Things to Do in Mostar: A Food Lover’s Guide to the City

Last updated: April 2026

Things to do in Mostar go far beyond the Old Bridge photo. Stari Most — the Ottoman stone arch built in 1566, destroyed in 1993, and rebuilt in 2004 — is the reason most people come. But the city around it is where the real experience happens: a coppersmith bazaar where metalworkers still hammer by hand, mosques from the 1550s with minarets you can climb, a war photography exhibition that stops you cold, and a food scene built on grilled meat, slow-cooked stews, and coffee rituals that take half an hour. Mostar is small enough to walk in a morning and deep enough to keep you for three days.

Stari Most and the Old Bridge Area

Stari Most (Old Bridge) is a single stone arch spanning 27 metres across the Neretva River, standing 21 metres above the water. It was built in 1566 during Ottoman rule, and the name “Mostar” itself comes from “mostari” — the bridge keepers who guarded it. The bridge was destroyed by artillery fire on November 9, 1993, during the Bosnian War. Reconstruction using original stones recovered from the river took over a decade, and the bridge reopened in July 2004. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

Stand on the bridge in the early morning before the crowds arrive and you will understand why people have been crossing this arch for over 450 years. The view down to the turquoise Neretva is vertigo-inducing — which is exactly why members of the Mostar Diving Club jump from it. The divers collect money from spectators before each jump, building up the crowd for an hour before leaping into water that stays around 12°C year-round. If you watch a dive, tip the divers — it is tradition.

Old Town: Bazaar, Mosques, and Museums

The streets on either side of Stari Most make up Mostar’s Old Town (Stari Grad). On the east bank, Kujundžiluk is the old coppersmith bazaar — a narrow cobbled street lined with shops selling handmade copper džezve (coffee pots), fildžani (coffee cups), jewellery, and traditional crafts. It is touristy but the metalwork is genuine and the craftsmen are real. A handmade copper džezva set makes one of the best souvenirs you can buy in Bosnia.

Koski Mehmed-paša Mosque (built 1618) sits right by the river with a minaret you can climb for the best panoramic view of Stari Most and the Old Town. It is worth the tight spiral staircase. Karađoz-beg Mosque (1557) is the largest Ottoman mosque in Mostar and is free to enter outside prayer times.

For museums, the Old Bridge Museum has exhibits on the bridge’s history and a video of the reconstruction. The Muslibegović House is considered the most beautiful Ottoman-era house in the Balkans — it is open to visitors from April 15 to October 15. The Hamam Museum (next to Food House Mostar) is a restored Ottoman bathhouse. And the War Photo Exhibition — photographs by a New Zealand journalist who documented the siege — is one of the most powerful small exhibitions in the Balkans.

War History

Mostar was one of the most heavily bombed cities in the Bosnian War (1992–1995). The front line ran along what is now Bulevar Revolucije — at one point, just five metres separated the two sides. Many buildings along this street still show bullet holes and shell damage. This is not something Mostar hides. Walking the former front line gives you context that no guidebook can provide.

The cemetery above the city — once a park — was converted to a burial ground during the siege in 1993. It is a quiet, sombre place that locals visit regularly. If you are interested in the war history, the photo exhibition in the Old Town and a front-line walking tour are the most impactful ways to engage with it.

Food Experiences

Eating in Mostar is one of the main things to do — and Herzegovinian cuisine is distinct from what you will find in Sarajevo or northern Bosnia. The Mediterranean influence is stronger here: more olive oil, fresh Neretva river trout, Herzegovina wines (Žilavka and Blatina), and herbs you smell in the air. Start with ćevapi — grilled minced meat rolls in somun bread with kajmak. Then work through dolma (stuffed peppers), japrak (stuffed vine leaves), burek for breakfast, and baklava for dessert.

For a hands-on experience, the Burek Masterclass at Food House Mostar (Rade Bitange 12, next to the Hamam Museum) is a 2–3 hour class where you learn to hand-stretch phyllo dough and make traditional burek. The Full Bosnian Feast is a longer session (~3.5 hours) covering japrak, dolma, burek, and hurmasice dessert. Both run at Food House or Timber & Stone Tavern, with small groups of up to 8 people. Book via burekmasterclass.com.

And do not leave Mostar without sitting down for Bosnian coffee. It is not Turkish coffee — the brewing method is different, the serving ritual is its own, and it takes 20–30 minutes. Order a džezva at any cafe, dip your sugar cube, and watch the city go by.

Day Trips from Mostar

• Blagaj (12 km, 25 min by local bus) — The Buna river source emerges from a cliff face into a deep turquoise pool. The Tekija (Sufi lodge) is built right into the rock. Trout restaurants line the riverbank. One of the most photogenic spots in Herzegovina.
• Počitelj (35 km, 45 min) — A walled Ottoman town dating to 1383, perched on a hillside above the Neretva. Stone houses, a fortress, a mosque, and river views. On the road to/from Dubrovnik — easy to combine with a day trip.
• Kravice Waterfalls — A wide, cascading waterfall where you can swim in summer. Popular full-day trip, often combined with Počitelj and Blagaj.
• Međugorje (25 km) — Catholic pilgrimage site. Buses run every few hours. Very different atmosphere from Mostar — worth visiting if you are interested in religious tourism.
• Stolac — Ottoman town with the Radimlja medieval cemetery (stećci tombstones, UNESCO), Daorson archaeological site, and Badanjsko Cave paleolithic paintings.

Practical Tips: Things to Do in Mostar

• Getting there: Buses from Dubrovnik (3–4 hours), Split (4 hours), Sarajevo (2.5 hours). The Sarajevo–Mostar train (2 hours, twice daily) is one of the most scenic rides in Europe — take it if you can.
• Getting around: The Old Town is entirely walkable. Everything in this guide is within 15 minutes on foot.
• Money: KM (convertible marks). 1 EUR ≈ 1.. Most restaurants accept cards. ATMs are easy to find.
• Summer heat: Mostar regularly hits 40°C in July and August. Visit mosques and museums in the afternoon when shade matters. Eat lunch indoors.
• Best time: May–June and September–October. Warm but not unbearable, fewer crowds than July–August.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is one day enough for Mostar?
A: One day covers Stari Most, the Old Town, and a meal. But two or three days lets you explore the museums, do a cooking class, take a day trip to Blagaj or Kravice, and actually relax — which is what Mostar is best at.

Q: Is Mostar safe for tourists?
A: Yes. Mostar is safe and welcoming to visitors. The Old Town is pedestrian-friendly and well-maintained. Standard travel precautions apply — watch your belongings in crowded areas, stay on marked paths outside the city (landmine warnings exist in some rural areas).

Q: Is Mostar worth visiting?
A: If you are anywhere near the Dalmatian Coast, yes. Mostar is the most accessible introduction to Bosnia — a different country, a different cuisine, a different pace. Rick Steves calls it “the most enticing first taste of Bosnian culture.”

Q: Can I visit Mostar as a day trip from Dubrovnik?
A: Yes. The drive is about 2.5 hours each way. You will have 4–5 hours in Mostar, enough for the bridge, the bazaar, and a proper lunch. Read our Dubrovnik to Mostar day trip guide for the full route.

Q: What is the best food to try in Mostar?
A: Start with ćevapi (grilled meat in somun bread with kajmak). Then burek for breakfast with cold yogurt. Finish with baklava and Bosnian coffee. For the full guide, see our food in Mostar post.

Mostar rewards people who slow down. Cross the bridge, get lost in the bazaar, sit for coffee, eat grilled meat in a shaded courtyard. If you want to take the food experience further, stop by Food House Mostar at Rade Bitange 12 — next to the Hamam Museum, under the fig tree — for Herzegovinian home cooking and hands-on cooking classes that teach you the food behind the culture.