I’ll be honest with you – I did not expect to like Mostar Bosnia…
I went to Bosnia in October 2024 as part of a month’s trip through the Balkans, and embarked on a 4-day, 935km road-trip through Bosnia’s countryside, hunting for waterfalls and autumn nature. Because Mostar was the second-last stop on my roadtrip, I had pretty high standards given the amazing places I had already seen. And because I had run out of time, I was only able to stay 1 night.
But stepping into Mostar felt like entering a fairytale. With its cobblestoned streets, Ottoman architecture, and the iconic bridge spanning the emerald Neretva River, this small town offers a unique blend of European charm and Middle Eastern influences.
Where is Mostar Bosnia
Mostar is located in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically in the Herzegovina region.
The town is just 125km from the capital, Sarajevo, and only 150 kilometers from the popular tourist city of Dubrovnik, making it an easy addition to your Croatia itinerary.
How to get to Mostar
Getting to Mostar is relatively easy, especially from nearby major cities like Sarajevo and Dubrovnik.
By car: From Sarajevo it’s a 2h drive to Mostar, and from Dubrovnik it’s about a 2,5h drive (not factoring in border control). Be aware of road tolls and police inspections.
By train: a train goes twice a day from Sarajevo rail station to Mostar (about 2h journey)
See timetable and prices here.
With a tour: countless tours leave from Sarajevo, Dubrovnik and Split every day. However they usually only stop briefly in Mostar, which is great if you have limited time and want to see as much of the area as possible, but I’d recommend staying at least 1 night in the old town to really soak up the unique atmosphere.
Daytrip from Croatia to Mostar
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not part of the EU or the Schengen zone, so if you are not a citizen of either you need a visa to enter the country on a day-trip from Croatia (read more about visa-requirements for Bosnia here). However if you do hold any of those (e.g., a Schengen visa), you’re eligible for a visa-free entry of up to 15 days for tourism in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Because Croatia is part of EU, the chances of you holding a valid visa going from Croatia to Bosnia is big, and you won’t have to worry about crossing the border for a daytrip.
The Neum Corridor
You might have seen the meme about Bosnians wanting to swim in the ocean (otherwise see below LOL)
Neum is Bosnia’s only coastal town, and it splits Croatia’s coastline into two parts. So when traveling by land from Split to Dubrovnik, you must briefly pass through Bosnia. The border situation causes practical, political, and security challenges, especially after Croatia joined the EU (2013) and the Schengen Area (2023), while Bosnia has not.
To solve this, Croatia built the Pelješac Bridge in 2022, which bypasses Bosnia altogether and connects mainland Croatia directly to Dubrovnik via the Pelješac Peninsula.
What to Do in Mostar Bosnia
Mostar may be small but you can still spend hours wandering this amazing town
Old Bridge Mostar Bosnia
Without question, the Stari Most (Old Bridge) is the crown jewel of Mostar Bosnia and the reason most travelers make the journey here. This magnificent stone bridge, originally built in 1557, represents one of the greatest engineering feats of the Ottoman era.
After surviving 427 years and even World War II, it was tragically destroyed in 1993 during the Croat-Bosniak conflict. However, the bridge was rebuilt using 16th-century techniques and stones from the original bridge, opening in 2004 and earning UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005.
Psst: to get the best photographs of this iconic landmark, visit early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Can you jump from the bridge in Mostar?
YES! As you might have seen on social media, it is popular to jump from the Old Bridge into the River below (which has been done for hundreds of years). It’s not only locals and visitors who jump from the bridge – Mostar Dive Club have regular competitions here, and Red Bulls Cliff Diving World series have held shows here several times (and they’re coming back in October 2025! Read more here)
At its deepest the Neretva River is 5.5 meters (approximately 18 feet). The bridge itself is about 20 to 24 meters above the water level.
Safety concerns: The Neretva River is cold and fast-moving, and diving from that height is dangerous. However there is a team of dive club members who stand on the bridge and down by the water, who can react if something goes wrong.
A new platform has been built beside the Old Bridge, primarily to support the iconic diving tradition, but also because it has become so popular among visitors, moving some activities off the actual bridge, helps preserve the structural integrity of the UNESCO-listed monument.
How to jump from Mostar Bridge
Contrary to what I thought – you can’t just show up, strip and jump from the bridge.
You have to practice and pay to jump! But apparently once you pay to jump once, you become a member for life and can jump for free every time you come back (more reason to revisit huh). The price seems to vary depending on time of year, but in general it costs 20 Euros to sign up for the bridge jump and an additional 10 Euros for your practice jumps from a smaller 10-meter bridge. So €30 total
I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t spend that amount of money to jump from a bridge (I also have a serious fear of being underwater so I’m biased haha). Aka. I didn’t jump. So if it’s something you might want to do, read a first-hand experience here
Wander around the old town of Mostar Bosnia
The real magic of Mostar is when you simply wander through its uneven streets. The old town is compact and easily walkable, with narrow cobblestoned lanes on both sides of the Neretva River lined with charming cafes, traditional restaurants, and souvenir shops.
The Ottoman influence is immediately apparent in the architecture, with characteristic stone roofs and medieval building styles.
Personally I could spend hours people-watching and admiring the architecture. Others might spend hours going from shop to shop or indulging in a meal.
When is the Best Time to Visit Mostar Bosnia
Mostar has a Mediterranean climate that makes it nice year-round, but May, June, and September offer the perfect combination of pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and reasonable accommodation prices. Temperatures are comfortable for walking and exploring, and you’ll avoid both the peak summer heat.
As mentioned, Mostar is a popular touristic attraction, not only from people visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina but largely from Croatia as well. July and August are high-season, and the accommodation availability is low and pricing is sky-high. So if you can, try to avoid these months.
I visited in October 2024 and had a lovely time. I woke up early to wander the old town around 6.30am and I saw maybe 3 other tourists! Magical! (but the evening was still rather busy)
Daytrip from Mostar
Kravica Waterfall: the most famous places to visit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Located about 40 kilometers from Mostar, this 25-meter-high waterfall is pure Instagram gold, with emerald pools that are perfect for swimming during summer months.
Because of its popularity, Kravica waterfalls is one of the most accessible attractions (though still pretty remote).
Split, Croatia: Whether you want to be transported back in time while wandering through the cobblestone streets of Split Old Town or cruise on a boat in the Adriatic Sea sipping a cocktail – Split has something for everyone. Read about what to do in Split HERE