Town/City
Mostar and Stari Most
The Ottoman-era Stari Most bridge, rebuilt after its wartime destruction, is the centerpiece of Mostar's old town, where locals still dive from the bridge into the Neretva River below.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
Mostar is the heart of Herzegovina, built on both banks of the emerald Neretva and named after the bridge keepers who guarded its famous crossing. Stari Most, the Old Bridge, was completed in 1566, destroyed during the war in 1993 and rebuilt stone by stone, and the old town around it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The bridge is also a stage. Divers from the local club leap more than 20 metres into the cold river below, a tradition going back centuries, and an annual diving competition each summer draws big crowds. Beyond town, rafting and kayaking trips run on the Neretva, and Blagaj, where the Buna River springs from beneath a cliff next to a 16th-century dervish house, is just 15 minutes away.
Mostar is about two hours from Sarajevo on one of the most scenic train rides in the Balkans, and around two and a half hours from Dubrovnik. Summer is hot and busy with day-trippers, so stay overnight to see the old town at its quietest. Combine it with Kravice Waterfalls and Počitelj for an easy loop through Herzegovina.
When to go
April through October, with spring and autumn offering pleasant temperatures for exploring the old town on foot.
Mostar in winter
Mostar is open all year, and winter is when you see the old town without the day-trip crowds. Days are cool, sometimes rainy, and the Neretva runs high and green under Stari Most.
Kravice is too cold to swim in winter, but the falls are at their most powerful from late winter into spring. Neretva rafting does not run in winter.
Some cafés and guesthouses close or cut their hours, so book ahead and check opening times.
Getting there
Roughly 2.5 hours from Sarajevo or Dubrovnik by car, or a direct train from Sarajevo.
Plan your visit
What it costs, how long to allow, and where to base yourself.
Free to walk; museums and tours charged
1 to 2 days
Mostar
Sarajevo or Dubrovnik, 2.5 hrs
Where to stay in Mostar: old town nights by Stari Most
Stay in or right beside the old town. Day-trippers leave by late afternoon, so an overnight stay lets you see Stari Most quiet in the early morning and lit up at night. Muslibegović House is a night in an 18th-century Ottoman mansion, while Hostel Majdas keeps costs low and runs full-day tours to Kravice, Počitelj and Blagaj.
Bosnian National Monument Muslibegovic House
Hotel
Price Range:
Upscale
Sleep in an 18th-century Ottoman mansion with carved ceilings, a garden and a free tour of the house led by the family.
In Mostar old town
Hotel-Restaurant Kriva Ćuprija
Hotel
Price Range:
Mid-range
Heritage stone hotel by the Crooked Bridge with its own restaurant and a summer terrace over the Radobolja.
Steps from the Old Bridge
Hostel Majdas
Hostel
Price Range:
Budget
Backpacker base with a shared kitchen, garden lounge and free parking. Runs full-day tours to Kravice, Počitelj and Blagaj.
7 to 8 min walk to the Old Bridge
Who it's for
Best for: Combining a UNESCO old town with time on the water. The Neretva runs rafting trips upstream, Blagaj's river spring is 15 minutes away, and Kravice waterfalls are 40.
Skip it if: You only have the middle of a summer day. Between 10am and 4pm the old town is shoulder to shoulder with day-trippers from Dubrovnik and Split.
Nearby places
Easy to combine on the same trip.
Mostar questions
Why was the bridge rebuilt?
The original Stari Most was destroyed during the 1990s war and rebuilt afterward using traditional methods, reopening in 2004.
How much time should I plan for Mostar?
1 to 2 days. One day covers the old town, and a second lets you add Kravice or Blagaj.
Is Mostar an easy day trip from Dubrovnik?
Yes, it's a popular day trip from Dubrovnik, roughly 2.5 hours each way by car.
How much does it cost to visit Mostar?
Walking the old town and crossing Stari Most are free. Museums, the bridge tower and guided walking tours charge small fees, and Bosnia is inexpensive for food and accommodation.
Should I stay overnight?
Stay overnight. Most visitors arrive on day trips between mid-morning and late afternoon, so the old town is at its quietest early and in the evening, when the bridge is lit.
Is Mostar worth visiting?
Yes. Stari Most was completed in 1566, destroyed in 1993 and rebuilt stone by stone, and the old town around it is a UNESCO site. The train ride from Sarajevo is one of the most scenic in the Balkans.
Can I watch the bridge divers?
Yes. Divers from the local club leap more than 20 metres into the cold river below, a tradition going back centuries. An annual competition each summer draws big crowds.
What else is nearby?
Blagaj, where the Buna springs from beneath a cliff next to a 16th-century dervish house, is 15 minutes away. Kravice waterfalls and the fortress town of Počitelj make an easy Herzegovina loop.
Is Mostar worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you want the old town and Stari Most without the summer crowds. It is cool and sometimes rainy, rafting and swimming are off, and some places shorten their hours.
Can you swim at Kravice in winter?
No, the water is far too cold. Swimming season runs June to September. In late winter and spring the falls are at their most powerful, so it is still worth a visit for the view.
Ready to explore Mostar?
Book a full-day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar's old town and Stari Most, with a stop at Kravice Waterfalls.
