Sarajevo is a city with a large amount of impressive historical and cultural monuments. There is a lot of things to see and do. But, it’s quite clear that, like most other places in the world, only one part of the city is filled with these touristy, done-up sights. However, this city has so much more to offer. If you want to dig a little deeper and discover what life in Sarajevo truly looks like, make sure you visit some of the not-touristy, and yet interesting locations in Sarajevo.
One of the places that you must go is the Vilsonovo šetalište or the Wilson’s Lane. You can start your little adventure by having a coffee or a beer in Caffe Tito, which, as you can tell by the name, is dedicated to the former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. It is a unique place beloved by the locals, especially university students who often come there to take a break from the classes, since university campus is very close. Then, you can take a long walk across the Wilson’s Lane. Wilson’s Lane was laid out during the Austro-Hungarian period, when it was called Kalajeva Promenada, after Benjamin Kalaj, who served as both Minister of Finance for the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and as an administrator of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
After the break-up of the K. und K. Monarchy and the establishment of the Kingdom of SHS, Kalajeva Promenada was renamed Vilsonovo Šetalište, after U.S. President, Thomas Woodrow Wilson. It was a major turning point in the First World War when he declared war on the Central Powers in 1917.
During the Nazi-Ustaša occupation (1941-1945), this promenade was named Musolinijevo Šetalište, after the Italian fascist leader. After the war, it was again renamed Vilsonovo and then Omladinsko Šetalište in 1960. The name, Vilsonovo Šetalište, was again reinstated for this attractive walking area in 1993.
What really makes this lane a green oasis in the center of Sarajevo is the fact that it is lined on both sides with thick rows of linden trees, which were planted at the beginning of the 20th century.
The road that runs along the promenade is closed to traffic every weekday after 5:00 p.m., as well as on weekends and holidays.
There are a few spots along the lane that have exercise equipment, plus, there is a fenced-in play area for youngsters.
There are several cafes and eateries located along Vilsonovo and their outdoor gardens are popular outing spots during the summer months in Sarajevo.
Talking a walk up and down the Wilson’s Lane is not only a way to enjoy a bit nature in the middle of the city, but also a way to get the sense of what the citizens of Sarajevo do in their spare time and maybe feel more connected to them.