Visit Mostar, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most popular cities, and you’ll experience a beautiful historical town with gorgeous views along the Neretva River, meet cute, friendly cats, and eat delicious Bosnian food. Located in the southern part of the country, in Herzegovina, Mostar is known for the Lučki Most bridge, the Old Bazaar, and its rich cultural heritage. I recently spent about 4 days in Mostar, and while most people go for a day or two, I recommend staying at least 3-4 days to fully experience the city’s beauty.
Here are the best things to do in Mostar, plus an itinerary, including day trips to nearby UNESCO sites and the country’s most famous waterfall, Kravica (and don’t forget to brush up on Bosnian cultural etiquette before you go).
PS: Thet best way to explore around Mostar is to rent a car (check the best prices here), or do organised day trips. In Mostar Old Town, you won’t need a car.
Old Town Mostar is a historical town along the Neretva River in the Herzegovina area of Bosnia and Herzegovina, developed in the 15th and 16th centuries, during the Ottoman Empire. The town is charming and lovely, but small enough that it doesn’t require more than a full day to explore.
The best way to truly get a feel of Mostar and its history is to do a walking tour with a local guide. I did one and learned a lot about the Bosnian wars, the divide of Mostar between Bosniaks and Croats, and cultural fun facts like how to drink Bosnian coffee (and no, it’s not the same as Turkish coffee).
Here are the top places to visit in Mostar’s Old Town, organised by geographical proximity, starting from the northern part of the town.
Starting your exploration north of Old Town Mostar, slightly off the beaten path, Fassadenmalerei is an area renown for its street art. I’m talking large murals on buildings, not bits of random graffiti on a wall. The buildings are war-damaged, and on some of them, you can still see the bullet holes.
If you’re a big street art fan, visit Mostar in August or September, when the annual street art festival takes place every year.
Muslibegovic House is a residential house from the Ottoman Empire era, and is now a museum AND also a hotel, which you can book here. Note that the museum is only open between April and October (unsure about the hotel).
Located right by the main old town area, Crkva Svete Trojice is an Orthodox Church built in the neo-Byzantine style, and was once one of the largest in the Balkans, but it was destroyed in the Bosnian war of the 1990s. It has since been rebuilt with ongoing renovations.
A small 17th-century mosque, the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque reflects the Ottoman Empire era in its architecture.
Located along the oldest street in Mostar, this historic bazaar is a compact area with shops selling artisanal crafts such as copper tea sets, filigree jewelry, and handmade arts and crafts.
Insider tip: check the origin of the souvenirs you buy to ensure it’s locally made and not mass-produced.
Known as “Stari Most” (stari meaning old, and most meaning bridge), this UNESCO site is one of the main attractions in Mostar. Destroyed in the Bosnian war of the 1990s by Bosnian Croats, it was rebuilt in 2004. In the summer, there are competitions for diving off the 24-meter-high bridge into the Neretva River. This activity isn’t new and isn’t meant for tourists’ entertainment; it’s rooted in tradition and dates back to the 16th century.
Insider tip: for the best views of the bridge, you can simply walk around the area, and you’ll get multiple vistas, and there are plenty of restaurants with terraces and views too. You could also head to the “Photo spot for the Old Bridge” location on Google Maps, which is right by the river and below the bridge.
However, for the most gorgeous panoramic view of the bridge and its surroundings, especially if you want to capture the bridge’s reflection in the river at specific times of the day (and without crowds), the best viewing spot is from the Lučki Most bridge.
Though less popular than the Old Bridge in Mostar, the Crooked Bridge is still a must-visit attraction in Mostar. It’s a small stone bridge across the Radobolja River, has way fewer people walking on it, and is a charming spot not to miss in my opinion.
If you’re a sporty adventurer, head over to Fortica Hill. There’s a sports and adventure park, including the longest zip line in Bosnia and Herzegovina (570 metres, or 0.3 miles).
Blagaj (pronounced “Blah-guy”) is a beautiful historic village and a protected heritage site along the Buna River and waterfalls. Aside from the gorgeous natural setting, the other main attraction in Blagaj is the 16th-century tekiya, a Dervish Sufi monastery.
Insider tip: There’s a fee to visit the monastery, and you must follow the appropriate dress code to enter. Women need to cover their hair and dress modestly, but don’t worry, there are scarves available at the entrance for free. However, it’s best to bring your own if you’re not comfortable wearing a scarf that multiple other people have just worn before you.
A historic village in Čapljina, Počitelj (pronounced “POH-chee-tell-yuh”) is a hilly settlement dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. There’s a small mosque in town, a few restaurants, and a fortress with panoramic views of the Neretva River. There are also lots of sweet, friendly cats around (I always carry cat food with me just in case).
One of the most popular places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina is Kravica Waterfall, about 40 km (24 miles) south of Mostar. You’ve likely seen it on marketing photos for the country, or on Instagram (guilty), because it’s a magnificent place with waterfalls of 25 metres high flowing into a lake at its base, and it’s an ideal spot for swimming, picnicking, and enjoying a bit of nature’s wonders. If you’re not driving, you can easily book a day trip to Kravica, which usually also includes stops at the places mentioned above, particularly Blagaj and Počitelj.
Unfortunately, it’s not government-protected, according to a few Bosnians I spoke to, so the ecosystem is slowly being destroyed. Please practice responsible behaviour when visiting (don’t leave trash, wear eco-friendly sunscreen, and try to visit in low or shoulder season).
Insider tip: Most people go down the stairs after the bathroom area to reach the falls. But if you walk along the walking path to your left, you’ll get the best view of Kravica, without crowds (at least that was my case in April; unsure how it is in summer).
Perhaps this isn’t on everyone’s “must-visit” list for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but I nonetheless enjoyed visiting Bunski Kanal Most, a unique area where two rivers (Neretva and Buna) flow into each other.
While it’s a shorter waterfall than Kravica, Koćuša stretches in width. It’s more peaceful and less crowded than Kravica, as most tourists only have enough time to go to Kravica, and most guided tours don’t stop by Koćuša.
An ancient town along the Neretva River, Stolac is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. In fact, Stolac’s settlement dates back to 15,000 BCE. Stolac is a culturally important symbol because various empires, ethnicities, and religions have shaped the town, reflected today in its diverse architecture.
The ideal amount of time in Mostar is about 3 to 4 days. Here’s the best Mostar itinerary, spread over 4 days, to see the best sites and allow time for lesser-known places at a decent pace.
Spend day 1 slowly exploring Mostar’s Old Town, visiting places in this order, starting at the northern part of the city.
Spend day 2 in Mostar exploring towns close by
Day 3 in Mostar is all about waterfalls: head to Kravica early in the morning to avoid crowds, swim if the weather permits, then head to Koćuša.
Spend the day slowly exploring Stolac town and learning about its long history.
Visiting Mostar is worth it for sure, and it doesn’t require more than a few hours to walk around the Old Town. However, if you intend to explore the region around Mostar, like the famous Kravica waterfall, it’s best to spend a couple of nights in Mostar.
The best time to visit Mostar is in the shoulder months: April and September/October. Bosnia and Herzegovina is attracting more and more tourists each year, with outdoor tourism driving growth, particularly in the summer months. This means that it’s more crowded and pricier from May to August, so unless you’re looking for swimming activities at the lake and waterfalls, it’s best to avoid these months.
The winter months in Mostar usually mean wind and rain, so best to avoid these too.
Mostar itself is a small town and doesn’t require more than a few hours to explore. However, if you intend to visit the charming towns and natural beauty around Mostar, it’s best to spend at least 4 days.
Yes, Mostar is absolutely worth visiting. The small villages, natural beauty, and non-overly commercialised nature of Mostar (and Bosnia and Herzegovina in general) is what attracts visitors. Even if you’re not into rivers and waterfalls, the genuine kindness of the people is enough to make me want to visit again.
