Mostar In A Day

Many people come to Mostar as a day trip from Split or Dubrovnik, while we stayed a few days it is possible to see Mostar in a day. Here are some suggestions of things to see and do to make the most of the time you have there.

 

Mostar In A Day-Private Walking Tour

Mostar in a day

If you really want an insight into what life was like during the Balkan Wars in Mostar, one of the best options is to do a walking tour with a local. We were there in the offseason and were approached by a few people offering their services to show us around. We spent time with a guy call Alen who as well as showing us the best spots for photos  and also was our personal photographer (so we actually have photos of us together which is rare)

The tour gave us a fascinating perspective of what life was like during the Balkan Wars and also how life is in Mostar now. As far as cost for a personal tour,  it was quite cheap working out to about $15 Aus per person and took about an hour and a half. There are also Free Tours offered that you can join if you prefer the type where you pay what you think the tour is worth or other private guides so worth having a look at what suits you and the time you have.

Wander The Streets Of the Old Town

Copper Art from Mostar

Spending some time wandering the Old Town gives you a sense of the history of the area. It is definitely not a place for high heeled shoes, the road is paved with boulders so you need to watch your feet. Our guide told us this was to stop the young ladies looking at the men as they walked by….let me tell you it works, there is no texting and walking in that area. The Old Town is filled with places to watch artisans at work and of course shop to buy not only their works of art but other souvenirs. There are also plenty of restaurants and coffee shops to stop, rest and take in the area.

Stari Most

Stari Most Mostar

 

The largest attraction in Mostar has to be Stari Most, the beautiful single-arched stone bridge that spans the  Neretva River. Originating from 1566 when the original wooden bridge was replaced by stone, it is regarded as one of the Balkan’s finest examples of Islamic and an iconic image known by many.

The bridge you see today is actually a copy as the original was destroyed during the Balkan Wars but it still is a sight to behold and well worth the journey to see it.

Stari Most is also a popular diving spot,  in summer the young men of the city dive off to entertain tourists and  Red Bull even run a Bridge Diving competition there around September every year. If you are tempted to join in for a cost of 25 Euros you too can join in, you need to attend a training session with the Mostar Diving Club who you will find situated near the Bridge. Be warned though this may mean you will not see much more in your day in Mostar 🙂

Take In the Views From Koskin-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque

Koskin-Mehmed Pasha's Mosque Mostar

Situated north of Stari Most, The Koskin-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque is the second biggest mosque in Mostar. It was completed in 1618, it was badly damaged in WWII and almost destroyed during the Balkan Wars. Now rebuilt, for a small fee you can climb to the top of the minaret to take in the vistas. The cliumb is not for the faint hearted but the views are sublime.

Enjoy The Food

Meat Platter Mostar

 

You can not say you have seen Mostar in a day if you have not tried the food. The food here is a meat lovers delight, with many places offering huge meat platters to share for really reasonable prices. We discovered a beautiful place that ticked all the boxes for us Restoran Harmonija ….. above you will see their platter for two.  We rarely recommend places but this really was good, so good that we returned a couple of times.  It had everything we look for freshly cooked, reasonably priced food and excellent service with the added bonus of a balcony overlooking the river.

Another thing we tried while in Mostar was Ćevapi a kind of Bosnian kebab. Small grilled meat sausages served with onions, kajmak ( a type of feta cheese), ajvar (a red capsicum/pepper sauce and pita bread. Delicious and well worth seeking out.

 

Find Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee Mostar

One of our more unexpected finds in Mostar was this statue of Bruce Lee which is situated in Zrinjski City Park. Apparently, he became a cult hero to the young people of  Yugoslavs during the 70s and 80s. While they loved kung fu type movies in general Bruce became a favourite through the pirated videos that arrived.

While the countries are now divided since the Balkan Wars, Bruce Lee unites them in some way. When Mostar wanted to build a Peace Monument many names were put forward to the people and Bruce Lee won the honour over Gandhi and even the Pope.  The statue was unveiled in 2005 and was the first public monument to Bruce Lee in the world beating Hong Kong by only a day.

 

 

Abandoned building Mostar

 

These are just a few of the things you will find to keep you busy in Mostar for a day. It is a fascinating and confronting city. Where many of the other parts of the former Yugoslavia seem to have just moved on from the Balkan Wars, Mostar still bears visible scars with abandoned buildings all over the city. Don’t let this scare you off from visiting though, for us it really worth visiting.

Staying Longer Than A Day?

Accommodation in Mostar is very reasonably priced and there is a wide choice of accommodation options if you do a search below you will be able to get the best price available from all online providers.

 

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Travel Notes & Beyond

 

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16 thoughts on “Mostar In A Day

  1. What a great place to visit, even when it’s a little cold. I always like to stay overnight where others only take a day trip. I think the atmosphere in some places completely changes after the daytrippers go away.
    #TheWeeklyPostcard

  2. Thanks for sharing this post. I wanted so badly to go to Mostar this past spring, when we visited Croatia, but it didn’t work out. I would have loved to photograph Stari Most, but it wasn’t meant to be. Well, maybe some other time… #TheWeeklyPostcard

  3. I’d so love to get to Mostar. We visited Split and Dubrovnik but didn’t have time to go to see things like Mostar’s Stari Most, which from your lovely photo does look like the most beautiful single-arched stone bridge I’ve ever seen 🙂

  4. Thanks for the insight! I have plans to visit this city next May. Plans are rough at the moment but I hope to stay at least a night. I know there are other attractions in the area. Plus, I would love to do one of the walking tours. #TheWeeklyPostcard

  5. Mostar is not a place on my list, but I see I should rethink this! Thanks for an informative post. Your food photo makes my mouth water, too!

  6. I appreciate your Mostar in a day article. Sometimes we only have a day in a city or location. You certainly made the most of it!! Excellent article!

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