Mostar: The Most Beautiful City in Bosnia
Why visit?
Mostar is the most beautiful city in Bosnia and a trip to Bosnia would not be complete without visiting Mostar. The most famous thing about Mostar is Stari Most. This beautiful bridge makes Mostar so atmospheric with the blue-green water of the river beneath and the surrounding mountains. There is so much you can do in Mostar and the surrounding area so be sure not to miss this place as this is the highlight of Bosnia.
How to get here?
Mostar is well connected to Sarajevo and several trains are running to and from here every day. There are also buses connecting Mostar and Sarajevo but these are less frequent.
There are buses running regularly from Croatia in Split and Zagreb as well as in Serbia from Belgrade. There is an airport in Mostar but flights are not yet set up to run here but this may change in the future.
Things to do:
Stari Most
Stari Most is what makes Mostar so famous and such a spectacular place. The incredible architecture of this bridge with the stunningly blue-green colour of the river and the surrounding mountains make a good spot for a photo! Construction began on this bridge in 1557 and took 9 years to build and was built during the Ottoman period. It was 4 metres wide and 30 metres long and was flanked by 2 fortified towers both dating back to the 17th century.
During the Bosnian war, the bridge was destroyed by the Croat Defence Council and it collapsed on the 9th of November 1993. It took 60 shells to make the bridge collapse.
Reconstruction of the bridge commenced on the 7th of June 2001 and was finished on the 23rd of July 2004. It cost $15.5 million to complete and it was reconstructed to be as similar to the original as possible.
Old Bridge Museum
This small museum presents the history of the old bridge as well as the restorations that took place after the war to restore it to its present-day condition. There are also archaeological objects that were discovered during the reconstruction of the bridge and there is even an area in the museum where you can see panoramic views over Mostar. It is only a small museum but it is a great way to learn about the most iconic monument in Mostar.
Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
This beautiful mosque was built in the year 1618-1619 and is a classical representation of Ottoman architecture. It’s located right in the centre of Mostar and you can see stunning views of this mosque and the Neretva River from the Old Bridge. It was heavily damaged during the war and the extensive collection of manuscripts of the Qur’an was unfortunately lost but some managed to be preserved.
Old Town
This city was developed back in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Ottoman empire. The old town is famous for its Ottoman-style houses as well as the old bridge. The streets are all cobbled around the old town and with the traditional style of housing, you feel as though you have been transported back in time when walking around.
Round the old town there is so much in offer for visitors, you can dine in one of the traditional Bosnian restaurants or do some shopping and buy some souvenirs to take home with you or even sit ad enjoy some nice Turkish coffee.
Crooked Bridge
A shot distance away from the Old Bridge is the Crooked Bridge. This is a one-arch bridge measures at a height of 4.15m and a width of 8.56m. Its made mainly of regular stone cubes and cobblestones. During the floods of December 2000 the bridge was destroyed and so it has since been reconstructed by UNESCO and was financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Although it is not as impressive as the Old Bridge it is still nice to wander round the old town and visit this bridge.
Museum of war and Genocide Victims
This museum focuses on the events that occurred between 1992 and 1995 and has information about the armed conflict as well as personal accounts of what people experienced during the genocide. There are artefacts on display here and they each have a story behind them relating to the harrowing events that occurred. This museum has lots of information in both English and Bosnian and you could spend hours here if you want to read everything. It is a brilliant museum which is really moving but definitely worth a visit to learn about the history of Bosnia.
War-Torn Buildings around Mostar
When you wander around the streets of Mostar you will notice there are a lot of abandoned buildings as well as evidence of heavy artillery on many of the buildings in this city. The siege of Mostar occurred during the Bosnian war in 1992 and then from 1993-1994. 90,000 residents fled and numerous religious buildings and bridges were damaged or destroyed during the siege. The hostilities ended with the signing of the Washington agreement in March 1994 when the Croat-Bosnian federation was established.
Sniper Tower
This was a former Ljubljanska Bank but because it was the tallest building in Mostar and was in Croat territory during the war and this was an excellent position to hold as it had views all over the eastern bank of the river. You can’t go inside the building (unless you fancy clambering over the walls) but you can appreciate its size and wander around its exterior which has the evidence of heavy artillery but also beautiful street art on the outside. It is a good reminder of the war and also an interesting experience to imagine what it must have been like for the people living here all these years ago.
Where to stay:
Budget – Hostel Musala – This cheap hostel has a nice communal area and cosy dorm rooms for those on a budget. There is even air conditioning for those hot summer nights.
Medium – Apartments Solis – These luxurious rooms are comfy and nicely designed and all for a cheap price. There is also free parking here as well.
High – Luxury Apartment Crystal – It is located only 500m from the Old Bridge and offers a terrace as well as a beautiful apartment you can relax in.
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