viewpoint, islam mosque

Martin Brod - Known for park, river, viewpoint, waterfall

Međugorje (Medjugorje) - Known for catholic pilgrimage center

Mogorjelo - Known for ancient settlement, archaeological site, nature

Mostar - Known for brewery, bridge, historical center, medieval old town, museum, river, franciscan monastery, islam mosque, orthodox cathedral; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Neum - Known for coastal town, marina

Ostrovica - Known for castle

Ostrožac (Ostrozac) - Known for castle

Počitelj (Pocitelj) - Known for fortified town, fortress, medieval old town, viewpoint; medieval old town is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Radimlja - Known for archaeological site; archaeological site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sarajevo - Known for brewery, bridge, fortress, funicular, historical center, museum, park, river, viewpoint, catholic cathedral, orthodox cathedral, islam mosque; historical center is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Šćit (Scit) - Known for museum, peninsula, franciscan monastery

Srebrenik - Known for castle, fortress

Stolac - Known for ancient megalites, fortress, river, viewpoint, waterfall; fortress is a UNESCO Tentative List Site

Tešanj (Tesanj) - Known for fortress, historical center, viewpoint

Travnik - Known for architecture, fortress, historical center, river

Trebinje - Known for bridge, medieval old town, museum, river, viewpoint, winery, orthodox cathedral, orthodox monastery

Tuzla - Known for lake

Tvrdoš (Tvrdos) - Known for winery, orthodox monastery

Una National Park - Known for nature, park, river, viewpoint, waterfall

Velika Kladuša (Velika Kladusa) - Known for fortress

Višegrad (Visegrad) - Known for bridge, river, tourist attraction; bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vjetrenica - Known for cave; cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Vranduk - Known for fortress, viewpoint

Zavala - Known for orthodox monastery

Last reviewed: 26 June 2025

Tunnel of Hope description

The Tunnel of Hope, a crucial lifeline during the 1992–1996 Siege of Sarajevo, symbolizes resilience amid war. Built secretly by Bosnian forces in 1993, this 800-meter tunnel connected the blockaded city with free territories beyond Serbian forces. It allowed food, medicine, and supplies to reach desperate civilians, becoming a beacon of survival during Europe's longest modern siege.

Constructed in just six months using shovels and manual labor, the tunnel stretched from the Dobrinja neighborhood to Butmir, near Sarajevo Airport. Workers dug 24/7 under shelling, creating a narrow passage (1m wide, 1.6m high) through a private home's basement. Wooden beams supported its clay walls, enabling perilous journeys for civilians and soldiers.

The tunnel facilitated the transport of food, fuel, weapons, and humanitarian aid, sustaining 300,000 trapped residents. It also allowed covert movement of people, including wounded civilians and leaders. Over two million individuals passed through, evading sniper fire and freezing winters, making it vital for physical and psychological survival.

Today, the Kolar family house, the tunnel's original entrance, is the Tunnel of Hope Museum. Visitors explore a 20-meter preserved section, exhibitions with photos, maps, and artifacts like wartime tools. The site contextualizes the siege's brutality and Sarajevo's ingenuity, with video testimonials deepening emotional connections to survivors' stories.

Walking the dim, cramped tunnel offers a visceral glimpse into wartime hardships. The museum's artifacts, including military equipment and personal items, humanize the siege's scale, while bullet-riddled surroundings underscore the city's scars, creating a poignant, immersive history lesson.

Dubbed the ＂Tunnel of Hope＂, it epitomizes defiance against oppression. Its legacy as a humanitarian corridor resonates globally, illustrating communal solidarity. For tourists, it's a powerful reminder of resilience, merging education with empathy, and honoring those who endured one of history's darkest chapters.

The tunnel educates on 1990s Balkan conflicts, often overlooked in mainstream history. Its tangible, immersive nature fosters deeper understanding than textbooks. Tourists leave moved by the stark reality of war and inspired by human tenacity, making it a must-visit for history buffs and empathetic travelers alike.

The Tunnel of Hope transcends its physical form, embodying courage and innovation. By preserving this underground marvel, Sarajevo honors its past while educating future generations. A visit here isn't just historical, it's a heartfelt journey into humanity's capacity to endure and rebuild.

Tunnel of Hope related tours

We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Tunnel of Hope during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Tunnel of Hope.

We have developed several private tours that visiting beautiful Tunnel of Hope. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.

Year-round Bosnia discovery 5 days tour from Sarajevo. Sarajevo, Mostar, Medjugorje, Kravica, Tvrdos, Trebinje. all seasons tour 5 days Price from € 841 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina tour finishes in: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina tour duration: 5 days (4 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Blagaj, Konjic, Kravica, Međugorje, Mostar, Počitelj, Radimlja, Trebinje, Tunnel of Hope, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica We invite you to discover Bosnia-Herzegovina with a small year-round 5 days tour from Sarajevo. It will begin with a walking tour of Sarajevo's historical center, with next day visit to the Tunnel of Hope museum, which depicts how hard the Sarajevo people fought during the siege. We will pass the small town Konjic and see its Ottoman bridge, then come to the famous Mostar, to walk the narrow cobbled streets of the historical center and see the Mostar Bridge. Next, we will come to Medjugorje pilgrimage center, to understand why this place has become so important for Catholics and visit the beautiful Kravica waterfalls nearby. After Mostar, we will see town Blagaj, known for the dervish monastery (tekka) and the source of the Buna River. The same day, we will arrive in Trebinje. The next day, before we take the road back to Sarajevo, we will see the Orthodox monastery Tvrdos, which has the ability to taste white, rose and red wines. At the end of this day, we will take the road back to Sarajevo, passing by the beautiful Sutejska National Park.

All seasons 6 days Bosnia discovery tour from Makarska. Kravice waterfalls, Mostar, Blagaj, Pocitelj, Sarajevo, Trebinje, Tvrdos, Vjetrenica cave. all seasons tour 6 days Price from € 1,221 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Makarska, Croatia tour finishes in: Makarska, Croatia tour duration: 6 days (5 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Blagaj, Konjic, Kravica, Međugorje, Mostar, Počitelj, Radimlja, Sarajevo, Stolac, Trebinje, Tunnel of Hope, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica We invite you to see beautiful land and scenic roads of Bosnia-Herzegovina by car with our all seasons 6 days discovery tour from Makarska, to visit old towns, fortresses, monasteries, waterfalls, cave and taste famous Herzegovina wine. After short and fast highway road, the tour will start with amazing Kravica natural park with waterfalls, and continue with exploring old town Mostar (historical center with Mostar Bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site). During the next day we will visit several places around Mostar: beautiful tekija (dervish monastery) built around 1520 in Blagaj (UNESCO Tentative List site); medieval fortified town Pocitelj (UNESCO Tentative List site) with great view from Ottoman fort; finish this day with visit to famous Medjugorje Catholic pilgrimage center. The next day, passing via town Konjic famous for it's Ottoman bridge, we will come to Sarajevo, to walk its historical center, see Catholic and Orthodox Cathedrals, walk narrow streets of lively Baščaršija, old bazaar and the historical center of Sarajevo. After stay in Sarajevo, we need to visit very meaningful place for Sarajevo residents, so-called Tunnel of Hope, and learn how it's help to peple during Sarajevo siege. The same day, we will continue our tour by take a road across Sutejska National park to Trebinje. Nearby Trebinje, we will visit Tvrdos monastery, known for its wine cellars, and taste few varieties of wine monks produce there; we will see whole Trebinje panorama from the hill with beautiful church together with Ottoman bridge, and finish this day with dinner in local restaurant where are served local dishes and wines. From Trebinje, we will take a road back to Makarska, and on the way will have a tour in Vjetrenica cave (UNESCO Tentative List site), admire panoramic view to the valley from old Ottoman fortress Stolac (UNESCO Tentative List site), and see archaeological site Radimlja with carved gravestones (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

All seasons 8 days Bosnia discovery tour from Sarajevo. Bosnia travel off the beaten path. all seasons tour 8 days Price from € 1,334 View tour details Request this tour tour starts in: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina tour finishes in: Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina tour duration: 8 days (7 nights) tour countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina tour destinations: Blagaj, Bosnian Pyramids, Jajce, Konjic, Kravica, Međugorje, Mogorjelo, Mostar, Radimlja, Sarajevo, Stolac, Travnik, Trebinje, Tunnel of Hope, Tvrdoš, Vjetrenica, Šćit We welcome you to come with us to explore Bosnia-Herzegovina with our all seasons 8 days discovery tour from Sarajevo. Discover this medieval land to see fortresses, old towns, and monasteries. Welcome to Bosnia-Herzegovina, the off-the-beaten-path country. The tour will start with walking in the historical center of Sarajevo, where East and West cultures meet; see Catholic and Orthodox cathedrals and walk the lively, narrow streets of Baščaršija, a historical area known as old bazaar. During the next day, we are going to see all of Sarajevo from a nearby mountain, coming there by restored funicular. Next, we will visit a very important place for Sarajevo residents, the so-called Tunnel of Hope, a famous place as a reminder of the Bosnian War and Sarajevo siege. The next day we will come to visit the Bosnian Pyramids and learn why people see this place as controversial. The same day we will come to see the medieval fortress Travnik and come to stay for 2 nights in the town Jajce. In Jajce, we will visit a beautiful waterfall, a medieval fortress with a small underground church, and at the end of this day, we will come to see cute small wooden watermills first mentioned in 1562. On the way from Jajce to Mostar, we will come to see a Franciscan monastery located on a thin peninsula in the middle of a beautiful lake. There, we will also see a rich local ethnographic museum. In Mostar (UNESCO World Heritage site), we will walk the historical center, learn about the history of this amazing town, and walk over the famous Mostar bridge.  During the next day we are going to see a growing popular Catholic pilgrimage center Medjugorje; beautiful natural park Kravica with line of waterfalls; Mogorjelo, the real Roman Villa Rustica, established as an agricultural estate in the 4th century AD. On the way from Mostar to Trebinje, we will see the dervish monastery in Blagaj (also known as Blagaj tekke), built in 1520 and located in a picturesque place beneath a high vertical cliff and near the source of the Buna River emerging from a huge karstic cavern. The next place is the archaeological site Radimlja (UNESCO World Heritage site) with medieval carved tombstones. We will also see the hilly medieval fortress Stolac. The next day we will spend in Trebinje to see a small, cute historical center; admire a wonderful panoramic view from a hill with a beautiful church; and come to the Orthodox monastery Tvrdos, famous for its old wine cellars, where we can try their award-winning white, rose, and red wines. After a second night in Trebinje, we will take the road back to Sarajevo, and on the way we will visit Vjetrenica cave (UNESCO World Heritage site) and see the gorgeous Ottoman bridge in Konjic.