On 30 March 2026, Sarajevo taxi rates jumped roughly 50%. The starting fare went from 2.50 KM to 3.50 KM, the per-kilometre rate from 1.50 to 2.30. If you landed expecting old prices, or trusted a guide written in 2024, here’s what you’ll actually pay in a Sarajevo cab today, which three companies to call, and the airport scam that’s still going strong.
We run private transfers in and out of Sarajevo every week, so we get the same questions from arriving travellers. Most book us in advance because they want a fixed price and an English-speaking driver waiting at arrivals. But for short rides around town, a local taxi is fine, as long as you call the right number and the meter is on.
Quick facts: taxis in Sarajevo (2026)
- Starting fare: 3.50 KM (around €1.80)
- Per km: 2.30 KM (around €1.18)
- Waiting time: 23 KM per hour
- Luggage: 5 KM per piece (charged by some drivers, not all)
- Night, Sunday, holiday surcharges: none. Single tariff, day or night
- Outside Sarajevo Canton: +30%
- Outside Bosnia & Herzegovina: +50%
- Payment: cash only in most cars (Bosnian Marks. KM/BAM)
- Uber, Bolt, Lyft, Free Now: none of them operate in Sarajevo
The new pricelist took effect on 30 March 2026. Before that, the start was 2.50 KM and the per-km rate was 1.50 KM, so prices have gone up roughly 50%. The previous tariff hadn’t changed since 2022.
The 3 main taxi companies in Sarajevo
Sarajevo has several registered taxi associations, but three handle the bulk of city rides. All three use the same regulated tariff above. The main difference is dispatch reliability, English-speaking drivers, and how quickly they pick up the phone late at night.
1. Sarajevo Taxi (Plavi taxi)
The largest fleet in the city and the one with the clearest published pricelist. Their drivers usually speak some English and are the easiest to find at major hubs (airport, train station, Baščaršija). If you call once and they don’t pick up, try again, late evenings and Saturday nights are their busiest windows.
- Phone: +387 61 151 515 or +387 33 660 666
- App: Sarajevo Taxi (Android & iOS)
- Best for: first-time visitors, late arrivals, longer rides
2. Crveni Taxi (Red Cab)
Another reliable option, especially if Sarajevo Taxi can’t get a car to you fast enough. Reviews are mixed on call-centre manners, but the drivers we’ve worked alongside are professional. We’ve had guests call them at midnight from the airport when other companies were full and get an English-speaking driver within ten minutes.
- Phone: +387 33 468 728
- Best for: backup when other companies are slow, late-night rides
3. Žuti Taxi (Yellow Cab)
The smallest of the three big associations but still a solid choice. Some of their cars are newer than the older fleets, and they have a working mobile app that lets you skip the call-centre entirely.
- Phone: +387 33 663 555
- App: Žuti Taxi
- Best for: travellers who prefer apps over phone calls
The local app: Moj Taxi
Moj Taxi is the closest thing Sarajevo has to a unified ride-hailing app. It connects you to several local taxi associations at once, shows the car on a map, gives you the driver’s name and plate, and accepts cash on arrival. The interface is mostly in Bosnian but the booking flow is simple enough.
The app uses the same regulated tariff — there’s no surge pricing or hidden booking fee. It’s the option we recommend to guests who want the convenience of an app without the foreign credit card hassle.
Sarajevo Airport: the scam to watch for
Here’s the one thing every arriving traveller should know. The official taxi rank is outside Terminal B and the rate is metered, same as anywhere in the city. The problem is that some drivers waiting at the airport will refuse to switch on the meter and quote a flat fee, often 50-60 KM for a ride that costs about 30-35 KM by the meter.
If a driver at the airport says he won’t run the meter, walk to the next car or call one of the companies above. Crveni Taxi and Sarajevo Taxi will both send a metered car to the airport — just say where you’re going (most useful: “to the city centre” or your hotel name) and wait at the curb. The dispatcher will tell you which car to look for.
By the meter, a typical airport-to-Old-Town ride is about 11-12 km. With the new 2026 tariff (3.50 KM start + 2.30 KM/km) that works out to roughly 30-35 KM (€15-18). Add 5 KM if the driver charges for luggage, which most do.
Note: Drivers heading into Republika Srpska (towards Pale, Jahorina, Trebinje) sometimes remove the rooftop taxi sign because Federation taxis aren’t licensed to operate inside RS territory. That’s normal — not a scam.
Long-distance rides: when a taxi stops being practical
The 30% inter-canton and 50% international surcharges add up fast on longer trips. The Sarajevo Taxi association publishes a fixed long-distance tariff for departures from the airport: useful as a benchmark even if you call from the city centre:
- Mostar: 370 KM (≈ €189)
- Tuzla: 370 KM (≈ €189)
- Dubrovnik: 930 KM (≈ €475)
- Zagreb: 1,350 KM (≈ €690)
- Belgrade: 1,000 KM (≈ €511)
- Podgorica: 1,100 KM (≈ €562)
For trips like these, a pre-booked private transfer is usually cheaper, more comfortable, and includes things a metered taxi doesn’t; fixed pickup time, English-speaking driver, agreed price with no language barrier at the border, and a vehicle suited for the road conditions. We run regular pre-booked rides on the longer routes — the Sarajevo to Mostar transfer, the cross-border Sarajevo to Dubrovnik transfer, the eastward Sarajevo to Belgrade transfer, and the shorter Sarajevo to Tuzla transfer are the ones we handle most often.
Practical tips for using a Sarajevo taxi
- Always confirm the meter is on. The “starting fare” reading should appear on the taximeter the moment you sit down. If it doesn’t, ask the driver to start it.
- Carry small bills. Most drivers don’t accept cards. ATMs are everywhere in the city centre, but the airport rate at the curbside ATMs is poor. Change a small amount inside the terminal first.
- Tipping is optional. Locals don’t tip taxi drivers. If you got good service, rounding up to the nearest 5 KM is appreciated.
- Receipts are your right. If you need one (work expense, lost item recovery), ask before paying. Drivers are required to provide one.
- Old Town taxis can’t drop you at the door. Most of Baščaršija is pedestrian-only. Drivers will stop at Mula Mustafe Bašeskije or another nearby street.
- Don’t expect baby seats. Bring your own if you’re travelling with small kids — they’re not standard in any of the city fleets.
When a taxi makes sense, and when it doesn’t
For a 5-km hop across the city or a quick run to the train station, a metered local cab is fine. Cheaper than calling us, more flexible than a bus, and the language barrier is short enough to survive. Use the company numbers above.
For airport arrivals, especially with luggage, late at night, or if you’re not yet sure how Sarajevo cabs handle the meter, a pre-booked private pickup wins on the day. Fixed price, name sign in arrivals, no fare argument. Same goes for the long routes covered above (Mostar, Dubrovnik, Belgrade) where the inter-canton or international surcharge makes a metered taxi expensive and slow.
If you’d like a fixed price for any of those, send us your flight or pickup time and we’ll come back with a quote. Most guests book us through the website at Sarajevo Transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Uber available in Sarajevo?
No. Uber, Bolt, Lyft, and Free Now do not operate in Sarajevo or anywhere in Bosnia & Herzegovina. The closest equivalent is the local Moj Taxi app, which works with several registered taxi associations.
Are Sarajevo taxis safe for tourists?
The three main associations (Sarajevo Taxi, Crveni Taxi, Žuti Taxi) are regulated and generally safe. The most common issue isn’t safety but overcharging at the airport when drivers refuse to use the meter. Calling a taxi from inside the airport instead of taking one off the rank usually solves it.
Can I pay with a credit card in a Sarajevo taxi?
Most cars don’t accept cards. Carry cash in Bosnian Marks (KM). A few of the newer cars have card readers but you can’t count on it.
How much is a taxi from Sarajevo Airport to the city centre?
By the meter, expect 30-35 KM (around €15-18) for the 11-12 km ride to the Old Town, plus a 5 KM luggage fee if the driver applies one. So a realistic all-in is 35-40 KM. Some airport drivers quote 50-60 KM as a flat rate. That is overcharging. Either insist on the meter or call one of the city companies and have a metered car sent to the rank.
Do Sarajevo taxis charge more at night?
No. Since the March 2026 pricelist, there’s a single tariff that applies day, night, weekends, and holidays. The only surcharges are for trips outside Sarajevo Canton (+30%) or out of Bosnia (+50%).
What’s the best taxi number to save in my phone?
Save Sarajevo Taxi (+387 61 151 515) and Crveni Taxi (+387 33 468 728) as backups. If one is busy or slow, the other usually has a car free. For airport pickups specifically, a pre-booked private transfer is more reliable than gambling on which dispatcher answers fastest.
Are there fixed taxi prices to other cities?
Yes, the Sarajevo Taxi association publishes set prices from the airport to major destinations (Mostar 370 KM, Dubrovnik 930 KM, Belgrade 1,000 KM, etc.). For long-distance travel, a pre-booked private transfer is usually cheaper and more comfortable than a metered taxi running on the inter-canton or international surcharge.
