Things to Do in Mostar
Mostar sits in the Neretva valley in Herzegovina, and most of what visitors do here happens within a short walk of Stari Most, the Old Bridge. A few of the best days out are further afield: the waterfalls at Kravica, the rapids near Konjic and the wine villages around Čitluk. Prices below are in convertible marks (KM, also written BAM), fixed at 1 euro to 1.95583 KM. Carry KM cash for small museums, mosques and buses.
Watch the bridge divers
Diving from Stari Most is the city’s best-known tradition. Members of the Mostari Diving Club stand on the parapet, collect money from the crowd, then drop about 20 m into the Neretva (figures of 21 to 24 m are often quoted, depending on the water level). Watching is free from the bridge, the terraces and the riverbank. The big event is the traditional high-diving competition held every year on a Sunday in late July, and the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series also stops in Mostar, using platforms higher than the bridge.
Do not jump on your own. The UK government warns that diving off the bridge has caused serious injuries and deaths. Anyone set on trying goes through the club, which gives a briefing and asks for a practice jump from a lower platform first, for a fee of roughly €25 to €30.
Coffee, ćevapi and copper
- Bosnian coffee: Café de Alma on Rade Bitange, behind the Hamam Museum, roasts its own beans and explains how the coffee is brewed and drunk. Hours are short (reported as Tuesday to Saturday, about 10:00 to 17:00).
- Ćevapi: small grilled sausages in somun bread with onion and kajmak. Tima-Irma is one of the places guides list.
- Copper work: coppersmiths still hammer trays, coffee sets and lanterns in the workshops along Kujundžiluk on the east bank. Haggle politely and pay in KM.
Fortica skywalk and zipline
On the hill above east Mostar, the glass skywalk at Fortica gives a view over the whole valley and is free to walk onto. A zipline runs nearby in the warmer months (about €25 to €30 per ride). Take a taxi up; the road is long and steep on foot.
Kravica waterfalls
About 40 km southwest, near Ljubuški, the Trebižat river falls about 28 m into a wide basin. Entry is 20 KM for adults all year, free for children under 7, with parking charged by the hour on top (kravica.ba ). Swimming is allowed in summer at your own risk, and the park warns about falling travertine rock. In November it closes at 17:00.
Rafting near Konjic
Whitewater rafting happens on the upper Neretva near Konjic, about an hour north by road. Neretva Rafting starts at Glavatičevo and runs about 18 km of river; the basic trip is 90 KM and a version with breakfast and lunch is 120 KM, gear and licensed skippers included (neretvarafting.ba ). The season runs from May to October.
Wine around Čitluk
The Herzegovina Wine Route links cellars around Čitluk, south of the city, where the white Žilavka and red Blatina grapes grow. Brkić, founded in 1979, works biodynamically with those two grapes only. Tasting tours run from Mostar; compare options on GetYourGuide .
Practical tips
The cobbles around the bridge are polished and slippery, so wear shoes with grip. July and August often pass 40°C in the valley; sightsee early and late. Day-trip coaches from the coast crowd the bridge from late morning until late afternoon.
Read more: Mostar day trips and sightseeing in Mostar .