How many days in Mostar? 3 days around the Old Bridge and the Neretva valley
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Most visitors see Mostar on a day trip from Dubrovnik or Split: four hours in the old town at midday, when it is at its most crowded. Stay three days instead. Early morning and evening, when the tour coaches have gone, the Stari Most and the cobbled lanes of the old bazaar are a different place, and the Neretva valley around the city holds a dervish house at a river spring, an Ottoman hill village and a set of waterfalls within an hour's drive.
Short answer
Two days covers the old town, the mosques and houses, and Blagaj. The third day adds Počitelj and the Kravica waterfalls, or a slower walk through the Austro-Hungarian west bank and the Partisan Memorial.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Stari Most and the old bazaar
Morning. Reach the Stari Most (Old Bridge) before 8:30, when the stones are empty. The bridge was built in 1566 under the Ottomans, destroyed in November 1993 during the war, and rebuilt with the original techniques and stone; it reopened in 2004 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk the cobbled lanes of Kujundžiluk, the old coppersmiths' bazaar on the east bank.
Afternoon. Visit the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (about KM 10-15 with the minaret climb), whose courtyard gives the classic view of the bridge, and the Old Bridge Museum in the Tara tower at its end. Then see the small Kriva Ćuprija (Crooked Bridge), a few minutes upstream, older and smaller than the Stari Most.
Evening. Watch the sunset from the river terraces below the bridge, then eat ćevapi in somun bread (about KM 8-12) or a plate of Herzegovinian dishes in the old town (KM 20-30 per person).
The bridge divers of the Mostar diving club jump about 20 metres into the cold river when they have collected enough money from onlookers. Tip if you watch; never try it yourself.
Day 2: Ottoman houses, the west bank and the war years
Morning. Visit two Ottoman family houses: Bišćević House and Muslibegović House (a few marks each), with carpeted rooms, wooden ceilings and courtyards looking down on the river. Then see the Karađoz Bey Mosque, one of the largest in Herzegovina.
Afternoon. Cross to the west bank to see the Austro-Hungarian buildings around Spanish Square and the restored Mostar Gymnasium. Many façades along the former front line still carry shell and bullet marks. A guided walk with a local who lived through the war (about KM 30-50) explains the 1992-1995 conflict far better than any plaque.
Evening. Walk up to the Partisan Memorial Cemetery, designed by the architect Bogdan Bogdanović and opened in 1965 for fighters of the Second World War, a stone landscape of terraces and paths, now partly neglected. Dinner back in the old town.
Politics are still sensitive in Mostar, divided after the war between Bosniak and Croat sides. Listen more than you comment, and ask before photographing people.
Day 3: Blagaj, Počitelj and the Kravica waterfalls
Morning. Drive or take a taxi about 12 km (20 minutes) to Blagaj, where the Blagaj Tekke, a dervish house of the 16th century, stands at the foot of a cliff beside the spring of the Buna river, which flows out of a cave (entry a few marks; women cover hair, scarves provided). Eat fresh trout on the river terraces.
Afternoon. Continue south to Počitelj, about 30 km from Mostar, a stone village climbing a hill above the Neretva with an Ottoman mosque, a clock tower and a fortress tower at the top. Then drive about 25 km to the Kravica waterfalls, a horseshoe of falls about 25 metres high where you can swim in summer (about KM 20-30 entry in season; check current price).
Evening. Back in Mostar, have a glass of Žilavka (white) or Blatina (red), the local Herzegovinian wines, on a terrace above the river.
Blagaj, Počitelj and Kravica fit in one day with a car or a full-day tour from Mostar (about KM 60-90). Kravica is busiest in July and August at midday; arrive by 10:00.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, keep Day 1 and combine the Ottoman houses with Blagaj on Day 2. You lose Počitelj, Kravica and the west bank.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to Sarajevo (about 2 hours by train along the Neretva canyon, one of the most scenic rides in the Balkans), the wineries around Čitluk and the pilgrimage town of Međugorje, the medieval tombstones at Radimlja near Stolac, or the Croatian coast at Dubrovnik, about 2.5-3 hours by road.
Where to stay in Mostar
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Guesthouses on the edge of the old town | Family-run rooms, 5-10 minutes' walk to the bridge. | KM 60-100 |
| Mid-range | Old town (east bank) | Walk out to the bridge at dawn and after the day trips leave. | KM 110-200 |
| Mid-range | West bank near Spanish Square | Quieter, closer to the bus and train stations by taxi. | KM 100-180 |
| Comfort | Boutique hotels with river views | Terraces over the Neretva and the bridge. | KM 200-400 |
Getting around
The old town is small and pedestrian; the bridge to the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is 2 minutes, the bridge to Spanish Square about 10. The bus and train station is about 15 minutes' walk north of the old town. Trains to Sarajevo take about 2 hours; buses go to Sarajevo (about 2.5 hours), Dubrovnik (about 3 hours) and Split (about 4 hours). Taxis are cheap, a few marks within town. For Blagaj, Počitelj and Kravica, rent a car (about KM 70-110 a day) or take a tour. The euro is widely accepted, but change is usually given in marks.
What to eat in Mostar
Mostar food mixes Ottoman and Mediterranean. Try ćevapi, small grilled meat rolls in somun bread with raw onion and kajmak; dolma and japrak (stuffed vegetables and vine leaves); klepe, small meat dumplings with yoghurt; and fresh trout at Blagaj. For dessert, tufahija is a poached apple filled with walnuts and topped with cream. Bosnian coffee comes in a copper džezva with a sugar cube and rahat lokum. A main course costs KM 12-25, and a glass of local Žilavka KM 5-8.
Best time to visit
May to June and September to October are best: highs of 22-29°C and swimmable rivers by June. Mostar is one of the hottest cities in the Balkans in July and August, often 35-40°C. The traditional bridge-diving competition is held in summer, usually in late July; check dates. Winters are mild but rainy, with few visitors.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | KM 35 | KM 75 | KM 150 |
| Food & drink | KM 30 | KM 55 | KM 100 |
| Sights & tickets | KM 10 | KM 35 | KM 70 |
| Local transport | KM 5 | KM 25 | KM 60 |
| Total per person, per day | about KM 80 | about KM 190 | about KM 380 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Bosnian convertible marks (KM, BAM), fixed at about KM 1.96 to €1. Hotels add a small tourist tax of a few marks per person per night.
Before you go
Common questions
Is a day trip to Mostar from Dubrovnik enough?
It shows you the bridge, but at the worst hours. Day-trip coaches arrive late morning and leave mid-afternoon, so you see the old town at its busiest and hottest. One or two nights let you see the bridge empty at dawn, eat in the evening, and visit Blagaj and Kravica without rushing.
Can I pay in euros in Mostar?
Often, yes, especially in the old town, but the currency is the convertible mark (KM), fixed at about 1.96 to the euro. Prices in euros are usually rounded up, and change comes in marks. ATMs are easy to find, and cards are accepted in most hotels and many restaurants.
When do the divers jump from the bridge?
Divers from the local club jump throughout the day in the warmer months, usually once a crowd has collected enough money. Summer also has a traditional diving competition, and the bridge has hosted international cliff-diving events. The water of the Neretva is cold even in August, which is part of the danger.
How do I get from Mostar to Sarajevo?
By train, in about 2 hours, along the Neretva canyon and over the mountains: the most scenic option, with a few departures a day. Buses take about 2.5 hours and run more often. Check current timetables at the station, as schedules change by season.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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