Introduction: Mostar Travel Guide
Mostar is a small city located southeast, yet it is the 5th most populous city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Cool fact is that Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva.
Though the old city center is quite small, it is a must to see while in Bosnia and Herzegovina and is totally worth doing it.
The old bridge is a nowadays a world-famous landmark.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
The easiest way to visit Mostar is to go by car. Actually, Bosnia and Herzegovina is best visited on a road trip. The roads are beautiful and go through beautiful landscapes and countryside roads.
If you don’t like this option, you can also fly to Sarajevo and then take a 2h train to Mostar. You can check your train journey there: https://www.zfbh.ba/en/
Mostar has an airport (OMO) but unfortunately it is super-duper small.
Moving Around
Once is Mostar, you can do all things to do in Mostar walking. Only if you want to explore around you will need a car. For example, to visit Blagaj.
Also, parking on the street of Mostar is free. Even if you see the parking machine, there are not in use anymore.
When to Visit
Like Croatia and the Balkan, the best time to visit Mostar is from April to October. Though it is good to know that July and August are the warmest month. It gets quite hot!
The best recommendation would be June or September when you get into the lower tourism season and out of the peak temperatures.
Where to Stay
- (€): The Lookout Apartment
- (€€): Urban Residence Apartments
- (€€€): Hotel Mepas
We stayed at Urban Resistance Apartments and it was really great and super close from the center.
Things to do Mostar
Bazar Kujundžiluk
The bazar is the heart of the old city and is the perfect place to hang around on your way to the bridge. With its cobbled streets, colourful stalls and workshops is an amazing place to spend time.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
This cute mosque is not really an attraction, but you can enter in its inner courtyard and also see the bridge from there. Built in the 1600s by the Ottomans, it is one of the best-preserved mosques in the area. If you are lucky the mosque can be visited with its minaret.
Old Bridge
Built by the Ottomans in the 16th century it is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most visited landmarks and is considered an exemplary piece of Islamic architecture in the Balkans.
We definitely recommend going on the bridge at night to see the livelihood of the area, then to go for dinner with a view of the bridge and to return to it early morning to have it all for yourself.
One thing that you can also see is Bridge diving. Mostly in summer, professionals are jumping from the bridge to the river.
Kriva ćuprija
Get a bit away from the main street and get lost in the smaller one to find a smaller and older version of the famous bridge. The bridge was destroyed by the flood in 2001 and was rebuilt.
Urban Grill
The best place in town for a local dinner with a beautiful view of the bridge. Make a reservation for your dinner there and have a nice evening. The specialities is the mixed BBQ but they do have some vegetarian and fish options.
War remnants in Mostar
Mostar was really hit during the 1990s war with heavy fighting all over the city. Today, remnant of it can be found all over the city.
Plaza de España
One of the main squares of Mostar, located 10min walking from the old city center. It is a nice place to walk to get more of the city. Its name comes from 1995, to honour the 2 1 killed Spanish troops at UNPROFOR in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Things to do near Mostar
Blagaj Fort
If you are into hiking and old ruins, that’s the spot to visit. Built on a high, inaccessible karst hill, at an elevation of 310 metres the ruins of this amazing fortress are standing. To access it, you can park at the end of a dirt road and then hike 30 to 60min.
Dervish House
20min south of Mostar, is the small village of Blagaj where you can visit the famous tekija (also called the Blagaj monastery or Dervish House). Founded in the 16th century, the monastery is nestled between a cliff and a river with a cave. Today the monastery is one of the main landmarks of Sufi Islam.
Mostar Itinerary
We personally came from Trebinje to Mostar to Sarajevo. So, we first stopped at Blagaj, visited the monastery and then the fort (I did the fort and Tina waited in the car as it was over 40°C in August 2021). Then we headed to Mostar, checked-in our AirBnb and hanged around the old town before going for diner.
The next morning, we went back to the old bridge before leaving for Sarajevo.
Gvožđe se kuje dok je vruće – Гвожђе се кује док је вруће.
(Iron is worked when it’s still hot. English equivalent: Strike while the iron is hot.)
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