Is Mostar worth visiting? My VERY honest thoughts…

I recently visited the wonderful Herzegovinian city of Mostar, and largely, I loved it! I do think Mostar is worth visting, but I think you need to consider how you visit very specifically – there are definitely things that I’d do next time.

So, is Mostar worth visiting? Let’s get into reasons to visit and what to think about if you’re contemplating a visit!

Reasons to visit Mostar

The bridge – it’s incredible!

Mostar is named after its bridge (well, specifically, it’s named after the Mostari, or the bridge keepers), and it’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful bridges in the world.

The original bridge (NOT the one you see today) was constructed in 1566, and it stood the test of time for four centuries. Devastatingly, it was destroyed by Croat forces (Croatian Defence Council/HVO) during the Croat-Bosniak War. 

However, the story doesn’t end there! A man called Amir Pašić travelled the world, campaigning for the bridge to be rebuilt. He attracted the attention of UNESCO, who decided they would invest into rebuilding the bridge. It reopened in 2004, and followed Ottoman architectural practices to look as close to the original as possible. When you know the story, you can appreciate the bridge even more, I think!

The Mostari

Although there aren’t any Mostari without the bridge, they deserve a section of their own, I think!

The Mostari are the Mostar bridge keepers. They’ve looked after the bridge for centuries, but these days they are most well known for jumping off it!

When I was at the bridge, I looked down into the depths of the river, and couldn’t imagine anything worse than leaping off the edge. But the Mostari are trained to do so; and they have become fairly popular on social media recently for videos of them leaping into the river! There are often events – like the Red Bull Cliff Diving 2026 – in the city, inspired by the Mostari. 

I have to admit, I didn’t see the Mostari actually jump when I was there. One walked to the centre of the bridge and looked like they were about to jump, but nothing happened after 15 minutes – and it was over 40 degrees with no shade. I aborted the mission and went to get lunch in the end!

History

I did a walking tour of Mostar, and learned tons about the city in the process. 

I’d just come from Sarajevo, and had learned about the siege there during the Bosnian War. There was also a siege in Mostar, that wasn’t as long but was also very brutal. As I explored the city with my guide, I saw bullet holes in the building as he detailed this dark chapter of the city’s history; along with detailing the Ottoman history of the city and how it prospered pre-war. 

Take a look at this walking tour on Get Your Guide!

Beautiful old town

Alongside the bridges, the Old Town is stunning. The River Neretva winds through the centre, and cobbled streets clamber either side. 

On my walking tour, I also visited the ACTUAL oldest bridge and the viewpoint over it, along with a historic tannery and drinking water fountains (the water in Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the crispest and freshest I’ve tasted!). 

I ate at Hindin Han, which had a wonderful view over the river. 

Surrounding area

I sadly didn’t have enough time to see other spots in Herzegovina! However, if the scenery on the Sarajevo to Mostar train was anything to go by, it’s well worth exploring the surrounding area. 

There are vineyards, viewpoints and trekking opportunities. I found this interesting-looking tour that takes in the best of Mostar’s surrounding nature, including the gorgeous Kravice Waterfalls near the border with Croatia.

Considerations for visiting Mostar

The CROWDS

I didn’t even visit Mostar in peak season. It was June, but it was BUSY. 

Mostar’s a popular daytrip destination from Dubrovnik, Split and Sarajevo. However, the old town – where all the tours go – is a tiny area. Each year, over one million tourists condense into these narrow streets, meaning you are less likely to see cobblestones and quaint shops and more likely to see people’s shoulders!

If you are staying overnight, I implore you to explore as much as you can in the evening and early morning. My walk around in the morning was dreamy!

Heat

“Mostar is one of the hottest cities in Europe”, my taxi driver told me when I arrived “this afternoon, my car said it was 52 degrees celsius!”.

I’m pretty sure he’d left his car in the direct sunlight – a pharmacy thermometer said it was 49 the next day, which again was probably in the sunlight for a while – but it was certainly very toasty. This was during the 2026 June heatwave in most of Europe, but it largely stays this temperature all summer long. 

In Spring and Autumn, however, it’s quite a nice temperature in Mostar, and they do have mild winters! 

Cash-reliance 

This isn’t really a reason not to visit, but something to be aware of. Most places in Mostar are cash-only – and ATMs charge a lot to withdraw. You can pay in local currency (BAM) or Euro. I’d recommend taking some Euro with you. 

I got a bit stuck on my second day, as I didn’t want to take any more money out of Bosnian ATMs, having been stung by their fees a few times. Hindin Han and Fabrika Coffee shop took card, so I ate there – but most cafes, shops and restaurants need cash. 

Is it worth doing a day trip to Mostar? 

If you are in Split, Dubrovnik or Sarajevo, and you ONLY have a day, then yes, I suppose it is worth it. However, if you can stay at least one night, I’d really recommend it.

This is because, if you stay at least ONE night, you’ll experience Mostar after the daytrippers go. I didn’t make the most of Golden Hour (I was on a delayed train from Sarajevo and I was running around trying to secure dinner!), but I did have an early morning stroll – not only was it about 15 degrees cooler than midday, but I was the only person on the Old Bridge!

If you are planning a day trip from Croatia, I’d highly recommend doing a tour; a DIY trip could be a bit inefficient with border crossings and getting to the city. If you are doing a day trip from Sarajevo, you could DIY it – perhaps taking the early morning train there (see my blog post about it!) and the bus back.

Here’s a tour I found that departs Dubrovnik for Mostar and also visits Kravice Waterfalls, and here’s one from Split that also goes to Mostar and Kravice!

When should I visit Mostar? 

Bosnia and Herzegovina is scorching in the summer and mild in the winter. 

I’d recommend avoiding June, July and August (this is also when it is busiest!) and favouring travel in April, May, late September and October. 

In the winter, you might find it a little chilly, but it will be much quieter! It often snows in Sarajevo, but not in Mostar. 

Is Mostar expensive to visit? 

Not really! If you are coming from Croatia, you’ll find Mostar to be very cheap indeed. If you’re comparing it to other, less touristy, spots in Bosnia and Herzegovina though, you’ll probably find it a little pricey. You can see my guide to Bosnia travel expenses here.

Where to stay in Mostar

I LOVED Pansion Infinity. It cost me around £35 for a night, and was modern, with a power shower and super comfy bed, plus it was just a five minute walk from the Old Bridge! Take a look at it here.

Hotel Sinan Han was lovely too, with elegant, more luxurious rooms! Take a look at it here.

Would you visit Mostar?

Take a look at my YouTube video below for a more engrossing look at Mostar – and let me know in the comments if you’d visit!