Tunnel of Hope Museum Tour Sarajevo: Walk the Siege Tunnel

The tunnel was dug by hand, meter by meter, under constant fire.

The Tunnel of Hope Museum tour in Sarajevo covers the siege's geography and history with a live guide, then takes you through a preserved 25-meter section of the tunnel itself. You'll see Sniper Alley, a memorial to murdered children, and a 17-minute film about the siege before walking the passage that kept the city alive. The tour runs two hours and includes pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle; museum tickets are booked separately at checkout.

The Experience

What was the tunnel, and why does it matter? Your guide answers both on the way there, pointing out Sniper Alley and the sites that mark the siege's toll. Once at the museum complex, you stand in front of a large map of Sarajevo under occupation and learn where the tunnel ran and how it functioned. The guide walks you through the context before the film starts—17 minutes of footage about the siege and the tunnel's construction and use.

Then you walk into it. The 25 meters preserved in its original state show what passage looked like: narrow, low, the walls and floor as the citizens left them. It is not a recreation or a display behind glass. You move through the actual tunnel, the one that was the only way in or out of the city for months, dug by hand under bombardment. That walk is the core of the tour—not a photograph of history, but the space itself.

The tour departs daily at 1 PM (2 PM on Fridays in summer; 1 PM year-round in winter), or you can request a different time. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. All areas are wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels. Public transport stops are nearby if you prefer not to use the included pickup.

What’s included

• Live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• air-conditioned vehicle with pickup included.
• access to the museum complex, the preserved tunnel section, and the 17-minute siege film.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Spirit Tours Sarajevo

Is this one for you?The walk through the tunnel is short—25 meters—but it is the centerpiece of the tour, so the experience is as much about standing in the space as it is about the history. If you want to understand the siege through the places where it happened rather than through a film or a lecture, this tour puts you inside the actual passage.

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Top questions

What exactly is the Tunnel of Hope and why was it built?

The Tunnel of Hope was hand-dug by Sarajevo citizens during the siege as the only entrance and exit to the occupied city. It represented the survival and resistance of the people trapped inside, and the tour includes a 17-minute film explaining its construction and role in keeping the city supplied.

Do I actually walk inside the tunnel on this tour?

Yes. You walk 25 meters through the preserved original tunnel, experiencing the passage as it was left. It is not a replica or a museum display—it is the actual tunnel, showing the conditions under which it operated.

What else does the tour cover besides the tunnel?

The tour includes Sniper Alley, a memorial to murdered children, and other war-related sites. At the museum, you see a large map of besieged Sarajevo and hear the guide's introduction to the siege's geography and history before the film and the tunnel walk.

What time does the tour depart, and can I choose a different time?

The standard departure is 1 PM daily (2 PM on Fridays in summer), and 1 PM year-round in winter. You can request a different time that suits your schedule.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or have mobility concerns?

All areas and surfaces at the museum are wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels. The vehicle is also wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in a pram or stroller.