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Day Trip to Mostar from Dubrovnik

One of the best excursion out of Dubrovnik it to take an eye-opening day trip to Mostar. It’s easy and well worth the time. Click here to find out more.


One week was definitely not enough to do Croatia justice, let alone sliding in a day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar. Bosnia and Herzegovina also warrant much more than a day, but it was a taste, a start, a glimpse. We took it!

We piled into the car, excited to hit another new country.  Along the way, we couldn’t believe the beautiful views of the mountains and the lush, productive valleys.  At one point there was a stunning overlook that reminded me of my trip to Mardin looking over the Mesopotamian Plain (but much greener).

Day Trip to Mostar

Mosque in Bosnia-Hercegovina

Driving over the border between Croatia and Bosnia, it became immediately apparent that Bosnia isn’t through suffering from its recent war.  We saw battlescars on many buildings, bullet-holes and buildings in ruin.

Old van surrounded by rubble in Bosnia.

Our very first stop, after taking photos at the border sign, was a complete surprise.  It was a cemetery on a hill covered with the most gorgeous violet irises.  Cemeteries are interesting enough, but add to it the number of graves with photos of young men who lost their lived in a terrible war not that many years ago and couple that with a stunning field of wildflowers.  It was pretty touching.

Bosnia cemetery views.

We stopped a few times on the road to Mostar.  The title photo is a small Turkish village that was fun to walk around for a few minutes, and after having lived in Turkey, it really felt like home.  There were many Turkish feeling, sights, and tastes in Mostar as well.

Bosnian tea and coffee service.

As you walk around there are plenty of stores, I enjoyed the bazaar-y feel that they exuded, the blue eyes, copper, all things I’ve long associated with Turkey.  At one store, there were small wall-hangings for sale.  In Ankara or Istanbul, they would feature Ataturk, but in Mostar, Tito.

Shopping in Bosnia.
Walking street in Mostar with shopping stalls.

We came across a few surprising things, like a puppy tied to the roof of the shops.  All the tourists were taking photos of him, and he was very cute.

Dog on top of roof in Mostar.

We visited the mosque, the market, ate some burek, and enjoyed our first impressions of this small country.

Interior view of Mostar mosque.
Ancient cemetery in Mostar.
Mostar vegetable market.
Mostar scenes.
Old shop keeper showing his moves in Mostar.

Walking around the town we noticed more and more how run-down and poor the city was.  Only by the big tourist spot was it renovated.

Different architecure in Bosnia Hercegovina.
Bullet riddle walls in Bosnia.

And yes, we did spend time on the bridge.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mostar bridge was destroyed during the war and rebuilt. It’s an amazing structure and today there are young men who will jump off of it for money.  We didn’t pay, and didn’t see anyone jump, but they were there sitting on the edge waiting to go.

Mostar bridge.

Our first glimpse into this new country was both sobering and hopeful.  The Bosnians are well on their way to recovery, but they have a long way to go still.  We also did a day trip to Montenegro…beautiful and easy drive as well.

On the border of Bosnia Hercegovina.

Have you been to Bosnia and Herzegovina?  Did you walk across the Mostar Bridge?  What were your impressions?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Old stone mosque in Bosnia.

Katie Diederichs

Monday 6th of May 2019

When I die, I think I'd want violet irises to be planted on my grave. They look beautiful.

Corinne Vail

Monday 6th of May 2019

Don't they, though?

Tom Bartel

Thursday 2nd of February 2017

Got to get there one day, and not just to drive through that little bit between Split and Dubrovnik.

Corinne Vail

Friday 3rd of February 2017

Tom, And we've got to get back and really explore it in more depth.

jan

Tuesday 8th of July 2014

These are interesting photographs. I can definitely see the similarity with Turkey. Love the man swinging and jumping - he must have been a mini celebrity :) Weird with the puppy on the roof. We saw lots of goats on roofs in Canada and that was a tourist gimmick. Could the puppy possibly have been? Or maybe he likes a view. The outside of the mosque looks attractive and the expression on the stall holders face is a classic. In answer to your question, No we have not been but I think we will be soon.

Corinne Vail

Thursday 10th of July 2014

Jan, As we only spent one day there we also need to go back, but we really enjoyed it! I couldn't believe how "Turkish" everything was!

Chanel | Cultural Xplorer

Monday 7th of July 2014

I have not been to that area yet, but I love the photograph of that man jumping out of the (store?)

Corinne Vail

Monday 7th of July 2014

Chanel, It's hilarious, isn't it?

muzachan

Monday 7th of July 2014

Beautiful place...

Corinne Vail

Monday 7th of July 2014

Thanks, Muza-chan!