How to use this page
Mostar is small, and the Old Town is the part most people come for. We give a one-day walking plan, then a second day for the countryside. We give times only where we can source them, so the hour-by-hour detail is yours to adjust. Opening hours for most sights are not verified, so confirm them on the day.
One day: the Old Town
Morning: the Old Bridge. Start at the Old Bridge (Stari Most), built from 1557 to 1566 and rebuilt after its destruction on 9 November 1993. It is about 24 m above the river and about 30 m long, in a single span. Cross it slowly and look at the Neretva from both ends. The story of the rebuilding, which took until 23 July 2004, is on the Old Bridge page.
Late morning: the Old Bridge Museum. The museum is in the Tara tower complex on the left bank beside the bridge. The official page describes exhibits on the bridge and its reconstruction, an archaeological site below the tower and an observation deck at the top. One guide gives the fee as 8 KM, but treat that as unverified.
Midday: the lanes and the mosque minaret. Walk the bazaar lanes of the Old Town. The Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is worth a visit. One secondary guide says 10 KM (about EUR 5) covers the interior and the minaret, and the courtyard is free, with hours in summer of roughly 08:00 to 19:00. Hours shift by season, so check at the door. The climb is a good view of the bridge, though we have not verified the number of steps or the condition of the stairs.
Afternoon: the Crooked Bridge. Walk to the Crooked Bridge (Kriva Ćuprija) over the Radobolja stream. It is a small stone bridge, and one guide says it is free. The area around it has mill ruins and garden cafes, which makes it a sensible place for a break.
Evening: by the river. Return towards the Old Bridge as the day-trip groups leave. The coach tours we compared from the coast run 10 to 12 hours, so the town has usually thinned by the evening. Sit by the river and watch the bridge as the light changes. Staying the night makes this the best part of the day. See where to stay.
If you want the harder history, the war history page covers the 1990s and the museums that deal with it.
Two days: add Herzegovina
On the second day, leave town for three places in the countryside.
- Blagaj: about 12 km from Mostar, about 15 minutes by car. The Blagaj Tekke is a dervish monastery ensemble at the source of the Buna, a short tributary of the Neretva that emerges as a karst spring beneath a tall cliff. The ensemble is likely to date to around 1520 at the latest. Dress modestly.
- Počitelj: about 25 to 30 km from Mostar, about 30 minutes. It is a historic fortified village and open-air museum on the Neretva. It was under Ottoman rule from 1471 to 1878.
- Kravice: about 40 km west, 35 to 40 minutes’ drive. The falls are 28 m high, forming an amphitheatre about 120 m wide. Entry is 20 KM for adults, and the park is open 07:00 to 22:00 from June to September. Hours are shorter at other times of year, listed on the best time to visit page.
You can do these by guided tour or by car.
By tour
The tour below runs about 8 hours from Mostar and covers Blagaj, Počitelj and Kravice. A shorter half-day trip goes to Kravice only and takes about 5.5 hours. Both leave the driving to someone else, which is useful if you have not arranged the paperwork described on the getting there page.
By car
A hire car lets you pick your own order and timing. A sensible route is to visit Blagaj first, as it is closest, then continue to Počitelj and on to Kravice. We have not verified the distances between the three, only each one’s distance from Mostar, so check a map before you commit to a schedule. A UK driver needs the 1968 International Driving Permit. If you are short of time, drop Počitelj and keep Blagaj and Kravice.
Choosing between them
- One night, or one day from the coast: the Old Town plan. Do it in the order above and finish by the river.
- Two nights: Old Town on day one, the countryside on day two.
- Not driving: take the tour from Mostar. It is the simplest way to do all three places.
Other places nearby, such as Međugorje, are covered on the nearby page.
Practical notes
- Cash: several fees are in convertible marks (KM). Kravice parking for cars is 3 KM per started hour or 6 KM a day.
- Swimming at Kravice: at your own risk, per the park’s rules. Bring a towel and keep valuables in sight, as the park accepts no liability for theft.
- Landmines: UK advice says they remain in rural areas from the 1992 to 1995 war. Stay on roads and paved areas at viewpoints and on any walk.
- Heat: summer highs average about 33 C in July and August. Do the walking in the morning and evening. The best time to visit page has more.
- Unsure what to book first: a night’s stay, then the Old Town plan. See where to stay.
