Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina is known for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), Ottoman-era architecture, and scenic mountain setting along the Neretva River. As a crossroads of cultures with a layered history, Mostar attracts visitors interested in exploring its cobbled streets, traditional markets, and riverside cafes.

But is Mostar the right destination for your trip? Choosing where to go depends on what you’re looking for—whether it’s history, local food, scenic landscapes, or a relaxed pace of travel. Like any city, Mostar has its pros and cons, and understanding both is key to deciding if it matches your travel goals.

We spent a month exploring Mostar. In this post, we break down the factors we consider when choosing a destination and answer frequently asked questions to help you decide if Mostar is worth adding to your itinerary.

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We spent the month of May in the beautiful city of Mostar. Based on our experience, we assigned each factor a score from 1 to 5, with one being the worst and five being the best. If the attribute is unavailable or does not apply, we give it a 0.

If you’re asking yourself, “Is Mostar worth visiting?” hopefully, this information will help you make a more informed decision.

Hot in the Summer	1
Cold in the Winter	3

Few Tourists in Large Groups	3
Few Cruise Ship Passengers	5
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families	3
Pedestrian Only Areas	4
Lines at Attractions	5

Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly)	0
Beaches with Rough Water	0
Boating Activities/Kayaking	3
Rocky Swim Spots	0
Sunbathing	1

Wine	3
Beer	4
Specialty Liquor	3
Specialty Food	5
Seafood	1
Meat	5
Street Food	4
Food Market	1

History	4
Architecture	4
Art	2
Museums	3
Castles	0
Walled-City	0
Palaces	0
Hiking	3
Running	2
High-Fashion Stores/Shopping	1
Nightlife	2
Dog-Friendly	1
Kid-Friendly	1

Great Grocery Stores	2
English Widely Spoken	4
Outwardly Friendly Locals	2
American Tourists	4
Accessible by Train	1
Day Trips by Train	1
Clean Streets	2
Noise	3

Food Cost	5
Accommodation Cost	5
Activities Cost	5
Transportation Cost	2

Some factors may sway you in one direction or another, depending on your circumstances and interest—for example, the weather. If you like to go to the beach, you may be looking for hot weather in the summer. If you like winter sports, you may be looking for cold weather in the winter. On the other hand, if you want to explore the old town (like us), you may be looking for milder weather in the summer and winter. Obviously, you need to take your situation into account.

What is Mostar weather like?

Hot in the Summer – 1

We were in Mostar for the entire month of May. It was hot and sunny the whole time. It was too hot for Gus, but he is a brindle French Bulldog and very sensitive to the sun and heat. The average highs for June, July, and August are 81℉, 87℉, and 87℉, respectively but you should anticipate it being in the 90℉s when you decide which month to visit.

Cold in the Winter – 3

We were not in Mostar during the winter, but the average highs for December, January, and February are 47℉, 46℉, and 49℉, respectively.

Few Tourists in Large Groups – 3

Mostar is very popular for tour buses. The buses park in the designated area outside the Old Town. Mostar Old Town is small and can feel crowded in certain areas on and around the bridge, but you can still move around comfortably, and I never thought it was overcrowded.

Few Cruise Ship Passengers – 5

Mostar is a land-locked town in Bosnia and does not have a cruise ship port.

Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families – 3

There were lots of tourists as couples and small families. It still never felt over-crowded.

Pedestrian-Only Areas – 4

Mostar Old Town is a pedestrian-only area and can be enjoyed without looking out for vehicles. Additionally, most of the tourist spots are within walking distance of each other, making it easy for visitors to navigate through the city.

Lines at Attractions – 5

We did not encounter any lines to enjoy the things to do in Mostar.

Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) – 0

There are no beaches in Mostar since it is landlocked. You can walk down to the banks of the Neretva River, which is one of the best places to take postcard pictures of the Old Bridge.

Beaches with Rough Water – 0

Boating Activities/Kayaking – 3

Mostar offers kayaking and white-water rafting experiences. Below are the highly-rated water experiences from Mostar. These are a great way to cool off during the summer heat.

Rocky Swim Spots – 0

The Neretva River runs through Mostar, but it is not used as a swimming spot or recommended as one. There are local divers that dive from Old Bridge, but that is mostly for show and to make money from tourists.

Sunbathing – 1

Mostar is not a sunbathing destination and finding a hotel or Airbnb that offers sunbathing will be a challenge. Fifty percent of the Mostar population is Muslim and dressed very conservatively. When packing for your trip to Mostar, I would select your more conservative options.

Experiences

Book a highly-rated tour from Mostar for fun water activities and the best day trips to Blagaj, Počitelj, and the surrounding area!

Wine – 3

Mostar is in the Herzegovina wine region, and we enjoyed drinking local wine there. We had a great experience wine tasting at a local wine shop.

Beer – 4

Mostar has a local beer, Mostarska. In addition to it, there are several beer producers in Bosnia that are sold in Mostar. We tried all the Bosnian beers and enjoyed Mostarska very much. Interestingly, Mostarska is not sold in local grocery stores. We became determined to find it in the grocery store to drink in our Airbnb and went into every grocery store on our walks all around the city but never found it. It is exclusively served in Mostar’s restaurants and bars.

Specialty Liquor – 3

You can purchase different flavored homemade liquors at the small produce market on the Muslim side of the river.

Specialty Food – 5

The specialty food of Mostar is grilled meats.

Seafood – 1

The restaurants in Mostar do serve freshwater fish, but it is not a seafood destination.

Meat – 5

If you love barbequed meats, you will have a wonderful time eating in Mostar. Make sure to try the local cevapi. Your mind will also be blown when you get the restaurant bill. Restaurants in Mostar are an excellent value.

Street Food – 4

The most popular street food in Mostar is burek. It is sold in all the bakeries (Pekara) and comes in meat, spinach, and cheese. Fresh out of the oven and served hot is best.

Food Market – 1

Mostar does not have a large food market. It has a small food market on the Muslim side of the bridge. We tried shopping there once but did not buy anything because there were no signs with prices, and the locals didn’t speak English. Simply put, this is one of the few times we were intimidated by the language barrier.

Experiences

Book a highly-rated food and wine experience while visiting Mostar!

History – 4

We enjoyed learning Mostar’s history, and there are a handful of museums to assist.

Architecture – 4

Mostar Old Town Architecture is fantastic and unique and reflects its time in the Ottoman Empire. It is a Unesco World Heritage site and a combination of 16th century Ottoman-style buildings, mosques with minarets, and bridges (the Old Bridge and Crooked Bridge) creates a magical destination.

If you are primarily traveling throughout Croatia, Mostar architecture is very different from Croatian architecture and offers a nice change in scenery.

There are two locations for the best views of its famous bridge, Stari Most (i.e. the Old Bridge). The first is down on the bank of the Neretva River. The second is at the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque. It is a beautiful mosque worth your visit and if you walk around to the side facing the river, you will find a breathtaking view of the bridge.

Art – 2

There are some art galleries in the town but no art museums.

Museums – 3

Mostar does not have large museums. Instead, their museums are small, like the war photo exhibition showing the 1990s break-up of Yugoslavia during the Balkan War.

We highly recommend staying at the Muslibegovic House. It is both a museum and a small hotel. We stayed there during our first trip to Mostar, and it was wonderful.

Castles – 0

No castles in Mostar.

Walled-City – 0

Mostar Old Town is not walled.

Palaces – 0

No palaces in Mostar.

Hiking – 3

There are some hiking trails around Mostar, and the area is beautiful. But Bosnia is where you should research and talk to locals before wandering around in the woods. This is because it has a history of land mines from the Bosnian War.

For more information on Mostar hiking, check out AllTrails.

Running – 2

We did run while in Mostar and found a route for short runs. We ran early in the morning to avoid pedestrians. It could be a better place for running; we only saw a few other runners.

High – Fashion Stores/Shopping – 1

There is a large shopping mall in Mostar, but it does not have high-fashion store brands.

The Old Town bazaar is a beautiful shopping area that sells souvenirs and hand-made Bosnian coffee sets.

Nightlife – 2

Mostar does have bars and restaurants, but they were not open late.

Dog Friendly – 1

Mostar is not dog-friendly, and many locals were scared of Gus, our French Bulldog. They jumped and made a scene when they encountered him. But don’t worry, Gus didn’t take it personally, he doesn’t let anyone rain on his parade.

We saw several stray dogs daily, but they were all very friendly to Gus and us.

Kid Friendly – 1

We don’t have kids, but we don’t think Mostar Old Town is a very kid-friendly destination. Mostar does offer day trips for activities kids might enjoy, such as kayaking, white-water rafting, and hiking the waterfalls. See my section above on water activities for day trips kids might enjoy.

Experiences

Book a highly-rated history tour while visiting Mostar!

Great Grocery Stores – 2

Grocery shopping was an adjustment in Mostar. It requires you to learn the local foods and try to make them at home because the grocery stores do not have much variety. We went to the large grocery store in the Mepas Mall to see if it offered a larger selection than the medium-sized grocery stores. It was large but didn’t have more variety. It just had more of the same.

English Widely Spoken – 4

English is widely spoken in Mostar.

Outwardly Friendly Locals – 2

Mostar locals are not outwardly friendly but require a slight warming up to. The locals at the butcher were reserved during my first visit, but the next day they were very friendly and taught me Bosnian words.

American Tourists – 4

Tourists in Mostar are from everywhere, but a good number are Americans.

Accessible by Train – 1

Mostar has a train station, but it will only take you to limited areas around the country. It is still recommended that you rent a car to get to Mostar. Hiring a private transfer is also a great option.

Day Trips by Train – 1

Mostar has a train station that can take you to Sarajevo. But trains don’t run frequently, which makes it challenging to use them for day trips.

Clean Streets – 2

Mostar streets have room for improvement and could be cleaner.

Noise – 3

Mostar is a small town, but it is not a quiet town. Street noise from cars and the “call to prayer” is projected throughout the day.

Private Transfers

Book your Mostar transfer in advance below!

Food Cost – 5

Food at grocery stores and in restaurants is relatively inexpensive. A platter for two and four beers is less than $40. Dinner on the terrace watching the sunset over the mountains is the best way to spend a budget-friendly evening in Mostar.

Accommodation Cost – 5

Hotels and Airbnbs in Mostar are very budget-friendly. It was our least expensive Airbnb stay.

Activities Cost – 5

The activities in Mostar are not expensive.

Transportation Cost – 2

The one thing that drives up the cost of a trip to Mostar is transportation costs. The train station in Mostar could be more helpful, and most people will need to rent a car or hire a private transfer to get to Mostar. For private transfers, we recommend the above private transfers. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

Mostar is famous for the Old Bridge, Stari Most. It is a unique, beautiful Ottoman-style bridge.

There are many good places to stay on both sides of the river in Mostar. For the best experience, we recommend staying near the Old Bridge (the castle marker on the below map). The best restaurants and bars are near the Old Bridge, and it is the most beautiful area of the city.

Here’s an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

Yes, Mostar Old Town is beautiful and very memorable.

Yes, one semi-full day is enough time to explore Mostar Old Town, take pictures of the bridge, visit one or two Mosques, and enjoy a meal of grilled meats and veggies. For this reason, it is a very popular day-trip destination from Dubrovnik, Split, or Sarajevo. For a list of the best things to see and a suggested walking tour, check out our article “7 Best Things to See in Mostar.”

While you can see everything in Mostar in one day, you should spend one night and two days there if possible. This allows you to leisurely see everything in the Old Town, have a large grilled meat platter for two with a couple of beers in the evening, spend the night at the Muslibegovic House (which makes for an incredible experience), and have a Bosnian coffee at a local cafe before leaving the following day.

The amount of time you should spend in Mostar depends on your interests and travel plans. If you are interested in exploring the historic Old Town and its famous bridge, one or two days may be sufficient. However, if you want to visit Kravice waterfall or other nearby cities such as Sarajevo, you may want to plan for a longer stay. Mostar is also known for its vibrant nightlife and cultural events, so if these are important to you, consider staying for a few extra days to fully experience all that the city has to offer. Ultimately, the length of your stay will depend on your personal preferences and travel goals, so take some time to research and plan accordingly.

No, Mostar is not expensive. Mostar offers a beautiful destination at a great value. A grilled meat platter for two with four beers costs about $30. Both hotels and Airbnbs are some of the best value we have seen in Europe.

Yes, Mostar is very safe. We spent a month in Mostar and walked through areas of the city that most tourists don’t visit and always felt safe. However, it’s always a good idea to check with official travel advisories and research the area’s current political and social climate before visiting. It’s better to err on the side of caution and prioritize your safety when planning any trip.

Mostar is located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The people of Mostar are diverse, with various ethnic groups, including Catholic Croats (48.4%), Muslim Bosniaks (44.1%), and Orthodox Serbs (4.1%). The city of Mostar has the largest population of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To some extent, Mostar is still a divided city with people of different religious backgrounds living in different parts of the city. Specifically, Christians live on one side of the river, and Muslims live on the other. Fortunately, the groups are currently enjoying a peaceful coexistence.

Mostar does have an airport, but the very few flights make it an unpopular way to get there.

The most popular way to get to Mostar is by driving from Dubrovnik or Split. You can rent a car in Dubrovnik or Split and drive or hire a private transfer. We have done both and would recommend both.

Another popular option is to fly into Sarajevo and take the train or rent a car and drive.

For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

For highly-rated private transfers that include site-seeing along the way, check out these great options and book now!

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Mostar is April, May, September, and October. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. We spent the month of May in Mostar and thought the weather was very hot during the day. There were lots of tourists, but the crowds were manageable.

Mostar’s old bridge, unique architecture, history, and food make it a beautiful and memorable destination.

It is not necessary to speak Bosnian to visit and enjoy Mostar. A large percentage of the locals speak English. They don’t have an expectation for you to speak their language or an attitude that you don’t.

We recommend ladies bring their more conservative summer clothes for their stay in Mostar. It’s not required, and you will be safe in a tube top and short skirt, but you will stick out.

We also recommend comfortable shoes for the cobblestones. You should bring a pair that have no-slip bottoms. The cobblestones get very slick when wet. The shape and slickness of the cobblestones make Mostar Old Town not a great place for flip-flops.

Do you need cellular data during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t loose it). Click below for more info.

Both Mostar and Sarajevo have unique food, wine, and architecture that make them worth visiting. Mostar is known for its traditional Bosnian cuisines such as cevapi, burek, and baklava. The city also has a rich history reflected in its Ottoman-era architecture and famous bridge. On the other hand, Sarajevo offers a more diverse culinary scene with influences from Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Yugoslavian cuisines. The city is also home to the Baščaršija, Sarajevo’s old bazaar, and the historical and cultural center of the capital city. Ultimately, both cities offer a unique experience for food, wine, and architecture lovers. It really comes down to personal preference and what you are looking for in a travel destination. If you have the time, consider visiting both cities to fully immerse yourself in the Bosnian culture and history.

Mostar is in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a 2 hr 30 min drive north of Dubrovnik, Croatia, a 2 hr 15 min drive southwest of Sarajevo, and a 3 hr 15 min drive northwest of Kotor, Montenegro.