Blagaj, Počitelj, and Kravica Day Trip from Mostar

When visiting Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a plenty to see if you want to make a day trip to the surrounding area. I had a great time visiting three major areas just outside Mostar. You can easily see all three sights in a single day if you’re short on time.

But if you’re spending a while in Mostar or just want to take things slow, you could just as easily devote a single day or half-day to each of these wonderful sites. Below, I’ll break down each of the three locations I recommend on a day trip from Mostar.

Itinerary

Blagaj

Dervish House

The Dervish House–or tekke–is a must-see in Blagaj. Located right by the source of the Buna river, it is situated in both a geographically and spiritually important space. Exploring the tekke doesn’t take too long. You will be required to cover up in long pants or a skirt. Women are required to wear something to cover their hair as well. The staff there provides anything you might need. 

Tucked against the mountain next to the cave, you can see why this became such a spiritual place. The house itself is rather humble inside but fun to explore. It doesn’t take terribly long to see. Maybe thirty minutes at most? Though you could spend longer if you want to take it all in at a relaxed pace.

Vrelo Bune

Getting a view of the Vrelo Bune will allow you to snap that iconic photo of the Blagaj Tekke with the source of the Buna river. The spring of these beautiful waters flows out from under the cave under this scenic mountain. You can get to several very nice viewpoints by taking one of the bridges from the tekke side and following the walking trails behind the restaurants lining the river. The walk is short and comfortable. There’s also a small boat ride service that will take you partway into the cave.

Blagaj Fort

Blagaj Fort is a great spot to visit on your day trip. It looks out over the surrounding landscape. You’ll probably find it’s virtually empty when you get up there. The drive to the tower is a little weird, following narrow roads through town. Then up a gravel road that seems like it shouldn’t be a road. But sure enough, you’ll be spit out right at the parking lot under the fort.

A ten to fifteen minute hike uphill takes you to the Ottoman era fort. A good portion of it has been restored. You can climb up on some of the areas of the wall and part of a restored tower/viewing area. 

Most Blagaj

Most Blagaj is the scenic bridge that takes you across the river from the Tekke. It’s here that you can get a nice view of the restaurants as well. The bridge also takes you over to the footpaths you can use to get to the viewpoints of the Dervish House and the Vrelo Bune.

Počitelj

Počitelj is a scenic town tucked into the mountains right above the Neretva river. It’s gorgeous medeival architecture is worth spending an hour or two exploring. And if you’re following this itinerary by starting off at Blagaj in the morning, this makes for a great lunch spot. I found Bisto “Stari Grad” to be a nice spot for some good, cheap eats.

Once you’ve filled your belly, your best bet it just to wander around town. There are no fees to explore the town and it’s sights, so if you want to support the locals, buy some drinks, food, or trinkets from the handful of vendors you’ll see.

Below, I’m highlighting a couple of the highlights while you explore.

Počitelj Kula

Počitelj Kula or tower is an unmissable scenic spot on the northeastern edge of town. You can follow the paths from Bistor Stari Grad all the way around the mosque and up to this tower if you take my lunch suggestion. You can even explore some of the interior of the tower. Either way, this gives you a wonderful view of the town and the stroll there is quite interesting as well. It’s easy to pretend you’re wandering this place in the middle ages on the stroll here.

Hadzi-Alija Mosque

You’ll pass by the mosque on your way up tot he tower. You can also visit the interior. Again, entry is free, though you can leave a donation. It’s a humble place of worship and easy to pop into for a minute to admire.

Pocitelj Viewpoint

On the southside of town, there is another viewpoint. Again, you can walk up to this viewpoint. It’s also possible to drive up a rather narrow and steep road behind the Bistro Stari Grad to get up there as well for some beautiful views of the town and the walls surrounding it. The viewpoint is all the way up in the upper left of this picture if you want to get to it!

Kravica

Kravica is the final stop in our day trip out of Mostar. These beautiful waterfalls are in the middle of a lush, green oasis surrounded by a more arid, rolling landscape. Parking here is free, but you’ll need to pay an entrance ticket to get in.

As you walk down to the falls, there are several spots where you can take in some viewpoints and pictures. 

Swimming in the falls is a treat. The water is chilly, but clear. You can get pretty close to the falls themselves though they are roped off and a lifeguard patrols on a kayak.

If you want, you can take a boat ride that will take you closer to the falls. So even if you don’t want to swim, you can get up close and personal with the waterworks. 

A handful of restaurants provide food, drinks, and deserts. None of the prices are too insane, even for a touristy place. All the same, you’re welcome to bring your own food here. 

And no matter what, this is a perfect spot to stop at the end of a hot day to cool off after your day trip before heading back to Mostar. If you come during a cooler season, it’s still a wonderful place to relax, have a bite to eat, and enjoy the views.

How to get there

It’s possible to visit these sites as a day trip from Sarajevo, but it’ll be a long drive and a long drive. I recommend doing this day trip while staying in Mostar.

Public Transportation

If you’re trying to make this a day trip, I don’t recommend public transportation. It’ll take too long to try to piece together. It’s possible to visit each site on separate days if taking public transit is what you want to do. You can take a bus from Mostar close to Počitelj which takes about forty minutes. Check out the timetables here. You’d take a bus from Mostar’s Eastern Bus Station to Capljina. A bus between Mostar and Blagaj can be about half-an-hour. You would take Bus 10 from Mostar’s Eastern Bus Station. It’s possible to get to Kravica partially using public transit. Check out Rome2Rio for more info. It’ll take over an hour from Mostar.

However, stringing every place together is more challenging. You’ll want a more efficient route than trying to head back to Mostar to grab a bus to the next location.

Group tour

If you don’t want to drive, finding a group tour from Mostar is your best bet. I recommend checking out Funky Tours to join a tour. This is an efficient way to see everything, but it does mean that you’ll be beholden to their schedule. If you’re like me, there are some places where you’d like to spend more time than others. And not all day tours go to all these  sites.

Rental Car

Having a rental car is by far the easiest way to see all the mentioned sights. Some places are very hard to access without a rental car. All these places are pretty straightforward to get to, and I recommend a rental car by far. Spend as much or as little time at each of these places–and ensure you get to see everything.

Final Tips

• I recommend visiting them in the above order for convenience and ease of travel. 
• If you love swimming and chilling by the water, you could certainly spent most of the day at the Kravica falls. There is plenty to eat and do there to relax for a while.
• Počitelj doesn’t require too much time to visit in comparison to the other two sites, but it makes for a nice lunch break if you start at Blagaj in the morning.
• If you’re visiting Blagaj and want to spend more than a couple hours there, have lunch and relax at one of the scenic restaurants on the opposite side of the river from the monastery.