Three ways to do it
Sarajevo and Mostar are both in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so there is no border to cross. You can go by train, by bus or on a guided day tour. The train is the one most visitors come here for: it is the only option that is also part of the trip, because the line runs down the Neretva valley.
| Option | Time | Hassle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (ŽFBH) | About 2 hours | Low: two trains a day each way | A one-way transfer, or a night in Mostar |
| Bus | Not verified | Unknown: we found no timetable | Times that suit you better than the train |
| Day tour | 9 to 12 hours | Lowest: pickup, stops and return arranged | One day only, with extra stops |
Whichever you choose, the getting there page covers the other starting points, and the Mostar itinerary shows how much time the town needs.
The train, Sarajevo to Mostar
The state railway of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, ŽFBH, runs the service. The trains on this line are Talgo trains. The journey covers 129 km and takes about 2 hours, per Seat61.
The ŽFBH timetable, dated 25 October 2026, lists two fast trains on the southern line, each with no day restrictions in its notes:
- Train 723 leaves Sarajevo at 07:15 and ends at Čapljina at 09:40.
- Train 721 leaves Sarajevo at 16:46 and ends at Čapljina at 19:18.
The ŽFBH timetable at zfbh.ba/en/red-voznje, checked 25 October 2026, gives the Mostar times for the same two trains:
- The 07:15 from Sarajevo arrives in Mostar at 09:13.
- The 16:46 from Sarajevo arrives in Mostar at 18:48.
The page shows no fare. Seat61 and EveryRail agree on the Sarajevo departures.
The morning train is the one for a day trip, and the afternoon one suits a transfer when you plan to sleep in Mostar. Our where to stay page helps you choose a base.
The train, Mostar to Sarajevo
Going north, the official ŽFBH timetable lists two trains:
- Leaves Mostar 06:33, arrives Sarajevo 08:35.
- Leaves Mostar 17:09, arrives Sarajevo 19:07.
Seat61, a secondary source, adds that the 17:09 does not run Friday to Sunday from June to September, and that a 19:56 departure runs on Friday to Sunday in summer. Confirm both on zfbh.ba.
The 19:56 departure comes from the seasonal arrangement ŽFBH ran in 2026 with a Sarajevo to Ploče train from 26 June to 27 September. That service has ended for the year. It may return in a future summer, so treat it as a possibility, not a promise.
A day trip by train is possible on paper: the 07:15 from Sarajevo, then the 17:09 back, outside summer weekends. That leaves a long day in Mostar, but the 17:09 does not run Friday to Sunday from June to September, so check the date first.
Stations and tickets
The ŽFBH station list uses the names Sarajevo and Mostar for the two stations. We have not verified anything more specific, such as platform numbers or the walk from Mostar station to the Old Town. Ask your accommodation in Mostar how best to reach the centre, and do the same in Sarajevo before you head for the station. Arrive with time in hand, since a missed train leaves you only two departures a day to choose from, and the later one may not suit you.
Tickets can be bought online on the ŽFBH site. The booking form offers one-way or return tickets, fast or local trains and second class, and it applies passenger discounts automatically. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or Maestro. The ticket page describes online purchase only. We could not confirm whether you can buy at the station or on board, so buy ahead if the date matters to you.
We did not find a current fare. The ŽFBH domestic price page says it is under construction. An older figure exists, but it is out of date, so we do not quote it. Check zfbh.ba for current times and fares, or phone ŽFBH on +387 33 655 330 or +387 61 783 664. Seasonal summer trains, such as the 2026 Ploče service, were not sold online, so do not assume every train can be booked on the site.
Why the ride is worth it
The route between Sarajevo and Mostar follows the Neretva valley, and the day tours describe the drive as going down it. In the valley are Konjic and Jablanica, two towns covered on our Konjic and Jablanica page. The photograph at the top of this page shows the collapsed bridge at Jablanica, one of the best-known stops on the way. At least one day tour we list stops at Konjic.
We have not ridden the train for this guide and have not verified which stations it calls at between the two cities. Treat the valley as the reason to pick the train, not as a promise of any one view.
The bus
Buses also link Sarajevo and Mostar. We did not read any operator timetable for this route, so we give no times, operator names or fares. Look up the current schedule with the bus station in Sarajevo or an online booking site. The train has the advantage that its two departures are confirmed, and it does not share the road.
If you do take a bus, allow for the walk or taxi from the Mostar bus station to the Old Town. The Old Bridge page shows where you will end up.
Day tours from Sarajevo
A guided day tour is the third option. You are collected in Sarajevo, driven down the valley and brought back the same evening. The three tours we list from Sarajevo run 9 to 12 hours and combine Mostar with other stops:
- One includes Mostar, Blagaj and Kravice with a licensed guide, and the entry fees are paid on the day.
- One adds Konjic on the way down the Neretva valley, with pickup in central Sarajevo.
- One combines Mostar, Konjic, Blagaj, Počitelj and Kravica Falls, with brunch at Kravica.
The cards below show the current price and rating. Our day tours page compares more, and the Kravice waterfalls page explains one of the usual stops.
The trade-off is time in Mostar itself. A tour with four or five stops leaves you only part of the day at the Old Bridge.
Which to choose
- One day, no planning, extra stops: a day tour.
- A one-way transfer with the valley as part of the trip: the train, subject to the times above.
- More than a few hours in Mostar: the train down and a night in town, then the train or another transport back.
- Different times from the train: the bus, once you have checked a current timetable.
Before you leave, read the Sarajevo page for the city end of the trip. You can also see how the same journey works from the coast on Mostar from Dubrovnik and Split to Mostar.
