The Stari Most Old Bridge while visiting Mostar Bosina & Herzegovina in the morning light

14 Helpful Tips For Visiting Mostar In Bosnia & Herzegovina

Visiting Mostar is an opportunity that you really shouldn’t miss when traveling in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Other than Sarajevo, Mostar is the most-visited city in the country. Why is Mostar worth visiting? Because its incredibly scenic Old Town – a UNESCO World Heritage site – dates back to Mostar’s medieval Ottoman rule. And its Old Town Bridge is certainly the most-photographed landmark in the entire country. We visited Mostar on a dedicated weekend trip from Sarajevo. And we were able to check out most of the best things to do in Mostar. Here’s all the helpful tips I gathered while visiting Mostar.

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Getting To Mostar

The most common way for tourists to see Mostar is via an organized day trip. Mostar sits equidistant from three other popular tourist cities – both Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and Sarajevo in Bosnia. The driving distance from all three is around 2 hours. And tour companies offer day trips from all three. Here’s some examples of those on Viator:

If you are like me and prefer a DIY approach to day trips, then be aware that this will be difficult from Croatia unless you rent a car. During our own stay in Dubrovnik the year prior, I ruled out visiting Mostar

It’s easier however to use public transportation for a day trip between Mostar and Sarajevo. A train connects the two cities. And in fact, this journey is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe.

You can also connect between Mostar and Sarajevo by bus.

The Autoprevoz Bus to Mostar at the Sarajevo central bus station

We ended up using both. We took the bus from Sarajevo to Mostar. And returned via train.

And after having used both, I would recommend choosing the bus. It covers the same ground as the train, and so offers the same beautifully scenic ride. And our Mostar to Sarajevo train experience was not good. In fact, I have an entire blog post all about that – Getting From Sarajevo to Mostar…Is Bus or Train Best?

A stray dog on the train tracks at the Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina train station

Mostar is Crowded

Because Mostar is a popular day trip destination from three major Balkan tourist cities, be prepared for crowds. Especially during the middle of day, once everyone has arrived. This is what the famous Mostar bridge can look like during a good percentage of the day in peak season (this photo was taken in late September)…

Crowds visiting Mostar walking across the Old Bridge

And here’s a look at the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds on the narrow streets of Mostar’s Old Town…

Crowds visiting Mostar walking through the Old Town

Honestly, this is the main reason I chose not to visit Mostar from Dubrovnik the year prior. A 4-5 hour round trip journey, in order to spend only a few hours pushing my way through a tourist crowd? That didn’t sound like a good day.

So Try to Spend the Night When Visiting Mostar

Consequently, I do not recommend taking a day trip to Mostar. If at all possible, I recommend that when visiting Mostar, you stay over at least one night.

That’s exactly what we did. We traveled down to Mostar from Sarajevo on a Saturday morning. And returned from Mostar to Sarajevo on a Sunday evening.

By spending a night, you will give yourself the chance to experience a quieter Mostar – after the day trippers have left. Plus, you’ll get to see Old Town and the Bridge all lit up.

The Stari Most Old Bridge in Mostar lit up at night

But even better. First thing in the morning, you’ll probably have Mostar all to yourself…

Because Mornings In Mostar Are the Best

On our Sunday morning in Mostar, I went out for an early wander. And look at what I found!

An empty bridge….

The Stari Most Old Bridge in Mostar in the morning without any people

An empty Old Town….

Mostar Old Town in the morning before the crowds come

And a morning quiet that made visiting Mostar a lot more magical…

A view of the Stari Most Old Bridge in Mostar from the Neretva River below

Is Mostar worth visiting if you can only swing a day trip? Definitely! But if you can find a way to stay longer, you won’t regret it.

Things to Do in Mostar? Foremost Is The Bridge

Of all the things to do in Mostar, hanging out around the historic Old Bridge (called the Stari Most in Bosnian) certainly tops the list. The Stari Most was originally designed and constructed by the ruling Ottomans in 1566. It was considered a true masterpiece of medieval Turkish architecture. Sadly, the original bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993. It has since been lovingly rebuilt to match its exact original design (and many of the original materials were also successfully retrieved from the Neretva River below).

Visiting the Stari Most Old Bridge is one of the top things to do in Mostar

Old Town Mostar is also very scenic. But it’s also very small. Just a few streets and alleyways on either side of the bridge.

Brightly colored homes in the Mostar Old Town

It doesn’t take much time to explore the entire historic center. Which is great if you do take the day trip approach. You really can see it all in an hour or two.

Meals with a View

Since the bridge is the focal point in Mostar, many restaurants offer balconies along the river with a view. And we dined at a couple of those. My favorite was a place called Urban Taste of Orient. And I definitely recommend it.

It’s located directly on the surreally blue Neretva River, along the northern edge of Old Town. It offers this view from its outdoor dining tables…

A view of the Old Bridge in Mostar from Urban Taste of Orient restaurant

Both the food and the service were outstanding. And despite the somewhat confusing name, the menu features classic Bosnian dishes. Like the Bosnian meatballs I ordered…

Bosnia meatballs with a distant view of the Mostar bridge from Urban Taste of Orient - a great place to eat when visiting Mostar

Urban Taste of Orient seemed to be a popular choice for large tour groups, so I recommend that you reserve ahead. We walked in without a reservation. However, the very kind staff gave us one of their very best tables, with the understanding that we could only stay for an hour – since a busload of tourists was coming. But the staff still never rushed us, and we very much enjoyed both the food and the view.

My #1 Place to Enjoy the View

While you are visiting Mostar, odds are that you’ll also want to enjoy that famous view along with a coffee (or something stronger). And you can certainly find several cafes and bars in Old Town. But I don’t think any of them can match this view…

Red deck chairs with a view of the Old Bridge in Mostar from the Old Bridge Lazy Bar

This is from an outdoor venue along the river’s edge called the Old Bridge Lazy Bar. It offers several tiers of outdoor seating, and though they don’t have a huge selection of drinks, what they do offer is incredibly inexpensive.

A view of the Old Bridge Lazy Bar from below Mostar's famed bridge
A distant view of the Lazy Bar from below the Old Bridge

We loved the location so much, we ended up spending a couple hours here on each of our two days visiting Mostar. Not only was the view of the bridge spectacular, but there was always plenty of activity on the water too. Lots of tourist-laden speed boats were always whizzing past. And there’s a community diving platform directly across the river – which was always entertaining to watch. Plus, we could also easily see Mostar’s famed bridge divers.

Yes, There Are Divers

It’s long been a tradition in Mostar for young men of the town to jump off the bridge. It’s a tradition that reportedly dates back to Ottoman times. Nowadays, local divers jump off the bridge to entertain the throngs of tourists in Mostar.

A diver jumping from Mostar's Old Bridge with a crowd of onlookers from the bridge above

When you visit the bridge during peak tourist hours, you’ll discover that a few guys in speedos will be hustling tips – both from atop the bridge and from the riverside below. Once they’ve collected enough money, one of them will stand atop the bridge’s highest point and jump off feet first, into the river 80 feet below.

And it’s not only locals that dive off the bridge. The Mostar Old Bridge has been a stop for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Huge crowds gather to watch professionals dive head first.

Plus, tourists visiting Mostar can even make the leap if they are crazy enough. With guidance of course. Here’s a blog post written by someone who did it.

The Crooked Bridge is Cool Too

The Stari Most isn’t the only historic Bridge in town. The Kriva Ćuprija  (Crooked Bridge) was about 8 years older than the Old Bridge. It was constructed across a smaller river as a trial – before the large version was attempted. Like the Old Bridge, the current Crooked Bridge has also been rebuilt after it was destroyed by flooding in the year 2000.

The Kriva Ćuprija  (Crooked Bridge) in Mostar at dusk

It’s located in what I think is the prettiest section of Old Town – especially at dusk.

A view of Mostar's Old Town from the Kriva Ćuprija  (Crooked Bridge) at dusk

You’ll find several restaurants in this section of old town too – all with scenic outdoor dining. It’s a little less hectic here than the area immediately surrounding the Old Bridge. We ate at the restaurant in the picture below – with its deck directly abutting the bridge. It’s called Konoba Taurus and offered good traditional Bosnian cuisine with friendly service (it’s top 10 for Mostar on Tripadvisor).

A look at Konoba Taurus from the Crooked Bridge in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina

You Can Visit A Mosque

Mostar isn’t all about bridges. You will find some other great things to do in Mostar, too. Islam is the predominant religion in this part of Bosnia-Herzegovina thanks to its Ottoman past. And you’ll find several mosques throughout and surrounding the historic center. One of the oldest is scenically located near the Old Bridge, sitting next to the Neretva River.

The Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque sitting riverside in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina

It’s called the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, and tourists are allowed to enter during non-prayer times (there is a small admission fee). It’s one of the oldest mosques in Mostar and was built in 1600s.

Inside the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina

This Mosque will even allow you to climb the minaret for an additional fee. As I explained in my last post on Sarajevo, we grew quite accustomed to hearing the 5x daily Call to Prayer from atop these minarets during our time in Bosnia. So of course we jumped at the chance to climb one. And all the more reason to do so at Koski Mehmed Pasha….because of the amazing view you’ll find on top.

A tourist looking out across Mostar and the Stari Most from the minaret at the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque

(Note: This is one of the very most popular things to do in Mostar. It can get crowded on top. And the climb up the narrow winding stone staircase can get claustrophobic if you are sharing it with a lot of others. We entered the Mosque upon its reopening after mid-afternoon prayers. We were first up, and that made a big difference.)

Learn About Life in Turkish Mostar

One of my own favorite highlights of visiting Mostar was touring the Kajtaz House. This is the oldest remaining house in Mostar and was built for the town’s Judge back in 1520, during Ottoman rule. This Judge was basically the Governor of the town. Part of the house was destroyed during the Bosnian War, but half of it still remains and it offers a very educational look at Turkish life in Mostar.

The exterior of the Kajtaz House in Mostar - visiting here is one of the great things to do in Mostar

When you visit, a guide will walk you through each of the rooms and explain each of their purposes, while also explaining the traditional way of life back in medieval Ottoman Mostar.

One of the rooms inside the Kajtaz House in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina
The kitchen inside  the Kajtaz House in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina

It was all very fascinating and I would rank it as one of the absolute top things to do in Mostar. Since it might be hard to squeeze this in if you are visiting Mostar on a day trip only, here’s yet another great reason to figure out a way to spend a couple days here.

Learn About The Bosnian War

I’ve already referenced significant damage sustained throughout Mostar during the Bosnian War of the early 1990s. If you have a longer Mostar itinerary, I would recommend that you learn more about the War by visiting the Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992-1995. It’s located not far from the northern edge of Old Town.

The  Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992-1995 in Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina

We did not visit this museum however. We learned a lot about the Bosnian War while in Sarajevo on a half-day War Tour, and at two different Sarajevo War Museums. So we didn’t have the emotional capacity to visit another one in Mostar…it’s a very tough subject.

But if Mostar is your only stop in Bosnia, I think it’s essential to learn about this history. And the museum is 5 star ranked on Tripadvisor as one of the very top things to do in Mostar. So I’m confident in recommending it as a quality stop.

Also, be aware that when walking around Mostar, you will frequently come in direct contact with reminders of the War. As in Sarajevo, many buildings in Mostar still show unrepaired damage from mortar and artillery fire.

Building with damage from the Bosnian War in Mostar

Getting Around Mostar

While Mostar is the fifth largest city in Bosnia-Herzegovina (and the country’s third most important business/financial center), all the popular touristic things to do in Mostar are all located centrally and within a relatively small section of the city.

Consequently, Mostar is very walkable. Mostar does have a public bus system, but I don’t think are there really any reasons for tourists to use it.

Uber is not available in Mostar. Though we did use inexpensive taxis, arranged by our hotel, for transport to and from the bus/train station.

Lodging in Mostar

And speaking of our hotel, we stayed within just a few blocks of Old Town at small hotel called Hotel Sinan Han. Most of the larger hotels in Mostar are located farther outside of the historic center. For your best Mostar experience, I would definitely recommend finding a place as close to Old Town as possible. It makes it much easier to go out and enjoy that Mostar morning quiet.

Hotel Sinan Han had a small rooftop patio with views of the Old Bridge in the distance. And their staff was fantastic.

But you may want to consider staying at the Hotel-Restaurant Kriva Ćuprija, which is oozing with charm, and noticeably has one of the best spots in Old Town. It’s located just adjacent to the Crooked Bridge.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully I’ve convinced you that a day trip to Mostar really isn’t enough to fully appreciate all of its charms. Because as you can certainly see, visiting Mostar deserves much more than just a few hours fighting through the daytime crowds at the Old Bridge.

But regardless of how you choose to visit Mostar, I’m confident you won’t regret spending time exploring this historic city in Bosnia & Herzegovina.

If you will be visiting Sarajevo during your time in Bosnia, then be sure to check out this post:

10 Essential Things To Do in Sarajevo & Other Travel Tips

If you are looking for other day trips from Dubrovnik, then I highly recommend this one:

Taking an Elaphiti Islands Boat Tour

And if you want to read about a day trip to another scenic medieval city in the Balkans, then check out this post:

A Scenic Day Trip from Ljubljana to Skofja Loka Slovenia

2 Comments

  1. Great insight. It looks like we should definitely stay the night when we go. Having the opportunity to explore in the morning before the crowds arrive looks amazing. We took a similar approach when we went to Mont Saint-Michel and it made a huge difference.

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