Sarajevo · City · History · Ottoman heritage · Austro-Hungarian heritage
Sarajevo's Four Faiths
A mosque, a Catholic cathedral, an Orthodox church and a synagogue, all within a few minutes' walk. A guide to Sarajevo's houses of worship.
- Time needed
- About 2 hours for all of them
- Region
- Sarajevo
Why visit Sarajevo's Four Faiths?
Sarajevo is often called the "Jerusalem of Europe." For centuries, Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Jews lived side by side here, and their houses of worship still stand within a few minutes' walk of one another in the old center. You can see all four in about two hours, and it is one of the best ways to understand the city.
The walk
- Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Islam): The main mosque of Sarajevo, built in 1531 (see its own page).
- Sacred Heart Cathedral (Catholic): A neo-Gothic cathedral completed in 1889 to a design by Josip Vancaš. It is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Sarajevo, and Pope John Paul II visited it in 1997.
- Old Orthodox Church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (Orthodox): One of the oldest churches in the city, close to Baščaršija, with a small museum of icons and church treasures.
- Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Orthodox): The large Serbian Orthodox cathedral in the city center, built in the 1860s.
- Old Synagogue, now the Museum of Jews of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Jewish): Built in 1581 by Sephardic Jews who came to Sarajevo after being expelled from Spain.
- Ashkenazi Synagogue (Jewish): Built in 1902 across the river, and today the city's active synagogue.
Practical info
- Entry
- The cathedrals and main churches are free. The Old Orthodox Church museum and the Jewish Museum charge a small fee
- Dress code
- Cover shoulders and knees for all houses of worship
- Tips
- Visit outside of services and prayer times. A guided walking tour adds a lot of history and context
- Last checked
- October 2026. Prices and hours change, so confirm before you go.
FAQ
Why is Sarajevo called the Jerusalem of Europe?
Because mosques, Catholic and Orthodox churches, and synagogues have stood side by side in its old town for centuries.
Can you visit the churches and synagogues in Sarajevo?
Yes. Most are open to visitors outside of services.
How long does it take to see all four faiths?
About two hours on foot.
