Mostar, Bosnia as a Day Trip From Dubrovnik: Is It Worth the Drive?

Yes. It’s about two and a half hours each way from Dubrovnik, the border crossing takes under two minutes, and it was one of the most memorable days of our two weeks in Greece and Croatia.

We almost cancelled it. Travel forums had us worried about border delays, and there’s a real advisory about staying on paved roads because of unexploded land mines left from the war in the 1990s. Both concerns turned out to be manageable, and skipping it would have been a mistake.Here’s what the drive is actually like, what the border involves, and what to know before you go.

How long is the drive from Dubrovnik to Mostar?

About two and a half hours north, including the border crossing.

We crossed at Neum, which is the coastal strip of Bosnia that splits Croatia in two. The roads the whole way were newly paved and in excellent condition, comparable to what you’d expect driving in the US.

We did it as a day trip in a rented Toyota Corolla hatchback with three kids, and it was an easy drive. Nothing about it required a 4×4 or nerves of steel, which is what the forum posts had me picturing.

What’s the border crossing like?

Fast. We were stopped for under two minutes, they checked our documents, stamped our passports, and waved us through.

Crossing back into Croatia was the same. Two quick passport checks and we were on our way.

Bring your passports for everyone, including the kids, and have your rental car documentation handy. Check with your rental company before you book that cross-border travel into Bosnia is permitted, since some agencies restrict it or charge a fee.

Do you need euros or a different currency?

Euros worked everywhere we went, even though Bosnia isn’t in the EU and uses the convertible mark.

The toll roads in Croatia all took credit cards. We tapped and kept moving.

What about the land mines?

This is worth taking seriously without letting it stop you.

Bosnia still has areas of uncleared land mines from the war in the 1990s, and the standing advice is to stay on paved roads and marked paths. Don’t wander into fields, don’t take shortcuts through undeveloped land, and don’t ignore marked warning signs.

Following that advice, we never felt unsafe at any point. Mostar’s old town is a UNESCO site full of tourists, and the drive is on main roads the entire way. But it’s a real thing and I’d rather say it plainly than leave it out of a post recommending the trip.

What is there to do in Mostar?

The centerpiece is the Stari Most, the Old Bridge, arching high over the Neretva River. The entire old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it’s small enough to walk in an afternoon.

Things we did:

• Walked the Old Bridge and the cobblestone streets around it
• Watched divers jump from the bridge into the river below
• Wandered the old bazaar
• Ate lunch in the old town

The city has an energy I haven’t found anywhere else. It sits at a place where Eastern and Western influences meet, and you can see it in the architecture, the food, and the sound of the place.

You can still see war damage on some buildings as you drive in. That’s part of what makes it worth bringing kids to.

The moment that made the trip

While we were standing near the bridge, the Adhan started. That’s the Muslim call to prayer, echoing out from the minarets across the old town.

The first time Tim heard the Adhan was serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq in 2005. He and I met in Arabic class in college years later.

Standing there together, hearing it with our three girls, felt like everything had come around in a circle. That’s the kind of thing you can’t plan into an itinerary. It’s the reason we go places that don’t show up on family travel lists.

Should you do it with kids?

Yes, with a few caveats.

Five hours of driving in a day is a lot for young kids, so build in stops. Our girls were 8, 8, and 10 and handled it fine, but they’ve done a lot of long travel days.

The old town is cobblestone and there are stairs, so a stroller would be difficult. A carrier would be better for anyone under three.

And the history here is heavy. The war ended in 1995 and its marks are still visible. Depending on your kids’ ages, that’s either a conversation you’re ready to have or one you might want to prepare for. For us it was one of the more valuable parts of the day

Is a day trip to Mostar worth it?

For a family already in Dubrovnik with a spare day, yes.

You get a second country, a UNESCO site, a completely different feel from coastal Croatia, and a drive that’s far easier than the internet suggests. We nearly talked ourselves out of it and I’m glad we didn’t.

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Planning Croatia with kids? Here’s [our full nine-day Greece and Croatia itinerary], and [how we booked the whole thing on points].

Want help building something like this? Multi-country trips with kids are what I do. Tell me about your trip.