- Konjic Old Bridge built
- 1682 to 1683
- Tito's bunker built in secret
- 1953 to 1979
- Jablanica rail bridge blown up
- 1943
Two towns on the way to Sarajevo
Konjic and Jablanica are on the Neretva, between Mostar and Sarajevo. Most visitors pass them on the main road or on the train and see little. They reward a stop for one reason above all: each has a bridge with a story, and the valley around them is the best of the river outside Mostar.
The railway from Sarajevo to the coast runs through both towns, and Wikipedia and Wikivoyage agree on that. Details of the services are on the Sarajevo to Mostar page. The official timetable (checked October 2026) shows fast trains between the two cities taking about 2 hours. Wikivoyage also lists a bus between Mostar and Sarajevo via Konjic and Jablanica of about 2 hours 30 minutes, hourly. It is undated, so check current times. We found no verified distance from Mostar to either town.
The Old Bridge at Konjic
The Konjic Old Bridge, Stara Ćuprija, is a stone bridge of six slightly pointed arches. Wikipedia says it was built in 1682 to 1683. Wikivoyage gives 1682, so the safe wording is the early 1680s. It is a National Monument.
The bridge was destroyed in March 1945 when the retreating German army blew it up. It was rebuilt in its original form. The sources disagree on when. Wikipedia says 2003 to 2009 and Wikivoyage says 2007 to 2010, so we say it was rebuilt in the 2000s. Like the Old Bridge in Mostar, it is a rebuilt monument, so the stone you walk on is newer than the design. For comparison, see the Mostar Old Bridge.
Konjic is about 60 km south-west of Sarajevo, according to Wikipedia. Wikivoyage gives the bus from Sarajevo as 80 to 90 minutes at about 8 KM, crossing the Ivan-sedlo pass at 955 m.
Tito’s bunker
Near Konjic, a secret atomic command bunker was dug into a mountain. It was built between 1953 and 1979 for Yugoslavia’s leadership, and Wikipedia gives its area as 611 square metres. It is called ARK D-0. Since 2011 it has hosted the D-0 ARK Underground Biennial of Contemporary Art.
Wikivoyage says visits are by guided tour only. It also lists hours, a fee and a closing day, but we could not confirm them: the official website did not load for us, and a search turned up a third-party note that tours may need booking through an online form with no walk-up tickets. We therefore give no hours or price. Check before you go.
Jablanica and the Battle of the Neretva
Jablanica is further down the river, on the Mostar side. In 1943, during the Battle of the Neretva in the Second World War, a rail bridge there was blown up while a train was crossing. Wikipedia reports that a museum and park commemorate it. The museum is the main reason to stop. We found no verified opening hours or entry fee.
The damaged bridge belongs to a period of fighting that cost many lives. Treat the site as a memorial, not a photo prop. For the history of the later wars, see war history.
Rafting on the upper Neretva
The upper Neretva near Konjic is a rafting river. One day trip from Mostar is listed at 10 hours and includes rafting guides and equipment, a Bosnian breakfast and lunch, and showers and changing rooms (checked October 2026). It has few reviews so far, so read them before booking.
What we could not confirm
For honesty’s sake, some practical details are missing. We have no verified distance from Mostar to Konjic or Jablanica, no opening hours or fee for the Jablanica museum, and no confirmed hours or price for the bunker. Prices and timetables for trains and buses change, so check the operator before you travel, and use the tour cards below for current tour prices.
Konjic is also a place to simply walk. The bridge, the river banks and the town make an easy hour even if you do not enter the bunker. Wear shoes with grip if you plan to walk along the water, and check the weather before a rafting day.
Fitting it into a trip
By car or train, the towns sit on the route between Sarajevo and Mostar. A Sarajevo day trip that adds Konjic on the way down the Neretva valley is listed at 9 to 12 hours. From Mostar, Konjic and Jablanica are a better stop on a Sarajevo journey than a standalone day out. Compare with Sarajevo and the day trips overview.
