Things to Do in Mostar

The bridge jumps happen year-round. But that Instagram shot everyone posts? Mostar offers far more than its famous Stari Most, though the 16th-century stone arch does make for an impressive first impression. This UNESCO World Heritage city in Herzegovina balances Ottoman elegance with the raw reality of recent conflict—a combination that hits harder than most tourist destinations. Cobblestone streets echo with both calls to prayer and church bells, Turkish coffee shares space with Bosnian burek, and locals offer perspectives that will challenge everything you think you know about the Balkans.

The food reflects genuine cultural mixing. Ottoman, Mediterranean, and Balkan influences create dishes you cannot find elsewhere, from excellent ćevapi and burek to local specialties like Herzegovinian wine and štrudla. Old Town restaurants cater to tourists but many serve authentic traditional food—look for places where locals eat alongside visitors. Try riverside restaurants near Blagaj for fresh trout or hunt down family-run konobas in residential neighborhoods. Grandmother's recipes still rule there.

May through October offers the best weather and active bridge diving, though summer temperatures can hit 35°C and crowds get thick. Spring and fall might be perfect—comfortable temperatures, fewer tourists, and the landscape looks particularly impressive during these shoulder seasons. Winter brings authentic local atmosphere with reduced tourist numbers, but some attractions cut their hours and weather turns unpredictable. Bridge diving tradition runs June through September when water levels and temperatures make the jumps feasible.