Welcome to Mostar – one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and home of the world famous bridge. In Mostar you can look forward to the postcard motif of Bosnia par excellence.
Mostar’s bridge is not the only sight for which the trip is worthwhile worth it. The beautiful, medieval old town of Mostar stretches all around. With its cobbled streets, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (just like the bridge).
In this blog article we will tell you everything you need to know for your trip to Mostar. We will show you the most beautiful sights and of course provide you with our personal travel tips.
1. Mostar FAQs: First travel tips at a glance Exciting facts & interesting facts about Mostar The landmark of Mostar and one of the most famous sights in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Mostar Bridge (“Stari most”). The bridge originally dates from the 14. Century, was completely bombed during the war and then rebuilt. Not only the bridge is worth seeing, but also the beautiful one medieval old town all around. It is not for nothing that the old town and the bridge are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The bridge jumpers from Mostar are legendary. For centuries it has been a tradition to jump off the bridge 19 to venture meters down into the waters of the Neretva. Nowadays you will mostly see locals jumping to make money. Due to the basin location, Mostar is considered the hottest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Can we confirm this: Mostar was by far the hottest travel destination on our trip in midsummer. How much time do I need to visit the main attractions in Mostar? Although Mostar has good .000 Being one of the larger cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the old town (i.e. the area around the bridge) is really tiny in comparison. Within a short time you will pass most corners and sights several times.
We ourselves stayed for one night (about 24 hours) in Mostar and can use this time span very recommended. We would definitely advise staying the night, because during the day there are a lot of day visitors in the very small old town. Mostar is most charming in the evening and morning hours.
If you want to take it even easier and also want to explore some less well-known sights or excursion destinations around Mostar, you can of course also two to three nights stay.
Where is Mostar and how do I get there? Mostar is in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately at the level of Split, nestled between the two mountain massifs Velež and Čabulja.
Because it makes sense to head for other destinations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in addition to Mostar, we recommend arriving by car. Either with your own car or with a Rental car (eg from Sarajevo airport). We always book our rental car through Sunny Cars.
If you are coming with your own car, then an important note: Bosnia and Herzegovina does not belong to the EU. Therefore, you need the so-called “Green Insurance Card” for your car when entering the country.
Important to know is also that on the way to Bosnia and Herzegovina you have to cross several national borders and pay tolls in several countries. The highway in Bosnia and Herzegovina itself is under construction and only some sections have been opened. There is also a toll to pay here.
You can find more tips in this article: Travel Tips Bosnia and Herzegovina
2. Our hotel tip for Mostar We have been looking for the perfect accommodation for Mostar for a long time and We finally found what we were looking for: in the stylish, family-run Shangri La Mansion, we felt incredibly comfortable from the very first moment.
The historic house from the 19. Century was renovated with great attention to detail and houses only a few rooms. These are extremely comfortable and furnished to a high standard . A highlight is the roof terrace. Here you can enjoy the evening hours with a drink (vending machine available).
The location of the accommodation could hardly be better. The house is situated in a quiet, slightly elevated position in the immediate vicinity of Mostar’s main attractions. It is only about a three-minute walk to the bridge. Parking spaces are available, only the access road is quite steep and requires some practice.
Our conclusion: A great place to stay with incredibly friendly and helpful owners. We would stay here again anytime.
You can book the hotel here: Shangri La Mansion
3. Sights in Mostar: Our tips Stari Most: The famous bridge of Mostar The by far the most important sight in Mostar is the eponymous bridge of Mostar, called “Stari most” (which means something like “old bridge”). It is the symbol of the city and is famous far beyond the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The magnificent, striking single-arch bridge originally dates from the 15. Century. Sadly she was killed in the war in the 30s bombed and reduced to rubble. After the war, the bridge was rebuilt true to the original and has been UNESCO World Heritage since then.
If you If you walk across the bridge for the first time (caution: quite slippery and steep), then you will quickly notice how touristy the center of Mostar is. There is so much going on here during the day that it is almost impossible to enjoy the flair. In the evening, as soon as the day visitors leave Mostar, a visit is much more relaxed.
By the way, the bridge jumpers of Mostar are legendary. For centuries it has been a tradition to jump from the 20 meter high bridge to venture into the depths. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked for small change: most of those who jump here earn their money and put on a little show.
Our tip: photo spots around the bridge You might be wondering from which place you can capture the bridge particularly well photographically? These are our favorite photo spots:
From the opposite bridge “Lučki most”: The postcard motif of the bridge.From the rocks/stairs directly below the bridge: Another classic. From here you can watch the bridge jumpers well.From the minaret Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque: The best bird’s-eye view of the bridge. Mostar Old Town & Kujundžiluk Street Around the bridge stretches the small but nice old town of Mostar. There is not much more than a few cobbled streets – but these are extremely worth seeing.
We find the area around the Krumme Bridge particularly picturesque (more on that in a moment). The most tourist area is along Kujundžiluk Street, the former bazaar. Here one souvenir shop follows the next.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque One of the most famous mosques and most important sights in Mostar is the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, which is located just a few minutes’ walk from the bridge on the east side of the river.
The remarkable mosque in Ottoman style comes from the 17. Century and can be visited for a fee. If you are already there, then we strongly recommend that you also pay the surcharge to visit the minaret.
From the minaret you can enjoy a fabulous view of Mostar including the bridge. The stairs are incredibly narrow and there is really little space at the top, so don’t be claustrophobic. Nevertheless, the effort is very worthwhile.
Also included in the entrance fee is a visit to a small viewing platform near the river bank at the back of the mosque.
Admission: 8 KM/4 Euro ( Mosque only), 000 KM/7 Euro (Mosque & Minaret)
Opening hours: vary depending on the season (when we visited in July was until 19 open hours)
Kriva Ćuprija: Crooked Bridge You would have thought that there is a second, equally beautiful bridge in Mostar? The Crooked Bridge (“Kriva Ćuprija”) is not nearly as famous, but it is very picturesquely located. It is located in the middle of the old town, only a stone’s throw away from the big bridge.
Not much is known about the emergence of the Crooked Bridge. Legend has it that it was a test before the larger, more important Old Bridge was built.
More sights in Mostar for more time Fortica viewpoint: On a hill east of Mostar , high above the city is the viewpoint called Fortica. From here you have a great panoramic view of Mostar from afar, especially before sunset. 2022 a modern skywalk with glass bridge was opened here.
Kajtaz house: This old Ottoman house is located a little away from the tourist hustle and bustle in the old town of Mostar. For a small entrance fee, you can take a look inside and learn some exciting details from the past from the owner.
4. Eating & Drinking in Mostar: Cafes & Restaurants As in many places heavily dated tourism, the selection of restaurants in the old town of Mostar is not exactly what we remember most. Nonetheless, we ate well in Mostar. Here are a few recommendations:
Café de Alma: Would you like to try Bosnian coffee? Then off to the Café de Alma. In this small, friendly café you get the perfect introduction to the Bosnian coffee culture.
Teco: This is outside the old town near the university district very nice modern cafe with a surprisingly hip menu (smoothie bowls, sandwiches – vegan options too). We were the only tourists – only young locals sat around us.
Restoran Hindin Han: Traditional Bosnian cuisine is served in this very nicely located restaurant. Although meat and fish predominate, there are also some vegetarian options. There is a really nice view from the terrace.
Restoran Lagero: If you want to dine with a view of the bridge, then this restaurant could do be for you Here you can expect traditional cuisine at fair prices.
Teco Restoran Hindin Han 5. Tips for excursion destinations around Mostar Blagaj One of the most famous excursion destinations in the vicinity is the small town of Blagaj, which is about 10 kilometers southeast of Mostar. Here is the famous Dervish monastery (“Tekija”), which is located in front of a steep rock face directly at the source of the Buna (” Vrelo Buna”) is enthroned.
If you are wondering what the name means: A so-called dervish is a member of a Muslim religious order. The monastery in Blagaj was in 15./14. century built.
We can only warmly recommend that you also visit the interior of the Dervish Monastery. You really feel like you’ve been transported back in time and you can imagine how people used to live here.
Our tip: A nice view from outside of the Dervish monastery you can enjoy from the small viewpoint on the other side of the river.
Another note on arrival: The monastery is down in the valley at the end of a very narrow road. Most cars (especially larger ones) park at the top of the large car park (4KM). From there you have to approx. 10 minutes walk down to the monastery. With a bit of luck, the parking attendant will guide you down towards the monastery, so that you can park right next to it along the road. (Caution: Very narrow and difficult to turn. If you are inexperienced, it is better to park upstairs.)
Entry: 10 KM/5 Euro
Kravica Waterfalls A special natural jewel is located about an hour’s drive south-east of Mostar: the Kravica waterfalls. They are probably the most famous waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The dimensions are gigantic. About 90 meter falls the river Trebižat descends here over several cascades and waterfalls. The power of water is impressive – especially when it has just rained a lot.
Blessing and curse in equal measure: You can swim at the waterfalls – more precisely in the large natural “swimming pond” in which the fallen water is collects. Curse because it gets packed on hot days in the high season.
We have to admit that there was too much hustle and bustle for us and we also thought it was a pity that nature was so severely interfered with here (keyword: concrete areas). If you want to visit the Kravica waterfalls, then be prepared for a fairly touristy experience, unless you come in the off-season.
A few more information on how to get there : You can easily park in the large parking lot. (Parking is included in the entrance ticket.) From there, a good will take you -minute walk down to the falls. Alternatively, you can also take the slow train.
Entry: 19KM/000 Euro
6. Map: Sights & tips at a glance To give you the orientation To make things easier on site, we have marked all the sights and our tips for Mostar on this map. A little tip: If you click on the rectangle at the top right, you can save the map in the Google Maps app on your smartphone. (Important: Roaming is not free in Bosnia! We will tell you our tips in this article: Travel Tips Bosnia and Herzegovina.)
Transparency: Affiliate Links This blog article contains our personal recommendations in the form of so-called affiliate links. If you book or buy something through the links, we will receive a small commission. For you, this does not change the price at all. A thousand thanks from both of us!
Were you Ever seen the famous bridge in Mostar? Do you have any tips you would like to share with us? Or are you planning a trip and still have questions? We look forward to your comment!
