Mostar from Makarska: A Day Trip into Bosnia, and What to Know First
Updated October 20, 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer
Mostar is worth the day if you want something that is not the sea: an Ottoman old town, a rebuilt stone bridge and a different country. The standard trip, From Makarska: Mostar Day Trip, costs €45 for 10 hours, 4.4 stars from 155 reviews. It is a long day, and part of it is a border crossing. For most people a guided trip is easier than driving yourself.
Two trips, two kinds of day
| Trip | Price | Rating · reviews | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Makarska: Mostar Day Trip | €45 | 4.4 · 155 | 10 hours |
| From Makarska: Small-Group Mostar & Kravice Day Trip | €67.50 | 5.0 · 30 | 11 hours |
The standard trip describes a journey through landscapes and a visit to the cultural mix of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The small-group trip adds the Kravice Waterfalls, free time in the city to look at its hidden corners, and, during the summer season, a swim beneath the falls. It costs €22.50 more and takes an hour longer. Its 30 reviews are fewer, though all are strong.
The border
Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the EU, so this day trip includes a border crossing in each direction. Trips of this kind ask you to carry a passport; check the booking page for what your operator requires, and check that your document is valid for the whole stay. Queues in summer can add time, and travellers from outside the EU should expect that the EU’s Entry/Exit System may register them on crossing, which takes longer. Ask the operator how they plan around waits; the 10 hours on the listing already include the crossings.
Bosnia uses the convertible mark. In the tourist centre of Mostar many shops accept euros, but it is not guaranteed, so bring a small amount of local cash or a card.
What Mostar is
The old town sits on both sides of the Neretva river, joined by the Stari Most, the stone bridge that was destroyed in the war in 1993 and rebuilt, reopening in 2004. The old bazaar streets around it are cobbled and busy with shops. It is compact, so a few hours is enough to see it. Trips of this kind leave free time on the ground; check the programme for how much. In July and August Mostar is hot, and the cobbles and the lack of shade make a hat and water sensible.
Is it worth the hours?
- For: a different culture, architecture and food within a day of the coast, at €45.
- Against: about ten hours, much of it in a vehicle, in return for a few hours on foot. If you get travel-sick or travel with very young children, it is a hard day.
- Heat: peak summer is tiring; spring and autumn are easier on the legs.
Driving yourself: usually not
You can compare rental cars in Makarska for a day, but this trip is one where rental terms matter. Taking a car into Bosnia normally needs the rental company’s permission and the right insurance documents (the so-called green card), often for an extra fee. Do not assume it is covered. Read the cross-border section of the rental terms before you book, and ask. For a first visit, the guided trip removes the paperwork, the parking and the border driving.
Who should pick something else
If you only want waterfalls and a swim, the Krka day trip is the other long outing, and it stays in Croatia. For a shorter day, look at the Skywalk or an island boat trip. All the day trips are in the overview of day trips from Makarska.
Our recommendation
For most visitors, the standard trip at €45 is the sensible pick: cheaper, and it has the most reviews. If you want a swim and a smaller group and can spare an extra hour and €22.50, the small-group Mostar and Kravice trip is the better day. Take a valid passport either way, and read the booking page for what the price includes.
