Mostar · Ottoman heritage · History · City
Stari Most (Mostar Old Bridge)
Mostar's 16th-century Old Bridge: its history, destruction and rebuilding, the famous bridge divers, best photo spots and when to visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour for the bridge area, half a day for the old town
- Best time
- Before 9:00 or after 18:00. Tour buses fill the bridge from late morning to late afternoon
- Region
- Mostar
Why visit Stari Most (Mostar Old Bridge)?
Stari Most is the most famous landmark in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered it built, and the architect Mimar Hayruddin finished it in 1566. For more than 400 years its single stone arch crossed the Neretva river, and the town of Mostar is named after its bridge keepers (mostari).
On 9 November 1993, during the war, the bridge was shelled and collapsed into the river. It was rebuilt using the original methods and much of the original stone recovered from the river, and it reopened in 2004. In 2005 the bridge and old town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Things to do
- The bridge itself: Free to cross at any time. The stone is worn smooth and is very slippery, so wear shoes with grip.
- Old Bridge Museum (Tara Tower): The story of the bridge's construction, destruction and rebuilding.
- Best photo spots: The minaret of the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, the riverside rocks below the bridge, and the restaurant terraces on the south bank.
The bridge divers
Young men of Mostar have been jumping from the bridge for centuries. It is about 21 meters down to cold, fast water. Members of the local diving club stand on the parapet and collect money from the crowd, and they jump once they have enough. The big annual diving competition takes place in late July.
Getting there
2 hours by car or train from Sarajevo, 2.5 to 3 hours from Dubrovnik.
Practical info
- Entry
- Bridge: free. Old Bridge Museum: about 8 KM
- Divers
- A jump usually happens once about 20 to 30 KM (10 to 15 EUR) is collected from the crowd. Most active May to September, around midday
- Last checked
- October 2026. Prices and hours change, so confirm before you go.
FAQ
Is it free to walk on the Mostar Old Bridge?
Yes. Crossing the bridge is free at any time of day.
How high is the Mostar bridge jump?
About 21 meters, depending on the river level.
Why was the Mostar bridge destroyed?
It was shelled and destroyed on 9 November 1993 during the war in Bosnia. It was rebuilt and reopened in 2004.
Also nearby
Blidinje Nature Park Near Posušje
A high mountain plateau with Bosnia's largest mountain lake, UNESCO stećci at Dugo Polje, hiking, cycling and winter skiing.
Jablanica and the Battle of the Neretva Bridge Jablanica
The blown-up WWII bridge over the Neretva in Jablanica, made famous by an Oscar-nominated film. The museum, the story and the lamb restaurants.
Partisan Memorial Cemetery Mostar
A 1965 modernist memorial to Mostar's WWII partisans by architect Bogdan Bogdanović. History, its current state and how to visit.
