Mostar

Bosnia and Herzegovina's main tourist city — around 105,000 residents in Herzegovina on the banks of the Neretva River. The UNESCO-listed Stari Most (Old Bridge) is one of the greatest masterpieces of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans. The city was badly damaged in the 1992–1995 civil war (the Old Bridge was destroyed by Croatian forces in 1993 and rebuilt in 2004). Today it is a symbol of renewal and a meeting point of the Islamic, Catholic and Orthodox worlds.

Main Sights

• Stari Most (Old Bridge) — UNESCO World Heritage Site, an Ottoman bridge built in 1566 by Mimar Hayruddin, a student of Sinan. It rises 24 m above the Neretva. Rebuilt in 2004 after its destruction in 1993, using the original construction techniques.
• Bridge diving — a tradition dating back to the 15th century; professional divers (Mostarski skakači) perform for tips. Amateur jumps cost 25–50 EUR ($29–$58) with instruction.
• Old Bazaar (Stari Bazar / Kujundžiluk) — a cobbled lane leading to the Old Bridge, lined with coppersmith workshops and jewellery stalls.
• Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque — the most photographed mosque in the city; the minaret offers the best view of the Old Bridge.
• Biščević House — a 17th-century Ottoman mansion, now a museum.
• Karadžozbeg Mosque — the city's main mosque, built in 16th-century Ottoman style.
• Crooked Bridge (Kriva Ćuprija) — a miniature "prototype" of the Old Bridge, built in 1558 to test the construction method.
• Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992–1995 — a powerful exhibition, essential for understanding the city's recent history.
• Blagaj — a village 12 km away with an active tekke (dervish monastery) set into a cliff at the source of the Buna River.
• Kravice Falls — Bosnia's finest waterfalls, 40 km from Mostar; swimming is possible.
• Medjugorje — site of a reported Marian apparition (1981), 25 km away; the leading Catholic pilgrimage destination in the Balkans.

Food and Prices

The cuisine is Bosnian and Herzegovinian: ćevapi (grilled minced-meat sausages — the signature dish), burek, sogan-dolma (stuffed onion), pita zeljanica (spinach pie), Turkish-style kahva (coffee) with rahat lokum, baklava. Lunch at a kafana costs 8–15 EUR ($9–$17); dinner at a restaurant 18–35 EUR ($21–$40). A glass of Herzegovinian wine — Žilavka (white) or Blatina (red) — runs 3–5 EUR ($3–$6). A litre of petrol is around 1.4 EUR ($2); a city taxi 5–10 EUR ($6–$12). Prices are as of 2026.

Transport

The nearest airports are Sarajevo (SJJ, 130 km), Dubrovnik (DBV, 140 km) and Split (SPU, 170 km). Buses from Sarajevo take 2.5 hours and cost 12–18 EUR ($14–$21). From Dubrovnik the journey is about 3 hours and costs 25–30 EUR ($29–$35), with a border crossing en route. From Split the trip takes around 3 hours. Within the city, the Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot; taxis and shared minibuses cover longer distances.

When to Go

April–October brings temperatures of 12–30°C. May and September are the sweet spot: warm without the July–August heat (35–40°C). Red Bull Cliff Diving (a World Series stage) is usually held in September near the Old Bridge. Winter is mild on the coast (5–12°C), though Mostar, being inland, is somewhat cooler. The rainy season runs November–March.