MOSTAR & BLAGAJ, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Mostar & Blagaj One Day Trip
Explore Bosnia and Herzegovina’s southern jewels, Mostar and Blagaj, in a full day trip.
Discover Mostar: the fifth-largest city in the country, and the most important in Herzegovina. Walk through its old city by the Neretva river and visit the famous Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Today the bridge is a symbol of peace for the 3 ethnic groups in the region: Croats, Serbs and Bosnian Muslims – Bosniaks. Mostar is also famous for its street market and shopping area.
Visit Blagaj and its famous 16th century Tekke (Tekija or Dervish monastery) built in Ottoman and Mediterranean style. Be amazed by its construction at the spring of the Buna river and learn about the Dervish orders.
Mostar`s famous and unforgettable Old Bridge
Blagaj Tekke: Historical and Natural Heritage Site
Neretva river and its beautiful colors
Mostar’s street market and shopping area
Mostar Tailored Tour
From 110 Euros
Price
7-9 hours
Duration
We will accommodate your schedule and location!
Departure from...
Departure Points
Tell us where you are: Split, Dubrovnik, Sarajevo and more
Mostar & Blagaj Day Trip Price Includes:
Private transportation
Pick up and drop off at your accommodation
Entrance ticket to the Muslibegović House museum in Mostar
Entrance ticket to the Blagaj Tekke
Personal local guide in English
Other languages available, please inquire
Blagaj Tekke and the gorgeous Buna river spring
Spectacular dives off the Old Bridge into Neretva river
Who Is This Private Tour For?
A perfect combination of nature and history! This tour is suitable for persons of all ages. Access for wheelchairs and baby strollers is possible, but difficult, as the pavement in both cities is rough, and uneven, made out of rocks extracted from nearby rivers. For the same reason, we suggest closed and comfortable shoes.
Best Time To Visit
Mostar and Blagaj can be visited at any time of the year, with most attractions open all year round. Spring and Autumn are great seasons, as the cities are not so crowed and temperatures are mild. Summer is very hot in the region, with temperatures often reaching 40 degrees Celsius, so if you don’t take heat well, plan another time for the visit. During the Winter, some of the restaurants and hotels might be closed.
Mostar street market dazzles with colors and liveliness
Mostar and Blagaj are located in the Southern part of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Where Are You?
Mostar and Blagaj can be reached from several cities, the most popular being Sarajevo, Split and Dubrovnik.
If you are in any other city and would like to visit this attraction, talk to us about your itinerary and we can suggest the best options for you to enjoy your time!
Itinerary for Mostar & Blagaj Day Trip
It varies from your selected city of departure, and we can set the pick up time to fit your schedule. Usually we suggest the following:
08:00 – 09:00 Departure from your accommodation
10:00 – 14:30 Mostar Old Town private tour
14:30 – 16:30 Blagaj Tekke private tour
17:30 – 18:00 Return to your accommodation
Mostar Old Bridge – majestic at night
Walking up and down the Old Bridge is a unique experience
More About Mostar & Blagaj Tailored Tour
This amazing tour starts in the morning when we pick you up at your accommodation at a time chosen by you. The drive takes place in a comfortable car or minivan with a driver/guide in English, or another language of your choice, always ready to give you lots of interesting information about the country, people, culture, etc.
We will start by exploring Mostar’s old city and its important landmarks. We usually start the visit from the right river bank, commonly known as the Croatian Catholic side, where the Catholic Church and Franciscan Monastery are located. We will continue the walk through its narrow stone streets, passing through the city’s street market with its Turkish influence, until we reach the river bank and the most famous landmark: the Old Bridge. Here you will have time to admire its construction, river and amazing surroundings. After we cross the bridge to the left bank, known as the Muslim side, we will visit many sights, the most important being the Koskin-Mehmed Pasha’s Mosque, with its amazing view of the Old Bridge from the minaret and the Bišćevića House, where a typical Turkish house can be visited.
In the afternoon, we will take a 15 minute drive and reach Blagaj, where we will visit the famous Tekke built in the 16th century. We will take a tour of its many rooms, such as the Musafirhana (guest house), Türbe (mausoleum) and Hamam (Turkish bath). We will also spend some time outside, by the river Buna, where we can admire the Tekke construction. The fact that it is engraved in a rock, by a cave and at the spring of a river, makes the view very special. Depending on the time of year, visitors can also take a tour inside the cave.
At the end of the tour you can choose between returning to your accommodation or heading to one of the local restaurants for a taste of local food and award-winning wines!
Good To Know
Summer is very hot in the region. Make sure you have sunblock on, carry a hat and wear light clothing. It is extremely important to keep hydrated!
Bosnia is famous for its gastronomy. Make sure you try a traditional meal, including Ćevapi and Burek, and taste the many desserts, such as Baklava.
Wear comfortable shoes. The pavement in both cities is rough, and uneven, as it was made of rocks extracted from nearby rivers.
Avoid visiting the Blagaj Tekke on Sundays, as it often gets crowded with pilgrims from all over the world.
If you hang around long enough at the Old Bridge you will witness local men diving into the Neretva river. It’s quite impressive to watch. They will first collect tips, so make sure you have some change with you.
Make sure to bring your camera, so you can document the beauty of this area.
Currency in Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Convertible Mark (BAM, or often seen in stores as KM). Euro is often accepted, as well, as Croatia’s currency Kuna, although money conversion is disadvantageous. Credit cards are not widely accepted, so make sure you have enough cash with you.
16th century Blagaj Tekke founded by the Muslim Dervish order
About Mostar
Mostar’s old town is an important tourist destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the Old Bridge (Stari Most) being its most recognizable landmark. The city is architecturally diverse with a wide range of styles due to its exposure to foreign influences, making it possible for tourists to visit the Italianate Franciscan church, the Ottoman Muslibegovića house, the Dalmatian Ćorović House and an Orthodox church.
Old Bridge, or Stari Most for the locals, was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the bridge in medieval times.
The city was first mentioned in the 15th century, in documents that described a market used by traders, soldiers and travelers, on the left bank of the river Neretva, connected by a wooden bridge. In time, the market grew, spread to the right bank, and formed a settlement that connected Bosnia’s central region, extremely rich in minerals, with the Adriatic.
Mostar saw major development during the Ottoman rule, when a fortress was added to the bridge, new houses built, and the wooden bridge replaced by a stone bridge. In 1878, Austrian Hungarian forces took control over Bosnia and remained in the region until the end of World War I. Then, in 1918, it became part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs and later Yugoslavia.
After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in April 1992, the town was besieged by the Serbian army and only got to be free and part of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995.
Built in 1566 at the order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, the old bridge was built with stones and measured 28 meters long and 20 meters high. It was a symbol of the Ottoman power in the region and it stood in its place intact until November 1993, when it was destroyed during the Bosnian war. The reconstruction started in 1999 and was completed in 2004.
Mostar cuisine is influenced by Turkish, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. The most traditional dishes include ćevapčići, burek, sarma, japrak, musaka, dolma, sujuk, sač, đuveč, and sataraš. Popular desserts are baklava, hurmašice, sutlijaš, tulumbe, tufahije, and šampita.
About Blagaj Tekke
Set at the spring of river Buna, the Blagaj Tekke is a Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was built in the 16th century in Ottoman and Mediterranean styles by the Muslim Dervish order. They were known for their extreme poverty and austerity vows as well as their focus on the universal values of love and service, abandoning their own egos to reach God.
The Blagaj Tekke region has been a place of cultural and religious importance since the middle ages, even before the arrival of the Ottomans.
The first mention was in 1664, when it was already known in the Ottoman Empire and the scientific community. The complex was rebuilt and additions were made over the years, and it remained open until 1925. For a while it was abandoned, and later during the communist rule, the dervishes were expelled.
It wasn’t until the 90’s that they were allowed to return and only after 2012 with the complex renovations, it was reopened to the public.
The Blagaj Tekke is composed of:
- Musafirhana (guest house)
- Türbe (mausoleum)
- Hamam (Turkish bath)
- Prayer room
The Buna river is a tributary of the Neretva river, and its source Vrelo Bune is a karst spring, emerging from a cave beneath a 200 meter high cliff. It’s one of the largest and most beautiful springs in Europe and visitors can take a boat tour inside the cave.
Best of Adriatic Recommends
“If you are up for it, and don’t feel claustrophobic, climb the narrow minaret inside the Koski Mehmed pasha’s mosque. From the top, you will have the most amazing Mostar city and Old Bridge views.”
AMANDA
“Try a cup of traditional Bosnian coffee in the restaurant in front of the Blagaj Tekke. Relax to the soothing sound of the Buna river flowing under you and enjoy the beautiful Tekke view.”
NATAŠA
“We visited Mostar from Dubrovnik last summer and loved it. Nataša was great with giving us information while driving, so the almost 2 hours inside the car to reach Mostar were fun and informative! The city’s old bridge wowed us, and even made us forget how hot it was! We were tight on schedule, but Bosnia enchanted us and we are planning another trip! “
LEONARDO LIMA, BRAZIL
“We were told by friends that Mostar was a must see in our trip to Split. We liked the idea to add another country to our vacation, and see a different culture, as Croatia is mostly Catholic and Bosnia has a lot of Muslim influence. Amanda organized the daytrip for us, was also our guide and made the day very pleasant! We also loved her restaurant recommendation in Mostar, and ended up even ordering what she suggested! Great tour agency!
ISABELLA ADAMS, CANADA
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