What makes visiting Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina such an unforgettable experience? Is it the breathtaking moment when you witness one of the divers leaping into the coldest river in the world? Or is it the rollercoaster of colours and culture in Mostars Old Bazar? Perhaps it’s all the fascinating Ottoman architecture you can see in Mostar?
With so many unique experiences to offer, it’s a tough question to answer. So let’s take a virtual walk and explore what to see in Mostar together. That way, you can decide which of these remarkable experiences will make your heart leap with joy.
Make sure you increase the video quality in settings for the best viewing experience 😉
Location: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cost: Some of the places are free, some has entry charge
Length: 4h or more
How to get there: Driving, Public transport from other major cities, with an Organised tour
Check out our full Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina itinerary
What to see in Mostar Old Town
Outside of Mostar’s Old Town, the scars of the Yugoslav war are still visible. You’ll encounter buildings riddled with bullet holes and the ruins of houses scattered throughout the city streets. It’s heartbreaking. But as you step into Mostar’s Old Town, it feels as though you’ve stumbled into a time portal. With the naked eye, it’s almost impossible to tell all the immense work that has been done to restore the war-torn Stari Most and its surroundings to their former glory.
Marvel at Mostar’s Intriguing Architecture
To a foreigner parts of Mostars old town may look like they belong to a bygone era, but they are actually still in use and as lively as ever. The old buildings from different architectural styles mingle with shop stalls and little cafes advertising Turkish tea and Bosnian coffee.
The narrow streets are covered in round cobblestones, polished by the thousands of feet that have walked them. In front of you there are many historic houses made of stone that just look like they have witnessed centuries go by and the skyline is adorned with many minarets.
So I think your best bet is just to dive in the crowd and explore.
Did you know there is more than one bridge to see in Mostar? Crooked Bridge
Before stepping onto Mostar’s most famous bridge, let’s take a little detour and look at its older brother—the Kriva Ćuprija, also known as the Crooked Bridge. Although much smaller in size, it has the same iconic shape, and it’s believed to have been built as a test run for its more famous relative. I think it’s quite photogenic, too.
Now that Mostar’s Crooked Bridge has gotten some well-deserved attention, it’s time to visit the star of the show.
Will You Be Lucky Enough to See Divers Jump From Mostar’s bridge?
Location for best view of the Stari Most
There are some landmarks that are just iconic. Mostar’s Stari Most is one of them.
But what makes it outstanding? Is it its unique, bent shape? Or perhaps the way the rough rocks used in its construction and the buildings on both ends give it a historic feel, even for those who don’t know its story?
Or maybe it’s the divers. They certainly put on a show—clapping, cheering, and collecting coins. But will they actually jump? Good question.
A person climbs over the railing, and everyone is cheering… and then he climbs back to the other side. What a tease! It’s already been more than 30 minutes (that’s how dedicated we are), and that’s as far as they’ve gotten. It seems a lot of people are starting to give up.
I’ll let you in on a little secret. I overheard this in the crowd: you can tell that Mostar’s divers are actually going to jump if they splash cold water over themselves. This helps bring their body temperature closer to that of the Neretva River, which, as it turns out, is the coldest river in the world. If they didn’t do this, they would likely risk a heart attack. Makes the whole jump much more impressive, doesn’t it?
Finally, one of the divers climbs over the railing again and this time also empties a bottle of water over himself. Game on! His mates give him high fives as the crowd cheers. Then he jumps in.
Hurray!
After the performance, we’re ready to actually cross the bridge and dive into another must-see place in Mostar—its old market.
The Old Market of Mostar May Make Your Head Spin (In a Good Way)
As soon as you see the first colorful building and the first market stall, you realize—the window shopping experience here is on steroids!
There are thousands of little trinkets surrounding you. You look to one side and see colorful embroidered scarves and bags. You look to the other and spot plates adorned with bright patterns. You see cezves (the traditional coffee makers), Turkish delights, magnets, and other souvenirs. Some of the items appear to be mass-produced, while others look like they are handcrafted. If you keep your eyes open, you might even spot a metalworker hard at work making another bracelet in his shop.
Yes, the place is buzzing with people, but this time, it actually adds to the atmosphere. With so many colors, textures, and sounds, Mostar’s Old Bazar may just make your head spin.
Deep Dive in the Religious Architecture of Mostar: Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Has an entry cost (was ~7.70 eur in 2024)
While exploring Mostar, you’ll spot multiple domes and many minarets of mosques, some of which are open for the public to explore. Today, we will look inside the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (built in the 17th century), which is not the biggest mosque to see in Mostar but is considered a great example of Ottoman architecture.
Before we go in, I just want to stress that I by no means want to be disrespectful in any way, so my apologies in advance if I say something incorrect due to my limited knowledge of Islam.
In the courtyard, the first thing you notice is the ablution fountain sheltered by a stone canopy with a stone plaque roof. One of the many things you may learn on this visit (or maybe you already know this) is that in Islam, these types of fountains are used for the mandatory washing before prayer.
You can buy the entrance tickets by the door, and we also ask if we are allowed to film inside, to which the person selling the tickets kindly agrees.
When you open the door, a very colorful prayer room unfolds. There are intricate paintings on the walls, stained glass mosaics in the windows, and fun patterns woven into the fabrics of the carpets. A large chandelier hangs from the domed ceiling. It’s beautiful! If you wish to learn a bit more, there is a little information board on the left-hand side highlighting some of the key features of mosques.
In Mostar’s Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, you can also climb the minaret. The narrow, winding stairs may give you a bit of claustrophobia, but the views from the top are breathtaking. Can you spot the colorful buildings of Mostar’s market we just walked through? And the people on the Stari Most look tiny as ants from up here! Lastly, the ticket price includes entrance to a little garden that boasts arguably the best views of the cityscape and the Stari Most.
A Peak Into One of Mostars Historic Houses – Biscevic House
Has a small entry cost (was ~2 eur in 2024)
The last place we will visit is one of the historic Ottoman houses.
Although the concept of stepping into a room that still holds its historic interior is very intriguing, as soon as you walk in, we discover that the house is rather small—consisting of two main rooms, a little bedroom, and (interestingly) a kitchen that is detached from the other living spaces. That wouldn’t be a problem in itself, as that’s historically accurate. However, the issue we face is that it is crowded with people, and there isn’t much space to turn around and really appreciate the wooden details and patterned rugs.
However, it turns out that the Biscevic House is not the only historic house turned into a museum that you can see in Mostar. So, if you find that there are too many people here for you to enjoy the experience, you could also try your luck in one of the other houses. That’s up to you.
To me, there are two contenders for the most interesting part of this house. One is the open-air courtyard with a fun fountain that seems to be made of boiling kettles with long pourers. The other is the room designated as the men’s area of the home (also used for entertaining guests and conducting business), which features large windows facing the Neretva River and elaborately decorated seating and calligraphy artwork displayed on the walls. I think I have to go with the courtyard as my favorite because there is a fun surprise—a live turtle roaming around!
But now we have explored a lot, so I think it is time for a little treat at the end of our adventure.
Treat Yourself With a Fig Cake and Bosnian Coffee
In Bosnia, coffee is not just your daily shot of caffeine; it’s a lifestyle. Interestingly, it has also historically been used as a passive-aggressive way to tell someone off. So, let’s sit down for a cup of Bosnian coffee, and I will tell you more.
So how do you convey all your thoughts about someone with a cup of coffee? By making the coffee too strong or serving it cold—in other words, by making the coffee undrinkable. Therefore, if you lived in the Ottoman era and visited your neighbour, and they served you cold coffee twice, you would know that you are no longer welcome and should leave. This is what I love about travel: you hear so many fascinating stories.
But back to our own coffee-tasting experience. Bosnian coffee is quite strong by default, so even if you drink it the Bosnian way (see more details here), you may want to pair it with a dessert. Since we are in Mostar, we should try the local fig cake (Smokvara).
The cake is sticky, but contrary to what you may expect from a dessert drizzled in fig syrup, it is not overly sweet. The taste somehow reminds me a bit of bread pudding, if you have ever had that. Enjoy!
Thoughts?
For me, there are so many unique things to see in Mostar that I can wholeheartedly call it a must-visit. Yes, I’m not going to lie—there are crowds of people you’ll have to coexist with. But that is for a good reason. It’s such a great example of Ottoman architecture and is so lively and rich in culture that it is bound to leave a long-lasting memory.
Explore the historic village of Počitelj
Full Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina road trip
FAQs About trip to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Is there anything I need to bring with me when traveling to Mostar?
- Comfortable walking shoes with good grip. The cobblestones, especially on the Stari Most, are very slippery, so please do yourself a favor and wear shoes that are suited for slippery surfaces.
- Modest clothing. One day during my trip to Bosnia, I made the mistake of wearing shorts. Although no one called me out directly, I did feel uncomfortable. I regret my choice and would highly recommend being more respectful by wearing something that covers your knees and shoulders.
- Cash. If you wish to purchase something at Mostar’s Stari Bazar or get an ice cream, they don’t seem to accept cards, so bring some physical currency with you.
Any recommendations for where to eat when travelling to Mostar?
We had a very filling and budget-friendly dinner at Hindin Han. The restaurant serves local cuisine like ćevapi and various other meat dishes (Bosnian cuisine is very meat-heavy), and most of the main entrées were less than 10 euros per portion (as of May 2024).
Any day trip recommendations from Mostar?
There are plenty of interesting things to see in Mostar, however if you are lucky enough to spend more than 1 day in this unique town you have some fun day trip options to choose from. I highly recommend visiting the historic village of Počitelj and Tito’s bunker. The Kravice Waterfalls and Blagaj are also popular day trip options from Mostar.
Why did we choose to visit Mostar ourselves instead of taking an organised day tour?
Mainly because we were exploring more than just Mostar (we visited Počitelj and Kravice first and then headed to Sarajevo afterward). Secondly there were many things we wanted to see in Mostar so we wanted to have a bit more time than the daytrips from Split offered.
Also for 2 people it was cheaper to rent a car and spend a night in Mostar than to pay for a tour and hotel in Split as the accommodation at the time of our visit was much cheaper in Mostar than in Croatia.
However, if you are visiting just Mostar or are unable to drive, then an organized day trip should be a good alternative. I would recommend picking one that not only covers places to see in Mostar, but also stops at Počitelj and/or Kravice, as those were some of the highlights of our time in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well.
Other things you should know when travelling to Mostar
Smoking is still allowed in public spaces like cafés and restaurants.
According to our car rental company in Croatia, cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, like Mostar and Sarajevo, are completely safe to visit. We felt very safe and welcomed there ourselves. However, they advised that one might get into trouble by visiting remote, rural areas of Bosnia with rental cars bearing foreign plates. So please keep that in mind.
What to see in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina if you have very limited time
The choice is hard! But if you are short on time and need to choose only one or two places to see in Mostar, I would go for the Mostars Old Bazar and Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. And you will cross the famous bridge or at least see it from the mosque anyways.
