MOSTAR, BOSNIA: A COMPLETE TRAVEL GUIDE
When I was in Dubrovnik years ago, I’d seen posters of Mostar in a tour agency window. The fabled town’s bridge Stari Most looked like something straight out of a fairytale. It was beautiful! I wanted to visit one day, but knew very little about Bosnia and Herzegovina. As I started to plan another trip to Croatia, I realized it would be the perfect opportunity to finally see Mostar, and add a new country to my list. Below is a complete guide to the region including the best bridge viewpoints, sights, restaurants, hotels, Airbnb’s, travel tips and more – very helpful for planning both day trips and overnight trips.
This post contains affiliate links. When you click these links I may get a small commission that won’t cost you anything, but it does help me run this website.
Picturesque strolls through Old Town. OUTFIT DETAILS: Free People set linked here.
WHEN TO VISIT MOSTAR
- JUNE, JULY, AUGUST – High Season While chances of rain are slim during the summer months, it can get pretty toasty with temperatures soaring to the mid 90s in July and August. Old Town can feel pretty crowded this time of the year – it’s peak period for tour groups.
- MAY AND SEPTEMBER – Shoulder Season This is the best time to visit. The weather is comfortable, low chances of rain and fewer tour groups than summer.
- OCTOBER THROUGH APRIL – Low Season Be prepared for cold weather and a high chance of rain, especially November through March. Less tour groups this time of the year.
Stari Most is the iconic stone bridge that spans the Neretva River connecting the two areas of Old Town.
MOSTAR QUICK FACTS
- CURRENCY – The national currency is the Bosnia Herzegovina Convertible Mark (BAM). For visitors crossing over from Croatia, some touristy places will accept Euro, but smaller markets and shops will not.
- DAY TRIP VS OVERNIGHT – If you only want to explore Mostar, then a long day trip from Croatia is enough time to stroll Old Town, see the sights and have a meal along the river. If you also want to see Kravica Waterfall and Vrelo Bune, I suggest staying overnight in Mostar.
- PACK A SWIMSUIT – Mostar is nowhere near the Adriatic coastline, so most visitors don’t think to pack a swimsuit. But on a warm summer day, sunbathing is actually a very popular activity along the river with views of the Stari Most bridge.
Lots of ice cream shops along pedestrian lanes of Old Town.
PLACES TO VISIT IN MOSTAR
STARI MOST
Stari Most is the poster child of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reconstructed 16th century Ottoman bridge spans the Neretva River, connecting the two banks of Old Town, in Mostar. From afar, Stari Most looks like the set of a medieval movie. It’s so picturesque. Visit in the morning when the bridge is empty for a more serene experience.
KOSKIN-MEHMED MOSQUE
This small mosque sits at the edge of Old Town perched above the the river with spectacular views of Stari Most from the minaret.
KRAVICA WATERFALL
This spectacular waterfall park sits on the Trebizat River, a green oasis reminiscent of Plitvice in Croatia. More than 20 individual falls plunge into the sparkling lake, some measuring more than 80-feet high. The waterfalls can be visited year round, but the summer months are best for swimming. Kravica is a 45-.;minute drive from Mostar, and open 24 hours a day (admission fee if you arrive during operating hours).
KRIVA CUPRIJA BRIDGE
An arched stone bridge that looks like a mini-version of Stari Most sits tucked away in Old Town. The bridge spans a creeks covered in lush green fauna. Very picturesque.
NERETVA RIVER
Climb down to the banks of the Neretva River for the best views of Stari Most. There are a few rocky outcrops along the water that offer up particularly epic photo locations. Also, on a warm afternoon, the banks of the river below the bridge are a popular sunbathing spot.
OLD BAZAR KUJUNDZILUK
A cobbled lane weaves its way through Old Town, lined with cafes, restaurants and little shops selling lanterns, jewelry, tea sets and tourists trinkets. This market dates back to the 16th century.
VRELO BUNE & BLAGAJ TEKIJA
Blagaj Tekija is a 16th century Ottoman monastery built at the base of a soaring cliff over the spring of the Buna River. This epic site is located just 20 minutes from Mostar.
Lots of touristy trinkets for sale in Old Town.
Lunch at Šadvran Restaurants in Old Towns.
MOSTAR HOTELS
This two bedroom apartment is nothing particularly special, but it offers up a pretty fabulous view. The large terrace sits over the river with a perfectly unobstructed panorama of Stari Most.
One of the better apartment options in Mostar. This top floor property is clean and modern with lots of light. A five-minute walk to Old Town.
This ground level apartment opens up to a lovely little terrace that faces Stari Most for an absolutely perfect view of the bridge. Apartment itself is simple, and a bit dated.
HOTEL RESTAURANT KRIVA CUPRIJA
Small boutique hotel set in the historic limestone houses of Mostar. Hotel Restaurant Kriva Cuprija is very no frills at an affordable price point, in a spectacular storybook setting behind the Kriva Cuprija Bridge. There are 28 rooms, some with views of the river. The Old Town location is perfect – everything is a short stroll away.
A top floor apartment that is clean, modern and simple. The view of Old Town from the terrace is pretty spectacular, especially in the evenings.
This small studio is modern, clean and one of the more stylish apartments in Mostar. Great option for one or two people. Studio Apartment Bohemia is walking distance to Old Town and offers free parking.
The best views of the bridge are from the river banks, a popular place to hang when it’s warm out!
MOSTAR RESTAURANTS
CAFE DE ALMA
A charming little cafe in Old Town where visitors can taste and learn about traditional Bosnian coffee.
NATIONAL RESTAURANT CEVABDZINICA TIMA IRMA
Popular restaurant in Old Town that serves local cuisine including sogan dolma, rostilj and pljeskavica. Very affordable, but no river views here.
HINDIN HAN
Decent food in a specular setting in Old Town. Grab a seat on the wooden balcony surrounded by lush greenery, blooming flowers and views of the turquoise water. Very serene.
RESTORAN LAGERO
If you can nab a table on the terrace, you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the river and Stari Most. Restorn Lagero serves a mix of traditional dishes including pita, grilled meats and salads.
ŠADVRAN RESTAURANT
No river views here, but Šadvran is probably the most popular restaurant in town. It’s located in the heart of Old Town – outdoor tables are the most picturesque. Menu includes a variety of local dishes including japrak, kebab, klepe and grills. There’s always a line in the evenings.
Golden Hour in Mostar.
GET AROUND MOSTAR
The historic part of Mostar is very walkable – there are no cars within the pedestrian zone of Old Town. If you plan to visit the nearby monastery and waterfalls, you’ll need transportation. They are easiest to visit with a car or by group tour.
Crossing the famous bridge – the stone is surprisingly slippery!
Koskin-Mehmed Mosque.
GET TO MOSTAR
Most visitors arrive to Mostar via Split or Dubrovnik as part of a group tour or with a rental car. The border crossing from Croatia or Montengero is fairly straight forward, but timing can vary depending on how busy it is. For reference, there was no wait for us – it took two minutes.
A word of warning if you plan to self drive to Mostar. Corrupt traffic stops are quite common in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially on the roads just outside of Mostar. It happened to me. Three cops flagged down our car, accused us of “speeding” and demanded 100 Euro to avoid going to go to the police station to formally pay a speeding ticket. The 100 Euro literally went into the wallet of one of the officers, and no ticket was every provided.
After talking to other tourists and locals, the only way to truly avoid this situation is to avoid driving entirely, and book Mostar as part of a day tour from Croatia. Otherwise, just drive the roads at a snail’s pace, and hope you don’t get stopped and falsely accused of speeding.
Kriva Cuprija is the mini version of Stari Most.
Dazzling view of Stari Most from these rocks. OUTFIT DETAILS: Free People set linked here.
