What to See in Mostar

Mostar packs an extraordinary amount into a small, walkable old town, so a day trip is enough to see its highlights if you know where to head. Almost everything worth seeing clusters around the Old Bridge and the cobbled lanes on either side of the Neretva. Here’s what to prioritise. For how it fits into the wider day, see our what to expect guide.

The Old Bridge (Stari Most) — The Star

The Old Bridge is the reason Mostar is on the map. Commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent and designed by Mimar Hayruddin (a student of the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan), it was completed in 1566 after nine years of work. Its single humpbacked arch spans about 27 metres and rises roughly 24 metres above the river — an audacious feat of 16th-century engineering.

Its story is also a wartime one: the bridge was destroyed by shelling on 9 November 1993 during the Croat–Bosniak war, then rebuilt using local Tenelija stone and original blocks recovered from the riverbed. It reopened on 23 July 2004, and the Old Bridge Area was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 — celebrated as a symbol of reconciliation. Standing on the arch, looking down the green Neretva, is the defining Mostar moment.

The Bridge Divers

Don’t leave without watching for the divers. Leaping from the bridge’s roughly 20-metre-high parapet into the cold Neretva is a Mostar tradition that locals trace back centuries, and trained members of the local divers’ club still perform it — usually after gathering tips from the crowd. It isn’t a scheduled show, so catching a jump comes down to timing and luck, but the build-up is half the fun.

The Kujundžiluk Bazaar

Spilling away from the bridge is Kujundžiluk, the old coppersmiths’ bazaar — a cobbled lane of small workshops and stalls selling hand-beaten copper, jewellery, carpets and souvenirs. It’s the most atmospheric corner of town, especially in early morning or late afternoon light, and the best place to feel Mostar’s Ottoman character. Carry a little cash in Bosnian marks for the stalls.

Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque

Just upstream sits the Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque, an early-17th-century Ottoman mosque famous for two things: its riverside courtyard, which frames the postcard view of the Old Bridge, and its climbable minaret. For a small fee you can climb the narrow spiral staircase to one of the best panoramas in Mostar — the bridge, the river and the red rooftops laid out below. Dress respectfully and remove shoes where required inside.

A Suggested Walking Order

1. Kujundžiluk bazaar — wander the coppersmith lanes
2. The Old Bridge (Stari Most) — cross it, then watch for divers
3. Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque — climb the minaret for the classic view
4. Lunch by the river — grilled ćevapi or burek with a bridge view
5. Crooked Bridge (Kriva Ćuprija) — a smaller Ottoman arch nearby, often overlooked

Don’t-Miss Tips

• The minaret climb gives the best photo of the bridge — do it in good light.
• Time matters: earlier or later in the day means softer light and fewer crowds on the bridge.
• Wear good shoes — the old town is steep, cobbled and slippery when wet.

With a guide, the layers of Mostar’s history — Ottoman, wartime and rebuilt — come alive in a way the stones alone can’t tell you. If you’re combining the town with the falls, see our Mostar and Kravica Waterfalls day trip guide.

Ready to Book?

A top-rated Dubrovnik to Mostar day trip brings you here with a local guide, the border handled, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check availability and see the Old Bridge for yourself.