BEST THINGS TO DO IN MOSTAR

Mostar is one of the best places to visit in Bosnia Herzegovina. This city of 60,000 inhabitants on the way from Dubrovnik to Sarajevo features endless attractions, and you’ll find them all on this post on the best things to do in Mostar.

Mostar is an ancient city inhabited since the Roman times. It was a major trading hub during the Ottoman and Habsburg times and one of the best known cities in Yugoslavia. One of the things that made Mostar famously unique was the perfect harmony in which its Muslim Bosniaks, Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats coexisted. However, this changed dramatically during the breakout of Yugoslavia and the Balkan war. This terrible civil war took the lived of over 2,000 Mostar citizens and left the city in ruins. Thus, Mostar represents the best and the worst of former Yugoslavia and is a must visit in your Balkans itinerary. 

In beautiful Mostar you’ll find mosques and churches, bazaars and restaurants, museums and remembrance stones. The places to visit in Mostar are enough to satisfy every traveler. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the city is undergoing one of the world’s fastest tourism growth rates. Keep this Mostar Travel Guide handy when planning your Mostar trip as it contains all the best things to do in Mostar. 

Best things to do in Mostar Old Town

The Old Town of Mostar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to most of the best things to do in Mostar. Here you’ll find mosques, bridges and markets that will take you back to the Ottoman times. The following are the best things to do in Mostar Old Town.

1. Admire Stari Most, Mostar’s Old Bridge

Stari Most, the Old Bridge in English, is the most famous bridge in Mostar. And reason enough to visit this lovely Bosnian city. This bridge is the most photographed spot in Bosnia and Herzegovina if not the Balkans. Thus, exploring its every angle is the number one among the best things to do in Mostar.

Back in the day, the east side of Mostar’s Neretva river was occupied by Muslim Bosniaks while mostly Catholic Croats lived on its west side. A wooden bridge connected both areas. Yet, at some point during the Ottoman regime, the bridge deteriorated badly. To the point Mostar residents were scared to cross it. So it fell out of use. Therefore, in 1557, Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the construction of a stoned-made bridge. This was to be of 30 meters long, 4 meters wide and 24 meters tall. A huge engineering work back in the days. And a reference to future nearby bridges such as the one in Prizren, Kosovo.

Unfortunately, over 400 years later, on 9 November 1993, the croat forces destroyed it during the civil war. Eleven years later, in 2004, Stari Most was rebuilt in full thanks to the funding of several international organizations. These included UNESCO and the World Bank. Stones from the original bridge served in the reconstruction, so its ancient vibe remains. Shortly after, in 2005, Stari Most and Mostar’s Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Crossing the bridge can be a bit tricky as it’s steep, slippery, and packed with tourists. Nevertheless, making your way on these old stones is an experience not to miss. To make the most of this gorgeous example of Balkan Islamic architecture, visit some of Mostar’s viewpoints. These include the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque and Lucki Bridge as described below.

2. Shop at the Old Bazaar

Bazaars are the highlight of every muslim city, and Mostar is no exception to that rule. If you love shopping, people watching, bargaining, meeting locals, and/or photography, the old bazaar is your place. So make sure to include wandering around the old bazaar among your top things to do in Mostar Bosnia Herzegovina.  

Mostar’s old bazaar, known as Kujundžiluk, stands on both sides of the river. Consequently, it has always been a point of connection and business exchange between the different ethnicities in town. Here you’ll find cobbled, winding lanes packed with over 500 stalls selling jewllery, textiles, ceramics, copper artifacts, painted plates, rugs, local alcoholic drinks, jams, honey, and souvenirs. Thus, this 16th-century pedestrian market remains one of the oldest and most charming bits of Mostar. And makes the perfect place where to learn about its arts and crafts.

3. Visit Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque

Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque is the most famous mosque in Mostar. And one of the nicest examples of Ottoman architecture in the city, built in 1618. It’s considered a Mostar landmark as it’s visible across the city. You’ll get the best view of the mosque from Stari Most. Therefore, the mosque also makes one of the best places in Monstar from where to observe the old bridge. 

The mosque is no longer operational, so tourists can visit it without restrictions. It features a stunning courtyard open to all, yet those willing to visit its interior and minaret are charged $7. 

The mosque’s interior is bright and colorful, decorated with fancy rugs, stained glass, and wood carving. Although destroyed during the Blakan war, the mosque has been fully restored. Visiting its stunning riverside location is one fo the nicest things to do in Mostar. 

Nevertheless, the highlight of the visit is climbing the narrow spiraling staircase to the top of its minaret. It can feel a bit claustrophobic. Yet, if the sun is in the right location, the place offers fantastic panoramic views over the city, the river, and Stari Most. 

4. Explore Karađoz Bey Mosque

Karađoz Bey Mosque, from the 16th century, is one of the largest mosques in Bosnia Herzegovina. As opposed to Koski Mehmed Pasha, it is still functioning as a mosque. Thus, visitors should avoid prayer time and dress appropriately while visiting. 

The highlight of the mosque is its minaret. It offers stunning views over Mostar although the old bridge is not quite visible from here. The entrance fee to the mosque is $2, which goes up to $5 for those willing to climb the minaret.

5. Find the Don’t Forget stones

Mostar is nowadays a bustling tourist spot, yet only 20 years ago it was at war. And the locals you’ll meet during your visit most likely have suffered terrible atrocities on their own skin. Therefore, to remind everyone of Mostar’s tragic past and provide an invitation to reflection, several stones painted with “Don’t forget” are spread throughout the city. 

Among them, the “Don’t forget 93” stone located at the entrance of Stari Most, in remembrance of the bridge’s destruction in 1993, is the most famous one. Don’t miss it when exploring Mostar Old Town.

6. Enjoy the views from Lucki Most

Lucki most is a modern bridge over Neretva river. It makes it among the top things to see in Mostar as it offers stunning views over Stari Bridge, Mostar’s famous old bridge. Cause we all know that while standing on Stari bridge you can’t get its pull picture. Neither on your head nor your camera. So seeing it from afar is a must. 

Lucki Bridge is the next bridge down the river from Stari Most. It’s less than five minutes away on foot. On the way, make sure to spare some time to get down to the river. The waters of Neretva are fresh and crystal clear and its riverbanks also make a great viewpoint to Stari Most.

7. Relax around Crooked Bridge

Crooked Bridge was built in 1558 over a local creek. It was a trial prototype bridge for Stari Most, aiming to test its design beforehand. Since this smaller version of the Ottoman engineering masterpiece turned out pretty well, Stari Most was built only eight years later. 

This bridge lies in a beautiful quiet area paced with idyllic cafes and restaurants. It makes a great spot to enjoy a relaxing evening in Mostar, offering views over the nearby stoned houses and creek. The war did not damage Crooked bridge. However, a flooding destroyed it a few years later. Nevertheless, it was rebuilt in 2001 thanks to UNESCO funding. Since then, it’s one of the best places to visit in Mostar.

8. Indulge in some local cuisine

Food in the Balkans is really nice. It combines the best of fresh mediterranean flavors with the nicest middle eastern vibes. Therefore, one of the best things to do when visiting Mostar is to enjoy the city’s food scene. 

The old town of Mostar is packed with lovely little restaurants. These serve grilled meat specialities such as cevapcici and pljeskavica, fresh salads topped with feta cheese, baked beans, delicious burek, and home-made baklava. Most of them have nice patios with a view over the bazaar or Stari Most. Some of the nicest restaurants to eat in when visiting Mostar are Terrace Lagero, Bella Vista, and Tima-Irma. 

Alternatively, if you venture outside the old town, you’ll come across lots of fast food Mostar stalls. These posts about the best food to try in Kosovo and where to eat in Montenegro offer additional insights in the Balkans cuisine. 

Best things to do in Mostar outside the Old Town

Mostar’s Old Town is now a land pack with tourists. If you wanna get the bigger picture of the city and explore how nowadays Mostar looks like, make sure to venture outside of the Ottoman town. Here you’ll find modern buildings, parks, and monasteries and you won’t have to share the area with the crowds. The following are the best things to do in Mostar outside of the old town.

9. Explore the Snipers Tower

The Sniper Tower is one the biggest and most clear reminders of the Bosnian war among Mostar things to do. Once a Yoguslav Bank, it was taken over by the Croatian and Serb forces during the war. And used as a control tower over the city packed with snipers.

Bosniaks risked their lives daily when walking through the area, so the tower is an important part of Mostar’s history. Therefore, although now in ruins, the tower will not be taken down nor rebuilt. It’s there as a reminder of the terrible times the city and the whole of Bosnia Herzegovina went through.  

It’s forbidden to go inside the tower. Yet, many local artists have found their way in and decorated it with meaningful street art. Likewise, many visitors try to skean in and overlook the city as snipers once did. 

10. Admire the beautiful gymnasium

A gymnasium is a secondary school preparing students for University. Mostar’s gymnasium, known as Gimnazija Mostar, is a stunning colorful building essential in any list of what to see in Mostar. And well worth the detour from the city’s old town. 

It was built in 1893 and is the first of its kind in Mostar and the second in Bosnia Herzegovina, only behind Sarajevos’. Considered a National Monument, it’s designed in Moorish Revival Style and somehow resembles Sarajevo’s city hall. It has always accepted students from every ethnicity and nowadays still operates as two separate secondary schools, one in Bosnian and the other in Croat.

11. Find the state of Bruce Lee

One of the most surprising Mostar attractions is a bronze statue of Bruce Lee. It happens to be the world’s first Bruce Lee statue and is a must find when one visit Mostar. 

The statue was a symbol of unity. That’s because Yugoslavs, whether Bosniak, Croatian or Serbian, all loved his Kung-Fu movies. You’ll find it in Mostar’s Park Zrinjevac, next to the Snipers Tower.

12. Climb the Bell Tower at the Franciscan Monastery

Mostar, like Prizren in Kosovo, is famous for its mosques and minarets. However, the city is very multicultural and there’s also some nice churches to check out while visiting Mostar. Among them, the nicest is the Catholic Church within Mostar’s Franciscan Monastery, standing 5 minutes walk off the old bazaar. 

The monastery is originally from 1866. Yet, it was destroyed during the war and then rebuilt with a much bigger bell tower. With its over 107 metres, it’s now the highest building in town which clearly emphasizes the Croat Christian legacy in Mostar. There’s an elevator taking visitors to a platform offering a 360-degree panoramic view over Mostar. It’s open from 9am to 5pm daily and the entrance fee is $3. 

Best Museums to visit in Mostar

Mostar is a city of museums, especially local exhibitions showcasing the horrors of its civil war. Nevertheless, in Mostar you’ll also find beautiful Ottoman-style houses, and exhibitions on the city’s monuments to learn about its stunning past as well. The following are the best museums to visit in Mostar.

13. Visit the Muslibegovic and Biscevic Houses

In case you were wondering, not all things to do in Bosnia are related to the Bosnian War. There’s much more to explore and enjoy in the country. And stunning remains from the Ottoman times such as the Muslibegovic and the Biscevic top the list of what to do in Mostar apart from visiting war remains. 

Muslibegovic and Biscevic houses are two beautiful Turkish residential manors from the 17th century. These Ottoman houses are so well preserved they are now museums. Anyone interested in decorations and architecture should aim to visit them. Both are accessible for a small fee.

Muslibegovic house is also a National Monument and a fancy boutique hotel. In fact, it’s one of the most famous among Hotels in Mostar. And it was once awarded one of the best accommodations in the whole world. The house belonged to the noble Muslibegović family. It is beautifully decorated in traditional Bosnian-Ottoman style. Its highlights include wood carvings on the ceilings, Ottoman rugs, old sofas, shelves, and mirrors, and a gorgeous courtyard packed with flowers. The house’s museum also displays handmade crafts, old books, and manuscripts written in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. You can book one of the 12 available rooms into this special Hotel in Mostar here. 

Biscevic House is also a museum, but it does not offer accommodation in Mostar. Dating back to 1635, here one can explore 400 year-old rooms decorated with Turkish rugs, beautiful ceramics, and the finest wood. Additionally, the house’s living rooms overlooks the Neretva river and offers stunning views over Mostar. 

14. Explore Bosnaseum

Bosnaseum is a Mostar-based museum showcasing the history, culture and traditions of Bosnia Herzegovina through different time periods and for each of the country’s ethnic groups. Exhibits mostly include national clothing, food, and daily handicrafts used by Bosniak Muslins, Orthodox Serbians and Catholic Croatians. 

There’s also some remains from the war and the destruction of the old bridge on exhibition, and a model of an ancient Herzegovina village. The museum is located near the old bazaar on the west side of the river. It’s open from 9am to 9pm everyday and the entrance fee is $5. 

15. Pay your respects at the Museum Of War And Genocide Victims

Mostar’s Museum of War and Genocide Victims is a greta place to learn from the atrocities of the Bosnia War. Considered Europe’s worst catastrophe since WWII, this war resulted in over 100,000 people killed and 2 million people displaced. Among them, many spent some time in concentration camps and suppressed rape and severe injuries. And it happened only twenty years ago, between 1992 and 1995.

Victims of the war themselves established the museum. It can be quite upsetting as it exhibits plenty of personal relics and stories from the atrocities. Therefore, it’s quite a unique place to visit in Mostar. You’ll find it across Karađoz Bey Mosque, it’s open daily from 9am to 9pm and the entrance fee is $5.

16. Admire the War Photo Exhibition

The War Photo Exhibition in Mostar Bosnia should be among the best places to visit in Mostar for history and photography lovers. You’ll find it above the Mostar Diving Club, in the wester tower of the Old Bridge, opposite to the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque. It’s open daily from 9am to 8.30pm and the entrance fee is $3. 

The exhibition hosts the work of Wade Goddard, a photojournalist from New Zealand who covered the war in Mostar. His over 50 photographs show what life in Mostar looked like in the 1990s. Thus, there’s pictures of destroyed buildings but also of the daily struggles the local population went through trying to keep on with their lives.

17. Learn at the Museum of the Old Bridge

One of the towers of Stari bridge hosts a museum on the history of Stari Most. It features an  archaeological excavation area underground, offers bird’s-eye view over the bridge, and exhibits lots of old images of its construction, destruction, and restoration. There’s also some interesting archeological objects found during the works on display.

The museum opened in 2006 and is accessible from 10am to 6pm on weekends and 8pm on weekdays. The entrance fee is $5. Although not unmissable, it’s a great place where to photograph the bridge from above. And to learn about how this iconic spot was built, destroyed, and re-built. Rumor has it lots of egg whites were used, guess you’ll have to visit to find out.

Recap on the best things to do in Mostar

Mostar is one of the nicest places to visit in Bosnia Herzegovina and the Balkans due to the many remains of its ancient and recent history. Walking through its old town admiring the several mosques, churches, and bridges is wonderful. And so is enjoying a local meal and one of Mostar’s many restaurants. Either to recover from a museum visit or to prepare for a shopping trip to the bazaar.

I hope is Mostar worth visiting is no longer a question for you. Yet, if there’s anything you’d like to know about my experience as a solo female traveler in Mostar reach out to me on my Instagram and Tiktok pages. I am always delighted to learn about your trips and help organising. Enjoy your travels.