After visiting Bosnia from Dubrovnik, I experienced the border crossings, the change in currency, and among other things, some of the best things to do there. Here is everything I learned on how to have the perfect Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip!
Dubrovnik, also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic sea,” is not only a must-see destination but also a great departure point for some pretty fantastic day trips. With the Bosnia & Herzegovina border on one side and Montenegro’s famed Bay of Kotor on the other, you’ll have lots of excursions to choose from.
Where Dubrovnik is located, Croatia becomes a long thin piece of land stretched out along the Dalmatian coast. A small piece of Bosnia peaks through to divide this land, possessing just 12 miles of coastline. As a result, the Bosnian border is located a mere hour from Dubrovnik. With its close proximity and amazing destinations, Bosnia makes for a perfect day trip excursion.
A Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip is also an excellent way to explore the cultural diversity of the Balkans in a compact amount of time. Minutes after crossing the border, you will be struck by the delightful blend of multicultural influences.
There are numerous options available for taking a Bosnia day trip, from private guided tours to driving independently. You will need to consider border crossings, changes in currency, and of course, where specifically you want to go! All of that and more can be found in this informative post on how to take the perfect Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip. Happy reading!
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Travel Times – How Far is Bosnia From Dubrovnik?
The Bosnia & Herzegovina border is only 60 km and an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik. Of course, once you are in Bosnia, you’ll need to continue driving to get to the different stops there. The travel times for some of the best places to visit for a Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip are:
- Kravice Falls – 2 hours, 20 minutes drive from Dubrovnik
- Mostar – 2 hours, 20 minutes from Dubrovnik
- Plotejl – 2 hours drive from Dubrovnik
The Best Places to Visit on Your Dubrovnik to Bosnia Day Trip
When visiting Bosnia & Herzegovina on a day trip from Dubrovnik, there are four popular stops. These are the destinations that are close enough to the border to make it worth a day trip. They are also unique, gorgeous, and very worth visiting.
First, there are the cascading waterfalls at Kravice Falls. Second, Pocitelj will take you back in time with its medieval city and a castle sitting centrefold. Next, marvel at the unique natural setting of Blagaj Tekke. Finally, Mostar is a beautiful, multicultural city set in the rolling mountains.
No matter if you take a guided tour or visit independently, you’ll have to choose how many of these stops you’ll visit on your one-day trip. I personally recommend choosing two of the four spots MAX. That way you don’t have to feel rushed and can explore the places you visit in more depth. Simply taking a Mostar day trip is also super popular, as the city is plenty big enough to spend entire days exploring it.
Kravice Falls
Nature lovers will be big fans of the first of potential stops on your Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip. Kravice falls, also called Kravica falls, consists of a wide cascading waterfall that reaches 28 metres high. The falls are surrounded by a lush paradise on the Trebizat river, with bright green moss covering the rocks. At the bottom of the falls, there is a large pool that makes for the perfect natural swimming spot. Kravice waterfalls are the closest of the three destinations to the border, making it a good first stop on your Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip.
Swimming is available at Kravice falls from June – September. The water is known to be quite cold, however, it can be refreshing in the peak heat of the summer months. There are facilities on site by the falls, offering change rooms, showers, and toilets.
When arriving, there are a few trail options for getting down to the falls from the parking lot. The quickest is about 10 minutes long. There is an entrance fee to visit and it changes depending on the season. They are:
- October – May: 6KM or €3
- June & September: 8KM or €4
- July & August: 10KM or €5
There are 3 restaurants and a bar down by the falls for you to enjoy a meal with a great view right in front of you. A small boat trip is also available that will take you exploring down the river to a smaller waterfall.
It is recommended to spend at least a couple of hours at Kravice Falls if you are planning to swim. This gives you enough time to get settled, really explore, enjoy the water, and maybe grab a quick snack. If you are planning to visit just for some photos then an hour will probably do.
Pocitelj
Located 25 minutes from Kravice Falls, the small town of Pocitelj is nestled into one of its surrounding mountains. The main focus of this medieval village is a beautiful historic castle built into the rock with amazing views of the river passing in the valley below. Pocitelj appears to be stuck in time and features huge Ottoman, east Mediterranean, and Muslim architectural influences.
If this is your second stop of the day, Pocitelj will be where you first notice the huge change in culture compared to Croatia. Bosnia was once tied to the Ottoman/Turkish empire and the lasting cultural effects are still evident today.
Blagaj Tekke
Blagaj Tekke, commonly referred to as the Dervish House, is a picturesque monastery that attracts visitors far and wide for the unique location in which it was built. Constructed in 1520, the Dervish house is wedged between a massive cliff on one side and a river flowing out of a cave on the other. The monastery was built by the Dervish, which was a mystic branch of Sufi Islam, and encapsulates Ottoman-era architecture. Between the impressive natural beauty and the peaceful surroundings, the Dervish house is a worthwhile place to visit on your day trip to Bosnia.
Blagaj Tekke is only a 20-minute drive from Mostar, making it a very realistic addition to your day trip itinerary.
Mostar
Mostar is the star of your Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip. As the largest and most historically interesting stop of the four, Mostar is where you will spend most of your time. It is a fascinating and beautiful city where you can witness a blend of cultures, unique architecture in a natural setting, and interesting history.
Mostar sits on the banks of the Neretva river, with the city built slightly tiered into the mountains. The river divides the city down the centre, with catholicism practiced on one side and the Muslim faith practiced on the other. What places Mostar on the tourism map though is the Stari Most bridge located in the centre of old town. Here, daring individuals will jump from 24 m (or about 78 feet) high into the turquoise river depths below. It is quite the spectacle and something you will likely witness on your day there.
Mostar and its bridge unfortunately have a sad history that stretches back not too long ago. Once a thriving city with 3 different religions peacefully coexisting, Mostar became a city of ruins during the war of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. The Stari Most bridge, an important piece of history and a source of city pride, was toppled along with many other historical buildings. Nowadays, you can still see several buildings in the city that were never recovered, some of which are littered with bullet holes.
Fortunately, with the help of UNESCO, Mostar was able to rebuild and refurbish a significant portion of their old town. This included the rebuilding of the Stari Most bridge in 2004. The city has managed to recover its tourism and today has a ton to offer. You can wander the cobbled stone streets of the old town, marvel at stained glass lanterns hanging in shop stalls, listen to the calls to prayer echoing throughout the city multiple times a day, and enjoy the budget-friendly restaurant options, especially when compared to the prices in Dubrovnik!
How to Take a Dubrovnik to Bosnia Day Trip
There are several options for how to do a Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip. Whether you choose to do a day trip independently or with a guided tour, there are several easy options.
Group Tours From Dubrovnik
The first option for taking a Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip is to sign up for a group day tour. The organized tour options will vary based on group size and the number of destinations you want to see. You can choose from tours offering three, two, or even just one stop. It just depends on how much time you want to explore each destination.
You can find some of the best tours through Get Your Guide, Viator, or individual tour guides. You can also compare prices at the different tourist stands littered throughout Dubrovnik’s old town.
Private Tours From Dubrovnik
There are also private options for guided tours if you want the tour to be a little more personalized. With this option, you will have a private car, tour guide, and more flexibility in choosing where you’d like to visit and for how long. Obviously, the price will reflect this extra convenience.
You can find these Dubrovnik to Bosnia private tour options on both Get Your Guide and Viator, as well as at the different tour stands in Dubrovnik’s old town.
Rent a Car and Explore Independently
If you don’t want any guided aspect to your day trip to Bosnia, then another great option is to get a rental car. This option definitely allows the most flexibility. You will be fully in charge of how long you spend at each destination and when you return back to Dubrovnik.
You can rent the car for a single day or even two so you don’t have to worry about dropping it off at a certain time that day. There are several rental car shops throughout Dubrovnik. ORYX car rental is located close to Dubrovnik’s old town, making it a convenient spot to pick up and drop off the car.
Rent a Car and Explore with Local Guides
Finally, the last option for a Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip is to handle your own transportation independently and book with local guides from Bosnia. This works if you are looking to explore one particular spot, such as Mostar.
A con to booking a guided experience from Dubrovnik to Bosnia is that your tourism dollars are only supporting Croatia and not Bosnia itself. As a country that is still recovering economically from the war of Yugoslavia, it can be nice to instead choose a local guide company once you arrive in Bosnia. This could look like driving yourself to Mostar and booking a guided city tour with a local company. Plus the guides who are actually local to Bosnia will have better expertise in their own city and country.
Can You Take Public Transport on Your Bosnia Day Trip?
I’ll save you some time for any budget travellers out there, it is not really plausible to do a Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip using public transport. With the added travel time and the bus schedules, the only way this would actually work is if you spent the night in Bosnia.
How to Do Bosnian and Croatian Border Crossings
The border crossings into Bosnia & Herzegovina from Croatia are really easy. Waiting times are relatively short, although this can definitely change depending on the day. But in general, it is pretty quick. I waited in a car line for about 20 minutes during the peak season to cross the border.
You will need to have your valid passport with you when crossing the border. The border agents will check, scan it, and then you’ll be on your way. It really is that simple. If you are traveling with a tour on a bus, then everyone will get off the bus to have their passports checked. The same will be the case on your way back.
Currency: What Cash You’ll Need For a Bosnia Day Trip
Bosnia & Herzegovina does use a different currency than Croatia, however, most places will accept Croatian currency as well. In fact, when we were eating at restaurants they were accepting three forms of currency, the Croatian Kunas, the Bosnian Convertible Mark (also known as KMs), and Euros.
We didn’t have a ton of the other currencies on us so we did end up taking out some KM from a local ATM in Mostar. It is super simple to do, there are ATMs available all over the city. Just make sure you don’t take out too much and end up with extra! If you do have enough Croatian currency or Euros it is probably best to use these to avoid leaving yourself with extra KMs.
Best Local Restaurants in Mostar, Bosnia
As the biggest city on the list of potential day trip stops, Mostar is the ideal spot to get a yummy mid-day meal. Traditional Bosnian cuisine is delicious and you’ll notice a pretty drastic change from what you were eating in Croatia. Bosnian local cuisine is very comparable to Turkish and Mediterranean styles, with lamb and beef being popular. Some of the best local restaurants in Mostar are:
- Food House Mostar – This local restaurant features a delicious blend of Balkan cuisines. You can sit on their patio that is lined down the cobbled street outside or escape the summer heat indoors with their A/C dining area. The food was so good we ate here 4 times on our 3-day trip to Mostar. It is also the most ideal spot for vegetarians, as it has lots of good options.
- Hindin Han – Located along the riverside that divides Mostar in half, Hindin Han serves delicious traditional Bosnian food with a view! The restaurant is located inside an old traditional home featuring wooden balconies, adding a little bit of cultural authenticity to your dining experience.
- Babilon – This restaurant is set in an old stone building with terraced patios, cobbled stone floors, and delicious Bosnian cuisine. Sitting out on the terrace, you’ll enjoy the view of the river and the Stari Most bridge.
How to Spend Your Free Time in Mostar
It is really easy to get a good feel for the city when visiting Mostar on a day trip from Dubrovnik. There are tons of amazing things to do in Mostar and you can easily catch the highlights in a few hours. Some of the best things to do in Mostar are:
1. Walk the Stari Most Bridge
The centre of Mostar’s popularity, the Stari Most bridge is a must-see when visiting Mostar. This iconic old bridge and its history go back to the 15th century. The city is actually named after the bridge, with Mostar loosely translating to “Bridge Keeper.” Mostar was developed around the original bridge as a frontier town for the ottoman empire in the 15th and 16th centuries. During the war of Yugoslavia in the 1990s the bridge was toppled by Croatia, along with most of the historic town.
Luckily, the bridge and many other historically significant parts of Mostar’s old town were rebuilt and refurbished in 2004. The bridge is now a UNESCO world heritage site and stands as a symbol of Mostar’s tumultuous history and beautiful cultural diversity. It makes for some great photos to take home and you may have the chance to watch trained street professionals make the leap into the river waters below.
2. Visit and Enjoy the Views at Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Another fantastic thing to do in Mostar is to visit the Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque. On the Eastern side of the river, the Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque is an incredible spot for immersing yourself in the city’s Muslim culture. The mosque is beautiful and has the best viewing spot for the Stari Most Bridge.
Entrance into the mosque allows you to explore inside, as well as the famed viewing spot in the courtyard behind. Even better? You can actually climb to the top of the Mosque’s tower for breathtaking views of the city.
The entrance fee is 6KM (or 3 euros) to enter the Mosque and its ground-level viewing area. To climb to the top of the tower, the fee for entry to all of it is 12 KM (6 euros).
3. Shop in Mostar’s Old Bazaar
One of the best ways to explore Mostar’s old town is to simply wander and shop through its Old Bazaar. Located in the centre of town, the Old Bazaar is filled with cobblestone streets and shop stalls selling souvenirs. You can find an array of items, from stained glass lanterns to beautiful jewelry. Even if you are not shopping it is fun to see all the unique items.
Final Thoughts on Your Dubrovnik to Bosnia Day Trip
A Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip is a fantastic way to explore more of the Balkans and its cultural diversity. From moss-covered waterfalls to a famous old bridge, there are so many amazing things to see and choose from on your day tour to Bosnia. You can join a group tour or be a little independent with a car rental. With the border crossings and change in currency being quick and easy, you really don’t have to worry about much. A Dubrovnik to Bosnia day trip really is the ideal excursion to take on your Croatian vacation!
Happy adventuring!
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