
Mostar Destination Guide
Mostar is the centre of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation; it is a city and a municipality. Mostar is located around 150 km northwest of Dubrovnik. It is the second largest city in the country next to Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, and the largest town in Herzegovina. Mostar is named after its Old Bridge (Stari Most) and the "bridge keepers" or the towers on its sides, which are called "mostari" in the native language. The bridge was destroyed on November 9th 1993 at 10:15 am by units of the Croatian Defence Council during the Bosnian War.
Come and experience the culture and sights that Mostar has to offer!
This Mostar destination guide and our Mostar tour suggestions will tell you all you need to know about the best places to visit during your holiday in Mostar. Also be sure to check out other useful information to help plan your Mostar holiday, and also the highlights of Medugorje and Sarajevo.
Things to See & Do in Mostar
Follow the links or scroll further down the page for some useful information about some of the exciting things to see & do in Mostar:
The Old Bridge (Stari Most)
Diving from the Old Bridge
During the day, members of the Mostar Diving Club can dive off the bridge into the emerald green waters. For the daredevils amongst you, diving 21 metres into the Neretva River gives you a certificate from the Mostar Diving Club for 25 Euros.
The Kriva Cuprija or "Sloping Bridge" was built by the Ottoman architect Cejvan Kethoda in 1558. It is the oldest single-arch stone bridge in Mostar. This bridge is an exact replica of the original bridge which stood for over 400 years and was designed by Hajrudin, a student of the great architect Sinan. It spans 28.7 metres across the Neretva River and stands 21 metres above the water level in the summer. The Halebija and Tara Towers have always been the guardians of the bridge and during Ottoman times were storehouses for ammunition. It is believed that this bridge was meant to be a trial before the structure of the Stari Most began. The Old Bridge was said to be one of the greatest architectural constructions in the Ottoman-ruled Balkan region and was completed in 1566. No matter how many times you cross the Stari Most, it will always be an exciting experience.
Apart from the Stari Most, there are a number of other picturesque bridges throughout Mostar. Some of the others are the Lucki Bridge, Carinski (Emperor) Bridge, Bridge Musala, which is the second oldest bridge, and the Bunur Bridge, which is the most recent bridge in Mostar.
Blagaj
Blagaj is located within the city limits and can be reached by public bus in around 15 minutes. Buses leave from the road opposite the main station, and not the bus station itself. In Blagaj there are good examples of Ottoman mosques, bridges and tekija or the Dervish house, which are located on the right bank of the source of the River Buna.
Muslibegovica House
Muslibegovica House is the National Monument of Bosnia. It was constructed 300 years ago and is considered one of Mostar’s most prized architectural marvels. Experts on Ottoman architecture consider Muslibegovica House as one of the most beautiful homes in the Balkans from the Ottoman period. The National Monument of “Muslibegovica House” is situated close to the Karadoz–Bey’s Mosque. This monument is a classical representation of suburban Ottoman architecture.
Unlike early architectural styles, this building resembles a four-storey house built around a centre. A double-arched entrance and a central pillar reveal a Mediterranean influence. The house has preserved the authentic monumental structure, some items and documents which provide an insight into the life of a wealthy Bey family from that period. Apart from seeing the museum exhibitions, visitors are encouraged to taste traditional beverages and cookies or spend a night in these authentic surroundings.
Religious Monuments
Crossing over from the West bank to the East bank, you will also come upon the mythical point where the East and the West are said to have met. The oldest mosque in Mostar, The Cejvan Cehaj Mosque, which was built in 1552, lies on top of the stairs to the right. Later, a “Madrassa” or religious Islamic school was built in the same complex. Kujundziluk in the Old Bazaar is named after the goldsmiths who conventionally crafted and sold their merchandise on this street. This is the best place in town to find authentic paintings and carvings of the “Stari Most” in copper and bronze. It is also the best place to find pomegranates, the symbol of Herzegovina, and the famous “stecaks” or medieval tombstones.
The Koski Mohammed Pasha Mosque built in 1617 is also open to visitors. Visitors are allowed to take photos for free here in this mosque. The top of the minaret is also accessible for visitors and spirals up from within the mosque, for those of you who are willing to bear the dizziness on the way up! However, the view is worth the way to the top! As you leave the mosque, just around the corner is the Tepa market. From Ottoman times this market has been a busy place. It now mostly sells products freshly grown in Herzegovina. You just can’t beat the quality of fruits like figs and pomegranates when in season. Look out for the local honey, which is organically produced in the villages all around Herzegovina, which receive ample sunshine.
The recently renovated Catholic Church is impossible to overlook. It has a steeple measuring over 30 metres, which towers over the skyline. The bishop’s residence in Mostar was patterned on Viennese architecture, which greatly adds to the town’s charm and is an example of the more recent Catholic traditions in this region. The Rondo, by the roundabout towards the west, was the former Cultural Centre of Mostar city. It is now home to the Croatian Cultural Centre and undoubtedly worth a visit. The Partisan Memorial Cemetery which commemorates the departed partisans is located in Bijeli Brijeg, off Fourth Street KP Kresimira. This area of town has a lot of green foliage and is also a lovely place for a leisurely walk, which gives you a wonderful view of the city.
Around Mostar
Pocitelj lies to the left on the road to Dubrovnik. You can take the yellow bus, number 41, to Capljina and you will reach this historical village around 45 minutes later. There are a couple of good Ottoman buildings here, dating back a few centuries. In particular, the Mosque of Hadzi Alija, is worth visiting. Pocitelj also gives an excellent view of the Neretva River.
The town of Medjugorje, around 25 km from Mostar, has become a “must-see” destination for pilgrims travelling here from around the world. This is because of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary seen by a youth. Buses leave every few hours from the bus station.
Ploce in Croatia is the nearest point to the ocean and is easily accessible from Mostar, with numerous buses and trains running daily. Beaches which lie north of the city are the best for swimming.
History
Since the end of the long war in 1995, great progress has been made toward the reconstruction of Mostar city. Over 15 million dollars have been spent on its restoration. The city was directly monitored by a representative from the European Union. Several elections were held and each nation of the EU was given political control over the city.



