Blagaj is a small village located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina, most famous for its 600 year old tekke, Blagaj Monastery. The village has an authentic Ottoman feel with its stone houses and narrow paths, and of course it’s Dervish monastery.
Whether you’re here for the history or just to sip coffee while soaking in the views, Blagaj is a spot to be added to your Bosnia itinerary.
In this short guide to Blagaj Monastery I’ll tell you all about how to get here and make the most of your visit.
Vrelo Bune (Buna Spring)
Blagaj Monastery and Vrelo Bune are located right next to each other, and are often confused or mentioned together.
Vrelo Bune is a so-called karstic spring emerging from a cave that lies underneath a steep limestone cliff. In summer it’s possible to take a short boat ride into the cave to see the underground Karst river.
Blagaj Tekija (Blagaj Monastery)
One of the most photographed sites in Bosnia, this Sufi monastery (tekke) built in the 16th century by Dervish monks, served as a spiritual retreat for the Sufi order (Sufism is a branch of Islam) but today it is a museum and tourist attraction about 25 min. from Mostar.
To visit you need to dress appropriately. Both men and women need to cover knees and shoulders, and women have to wear a head scarf as well (if you don’t have either, you can rent from the reception of the monastery).
Open daily 8am–10pm (summer months)
Entry fee: 10km / €5
Hot take: Entering the monastery isn’t a must. There is little to see inside, but you get a closer vantage point of the cave entrance where the Buna Spring comes from.
How to get to Blagaj Monastery
It is by far the easiest to get to Blagaj from Mostar which is only a 25-30 min. drive by car or bus.
Most people however opt to join an organised tour which stops by the Blagaj Monastery, as there’s not much else to do in the area and it requires some planning to get to the Monastery.
How to get from Mostar to Blagaj Monastery
Bus no. 10 has nine departures a day from Mostar to Blagaj during weekdays (direct line). See the full time table here
The price for a bus ticket is about 2km / €1
Keep in mind that during the weekend there are less buses and you might depend on a taxi. On weekends it can also get crowded with local tourists. So try to aim for a visit during the week.
Blagaj Monastery parking
If you have a car (rented or your own) it’s fairly easy to get to Blagaj. As said it’s 25 min. from Mostar and about 2.5 hours from Sarajevo
The Blagaj Monastery sits at the end of a one-way street where cars are not allowed. So you have to park in town or at one of the designated parking lots (though space is limited).
Parking fee: 4km / €2 (for regular cars)
- parking lot Maps link
From here it’s an easy 10 min. walk down to the monastery. There’s a lot of street vendors selling their products as well as souvenirs here.
At the very end of the road the monastery sits up against a cliff.
If you just want to get a picture of the monastery and don’t want to go inside, head across one of the two bridges (it doesn’t matter which one). On the other side of Vrelo Bune are a few restaurants, where you have to turn left BEHIND the restaurants. It’s a dirt road which looks like you’re going the wrong way but you’re not. It’s a short 3 min. walk and then the road stops at a small platform just in front of the Blagaj Monastery.
Alternatively, you can park at the second parking lot which is situated behind the restaurants (here scams are a lot more common as most people don’t know about this parking space – so please only pay the required 4KM / €2 – if they ask for more, they’re scamming you), and from here you turn right and get to the same dirt road.
- Parking lot Maps link
Is the Blagaj Monastery worth it
In my honest opinion visiting the Monastery is only worth it if you go on a guided tour or have it as a stop as part of a road trip (like me). It’s beautiful but takes maybe 10 min. to visit… If you’re spending a few days in Mostar, I would imagine going here for lunch could be nice.
Other things to do in Blagaj
On top of the limestone cliff above the Monastery are the ruins of a medieval fortress called Stjepan grad (Blagaj fortress) that was built in the 10th century. It’s possible to hike up here and get a stunning panoramic view of the region. I wish I had done it, but I was tired from a long day of driving.
But you can read more about the hike here
