Mostar is located on the Neretva River in the southern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The town is most well known for Stari Most, the Old Bridge of Mostar. At the center of town, Stari Most is the focal point of Mostar. As a result, there are a ton of incredible vantage points of Stari Most throughout town. If you’re anything like me, you’re headed to Mostar to see Stari Most in person! While the main activity in town is soaking in Stari Most, there are so many things to do in.

Throughout my travels to Bosnia I’ve noticed the history is so fresh in people’s mind. Most people I talk to will talk about the war that happened not too long ago.

Below I’ll go through everything you need to know for your trip to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. From what to do in Mostar to how to get there and where to stay in town. Leave me a comment if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to answer!

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Most people head to Mostar on a day trip from surrounding cities such as Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovnia, Split Croatia, or Dubrovnik Croatia. It’s a relatively quick trip from these cities making it a popular stop on a trip to the Balkans. While the city is easy to explore in one day, try to spend at least one night in Mostar. Spending an evening in Mostar allows you to see the city when it’s a little quieter. Mostar can be pretty crowded during the day as day trippers flood the streets. Tourists generally clear out of town by early evening making the town magical. Not to mention, seeing Stari Most at night is spectacular! Additionally, there are a few towns outside Mostar Bosnia worth visiting if you have the time.

Getting there:

• Via bus from surrounding cities
• Daytrip from surrounding cities (private shuttle service)
• Day trip from Mostar to Dubrovnik
• Day Trip from Split to Mostar

If your schedule allows, plan your trip to Mostar in the shoulder season. I’ve visited in both late May and early October. The weather was perfect for exploring throughout both of my trips. The weather in May was hot but comfortable for walking around. Meanwhile, it was warm throughout the day but cold at night in October. According to locals, Mostar Bosnia is one of the hottest cities in Europe! Additionally, they say temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius in the summer. However, the weather channel lists temperatures between 30-35 degrees Celcius in summer.

#1 – Be careful when walking across Stari Most because the bridge is pretty slick.

#2 – The cobblestone in Mostar is pretty rough making flip-flops a challenge. Thus, pack comfortable shoes with a good sole for your trip.

#3 – If you stay the night in Mostar, be sure to explore the town early morning and late evening. It’s much quieter because many tour groups aren’t out yet. We saw one tour group out around 8:15 am but other that the town was mellow!

A trip to Mostar wouldn’t be complete without admiring the Old Bridge, Stari Most. For that reason, I recommend, starting your morning off by soaking in Stari Most. As previously mentioned, try arriving to the bridge first thing in the morning! Again, Stari Most can get pretty busy throughout the day as it’s a sight to be seen. Nonetheless, I could spend an entire day staring at the bridge; it’s pure magic!

Travel Tip: Again, my advice is to walk around and get photos of the bridge in the morning. When it starts getting busy, find a restaurant along the water to post up and enjoy the view!

Stari Most was built to connect the two cities that separated by the Neretva River. The Ottomans built Stari Most in the 16th century. The Croatians destroyed Stari Most during the war in 1993. The bridge was rebuilt as similar as possible to the original bridge. The completion of the new bridge was in 2004.

Fun Fact: The Neretva River is the coldest river in the world! The river often reaches temperatures as cold as 7-8 degrees Celsius.

After soaking in Stari Most, wander the streets of Old Town. Luckily, Stari Most is at the center of the Old Town making it natural to start exploring. As mentioned, Stari Most divides Old Town. You’ll find a handful of restaurants and shops along the cobblestone streets. While strolling through Old Town, you’ll notice the Turkish influence of Mostar. Additionally, the handcrafted souvenirs and goods sold have a Turkish flare. Take your time exploring as the town is colorful and filled with charm.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see one of the locals jump off the bridge! You’ll notice locals walking along the bridge collecting enough money to jump. If you look closely in the photos below, you’ll see a local standing on the bridge collecting money. Generally once they have about 25 euros from tourists, they’ll jump! While in Mostar, we saw a few locals as well as a first timer jump from Stari Most. Since it’s a steep jump, you must be properly trained. Additionally, there’s a certain way to jump which the locals can teach you for about 25 euros.

Karadjoz-bey Mosque is the most beautiful Mosque in the region. For that reason, the Karadjoz-bey Mosque is at the top of my list for a trip to Mostar. The Mosque was damaged in WWII and was nearly destroyed in the Yugoslav-war. The Mosque has since been rebuilt and is open to tourists.

You’re able to climb to the top of the minaret for the most spectacular view of Stari Most. The staircase to the top of the minaret is narrow, thus forcing you to walk single file.

Pricing & Details: The entrance fee to the mosque and minaret is 12 Mark (about 6.90 USD). Your legs must be covered to enter. However, if you’re wearing shorts, they’ll give you something to cover up with.

There are a few Turkish houses scattered throughout Mostar worth visiting. If you only have time for one, make it, Kajtaz House because it’s run by the original family. The owner gives a great background of the house hence my recommendation. The impressive house is full of original artifacts. A tour of the houses is 4 Mark (2 Euro) per person.

The Biscevic House is another popular Turkish House in Mostar. You’re able to tour the house on your own. It’s located along the Neretva River offering breathtaking views of the river. The tour is 4 Mark (2 Euro) per person which includes a postcard of Mostar.

With a war ending less than 30 years ago, history floods Mostar. There are a handful of Museums throughout town. I recommend visiting 2-3 while in town. Among the most visited are The Old Bridge Museum, Museum of War and Genocide, and War Photo Exhibition. Each museum showcases the fascinating history of Mostar. It’s about 3-5 Euro to enter each of the museums.

If you have time, wander over to the Cathedral of Mary, Mother of the Church. Initially built in 1866 and destroyed in 1992, the Cathedral was rebuilt in 2000. You can go to the top of the bell tower for a view of Mostar.

If you’re simply looking for a good view, I don’t recommend the Cathedral. The view is impressive but it’s not a straight view of Stari Most and the Old Town. For a view of Stari Most, head to the mosque.

Blagaj Tekke is a must see while in Mostar! This unique Monastery is positioned at the base of a cliff along the Buna River making it so unique. Founded in the Ottoman Empire the Monastery is about 600 years old. You’re also able to enter the Monastery for roughly 3 euro.

Aside from the Monastery, there are a few souvenir shops as well as restaurants along the river. If you have time, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the view.

You can explore the Monastery in a few hours as it’s a quick 20 minutes from Mostar. If you simply want to see the Monastery and walk around the village, set aside about an hour or two for Blagaj.

Getting there:

• Blagaj Monastery & Kravice Waterfalls – Tour which includes visiting the waterfalls I’ll go over below!
• You can also take a bus from Mostar however a tour is the much more convenient.

Kravice Waterfalls is one of the most beautiful places in Bosnia. Lush greenery surrounds the waterfalls offering spectacular views. The government protected falls are open to the public from May through October. Kravica Waterfalls is roughly 50 minutes from Mostar therefore, it’s an easy day trip! You can enjoy the falls in a few short hours or spend the day swimming and enjoying the sun.

Getting there:

• Blagaj Monastery & Kravice Waterfalls – Tour which includes visiting the Blagaj Monastery I mentioned above!
• You can also take a bus from Mostar however a tour is the much more convenient.
  

There are so many good restaurants in Mostar most of which are reasonably priced. Grab a drink, dinner, or an appetizer with a view overlooking the water as the views are incredible. Irma’s is a must in Mostar. The restaurant isn’t along the water, but the food is not only phenomenal but also inexpensive. Run by the sweetest family, Irma’s is a staple in the heart of town. Sadrvan is another great restaurant in town since it offers traditional Bosnian cuisine.

As you can tell, I absolutely love Mostar Bosnia and Herzegovina! It’s such a unique town filled with one of a kind views. Leave me a comment if Mostar is on your bucket list. Already been to Mostar, let me know if I missed anything!

Read more: Can’t Miss Views in Mostar

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

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