I must admit I visited Bosnia on a whim. In 2019 I had a New Year’s Resolution to visit 10 new countries in 2020. I was already visiting Montenegro , my 9th new country, and I thought I’d try tick off country number 10 whilst I was on the same trip. Bosnia was one of the easiest countries to reach by bus so that was that. How I’m so glad I’d set myself that 10 country challenge otherwise this relatively untravelled country would have been left unexplored by myself. Here are just 7 reasons why Bosnia, in particular Mostar, should be on your radar for your next European trip.
1. It's peaceful
I arrived into Mostar in the evening and it was that quiet I thought I’d gotten off the bus at the wrong stop. Unlike other cities I’ve visited, the city is relatively quiet. Yes, there may be a few tourists in the Old Town but generally the city lies free from the hustle and bustle of people and traffic you get in other city break destinations, making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon, or a couple of days if you’re lucky enough to have the time.
2. It's full of history
My hostel, Taso’s House (which I would highly recommend), ran a tour around Mostar and Herzegovina. It was on this tour that I learnt so much about the history of Bosnia and how much the Bosnian people had been through. Just a few minutes walk outside the Old Town lies what appears to be a very tall derelict graffitied eyesore. If I hadn’t known, I would have completely bypassed this building that no doubt is a daily saddening reminder of the horrific events the locals here lived through. A former bank turned sniper tower where civillians would be shot at on the streets during the Bosnian war in the 90s. I didn’t venture inside as it was getting dark. However, the outside of the building was riddled with bullet holes. As was every building in fact. Just a small reminder of what devastation occured there a mere twenty something years ago.
3. It's full of natural beauty
On our tour of Herzegovina, we were taken to some truly idylic spots. The Kravice waterfalls were the perfect alternative to the packed Krka waterfalls in Croatia (and cheaper too!) We also visited Blagaj, an iconic little Bosnian village that has a house built into a cliff next to a cave. Take a stroll (or mini hike) up the hills of Pocitelj for some stunning views. Finally the Old Town of Mostar itself is a wonder to walk around and admire.
4. It's so cheap!
There is no denying that Bosnia is one of the cheapest European countries I have ever travelled to. Just a two and a half hour drive outside of expensive Dubrovnik, it is the perfect place to escape the craziness and get more for your money. Hostels range from just €7 and you can get a meal for as little as €2. Bosnia use their own currency, the Bosnian Mark (BAM) although Euros are accepted in some places.
5.You can jump 24m off the famous Old Bridge (if you wish)
Visit the famous Old Bridge of Mostar in the heart of the Old Town and watch the diving crew take the plunge (quite literally!) The drop from the bridge is 24 metres! There is a trained diving crew that wander the bridge daily asking for donations then every so often, one will jump. You may have to wait around a while to see one actually jump though as they use the tactic of one hanging over the edge as a way of enticing people to donate. Alternatively you can jump yourself! Beware though, you need to get trained by the diving team to do so. An Australian friend that I met at Taso’s house decided to take the plunge and it cost him €25 for the privillege. When you complete the jump you receive a certficate and you a unique number meaning you become an official member of the Mostar Diving Club. This means you can jump free for life. The money also goes towards the maintenance of the bridge. If you do decide to do it then they train you to jump off a smaller diving board first, you’re not just thrown in at the deep end!
6. It's a meat lover's dream
Beware veggies and vegans, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten as much meat as I did in the 36 hours I spent in Mostar. One dish I ate twice in 24 hours was the Bosnian Cevapi, they’re like grilled mini sausages and they’re just delicious! Whilst visiting Kravice Waterfalls, Taso asked us for €5 each and to our delight came back with the biggest tray of meat to share and a large glass of wine each. Where else would you get that so cheap in Europe?! If you aren’t a meat eater then be sure to try out the fresh figs sold by the river in Blagaj!
7. It's romantic
Forget Paris, or even Rome. If you think Mostar is pretty in the day time just wait until the evening. Its so pretty at night with the Old Bridge all lit up and the bars, restaurants and market stalls all being covered in fairy lights.
Getting to Mostar, Bosnia
Bosnia is not the easiest country to reach direct from the UK as there are no direct flights. However, it is very easy to factor in Mostar as part of another trip from either Croatia or Montenegro. I travelled via bus from Podgorica in Montenegro and the 5 hour journey was rather nice and scenic through the mountains.
Possible ways of arriving to Mostar:
Podgorica- Mostar – 5hrs – from €15
Kotor-Mostar- 6hrs – from €21
Budva – Mostar -6hrs- from €21
Dubrovnik – Mostar – 3hr30- from €14
Split – Mostar – 3hr15 – €15
Check out Skyscanner for cheap flights to a neighbouring country then use the following links to check out bus times and book tickets.
flixbus.com /getbybus.com / busticket4.me
Possible day tours from Croatia start from £42