Bosnia and Herzegovina
Overview
Mostar is a small city with one of the most famous bridges in the world. The Old Bridge (Stari Most) arches high over the emerald Neretva River, the stone streets of the bazaar are full of copper, carpets and cafés, and every few minutes in summer someone stands on the edge of the bridge getting ready to jump. Walk a few streets away from the center and you still see buildings with bullet holes from the war. Keep in mind that between 10:00 and 16:00 in summer the old town fills with day-trippers from Croatia, so the mornings and evenings are the best time to walk.
The name Mostar comes from the "mostari", the bridge keepers who guarded a wooden bridge here. In 1557 the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered a stone bridge, and the architect Mimar Hayruddin, a student of the great Mimar Sinan, finished it in 1566: a single arch about 29 m long and 21 m above the river in summer. For more than 400 years it was the symbol of a city where Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox lived together. During the war, on 9 November 1993, the bridge was destroyed by Croatian (HVO) artillery, and the city was divided along the front line. It was rebuilt with the original techniques and many original stones lifted from the river, and reopened on 23 July 2004. In 2005 the Old Bridge area was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list. Diving from the bridge is a tradition recorded since 1664, and every summer there is an official competition.
How long to stay: 1 to 2 nights, plus a day for Kravica, Blagaj and Počitelj.
Last updated: October 2026
Quick Facts
Location
In Herzegovina, the southern part of the country, on the Neretva River. It's about 130 km from Sarajevo, 140 km from Dubrovnik and 170 km from Split.
Budget
Per person, per day, in convertible marks (October 2026).
| Backpacker | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 30–50 KM (≈ USD 17–29) | 80–140 KM (≈ USD 46–80) | 200+ KM (≈ USD 115+) |
| Food | 30 KM (≈ USD 17) | 60 KM (≈ USD 35) | 110 KM (≈ USD 64) |
| Transport | 5 KM (≈ USD 3) | 20 KM (≈ USD 12) | 60 KM (≈ USD 35) |
| Activities | 25 KM (≈ USD 14) | 60 KM (≈ USD 35) | 150 KM (≈ USD 87) |
| Daily total | about 90 KM (≈ USD 52) | about 220 KM (≈ USD 127) | about 520 KM (≈ USD 300) |
A plate of ćevapi costs 8–15 KM, and a Bosnian coffee served on a copper tray 2–4 KM. Restaurants on the river with a view of the bridge cost more than those one street back.
Things to Do
Walk across it slowly: the stone is very slippery, so wear shoes with grip. The best views of the bridge are from the riverbanks below (take the stairs down on either side) and from the small terraces of the cafés around it.
Price: free · Time needed: 1 hour · Tip: go at sunrise or after sunset for photos without crowds.
Members of the local divers' club jump from about 21 m into the cold river. A diver walks around with a bag collecting money from the crowd and only jumps when there is enough. You can also take a short training with the club and jump yourself.
Price: free to watch; a tip of €2–5 per person is normal · Tip: the best place to watch is from the rocks on the west bank below the bridge.
The cobbled street of the Ottoman-era coppersmiths, full of copper coffee sets, carpets, paintings and souvenirs, leading to the bridge.
Price: free to walk · Tip: prices are higher close to the bridge; compare before you buy.
A mosque from 1618 on the east bank. Climb its narrow minaret for the classic view of the Old Bridge from above, and visit its courtyard terrace over the river.
Price: about €6 (≈ USD 7) with the minaret · Time needed: 30 minutes.
The Crooked Bridge (1558) is a small stone bridge said to be a test before the Old Bridge. Nearby, the War Photo Exhibition and the Museum of War and Genocide Victims explain what happened in Mostar in the 1990s.
Price: small fee for each museum · Time needed: 1 to 2 hours.
The old bank building on the Boulevard, once used by snipers, is a ruin covered in street art and a reminder of the front line that split the city. Look at it from outside; entering the building is not safe.
Price: free · Tip: combine it with a walk along the Boulevard and the Spanish Square.
The classic day trip from Mostar: Blagaj Tekke, the 16th-century dervish house where the Buna River comes out of a cliff; Počitelj, an Ottoman stone village over the Neretva; and the wide Kravica waterfalls, where you can swim in summer.
Price: Kravica €10 / 20 KM (≈ USD 11) from April to October, free from November to March; Blagaj small fee; tours from about €50 (≈ USD 57) · Tip: swimming at Kravica is allowed from June to September.
Transit Tips
From Dubrovnik: bus about 2.5 to 3 hours, with a border check.
From Split: bus about 3.5 to 4 hours.
From Sarajevo: train about 2 hours along the Neretva canyon, one of the most beautiful rides in the Balkans; buses take about 2.5 hours.
By plane: Mostar airport has a few seasonal flights; Sarajevo, Dubrovnik and Split are the usual airports.
On foot: the old town is small and walkable, with many cobbled hills.
Taxis: there is no Uber or Bolt in Bosnia. Call a local taxi or use the Moj Taxi app; they use the meter and usually take only cash in KM.
Tours or rental car: the easiest way to reach Kravica, Blagaj and Počitelj.
¶Keep in mind that in July and August Mostar is one of the hottest places in Europe, often over 38 °C, so plan walks for the morning and evening. Carry cash in KM; euros are accepted in many places but at a bad rate. Be respectful when you visit the war memorials and the mosques, and cover your shoulders and knees inside.
Helpful Words
A few basics in Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian can make everyday conversations much easier.
Where to Stay
Plan & Book
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