Backpacking Mostar Travel Guide (The Best Secrets In 2024)
Backpacking Mostar is unlike many other places in the region. A city divided into two with a truly deep history, its scars are now healing and it has turned into one of the best places for budget travel in not only the Balkans, but all of Europe.
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Backpacking Mostar
Backpacking Mostar is a must-do when visiting the Balkans. It’s arguably become Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most popular tourist destination and post-COVID, it has established itself firmly as a backpacker hotspot.
This is for good reason as well. From the charming Ottoman-influenced Old Town to the now world-famous Stari Most. From the poignant reminders of war around town to the stunning view from the Millennium Cross. It’s also a fantastic place to sample some delicious cevapi at unbeatable prices.
After 4 months backpacking the Balkans, it ranks very highly of places I visited on my trip.
Here’s my in-depth guide on backpacking Mostar, in which I will show you have the best time possible all whilst on a budget.
Things To Know Before Backpacking Mostar
- The currency in Bosnia & Herzegovina is the Convertible Mark (KM/BAM) and at the time of writing, 1 AUD = 1.2 KM (67c USD)
- You can’t simply hike through the hills alone – they are still full of landmines. Stick to the path!
- Mostar is quite a poor city, with an unfortunate amount of beggars
- Keep cash on hand when backpacking Mostar, places like restaurants, cafes and even accommodation rarely accept card payment.
- It’s still a very divided city, with lots of people never even setting foot on the Bosniak or Croat side of the city. You can tell the difference.
How To Get To Mostar
Mostar is in a fantastic location for those travelling around the Balkan region, it’s proximity to both Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, as well as Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo means it’s not super complicated to get to.
For those backpacking Mostar from Croatia, the only way to Mostar is by bus.
From Sarajevo, you can either travel to Mostar by bus or train – but I seriously recommend taking the train. It’s known as one of the most scenic train journeys in the region and is also the cheapest method of travelling between the cities.
How Much Does Backpacking Mostar Cost?
Backpacking Mostar is incredibly affordable. It was actually the first place in the Balkans that I didn’t feel the need to cook because of the price!
It’s affordability is mainly down to it’s walkability as well as many attractions being free!
But, to establish how much backpacking Mostar will set you back, you have to consider the type of traveller you are.
For example, how much comfort do you really need? What kind of activities do you enjoy doing?
When I visited in 2023, I was easily able to keep my daily costs under $30 AUD a day ($18 USD) when backpacking Mostar. The low cost of my hostel in addition to the amount of free activities available meant I was fairly comfortable too!
In 2024 – the price of accommodation has shot up due to Mostar’s rising popularity, so it’s now possible to do it for under $40 AUD a day ($26 USD)
That being said, obviously you and I probably won’t have the exact same budget – so i’ve put together a budget breakdown for different types of budget travellers. Most days, I fit into Frugal Traveller when backpacking Mostar.
Daily Budget Breakdown
| Type of Traveller | Accommodation | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
| Skint Traveller | $0 | $5 | $0 | $0 | $5 |
| Frugal Traveller | $15-30 | $5-10 | $0 | $0-10 | $20-50 |
| A Bit More Comfort | $20-40 | $10-15 | $0 | $10-15 | $40-70 |
Skint Travellers take advantage of couch surfing and volunteering in hostels for free accommodation, cook their own food, walk and visit free attractions.
Frugal Travellers stay in budget hostels, cook their own food or eat at cheap restaurants, walk and dabble in paid activities
Travellers wanting A Bit More Comfort still stay in hostels with private rooms, but exclusively eat at restaurants and cafes, walk and enjoys more paid activities.
Mostar Budget Travel Tips & Tricks
As we’ve established, backpacking Mostar on a lower budget can be done pretty easily! That being said, there are some things you can do when visiting that can help you keep your daily costs down.
1. Where To Eat In Mostar On A Budget
It might be tempting to eat at restaurants in the heart of the Old Town. But where there are tourists, there’s tourist prices!
When I was backpacking Mostar, I usually only had one meal a day at a restaurant or cafe and I found the prices to be considerably lower outside of the Old Town. Outside of this, cooking in hostels was my go-to.
And the best part, the food is still great! Here are some budget eats in Mostar that you can try on your trip:
2. Visit In The Shoulder Seasons
The shoulder season is the best time to be backpacking Mostar, not only because it’s more affordable but it’s less busy.
April to the beginning of June & September – October are the best times to visit. In the summer, it can be scorching. I certainly had some tough days when I visited in June.
3. Walk Everywhere
Backpacking Mostar is very straightforward, there’s no need to figure out complicated transport networks because it’s so walkable!
This is handy, as it doesn’t affect your budget in any way so you’ll be able to put the money saved into other things!
As a bonus, you’ll likely stumble across random things like the Bruce Lee Statue.
4. Take Advantage Of Hostel Tours
Pretty much every hostel in Mostar is family-owned and tend to provide their own tours at a discounted price to their guests, compared to the tours you’ll find out in the street.
Credit: Miljan Rasevic (Pexels)
The father of my hostel’s owner ran a tour to Kravice Waterfalls, Blagaj and Pocitelj.
Things To Do In Mostar
Thankfully, most of the main attractions in Mostar come at no cost.
Here are some great things to do in Mostar:
1. Mostar Bridge (Stari Most)
You can’t say you visited Mostar if you didn’t check out the Stari Most.
The bridge is one of the most iconic bridges in the entire world and has actually been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It connects the two sides of the city and was used as a supply line in the 1990 conflict which made it a key target to the Croatian Defence Council.
This led to it’s shelling and it was completely destroyed and wasn’t fully rebuilt until 2004.
Nowadays, it is more well-known thanks to social media and has gained worldwide popularity because it’s status as a diving hotspot. Since 1664, it’s been a tradition for young men to leap from the bridge as a right of passage and they won’t “be a man” until they do it!
If you’re insane enough – you can jump off too! But you have to be professionally trained by the diving club before they let you take the leap as you can seriously hurt yourself!
2. Wander Around The Old Bazaar
I visited Mostar after being in Slovenia and Croatia and it was noticeably different than anywhere I had been!
The Old Town of Mostar has so much Ottoman influence and it has made it incredibly charming to walk around. You can get lost in the cobblestone streets, admiring the handicraft of local shopkeepers – all whilst being swept up off your feet by the smell of Bosnian coffee.
Make sure you check out the Old Bazaar when backpacking Mostar!
3. Hike To The Millennium Cross
If you want an incredibly view of the city, hiking up to the Millennium Cross when backpacking Mostar is absolutely worth it.
Thankfully, it’s not too difficult either – it just requires your close attention as you to walk along a busy mountain road for most of it.
Once you get to the top, you’ll be met with a huge millennium cross and an amazing view of the city. I did it in the middle of the day but it is a fantastic spot to watch the sunset.
Be careful: Around 79,000 unmarked landmines still remain in Bosnia & Herzegovina after the war. For your safety, don’t stray off the path and stay alive!
4. See War Remnants In Mostar
Mostar was one of the worst cities affected by the conflict in the 1990s and to this day, you can see many remnants from the horrific period in the country.
Outside of the Old Town, you will spot buildings that are destroyed and many others with bullet holes sprayed all over.
It’s definitely one of the more confronting things to do in Mostar, but I believe that you should understand the history of any place you’re visiting. Seeing these destroyed buildings is way you can understand even a little bit of it.
5. Mostar Sniper Tower
This is another reminder of the war that affected Mostar. Prior to the war, this building was actually a bank but transitioned into a sniper tower as it was the perfect vantage point for snipers.
Nowadays, like the rest of the city it is covered in beautiful graffiti art in Mostar. It’s illegal to go inside but people still manage to – so if you understand the risks of doing it, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic photo opportunities.
Here’s a bit more about the Mostar Sniper Tower.
When To Visit Mostar
Like I mentioned earlier, backpacking Mostar is best done on either side of summer.
April to June and September to October are perfect times to visit the city as not only the prices are lower but the weather is perfect.
In the winter, it can get really cold and is usually pretty wet – which makes walking over the Stari Most quite difficult! There was a bit of a sprinkle when I visited and it became very slippery.
On the other hand, backpacking Mostar in the summer can get real hot, which means you won’t even be able to do anything until the late afternoon!
Where To Stay In Mostar
When I was backpacking Mostar, I stayed in Hostel David. It’s incredibly social and a lot of fun to hang out in with so many solo travellers in one place. They’ve only got 3 dorm rooms which makes meeting people incredibly easy.
Two more options i’ve heard of is Taso’s House & Hostel Nina.
Related post: Hostel Booking Guide
How To Get Around Mostar
Mostar is an insanely walkable city as it’s not really that large, so there is absolutely no need to use any form of public transport or taxis.
If you don’t want to walk up to the Millennium Cross, you can ask a taxi to take you there but be sure to establish the price before getting in.
Is Mostar Safe?
I believe the backpacking Mostar is safe. Whilst you won’t have to worry about your physical safety, petty theft is around but nowhere near on the levels of some Western European tourist destinations like Paris!
Take care around the Old Bridge in particular, there are some beggars who will come up to you in groups and distract you whilst another will try to reach into your bag.
Mostar is sadly quite poor and you will certainly notice due to the amount of begging children. They will usually leave you alone if you ignore them or say no so don’t feel threatened.
If you were to give money to homeless in Mostar, I encourage you to avoid giving it to children as it damages them more, rather than helping them.
Here is a fantastic article on why you shouldn’t give money to child beggars.
See also: Responsible Travel Guide
Where To Go After Mostar
Depending on which way you’re going, there’s a few places you can visit after backpacking Mostar.
You can head to the Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo by a scenic train which will take you only 2 hours.
Both Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia are also great options as the buses aren’t that long either. That being said, the border crossing from Dubrovnik to Mostar can be a pain as it crosses the little stretch of coastline in Bosnia, then back into Croatia, then back into Bosnia.
How Many Days Do You Need In Mostar?
Most people visit Mostar as a day trip from Croatia or Sarajevo, and I think that’s a shame – because you can’t possibly see everything in one day without burning yourself out.
I recommend backpacking Mostar for at least 2 full days. That way you’re not rushing everything and you can chill out a little bit.
You can see the Stari Most and Old Town in an afternoon but if you wanted to take the day trip out to the Kravice Waterfalls, hike up to the Millennium Cross and see the War Remnants – make sure you leave yourself enough time to do so.
Travel Insurance For Mostar
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel – end of. I’m a big advocate for using travel insurance when solo travelling as it will save my arse if anything goes wrong. I use Worldnomads, easily the best company out there for long-term travellers. Get insured with these guys when backpacking Melaka.
Final Thoughts On Backpacking Mostar
Backpacking Mostar is becoming a popular destination for a reason. The history, the nature, the food and the people all combine to make it a place you should absolutely add to your bucket list.
Make sure you go sooner rather than later, as I expect it to boom over the next couple of years. Even now compared to last year, hostel prices are almost triple of what they were.
You won’t regret backpacking Mostar!
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.