Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar Historical Site

Address: Stari Most (Old Bridge), Old Town, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free to visit (public bridge and surrounding streets). Specific museums or events may charge.

The Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar centers on the 16th-century Ottoman stone bridge known as Stari Most, spanning the Neretva River; the bridge was completed in 1566 and reconstructed and reopened in 2004 after wartime destruction. The site is a symbol of cultural continuity between East and West in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The rebuilt 29-metre single-arch bridge is the focal point and is flanked by narrow cobbled streets, restored Ottoman houses, and riverside viewpoints. The east and west banks each contain historic quarters with traditional crafts, cafés, and small museums, and bridge diving remains a popular local spectacle.

The original bridge was designed by the Ottoman architect Hayruddin and completed in 1566. It was destroyed in 1993 during the war and reconstructed using original techniques and recovered stones, with the restored crossing officially reopened in 2004.

The site sits in the city of Mostar in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, spanning the Neretva River in the historic centre; Mostar lies roughly 130 kilometres south of Sarajevo and is surrounded by steep river valleys and karst hills.

• Bridge diving: Diving from the bridge is a traditional spectacle and competitions are usually held in summer; the jump is about 20 metres to the river.
• Photography tip: Best light for photography is late afternoon when the river valley and the reconstructed stonework are evenly lit.

What to See#

• Stari Most (Old Bridge): The single-arch stone bridge reconstructed and reopened in 2004 after its destruction in 1993; the arch span is about 29 metres and it rises roughly 20 metres above the Neretva River.
• Kujundziluk (Old Bazaar): A narrow cobbled street of historic shops and artisan stalls running along the riverbank, retaining Ottoman-era layout and many restored houses.
• Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque: An Ottoman-era mosque on the east bank notable for its riverside location and a minaret that offers panoramic views of the bridge and old town.

Mostar’s Old Bridge (Stari Most) sits in the centre of Mostar and is easy to reach on foot. Mostar is served by intercity buses and (less frequent) trains from Sarajevo; the drive from Sarajevo to Mostar is about 130 km south along the M17 road and takes roughly 2-2.5 hours by car.

From Mostar’s bus or rail station it is a short walk (around 10-20 minutes) into the Old Town and down to the bridge; taxis are also available from the stations for a brief ride.

• Visit the Old Bridge (Stari Most) at first light or after sunset to avoid day-trip crowds and to get cleaner photos of the bridge and its reflection.
• For the classic panoramic view, climb the minaret of the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque (there is a small paid entrance) rather than only photographing from the riverbank.
• If you want to see the traditional bridge divers, go in the late afternoon when divers commonly perform and have small change ready to tip them after their jump.