Best Things to See and Do in Mostar

Mostar is a wonderful place to explore in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and there are plenty of things to do to satiate most travelers. In fact, it quickly became one of my favorite small towns in the Balkans. I have fond memories of strolling through the picturesque streets, eating wonderful meals with sunset views of the Old Bridge. 

The town has overcome a tragic and wartorn past. Now it’s a popular tourist destination, for good reason. Yet amid the bustling bazaar and selfie-taking throngs of visitors, reminders of its history, both the good and the bad, are still prevalent. Many tourists visit Mostar on a daytrip, but you’ll quickly find that this town–and it’s surroundings–are worth more than a single day.

Best Things to Do in Mostar

With so many things to do in Mostar, check out some of our must-do experiences to maximize your time.

Stari Most/Mostar Old Bridge

It is impossible to visit Mostar without seeing the iconic Stari Most. Like literally impossible. There are so many ways to enjoy the bridge. You can get some great views under the bridge near the river or walk across it at sunset, when it’s bathed in orange light. Take a selfie with it from near the bazaar or a scenic view of it from Lucki Most.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was initially built in 1566, destroyed during the war in 1993, then rebuilt. It’s a beautiful centerpiece to Mostar, and no doubt the best thing to see in town.

Dinner or lunch with a view

One of the best ways to enjoy Stari Most is to grab a bite to eat (or just a drink) with a view. I’ve listed several of my favorite restaurants to do that below. Needless to say, you’ll find a plethora of establishments with great views of the bridge. 

Kriva ćuprija (Crooked Bridge)

This bridge is a smaller replica of Stari Most. It stretches across a small creek in a fairytale setting. Often it’s far, far less busier than Stari Most. There are a few restaurants and bars there to check out, and it’s a beautiful escape from the more hectic areas surrounding Old Town and Stari Most.

Old Town

The Old Town encompasses much of central Mostar. Shops and restaurants await on the cobblestone streets. You can wander Old Town for a couple hours exploring the main streets and all their off-shoots. Admire the minarets of historic mosques or visit many of the small museums tucked away throughout Mostar’s Old Town. One of the best things to do in the town is simply getting lost in this fairytale setting.

Old Bazaar Kujundziluk

Within Old Town, hundreds of shops fill the bazaar streets just east of Stari Most. It’s fun just wander down these streets, perusing shops and art galleries, grabbing a bite of gelato, or admiring the colorful architecture. Keep in mind, there are plenty of shops selling mass-produced souvenirs that they try to pass off as handmade. However, there are some legit coppersmiths whose families can claim to have worked there for generations.

Muslibegovic House

The Muslibegovic House is not only a nice hotel, but also a museum worth visiting. It is setup to look like the home it once was to a local noble family. Artifacts and clothing from the family are on display. This is well worth a visit, and probably doesn’t take too much more than fifteen or twenty minutes of your time.

Biscevic House

The Biscevic House is another House-Museum showing a slice of life in the Ottoman period. It also has some cool river views. Take a few minutes to explore the house and maybe even have a glass of tea here, imagining life during this period.

Lucki Most

This bridge isn’t a sight to behold in and of itself. But it’s a great place to get a good view of Stari Most. Plus, you can go ziplining from nearby (read below for more!). It’s worth walking across if you’ve got the time just to get a nice panorama shot of Stari Most and Mostar. You’ll get a view like below from the bridge!

Museum Of War And Genocide Victims

As a word of warning, the Museum of War and Genocide Victims is graphic and can be quite disturbing. It’s an important reminder of the tragedy of the Bosnian War. If you have the time for it, I do recommend visiting. It’s an important perspective on relatively recent, tragic history. But this is not a place for children and you certainly won’t come out of this feeling happy. However, there’s no better place in Mostar to understand the cost of war.

Karađoz Beg Mosque

This 16th century mosque is right in the heart of Mostar, so it’s hard to miss its big, characteristic dome. It’s also one of the largest mosques in the region, so worth the visit if you would like to see the historic religious site.

Sniper Tower/Old Bank Building

During the Bosnian War, this bank building was used as watchtower for its vast sightlines. Since then, it was abandoned. However, it’s been reclaimed by street artists. It’s worth visiting to admire the juxtaposition of destruction and the hopeful, peaceful, and just plain interesting messages left behind by the artists.

Park Zrinjevac and the Bruce Lee Monument

This park isn’t a must-do thing in Mostar, but it’s a peaceful place to take a walk far from the hubbub of Old Town. It’s a pretty place with a couple of interesting sights. Most notably, the Bruce Lee Monument. The story behind the Bruce Lee Monument is worth reading to understand the importance of this seemingly incongruous statue.

Mostar Gymnasium

While you won’t go into the Mostar Gymnasium (the local high school), it’s worth a visit if you’re already on this side of town. The stunning architecture is worth admiring.

Boat ride up and down the river

If you want a quick view of Mostar from the river, take a boat ride. When I was there, it was just about $5 per person. Not too bad for a fun up-and-down trip on the river for a different, unique perspective of Mostar.

Take a dip in the river

If you happen to be here in the summer, don’t be afraid to follow the stairs and paths down to this point on the river looking up at Stari Most. You can get into the river here, getting your feet wet. But be careful, because the current is pretty swift. This is also a great place to watch divers across the river on the diving platforms.

Zipline across the river

Need an adrenaline fix? I didn’t zipline in Mostar, but I ziplined across a river in Jajce. That being said, I wish I would’ve done it here, too. You can find the start to the zipline where the Lucki Most bridge reaches the eastern side of town, right next to Caffe Bar Fratello. I believe you need to speak with the people inside the cafe if you’d like to zipline.

Watch divers

I was lucky enough to accidentally book my trip to Mostar during Red Bull’s Cliff Diving Competition. If that diving competition was every weekend, then it would for sure be on the top of any list of things to do in Mostar. Alas, the pros don’t come every day. So you may have to settle for watching amateur divers. Generally, these guys will collect tips. Once they’ve collected enough, they’ll jump off the bridge. Note: don’t try this yourself! Dangerous as heck if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Take a day trip

The region surrounding Mostar is just as beautiful as Mostar. If you’re running out of things to do in town, then set your sights elsewhere. From wine tasting to waterfalls and wonderful small towns, you’ll find all kinds of awesome things to do just outside Mostar. In fact, I’ve got an itinerary for a day trip I took out of Mostar that I highly recommend.

How to get there?

Rental Car

The easiest way to get to Mostar is to drive. And it’s a beautiful drive from Sarajevo, so if you’re doing a road-trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Balkans, this will be your best bet. You won’t really need a car to do most things in Mostar, but it gives you an easy way to explore the surrounding area! Plus, the drive is gorgeous.

Tour Groups and Transfers

You can also find private transportation and tours that will take you there, such as with Funky Tours. 

Trains

There are two trains to Mostar from Sarajevo every day. Likewise, two trains return to Sarajevo every day. Check out the train schedule here. This would be a relatively convenient, scenic way to get between the cities if you don’t like driving.

Buses

Last I checked, there were up to nine buses per day from Sarajevo to Mostar. You can check out the schedules here. Again, this is an economical way to get to the city if you don’t like driving.

How long to spend in Mostar?

If you’re pressed in time, you can see everything in Mostar with one full day. So depending on your itinerary, I would recommend two nights. That way you can spend an entire relaxing day exploring all the town has to offer at a relatively relaxed pace. 

It’s also possible to visit Mostar for a single overnight if you plan on spending one evening and the majority of the next day there. But you’ll be a little more pressed for time. Still, you should be able to see most things on this list within that time.

Finally, my ideal time in Mostar would be 3 days and 3 nights. Arrive from Sarajevo or wherever you’re coming from in time for your first sunset in the Old Town. Then spend your first full day exploring Mostar. Your second full day could then be devoted to a day trip to the surrounding area. I recommend this itinerary for a varied day full of awesome sites that will complement your time in Mostar well.

If it is absolutely not possible to spend one night in Mostar, you can do a day trip from Sarajevo, Split, or Dubrovnik. It would be a shame to miss out on a night in Mostar, but it would be a bigger shame to miss it altogether. There are many private or group tours you could take to ensure you see the major highlights of Mostar, such as this one with Funky Tours.

Where to Stay

Your best bet is to stay as close to Stari Most as possible. You’ll want to be within walking distance of all the attractions so you don’t have to compete for parking in town. I can highly recommend Villa Čardak. They have a variety of rooms for multiple budgets, and the owners were just fantastic. It’s a perfect location, and I was exceedingly comfortable throughout my stay.

Where to Eat

There are a plethora of good restaurants in Mostar. Most will serve typical Bosnian fare, and honestly, you can’t go too wrong with many. I enjoyed eating at quite a few different places in the almost five days I spent in Mostar–and I never had a disappointing meal. 

Restaurant Bella Vista

Great views of Stari Most and good selection of typical Bosnia food. What more can you ask for? Restaurant Bella Vista lives up to its name.

Terrace Lagero

Okay, I’m going to start sounding repetitive, but you know the drill. Good Bosnian food, great views. Perfect for a wonderful lunch. I enjoyed visiting Terrace Lagero a couple times on my trip.

Urban Grill and Gourmet

Another good restaurant with great views. I liked Urban for some if it’s upscale and fusion version of Bosnian food. It was fantastic being here for sunset and enjoying a couple of drinks and dinner on the terrace.

Hindin Han

The views at Hindin Han aren’t as amazing as the ones above, but the menu here is great. Another good place to get typical Bosnian Fare. When we were there, it was a favorite of the Red Bull Cliff Diving competitors. 

Fabrika Coffee Mostar

If you’re wandering north of Old Town or perhaps visiting some of the other sites mentioned above, you might want a lemonade or coffee to re-energize. I can recommend this tucked away cafe. Fabrika has good coffee at good prices and the patio area is a relaxing place to chill out for a bit.

Final Tips

• If you can, try to visit Mostar during a weekday. It’s a small town, so if there’s an influx of weekender travelers, it can seem a bit crowded on Stari Most and Old Town. That being said, even when I was there on the weekend in the middle of the Red Bull Cliff Diving competition, I never had an issue getting into the attractions or restaurants I wanted to.
• Spring and fall are the best time to visit Mostar. You’ll avoid the heat and the summer crowds, plus the heat. The winter tends to be colder and wetter as well, so if you shoot for May, June, or September, you’ll be good. That being said, even if it is a a little cold or wet (or even hot), you’ll find you can still enjoy most everything on this list with ample time to duck into cafes or restaurants with good views still.
• If you do visit in the summer and need to cool down, you can head down to the river under Stari Most and spend some time directly in the river. Cool view of Stari Most, check. Swimming on a hot day, check.
• The steps on Stari Most are slippery! Even when they’re not wet, the stone is worn so smooth, you’ll want to be very careful.