Skenderija, Sarajevo

Skenderija is Sarajevo’s classic cultural-sports complex, spreading across a riverside plateau just west of the old town. Opened on 29 November 1969-then Republic Day of Yugoslavia-it famously debuted with a gala screening of the film Battle of Neretva, cementing its role as a stage for the city’s big moments. The ensemble’s modernist lines were designed to host everything from trade fairs to basketball, concerts, and exhibitions, and the site now covers roughly 70,000 square meters.

The name “Skenderija” harks back to Skender Pasha, who established a trading hub here in the late 15th century-a nod to Sarajevo’s long tradition of meeting and exchange. That spirit lives on in the complex’s mix of venues: the Mirza Delibasic Hall for major sporting events, galleries and expo halls, and the landmark Dom Mladih (“Youth House”), which has launched generations of Bosnian musicians and performers. Damaged during the 1990s, Dom Mladih was restored and reopened in 2007 and remains a go-to address for live music and festivals.

Skenderija also played an outsized role during the 1984 Winter Olympics. Upgraded for the Games, it hosted the main press center and indoor medal ceremonies, and served as one of the ice-hockey venues-another chapter in its history as Sarajevo’s civic living room.

For visitors today, the open plaza is an easy landmark to fold into a city stroll: drop by for a fair, a concert at Dom Mladih, or a game in the arena, and then continue along the Miljacka River toward the museums and cafés downtown. The plateau ties the buildings together and often fills with markets and cultural events, so it’s worth checking what’s on while you’re in town.