Best Places on Day Trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina!

“I am hopeful that no one will forget what happened in Bosnia” – Fatos Nano (prior Prime Minister of Albania)

There are many day trips that you can take while staying in Dubrovnik. Check out my prior Dubrovnik post for things to do there! We had planned for trips to several of the islands surrounding the city. However, we still had one more day allocated for another tour. We struggled to decide between a trip to Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Torn between both, we still hadn’t booked either of them by the time we arrived in Dubrovnik!

We came across a local tour guide who was very helpful. They advised that while Montenegro is beautiful, its environment is quite similar to Dubrovnik and Hvar. Overall, he noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina are a worthwhile change in scenery. It is still a semi-developing country going through much change following its years of War. We agreed that a change would be good! Thus, we chose to visit Mostar – with a stop off at Kravice Waterfalls along the way. Many tours from Dubrovnik also offer the option to visit Mostar with a stop off at Medjugorje instead of Kravice Waterfalls.

The following sections are included in this post (click to navigate directly to the section):

• History of Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Kravice Waterfalls
• Mostar
• Mosques
• In Summary

History of Bosnia and Herzegovina

I must admit that I was never much interested in history in school. However, now I have much more interest and appreciation for it. This is especially true while traveling. It is quite moving to hear the history of an area while visiting it. Especially when the history is still relatively fresh, thus very close to the hearts of the people giving the tour. Subsequently, this was the case in both Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

For example, our tour guide told us a story of how her husband was one of the soldiers who made their way to the top of Srđ Mountain and raised the Croatian flag during the War of Independence. Her husband had even been caught in gunfire several times during this expedition. It is emotional to hear these stories from the locals. Furthermore, it is admirable to see how much the countries have grown and moved forward since such recent times of upheaval.

Agriculture

Our tour guide provided a great insight into the history of the war and agriculture of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was interesting to hear about the way of life for the people of the areas that we traveled through. Much of the landscape we traveled was in the countryside. We passed by large vineyards where our guide noted the popularity of wine production in the region. We sampled some Bosnian wine at Kravice Waterfalls – it was very good (and cheap)!

One area in Bosnia and Herzegovina that we traveled through was composed of old houses, barns, and farmland that were somewhat isolated from any nearby town. Thus, our tour guide advised that this community was fully self-sufficient and prevailed through local agriculture and cattle breeding. Nowadays, many of us live in modern society and a world of social media. For me, this was a stark reminder of how the world can still be so different than how you live your life.

1. KRAVICE WATERFALLS

Many of the day trips to Mostar offer either a stop-off at Medjugorje or Kravice Waterfalls. Kravice Waterfalls did not disappoint! I found tranquility and sereneness in this area. It was something that one can not capture in photos. Additionally, the tasty glass of wine I enjoyed while sitting by the waterfalls helped relax me! ? It is roughly 43 km south of Mostar. Also, it was a much-needed stop-off point along the long journey from Dubrovnik to Mostar. Kravice Waterfalls are roughly 25 meters high and separated into about 20 waterfalls. The water is very calm. Therefore, it is a pleasant spot for a dip in the water if you so wish. It is interesting to note that there is a no praying sign as it is considered a place of natural beauty with no place for religion.

Food/Drink

Kravice Waterfalls is a pretty area for both tourists and locals to enjoy a swim/paddle in the water. There is no need to pack a picnic because food and alcohol are served alongside the waterfalls. We enjoyed a glass of wine while sitting by the water. I found it extremely relaxing to enjoy the sun and the sound of the water gushing down around us. There are floodlights in the evenings, and the restaurants and bars stay open late. Thus, you can spend a lot of time here (note that the restaurants shut during winter).

Boat Trip

There are inexpensive boat trips available here too. You can either pay for a short trip to get closer to the waterfalls or, during peak season, it is possible to get a boat down the river towards Little Kravice (a smaller waterfall). Admirably, it is a very eco-friendly and clean area. All construction is either metal or wood (constructing with plastic is not allowed).

The sense of calmness and tranquility while sitting here was the highlight of my trip to the waterfalls. Note that the area shuts down for the Winter months.

2. MOSTAR

Bridges

After our stop off at Kravice Waterfalls, we traveled another 43 km to Mostar. One of the most popular attractions of Mostar is the Old Bridge.

Old Bridge (Stari Bridge)

This bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was originally a 16th-century Ottoman bridge. The Old Bridge was only recently rebuilt (2004) after the conflicts of the 1990s. Unfortunately, much of the Old Town was destroyed at this time too. It is about 24 meters in height. I was shocked to hear of the traditional yearly dive, Stari Most diving, from the top of the bridge! It occurs in the middle of Summer. Although it is mainly locals who compete, some tourists are reported to have too. It has reportedly taken place 477 times as of 2013.

Crooked Bridge (Kriva Cuprija)

We stumbled upon this bridge while wandering around Mostar, it is another very pretty bridge! The bridge is a miniature version of the Stari Bridge!

Streets of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Except for a trip to the Turkish houses or Mosques, there was not much else to see here. However, it was pleasant to wander around some of the colorful streets and market stalls. Especially as a tourist, don’t forget to keep an eye on your pockets and bags here.

The Turkish House (Kajtaz) is one of the main attractions for tourists to Mostar. Our tour guide recommended this to us (as well as visiting a Mosque). The Turkish House consistently receives fantastic reviews on TripAdvisor. Thus, this may also be worth a visit! It is a perfectly preserved late 16th-century Ottoman nobleman’s mansion built behind high walls. The wall was to protect the women of the family from unwanted attention. The tour appears to be a great way to gain insight into the lifestyle of that period.

However, we were happy enough with our short trip to the Old Bridge and a Mosque. We used the remainder of our time to wander and dip our feet into the river under the Old Bridge. 

3. MOSQUES

Koski-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque

Dating to the 17th century, this Mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina is worth a trip to while in Mostar (unless you are claustrophobic or afraid of heights!). The view from the top of the minaret is breathtaking. This view overlooks the river, the Old Bridge, and Mostar town. The tight walk up the stairway of the minaret may be tricky for those who are claustrophobic! There is not much space, plus it is quite a long walk up. I suffer from claustrophobia. Therefore, I turned back at one stage as I started to panic. However, once it was a little quieter along the passageway, I pushed myself to continue. I was aware of the spectacular view at the top, I did not want to miss out on this! There is a small entry fee.

Karađoz Bey Mosque

The mosque was refurbished (2002 – 2004) following its damage during times of War. It is a 16th century Ottoman mosque with a large dome and high minaret making it the largest in the region. It is also possible to climb the minaret for a small fee too.

In Summary

Overall, except for the Old Bridge and the spectacular views from the Mosque, there was nothing else hugely popular to see in Mostar. However, it was an extremely enjoyable and relaxing day (especially by Kravice Waterfalls). We gained a great insight into the history, agriculture, and environment of Bosnia & Herzegovina. It was very contrasting to the scenery of Dubrovnik. Though I still want to visit Montenegro, I’m glad we visited Mostar during our trip.

Have you been to Montenegro? Which day trip would you prefer, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina? Comment below! Thanks for reading!

Anita

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