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11 July 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s history: the Srebrenica Genocide. We visited the Genocide Memorial during a three-month journey around the Balkan peninsula. While incredibly emotional, as expected with places like this, we wanted to pay our respects. And we are glad we visited. If you, too, would like to learn what happened and honour the victims, this guide contains everything you need to know to visit the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial. Sharing Srebrenica’s story is now more critical than ever. Atrocities like this must never happen again (anywhere).
Map of Accommodation, Points of Interest, Eateries and Transport
Below is a map of the recommended accommodations, points of interest, eateries, and transport terminals or stops mentioned in this article.
The Srebrenica Genocide was the biggest war crime in Europe since the Holocaust
In case you don’t know: What happened in Srebrenica?
The name Srebrenica sends shivers down my spine. The genocide that took place in the area of Srebrenica in Eastern Bosnia was the most horrific war crime in Europe since the Holocaust. It is also considered a massive failure of UN intervention (or lack thereof) to prevent the senseless death of thousands of innocent civilians.
Anyone of Paul’s and my age (especialy if they are European), will remember what happened in Srebrenica. But in case you’re unfamiliar, let’s take a step back and give you a brief history lesson.
UN intervention in Srebrenica did not prevent the senseless death of thousands of innocent civilians
Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s
The countries that once made up the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) have a hugely complex history. It took us nearly three months of travels through Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia to gain some understanding of what happened here (and why).
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was the most ethnically diverse of all the states of the former SFRY – one which Muslim Bosniaks, Catholic Croats and Orthodox Serbs shared. During the breakup of the SFRY in the 1990s, however, this diversity became a problem.
Before the Bosnian War, Bosnia and Herzegovina was the most ethnically diverse state of former Yugoslavia
After Slovenia and Croatia ceded from the SFRY in June 1991, BiH, too, voted for and declared its independence in March 1992. The referendum, however, was boycotted by Bosnian Croats who wanted to join Croatia, and Bosnian Serbs who wished to remain close to Serbia and create a Serbian state within BiH. The increasing ethnic tensions resulted in the Bosnian War in April 1992.
The war ended with the Dayton Peace Accords in December 1995. The agreement manifested the two-states-within-one-country situation in BiH today: Serb-dominated territory forming the Republika Srpska, and Croat and Bosniak-dominated territory forming the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
These days, Bosnia and Herzegovina comprises the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Why Srebrenica?
Before the Bosnian War, Srebrenica was an affluent mining and popular spa town. Located in Eastern Bosnia, only 10km from the border with Serbia, Srebrenica became a strategic target in the efforts to create a Serbian state within BiH. As Bosnian Serb forces and paramilitary units from Serbia took over more and more territory in Eastern Bosnia, Bosniaks who had fled from these areas started arriving in Srebrenica in late 1992. The town’s population swelled from 10,000 to 60,000.
Srebrenica was an affluent mining and popular spa town before the Bosnian War
Surrounded by Bosnian Serb forces, daily shelling and sniper attacks resulted in heavy casualties and siege conditions that made life unbearable for Srebrenica’s residents. In an attempt to stop the attacks and improve the conditions for the town’s inhabitants, the UN Security Council declared Srebrenica a demilitarized safe area in April 1993.
Unfortunately, this did nothing to improve the situation in Srebrenica; quite the opposite: in March 1995, Radovan Karadžić, then President of the Republika Srpska (the Serbian state within BiH), issued a directive instructing his army to create an unbearable situation of total insecurity with no hope of further survival or life for the inhabitants of Srebrenica (his chilling words, not ours).
While declared a demilitarized ‘safe area’ in April 1993, Srebrenica was surrounded by Serbian troops and under frequent attack
The events of July 1995
A final offensive commenced on 6 July 1995 (called Operation Krivaja by Bosnian Serb forces), and the enclave fell five days later.
In the 11 days following the fall of Srebrenica, more than 8,000 Bosniaks (primarily men and boys) were systematically murdered by Bosnian Serb forces and paramilitary units from Serbia, women and girls as young as 12 were raped, and more than 25,000 women, children and elderly were forcibly deported.
These were not criminals but the fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, uncles and cousins of Bosniak families, executed in the days following the fall of Srebrenica in July 1995
The shocking news footage from July 1995 will be forever edged in our memories: The harrowing faces of the men and boys who sought refuge at the UN compound in Potočari, being separated from their loved ones with no chance of escape. The women, children and elderly cramped into buses and onto the back of trucks, waiting to be transported to Bosniak-dominated areas within BiH.
If you weren’t born yet or are too young to remember, we recommend watching Quo Vadis, Aida?, an Oscar-nominated feature film by Bosnian director, screenwriter and producer, Jasmila Žbanić, to gain an understanding of the events.
More than 25,000 women, children and elderly were forcibly deported
Where is the Srebrenica Memorial?
Established in 2003, the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial complex is not actually in Srebrenica but in Potočari [Google Maps location], where the UN compound was located during the Bosnian War. Potočari is about half-way between the towns of Bratunac and Srebrenica – approximately 150km northeast of Sarajevo/175km southwest of Belgrade.
Note The towns of Srebrenica and Bratunac as well as the memorial complex in Potočari are located in the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska within BiH. More on what this means below.
How to visit the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
Opening hours and tours
The memorial is free to enter and open from 8:00 to 16:00 (daily in Summer, Monday-Friday at all other times).
You can visit independently at your own pace or join a guided tour in English by contacting the Memorial’s Visitor Service in advance via email: [email protected]. Tours include a documentary screening, a history lesson on the events of July 1995 with Q&A, a walk through the cemetery, and entry to the museum and exhibition halls.
You can also join one of these organised day tours from Sarajevo:
Best self-guided approach
If you explore the site at your own pace, we recommend starting with the Srebrenica Memorial Museum, followed by a visit to the Srebrenica Memorial Room. Afterwards, stop by the Coffin Hall and finish your visit at the Cemetery across the road. The Srebrenica Memorial Museum contains a lot of (very worthwhile) information, and we ran out of time to get through it all (as we explored the site the other way around).
We’ll talk more about the different parts of the memorial complex in the next chapter.
You can visit the Srebrenica Memorial by joining a day tour from Sarajevo or travel there by public transport
What to bring for your visit
There are no facilities at the Memorial Complex apart from toilets (near the Coffin Hall and inside the Museum). Bring food and water (and sunscreen on hot, sunny days). Given that it’s a memorial site, make sure you wear appropriate clothing (no shorts or singlets) and be respectful of fellow visitors, often relatives of genocide victims.
Bring food, water (and sunscreen) as there are no facilities (other than toilets) at the Srebrenica memorial complex
What to expect during your visit of the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
The road between Bratunac and Srebrenica (R453) separates the Memorial Complex into two parts.
Cemetery with memorial and mosque
To the west of the road, you will find the cemetery with the memorial [Google Maps location] – listing the names of the 8,372 known victims – and an open-air mosque. The cemetery is a peaceful place and beautifully arranged: More than 6,700 graves surround the open-air mosque in the shape of flower petals.
New graves are being added every year as new remains are being identified, and old graves are being undug as more remains (of those already buried) are being discovered. Sadly, even 30+ years after the atrocities, the remains of over 1,000 victims are still missing.
RIP side by side - the two young men buried here were the same age as Paul and I when they were murdered
Coffin Hall
To the east of the road (and opposite the cemetery) is the former battery factory and headquarters of the UN Forces’ Dutch Battalion.
The furthest north and closest to the road is the Coffin Hall [Google Maps location] – that’s our name for it BTW; we don’t know what it is actually called. Every July, in the lead-up to the anniversary, this usually empty hall houses the coffins of newly identified victims – hence we called it Coffin Hall.
The Memorial Room is located in the former battery factory in Potočari
Memorial Room
The Memorial Room [Google Maps location] – a giant factory hall with photo exhibitions showcasing haunting images and containing remnants of its life as a battery factory and of the Dutch UN forces – is behind and slightly south of the Coffin Hall (as you walk from the road). Like the coffin hall, it has a very eerie atmosphere.
Today, these giant halls house photo exhibitions showcasing haunting images and remnants of the Dutch UN forces
Memorial Museum
The Srebrenica Memorial Museum [Google Maps location] is located in a former office building to the south of the Memorial Room. It comprises
- the permanent exhibition Srebrenica Genocide – Failure of the International Community, which chronicles the events; and
- the SENSE Documentation Centre where visitors can listen to testimonies, watch documentary material and access court documents related to the genocide.
While a little stuffy, the museum is well-presented with a lot of information to go through and digest.
The Memorial Museum is located in the Headquarters of the former Dutch Battalion, the grey office building on the right
How to get to the Srebrenica Memorial Centre
Visiting the Srebrenica Memorial by rental car or organised tour
If you would like to visit the Srebrenica Memorial on a day trip from Sarajevo, it’s best to hire a car and drive yourself (~150km or ~2.5 hours one-way) or join one of the organised group tours from Sarajevo:
Visiting the Srebrenica Memorial by public transport
Travelling from/to Sarajevo or Tuzla
The (BLIC tourist) bus from Sarajevo departs East-Sarajevo / Istočno Sarajevo Bus Station [Google Maps location] at 8:40, arriving in Bratunac at 12:16 and Srebrenica at 12:28. The return bus from Srebrenica to Sarajevo leaves at 14:30 (14:42 from Bratunac), arriving in Sarajevo at 18:11. Note: Buses only operate Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Coming from Tuzla [Google Maps location], the (TransTurist) bus leaves at 6:00, arriving in Bratunac at 8:32 and Srebrenica at 8:45. The return bus to Tuzla leaves Srebrenica at 17:00 (Bratunac at 17:13) and arrives in Tuzla at 19:50.
Note: If you come from AND want to return to Sarajevo, we recommend to stay overnight in Bratunac (or Srebrenica) as (barely) 2 hours at the memorial is not enough to appreciate the site. If you can only spare one day, hire a car or join an organised tour from Sarajevo. Alternatively, incorporate a visit to the Srebrenica Memorial on the way from Tuzla to Sarajevo. If you do the latter, travel light – we have yet to find a place in the area where you can store your luggage for the day (let us know if you’ve been successful).
Travelling from/to Belgrade
The (LASTRA) bus from Belgrade’s Main Bus Terminal [Google Maps location] to Bratunac departs at 6:30, arriving in Bratunac at 10:30. The return (LASTRA) bus leaves Bratunac at 15:00, arriving in Belgrade at 19:00. Alternatively, take a taxi from the Srebrenica Memorial across the border to the bus station in Ljubovija [Google Maps location]. From there, buses depart at 16:30 (LASTRA) and 18:30 (Raketa AB) – arriving in Belgrade at 20:20 and 22:49, respectively.
Either way, the border crossing is easy and efficient (our bus entered Serbia 15 minutes after leaving Bratunac).
There are frequent buses from Bratunac to Srebrenica, daily buses from/to Tuzla and Belgrade, and departures from/to East-Sarajevo multiple times a week
Buses from/to Sarajevo and Tuzla pass the Memorial Complex, so (unless you stay overnight in Bratunac and want to drop your luggage at your accommodation first) stay on the bus and ask the driver to let you off at the Srebrenica Memorial in Potočari (4km out of town towards Srebrenica). If you’re coming from Belgrade (or got off the bus in Bratunac to drop your luggage), take a taxi from Bratunac to the Srebrenica Memorial (Taxi Bratunac +387 65 814 360).
Either way, your most convenient drop-off is at the turn-off that leads to the Memorial Museum [Google Maps location]. Returning from the memorial to Sarajavo, Tuzla or Belgrade works the same, just reverse.
Buses and taxis are the most convenient way to travel between Bratunac and Srebrenica
Where to stay when visiting the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial
If you’d like to take your time exploring the memorial site, our accommodation recommendations are below. Buses between Bratunac and Srebrenica are fairly regular throughout the day. Alternatively, grab a taxi (Taxi Bratunac +387 65 814 360).
| Name | Property Features | Book Now |
|---|---|---|
| Potočari Han | A practical base for visiting the Srebrenica Memorial, with an on-site restaurant, breakfast, free private parking, air-conditioned rooms and some balcony rooms. | Book Now |
| Apartman Lukić Bratunac | Self-contained Bratunac apartment with terrace, private parking, air conditioning, full kitchen, washing machine and airport transfer options. | Book Now |
| Bratunac Cottage | A quiet Bratunac base for visitors with a car, offering a one-bedroom house, garden, terrace, private parking and space to slow down after visiting the memorial. | Book Now |
Where to eat or buy food when visiting the Srebrenica Memorial
As mentioned above, no food (or water) is for sale at the Srebrenica Memorial. Bring your provisions for the day from Tuzla, Sarajevo or Belgrade. Alternatively, grab some from one of the supermarkets near the bus station in Bratunac – Z Market [Google Maps location] is open daily. If you are desperate, there is also a small grocery store about 1km before the memorial site, on the left hand side coming from Bratunac [Google Maps location].
The nearest restaurant is at the Hotel Potočari Han [Google Maps location], a flat 500 metre walk from the Memorial. Alternatively, if you’ve got time to spare in Bratunac, check out Zlatni Groš [Google Maps location] or KeterKing [Google Maps location], a flat 1km and 500 metre walk, respectively, from the bus station.
No food or water is available at the Srebrenica Memorial complex, but there are restaurants and grocery stores nearby
What else to be aware of when visiting Srebrenica
Timing of your visit
Be aware that every year on 11 July, the local and international community gathers at the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial to remember those who lost their lives and to bury the remains of those who’ve been identified during the past year. Leading up to 11 July, a multi-day Peace March is joined by thousands in memory of those who lost their lives. If you wish to visit the Memorial, it is best to avoid this time to give space to the families who’ve lost loved ones in the genocide.
It’s safe to visit, but…
While the Srebrenica massacre was confirmed as genocide in April 2004 (and reaffirmed in February 2007), you may encounter people in the Balkans, Serbs in particular, who view the events of the 1990s differently. We had such encounters several times during our travels in the region – in Serbia, Montenegro, and even at the bus station in Bratunac. With ethnic tensions still palpable in the area even 30+ years after the end of the Bosnian War, it’s best to listen and tread carefully when voicing opinions, especially as an outsider.
Have you visited the Srebrenica Genocide Memorial recently?
What was your experience like? And what other tips would you add?
And if you’re still planning your trip, what other question/s do you have that we haven’t answered yet?
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