Igman

Orientation

Igman lies southwest of Sarajevo, adjoining the Bjelašnica range. It is a broad, wooded limestone mountain rather than a single summit destination: the working recreation areas are spread across Veliko Polje and Malo Polje. The highest point, Crni vrh, reaches about 1,510m.

This was a principal venue for the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Olympics. Come for the contrast between open karst clearings, conifer forest and the surviving sports infrastructure.

The Olympic sites

Start at Malo Polje, where the tall, weathered ski-jump inruns remain the mountain's clearest Olympic landmark. Ski jumping and the jumping section of Nordic combined took place here in 1984. The hills were badly damaged during the 1990s war and are not operating jumps; treat them as a historic structure, not a sports facility.

At Veliko Polje, Olympic competition included biathlon, cross-country skiing and the cross-country section of Nordic combined. The plateau remains the place for Nordic skiing when snow conditions allow.

What to do

• Winter: Malo Polje has beginner terrain and lifts; Veliko Polje is the Nordic focus. Igman and Bjelašnica are run as one Olympic-centre area, with facilities and operations varying by snow and season.
• Snow-free months: use the marked walking and mountain-bike routes across the clearings and forest. The combined Igman–Bjelašnica network includes Nordic and bike trails.
• Mountain huts: the Igman–Malo Polje mountain house, opposite the jumps, is a useful landmark and starting point for hikes.

The best choice is simple: Malo Polje for the ski jumps and easy mountain orientation; Veliko Polje for open trails and Nordic history.

Getting there and around

Igman is roughly 25km from Sarajevo. A car, rental car or taxi is the most direct option; seasonal public and private bus services may also run. The road reaches both Veliko Polje and Malo Polje, so use the specific clearing as your navigation target rather than entering only “Igman.”

On the plateau, distances between sites are greater than they look on a map. Wear proper footwear outside winter, and carry water: this is karst terrain and services are concentrated around the recreation areas.

Stay on the route

Do not roam off marked trails, roads or maintained clearings. Unexploded ordnance and landmines remain a risk in some rural and mountainous parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially around former conflict areas. Respect every warning sign, avoid abandoned structures and do not take shortcuts through forest or open ground.

In winter, mountain roads and conditions can change quickly. Check the operating status of lifts, trails and transport before leaving Sarajevo.