Ultimate Mostar Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Mostar might not be the hidden gem Instagram promises, but if you know where to look, it’s one of the most beautiful and eye-opening stops in the Balkans.
Planning a trip to Mostar and wondering if it’s actually worth your time? You’re not alone. A lot of travellers search for Mostar, expecting a quiet, hidden gem, only to find crowds around the famous Old Bridge and a tourism-driven old town.
Here’s the truth: Mostar isn’t a secret – but it is special. And knowing why makes all the difference.
Our guide comes from firsthand experience exploring the city beyond the postcard angles – from learning about the powerful history behind the rebuilt Stari Most to wandering streets marked by both beauty and scars of war. We’ve figured out what’s genuinely worth your time, what’s skippable, where to stay for great value, and how to use Mostar as a base to see some of the most stunning places in Herzegovina.
Whether you’re backpacking the Balkans, only planning a Bosnia & Herzegovina itinerary, or just deciding between Mostar and somewhere else, this guide will help you set the right expectations and make the most of your visit.
Let’s get into it.
Mostar Travel Guide
Mostar Bosnia & Herzegovina Map
Is Mostar Worth Visiting?
Yes – but don’t let the internet convince you it’s a hidden gem.
Mostar is one of the most visited places in Bosnia & Herzegovina. In summer, the area around the famous Stari Most (Old Bridge) is packed with day-trippers, souvenir stalls, and restaurants clearly set up for tourists. If you’re expecting empty alleys and a secret fairytale town, you’ll be disappointed.
But here’s why it’s still worth going: Mostar is genuinely beautiful and historically powerful.
The bridge over the turquoise Neretva River, the minarets, and the mountain backdrop make it visually unique in the region. And once you understand the city’s history – especially the destruction and rebuilding of the bridge after the war in the 1990s – it becomes much more than a photo stop.
Additionally, Mostar is a great base for day trips 😉
Where We Stayed in Mostar
We stayed at Apartments "M&M". The location is crazy good – super close to the bus station and within easy walking distance to the city centre. Value for money was simply amazing.
How to Get to Mostar
1. Train from Sarajevo to Mostar
The train is the most scenic way to go from Sarajevo to Mostar. Currently, there are two trains per day, departing in the morning and the evening. They take around 2 hours and cost around 7€.
2. Bus from Sarajevo to Mostar
Buses from Sarajevo to Mostar run more often. They take a bit longer, but it’s also much easier to buy tickets online, e.g. on 12Go.
How to Get Around Mostar
The centre of Mostar is walkable.
Things to Do in Mostar
1. Free Walking Tour
If you know us, you know that we are suckers for free walking tours, and we loved Sheva's Free Walking Tour of Mostar: Explore the Past, Understand our Present. We got to see the most important sights like
- The Old Haman Museum.
- The historical Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque.
- Bazar Kujundžiluk around the Old Bridge with its many shops.
- Karađoz Beg Mosque – the main mosque of Mostar.
What elevated the tour were the behind-the-scenes looks only a local can provide. Sheva climbed a tower of the Old Bridge, which is normally closed to tourists, with us to wait for a jumper. Additionally, he shared deeply personal stories about his own history – including a visit to the Orthodox Cemetery Mostar.
2. Old Bridge
Of course, the highlight of Mostar is the Old Bridge. It is a rebuilt 16th-century Ottoman bridge which became somewhat famous in recent years because people (mostly trained local men) regularly jump down the impressive 24 m (78 ft).
We suggest relaxing in one of the many cafes with a bridge view, enjoying a traditional Bosnian coffee and waiting for a bridge diver to jump.
A popular place to settle for a coffee with a view is Tabhana, a guest house from the 16th century, and we also liked URBAN taste of Orient on the other side of the river.
There’s also a nice beach (more of a pebbly area) below the bridge that gives you a good vantage point. This is where the speedboat tours start.
3. Take a Speedboat on the Neretva River
We didn’t do this ourselves, but for a small fee (currently 10€) you can zip up and down the Neretva River in a speed boat – also passing below the Old Bridge.
The boats leave from the beach below the Old Bridge.
4. Discover Herzegovina Tour – Kravice, Blagaj, Pocitelj
The Discover Herzegovina Tour brings you to the three most important sights around Mostar:
- The super scenic Kravice Waterfalls, where many falls cascade down a 120 m (394 ft) wide slope surrounded by lush greenery.
- Blagaj with the picturesque Buna Spring and the Dervish House.
- Pocitelj, a Medieval town often referred to as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s open-air museum. Think of cute cobblestone alleys with an Ottoman feel – complete with a mosque and a clock tower. The highlight is the fortress.
All of this with a super hospitable and knowledgeable local guide and the comfort of an air-conditioned van.
We loved our tour and have written a full review:
5. Hunt for Street Art at Alekse Šantića Street
If you have the time, venture beyond the old town of Mostar. The street art here is a very contemporary way of dealing with its past.
Some of the coolest areas are the old Sniper Tower (which is very much a lost place) and Alekse Šantića Street, which used to be the frontline of the war.
6. Museum of War and Genocide Victims
While the Museum of War and Genocide Victims has some overlap with its Sarajevo counterpart, this museum offers enough unique content to justify a visit, even if you’ve already seen the Sarajevo site.
Exhibits include eyewitness testimonies, photos, film footage from the Siege of Sarajevo and Srebrenica, personal belongings, wartime objects, and reconstructions of shelters, mass graves, and an “isolation cell.” Some displays are intense and not for the faint-hearted, but they give a realistic sense of wartime life.
7. Wandering Around
We highly recommend allocating some time to wandering around and getting lost in the streets of Mostar.
Make your way across cobblestone alleys, stroll down the main pedestrian street Braće Fejića, and check out the shops of the Bazar.
Where to Eat in Mostar
We loved the food in Mostar. Here are our favourites:
- Rota for the best Cevapi.
- Restoran Zeman – an affordable family-run restaurant right in the centre.
- Hindin Han or Food House for the full tourist experience.
- URBAN taste of Orient for a coffee or a full breakfast with a view of the Old Bridge.
- Mostar Gelato for some yummy ice cream.
How Many Days in Mostar Do You Need
We recommend planning for two days in Mostar – one day to explore the city itself and one day for a day trip to discover Herzegovina.
Here’s our 1 week Bosnia & Herzegovina itinerary, including two days in Mostar:
Mostar Itinerary
Day 1 – Explore Mostar
Start your day with a (free) walking tour to get an overview of the city and its main sights.
Afterwards, relax in one of the many cafes with a view of the Old Ottoman Bridge and watch the jumpers.
With your life forces strengthened by the coffee, wander around the streets some more: Make your way down cobblestone alleys, stroll along the main pedestrian street Braće Fejića, and check out the shops of the Bazar.
For some more recent culture, we highly recommend checking out the Museum of War and Genocide Victims, as well as venturing out to the newer part of town. You can find some cool street art around the Sniper Tower and Alekse Šantića Street.
Day 2 – Visit Kravice, Blagaj & Pocitelj
Today, visit the three highlights of Herzegovina – Kravice, Blagaj, and Pocitelj – either with a rental car or – if you don’t want to drive or prefer to explore with a guide – by tour.
Blagaj and Pocitelj are serviced by public transport from Mostar, but it is not super straightforward and will definitely take time and research – and probably more than a day to see all three sights.
Mostar Tips
ATMs in Mostar
Mostar is a big city. There are plenty of ATMs from various banks around.
Supermarkets in Mostar
There are plenty of supermarkets in Mostar. For your day-to-day needs, shops like Amko Komerc or Mercator right in the centre of town should suffice.
Internet in Mostar
The internet in our accommodation worked well. Our eSIM card also worked fine.
Is Mostar Safe
Mostar is generally safe for tourists. Petty theft and scams are rather common, so stay somewhat alert.
It probably goes without saying, but don’t jump off the bridge!
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