Located in the southern part of the country, the city of Mostar is largely considered to be the cultural capital of Herzegovina and is the fifth largest city in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you are visiting, then you should know that Mostar is the most eventful place in the area and there are a lot of things to see and do there.
Main attractions
Stari Most (The Old Bridge) and the museum
The 21 meters tall and 28 meters wide Stari Most is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built in 1566, destroyed in 1993 and again rebuilt in the year 2004. Apart from the classic attraction of the site itself, people often crowd near it to see members of the Mostar Diving Club dive into the freezing cold Neretva river below.
If you want to know more about The Old Bridge and its history, there’s a museum right next to it with exhibits, videos and a nice little top view.
Koski Mehmed Pasina Dzamija (Koski Mehmed Pasha)
Built by the Turks in 1618, the ancient mosque has a narrow staircase which will take you right to the top of the minaret for a great view from above. There is a beautiful garden outside the mosque and a small café nearby as well.
Partisan Memorial Cemetary
The Partisan Memorial Cemetary was built in 1965 as a tribute to the Yugoslav partisans of Mostar who died during World War 2. In spite of having a sad origin story, it is a beautiful piece of architecture with peaceful surroundings.
Karadozbegova Dzamija (Karadoz-Bey mosque)
This is another ancient yet beautiful mosque, which predates even the Koski Mehmed Pasha. It was also built by the Turks, but half a century before the Koski Mehmed Pasina Dzamija, in 1557.
Bišćevića Ćošak/Muslibegović House/Kajtaz House
The Bišćevića Ćošak or simply the Biscevica House, along with the Muslibegović House and the Kajtaz House are some of the very last authentic Turkish style houses left today. They typically have rooms furnished with classic hand-curved wooden furniture, metalwork and colorful rugs.
Ruins of Hotel Neretva
The neo-moorish design of the hotel, set in layers of yellow and red stones was brilliant to look at and quite famous in the late 19th and early 20th century, until it became completely decrepit during the nineties as a result of the war. “Tito’s Palace” still stands as a testament to the old days and the contrasting modern building just beside it provides the onlooker with a sense of nostalgia.
Tito’s Secret Airport Hangar
It’s a huge underground hangar that Tito used back in the day to hide Yugoslavia’s fighter planes from the USSR and it’s located right beside the current Mostar airport. Although it isn’t a secret any more, you might have to take the help of some local tour guides to get in there and see everything.
The Sniper Tower
As the name suggests, it was used by snipers to get an advantageous elevation over their targets during the war. This is an unofficial, abandoned site which used to be a bank at some point and special permission might be necessary for you to enter the tower. However, if you do manage to get in, you will get a great view of the city once you reach the top.
The statue of Bruce Lee
It may look out of place to some, but the 1.68 meter Bruce Lee statue in Zrinjevac Park was sculpted in 2005 by Croatian artist Ivan Fijolic as he believed that everyone likes Bruce Lee and it would act as a symbol of peace and a unifying factor. Even though it was destroyed by locals soon after, the statue of the martial arts action star was reinstated in 2013.
There are also multiple abandoned buildings, remarkable street art and happening pubs, bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city for the visitors to marvel at and enjoy.
Here is a collection of photos for you to enjoy.
