Curious about the performance of short-term rentals in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina? Over the last year, the average occupancy rate was 54% with an ADR (Average Daily Rate) of 52€. Hosts earned on average 793€ per month.

90-day occupancy forecast for Sarajevo so you can update rates and stay ahead of competitors.
Key metrics to optimize your pricing strategy
Avg. Monthly Revenue
793€
$722 USD
YoY Revenue Change
-1%
vs. previous year
Occupancy Rate
54%
~16 days/month
Average Daily Rate
52€
$47 USD
Seasonality Index
88%
demand variation
Best Months
August, July
peak season
Worst Months
January, February
low season
Our AI-powered platform automatically optimizes your rates. Maximize your revenue with intelligent dynamic pricing.
Over the June 2025 to May 2026 window, Sarajevo averaged 54% occupancy across about 195 booked nights a year, exactly matching the 54% Bosnia-Herzegovina national figure, which is unsurprising given it is the only Bosnian city ListingOK tracks. The 52 euro average daily rate is modest by European standards and reflects the country's low cost base, producing average monthly revenue of 792 euros per listing.
Revenue was essentially flat year on year at -1%, a sign of a stable rather than booming market, while the 88% seasonality index marks a real summer skew. Read together, the numbers describe an affordable, demand-steady capital where the path to better returns runs through occupancy and pricing discipline in the long shoulder seasons rather than through chasing peak August rates, since ADR has limited headroom at this price point.
Average occupancy rate by month in Sarajevo, compared with the same month a year earlier.
| Month | Occupancy | Prior year |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 67.7% | 70.2% |
| Aug 2025 | 68.9% | 67.3% |
| Sep 2025 | 54% | 54% |
| Oct 2025 | 51% | 52% |
| Nov 2025 | 46.7% | 53.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.1% | 57.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 37.7% | 39.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 48.9% | 51.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 52.8% | 52.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 57.4% | 64.3% |
| May 2026 | 59% | 56.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 58.4% | 61.4% |
📌 Historical trends reveal seasonal highs – plan accordingly.
These figures reflect real-time demand in Sarajevo, helping you plan and price strategically.
Sarajevo is the Balkans' most layered short-term rental market, and demand here is built on a compact, walkable historic core where Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian quarters meet within a few hundred metres. Leisure travellers come for Baščaršija, the old bazaar, the Latin Bridge where the First World War was sparked, the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and the war-history trail around the Tunnel of Hope and Sniper Alley. The city's 1984 Winter Olympics legacy still draws skiers heading on to Jahorina and Bjelašnica, who often overnight in the capital first.
The guest mix is dominated by independent and mid-budget international travellers, regional weekenders from Croatia, Serbia and Turkey, and a growing digital-nomad contingent drawn by low living costs. Sarajevo Film Festival in August is the single largest event, filling the city for its run, while the long Ramadan and Bajram periods bring strong inbound traffic from the Gulf. With 169 active listings tracked, this is a thin, owner-operator market rather than an institutional one.
Sarajevo runs a clear summer-led pattern. The best months in the data are August and July, when warm weather, the festival calendar and peak European travel push occupancy into the high sixties, August 2024 hit 67.2% and August 2025 reached 68.9%. July sat above 70% in 2024. The weakest months are January and February: January 2025 fell to 39.5% and January 2026 to 37.8%, the deepest trough of the year, as cold weather and short days thin out city-break demand even though the nearby ski resorts are in season.
The shoulder months tell the real story for operators. April and May recover strongly (April 2025 at 64.4%), and autumn holds up reasonably before the November dip. The 88% seasonality index confirms a market with a pronounced but not extreme summer concentration, meaningfully steadier than the coastal Spanish or French markets, which lets a well-run unit fill a respectable share of the calendar outside peak.
Baščaršija and the surrounding Stari Grad (Old Town) are the prime short-stay zone: cobbled lanes, coppersmiths, mosques and cafés put guests at the centre of everything, and listings here command the strongest rates and conversion. Just west, the Austro-Hungarian Centar district around Ferhadija and the cathedral offers grander architecture, restaurants and easy tram access, appealing to slightly higher-budget and business travellers.
Marijin Dvor, the modern business and government quarter near the Twist Towers and the Historical Museum, suits longer corporate stays. Bjelave and Mejtaš, the steep residential hills above the centre, draw guests wanting quiet and views within walking distance of the action. Further out, Ilidža trades on its spa-resort history and proximity to the airport and the Vrelo Bosne springs, working well as a calmer, value-oriented base.
Bosnia-Herzegovina has no single nationwide short-term rental licence; rules are set at entity, cantonal and municipal level, and Sarajevo sits within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sarajevo Canton. In practice, anyone letting an apartment or rooms to tourists must register the activity with the competent municipal authority, meet minimum technical and categorisation standards for the accommodation, and register with the tax authority to account for income and the per-night tourist tax (boravišna taksa).
Guest registration is a firm legal duty: hosts must report guests' details to the police/foreigners' service, typically within 24-48 hours of arrival. Booking platforms increasingly require proof of municipal categorisation and tax registration before a listing goes live. Because requirements vary by municipality and change with reform, operators should confirm the current categorisation, registration and tax obligations directly with the Sarajevo Canton tourism office and their local opština before listing.
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* Calculations based on 30 days/month. Actual results may vary depending on market, season, property type, and implemented strategy.
Sarajevo averaged about 54% occupancy over the June 2025 to May 2026 period, roughly 195 booked nights a year. That matches the 54% Bosnia-Herzegovina national figure exactly, as Sarajevo is the only Bosnian city ListingOK currently tracks. Demand is clearly summer-led, peaking near 69% in August and dipping below 40% in deep winter.
August and July are the strongest months, with August occupancy reaching the high sixties on the back of warm weather and the Sarajevo Film Festival. January and February are the weakest, falling below 40%. April, May and the early autumn recover well, so the shoulder seasons are where disciplined pricing makes the biggest difference to annual returns.
There is no single national licence. You must register the activity with your municipality (opština), meet minimum categorisation standards for the accommodation, and register with the tax authority for income and the per-night tourist tax. Hosts must also report guests to the police, usually within 24-48 hours. Confirm current rules with Sarajevo Canton's tourism office before listing, as requirements vary locally.
Baščaršija and Stari Grad (the Old Town) convert best, putting guests amid the bazaar, mosques and cafés at premium rates. The Austro-Hungarian Centar around Ferhadija suits higher-budget and business stays, Marijin Dvor works for longer corporate visits, and Ilidža offers a calmer, value base near the airport and spa springs. Bjelave and Mejtaš add quiet, walkable hillside options.