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In this article, you’ll discover some of the best things to do in Mostar, Bosnia Herzegovina. This charming small city sits nestled on the banks of the Neretva River and is surrounded by mountains.
I first visited Mostar in 2010 and fell in love with the beauty of the place.
The juxtaposition of bombed-out buildings from the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s and the gorgeous old town, river and surrounding mountains gives it a very unique feel.
In September 2022 I returned to visit (with all new photos added to this article) and fell in love with the city all over again.
Boring stuff: I have visited each of the places I recommend and give you my honest opinion, warts and all. All photos are my own unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without permission. Affiliate links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The Top Things to do in Mostar
1. Walk Around Mostar Old Town
Mostar’s beautiful old town with its cobbled streets, tea houses, antique shops and bazaar starts off on the east bank of the Neretva River. It culminates at the Famous Stari Most (old bridge), before crossing the Neretva River onto the west bank.
There are many interesting shops and market stalls, as well as plenty of restaurants and bars overlooking the river and bridge.
The old town is definitely one of the top places to visit in Mostar for its incredible architecture and stunning views of the river gorge and mountains beyond. This is a great place to grab a bite to eat and sample some traditional Balkan cuisine line Cevapi.
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2. See the Stari Most or Mostar Old Bridge
The Stari Most Bridge is one of the most iconic places to visit in Mostar, and in the whole of Bosnia Herzegovina for that matter. Also known as Mostar Old Bridge, this bridge crosses over the Neretva River and connects the two sides of the city, east and west.
Construction of the bridge began in 1557 after being commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent. The design of Stari Most was undertaken by Mimar Hayruddin, who was an apprentice of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
Unfortunately, the bridge was destroyed on the 9th November 1993 during the Bosnian war. After a temporary fix, plans were put into place to reconstruct the bridge after the war had finished.
Reconstruction of the bridge began after the war using the same locally quarried stone and design techniques as the original. It was completed in 2004, and Stari Most was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005.
Today it attracts thousands of visitors each year and it isn’t difficult to see why. Visiting this incredible bridge is one of the most popular things to do in Mostar and is a must whilst exploring this city.
3. Visit the Museum of War and Genocide Victims
The best way to experience a country is to learn about its history, and that’s why you should visit this museum. Although such a beautiful country, Bosnia has a traumatic and tragic past.
After the Yugoslav republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, war broke out between the Muslim Bosniaks and the Croats and Serbs.
Over the course of the next few years, Bosnian Serb forces committed atrocious crimes against the Bosnian Muslim community and Croatian civilians.
It is estimated that these crimes resulted in the deaths of around 100,000 people by 1995, with 80% of those deaths being Bosnian Muslims.
Here the war photo exhibition will take you back through the turbulent early nineties and the violent breakup of Yugoslavia.
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5. Visit the Old Frontline
The Old Frontline from the war can still be seen in the city of Mostar. The frontline was actually a four-lane divided road across the river, and throughout this area, bombed-out buildings can still be seen on the side of the road.
Many of the bombed buildings have been preserved as a reminder, and you can see these from the pavement. Many of the inhabited houses still bear the signs of war with bulletholes sprayed across walls and holes where shells have penetrated still on display.
It’s a grim reminder of the horrors the city faced during the breakup of Yugoslavia and the ensuing Bosnian war, but interesting to see these scars over thirty years later.
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6. Shop in the Old Bazaar
Located in the centre of the city you will find the old Bazaar, which is one of the oldest parts of Mostar. This area of the city dates back to the 16th century and is called the Kujundziluk.
Today you will find this small cobbled street filled with craft shops and authentic restaurants.
This is one of the best things to do in Mostar, as you get a true idea of what the city used to look like back in the Ottoman era.
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6. Watch the Stari Most Bridge Divers
During the warmer months, you can watch members of the Mostar Divers Team plunge from the bridge into the Neretva. It is also possible to try this yourself for a fee of €50, but due to the extreme height, this is not recommended for novices!
Jumping from the Stari Most into the icy, fast-flowing waters of the Neretva 20 metres (65 feet) below has been a right of passage for many “Mostarians” for centuries.
There has been an annual diving competition since 1968, and since 2015 Mostar has been a stop on Red Bull’s world cliff-diving tour!
Bridge diving from Stari Most is incredibly popular, and tourists travel from all over just to give it a go. If you are looking for some of the more adventurous things to do in Mostar, then this is for you.
However, this can be an incredibly dangerous activity and unfortunately, people have died jumping off this bridge in the past. Unless you are an experienced bridge diver, it is best to sit this out and simply observe from a distance.
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7. See the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
This beautiful mosque was built in 1618, and then later had to be rebuilt after the war due to extensive damage.
Now it stands proud once again with a peaceful courtyard to walk around, plenty of multicoloured Windows for you to gaze at and there are lots of different tombs scattered throughout the area.
The most popular part of this unique mosque is the viewpoint from the top of the famous minaret. You can’t visit Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque without climbing up it!
Although it’s a tight squeeze to get to the top and not a feat for the claustrophobic people out there, the views from the top will leave you mesmerized.
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8. See the Crooked Bridge (Kriva Cuprija)
Kriva Cuprija closely resembles the famous Stari Most but is of smaller dimensions. Also, known as the Crooked bridge, Kriva Cuprija is located along the Neretva River.
The bridge was destroyed in 2000 because of flooding, and afterwards, a reconstruction project went underway to restore the bridge to its former glory.
Now it’s one of the most popular Mostar attractions and gives you a more peaceful experience than Stari Most.
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9. Head up the Mostar Peace Bell Tower
If you are a fan of beautiful views, then taking a trip up the Franciscan church bell tower is a must. Also known as “Mostar’s Peace Bell Tower ”, this tower sits at an impressive 107m high and is the city’s highest building.
If you’re worried about walking all the way to the top, there is a lift that will take you over halfway up. After that, you can head on up to admire the incredible views of the city of Mostar.
There is also a Franciscan church located below the bell tower, which is still in the process of being reconstructed. It was built as a replacement for a Basilica that was badly damaged due to the war.
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10. Admire the Street Art on Mostar’s ‘Sniper Tower’
Visiting the city’s sniper tower is definitely one of the more unique things to do in Mostar. Originally a bank, this building took on a darker identity during the Bosnian war.
Due to the building’s height and location, it was taken over as a sniper tower during the siege of Mostar and because of this many Bosniaks died.
Snipers aimed at them simply for having a walk, running errands or even driving their cars.
Although you aren’t allowed to enter the tower due to the instability of the building, you can admire the street art that has been graffitied on the side by local street artists.
This building may have a terribly sad history, but now people are starting to dress the tower in colour.
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Popular day trips from Mostar
Aside from visiting Mostar, there are plenty of other destinations to visit not too far away from the city. Here are just a few of the day trips you can take from Mostar:
11. Swim at Kravice Waterfalls
The beautiful Kravice waterfalls are located 25 miles south of Mostar and are found on the Trebižat River. Also known as Kravica waterfall by the locals, this beautiful destination will blow you away. To give you an idea of how special this place is, you only have to hear its nickname – “the mini Niagara falls”.
The falls are 25 metres high, and there are numerous cascades that fall down into a beautiful emerald-coloured pool of water. It is the perfect place to relax and head out for a swim. If you are feeling adventurous you can also hire kayaks to explore the area around the falls.
Kravice waterfalls are located about two hours away from the city of Dubrovnik, so often people will visit both sights in one day.
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12. See the Spring at Blagaj Tekija
Picturesque Blagaj Tekija is a Dervish monastery that is found about 9 miles outside the city centre. This monastery is over 600 years old and is located at the base of a cliff, next to the spring of the Buna River.
Estimated to have been built between 1446 and 1520, this beautiful monastery was constructed for a sect of soldier monks who were called the ‘bektašije’.
Aside from the monastery, there are also a few restaurants here where you can have lunch and admire the picturesque views. The best way to get here from Mostar is by taking the public bus from the city centre.
It’s also possible to take a dinghy into the cave which is the source of the Buna River.
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13. Visit the Village of Počitelj
Počitelj is a historic town located on the banks of the Neretva River. It is thought that Počitelj and its surrounding settlements were built by the King of Bosnia in 1383, who was named Stjepan Tvrtko.
During the war in Bosnia, the entire town suffered quite extensive war damage, so in 2000 the government started the programme of the permanent protection of Pocitelj.
Sites within the town such as the fort of Počitelj, the Haman (the old baths) and Sahat Kula clock town are incredibly historic and are part of why this town is so important.
This spot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a great place to visit during your stay in Mostar. The best way to get to Pocitelj is by taking the public bus from the centre of Mostar.
Top Tip: Some hostels, such as Hostel Miran offer day trips that take in Kravice Waterfalls (including time for a swim), Blagaj and Pocitelj. The cost is around €50.
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Getting to Mostar
Buses to Mostar
When travelling by bus in the Balkans you will always need to pay the equivalent of one or two euros in local currency to store your bags (even if your ticket says baggage is included).
It’s also worth noting that the advertised journey times are usually grossly underestimated, so be careful if you have onward connections. As a rule of thumb add two hours to any journey, especially if you need to cross a border.
Sarajevo to Mostar
There are multiple daily buses between the capital Sarajevo and Mostar. I’ve taken this bus twice and the scenery as it follows the river is amazing. The journey time is 42h35m and costs from €10 if booked online.
Dubrovnik to Mostar
I took the Dubrovnik to Mostar bus on my first visit in 2010 and the journey and the border crossing were quick and easy. The journey time is around 3h15m and costs from €20 if booked online.
Split to Mostar
The Split to Mostar bus follows the coastal road along the Adriatic before heading across the mountains into Bosnia. The scenery is incredible, and also a little hair-raising at times.
I did this trip in September 2022 and the scenery was incredible. The journey took five hours including the border crossing. You can book online here.
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Getting Around Mostar
A lot of the top sights are located relatively close to each other. Exploring on foot is the perfect way to get around and see these attractions as Mostar is quite a small city, and generally, most of the sights are located within the old town.
The best food dishes to try in Mostar
There are plenty of tasty Bosnian food dishes for you to try but here are some of the most popular ones!
Japrak – Japrak is an authentic Herzegovinian dish that consists of a minced meat filling that is wrapped in raštika, which is a local leaf cabbage.
Ćevapi – Bosnian ćevapi is the country’s favourite dish and a must-try. They are small, hand-rolled minced meat sausages that are often made with ground beef or a combination of beef mince, veal, lamb or pork.
Sarajevski ćevapi – This unique variety of ćevapi originates from the city of Sarajevo. Often Sarajevski ćevapi is made only with ground beef and salt in order to keep the favour clean.
The weather in Mostar
The weather changes quite considerably throughout the year in Mostar. Generally, there are four main seasons in Bosnia and these are Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
The hottest month to visit Mostar is in July, with an average high temperature of 31°C. July also tends to encounter the least amount of rainfall. The coldest month of the year tends to be January with an average low temperature of -1°C.
On both visits (June 2010 and September 2022) the weather was warm and sunny, with the addition of a few showers most recently.
What is the Best Time to visit Mostar?
The city can be visited all year round, although the best time tends to be from April to October. The peak season for tourism occurs during the summer months, so between June to September.
However the city is often very crowded, and soaring temperatures can occur during this time. Generally, the best time to visit Mostar is in May or September when the weather is a bit more pleasant and when there are fewer crowds.
Is Mostar Safe to Visit?
Mostar is a perfectly safe city to visit but a few precautions should be taken.
Many of the bombed-out buildings are still standing from the war, and they are not in the best of condition.
Aside from being very unstable, some of these buildings have unexploded ordnance in them left over from the war. So if you see a ‘keep out’ sign then definitely don’t ignore them!
If hiking in the beautiful hills above Mostar, stick to well-worn paths and heed signs warning of landmines!
Be sure to take out comprehensive travel insurance on your trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina! Our partners at SafetyWing specialise in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Mostar!
Accommodation in Mostar
Whether you want to travel to Mostar on a budget or relax in luxury; there are plenty of choices.
Staying in the old town is your best option, as this is where all the popular sights are located. Here are some accommodation options for each budget:
Budget: Hostel Miran
I stayed at Hostel Miran in both 2010 and 2022 and would highly recommend this wonderful, welcoming hostel. Miran also arranges tours to nearby attractions such as the Kravice Waterfalls.
Mid-range: Hotel Emen (a double or twin room located 500m from the city centre).
Luxury: Villa Cardak (a deluxe suite with a river view located 100 yards from Stari Most).
Is Mostar Worth Visiting?
So the million-dollar question – is Mostar worth visiting? The answer is definitely yes! This city is one of a kind and is the perfect example of an off-the-beaten-path destination.
Now you know what to do in Mostar, whether you are an adventure seeker looking to dive off the famous Stari Most bridge, or wanting to explore the city’s unique markets, restaurants or museums; there is something for everyone.
There are so many amazing things to do in Mostar, so make sure to put this fantastic destination on your bucket list. I will be back for a third visit for sure.
Don’t delay, book your Mostar tour today!
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About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲