How to Take A Bosnia & Herzegovina Day Trip From Dubrovnik

A Bosnia & Herzegovina day trip from Dubrovnik is a great way to get immersed in the Baltics and experience more than balmy Croatia!

I woke up in the holiday apartment my family and I were renting in Croatia and ended up back there that evening – having taken the most amazing Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik during the day. We took an organised tour which isn’t my usual style but was a good way to pack in lots during one day.

We took this Bosnia & Herzegovina Full-Day Tour from Dubrovnik.

Read next: things to do in Dubrovnik during your visit

Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik itinerary

7.15am – pick up from our apartment

10am – cross the border into Bosnia

10.45pm – reach Kravice waterfall for a 45-minute stop

12pm – arrive in small town, Pocitelj, for a 30-minute stop

12.45pm – arrive in larger city Mostar for a 2.5-hour stop

3.15pm – get back on the road home

6pm – arrive back in Dubrovnik

It was action-packed and a great intro to a country I didn’t know much about previously. I’ll definitely return to Mostar and spend a couple of days wandering the cobbled streets and I also want to spend an entire day swimming in the mesmerising Kravice Falls, please! I’m also keen to visit the capital Sarajevo which the tour didn’t cover.
Here’s a bit more information about the amazing destinations we visited during our Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik:

Kravice Falls

As I instructed my Instagram followers to do, let’s play ‘spot Rose’ and see if you can find me somewhere at the bottom of the first image below!

Seriously, aside from a couple in the Philippines, I think this is my favourite waterfall I’ve ever been to. The best bit was that I had it to myself (my family and the other four people on our tour didn’t go swimming – probably because the water was absolutely freezing). As was becoming apparent, Bosnia has not yet peaked in terms of tourism… I’m sure if the Falls had been in Thailand, or even just over the border in Croatia, they’d have been heaving.
Since Kravice Falls are close to the Croatia border, they’re an ideal first stop on a Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik. The drive took just over 2 hours but went quite fast, especially since our tour guide chatted to us about Bosnia and we stopped for coffee.

Pocitelj

We stopped for a break in this sweet village set around a castle – hopefully my photos will do it justice. Despite the fact there weren’t very many tourists around, there were lots of little vendors selling fruit, souvenirs and Middle Eastern-style rugs.
As well as Christian influences, we were beginning to see a big Muslim population as Bosnia was once in the Ottoman/Turkish Empire. Pocitelj was a good example of the country’s mix of cultures with a church and a mosque almost side by side.

Mostar

Our next stop was Mostar which I absolutely loved. Parts of the city are now more modern but the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Center) is full of character and definitely the place to be for tourists. Read about everything to do in Mostar here.

The most famous scene is probably the Stari Most Bridge which was rebuilt in 2004 after being destroyed in 1993 during the Bosnian War.Evidence of the war is still apparent in lots of poorer areas of the country but Mostar Old City has recovered well with atmospheric cobbled streets and total bargains at the colourful stalls. We picked up scoops of ice cream for 50p in every flavour under the sun – winner!
Mostar is way closer to Crostia than Bosnian capital Sarajevo. If you’re looking to explore a city and soak up the culture, I’d highly recommend Mostar as a final stop on your Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik. After exploring the Old Town, we climbed back in our shuttle bus and began the return journey to Croatia.

What currency to use in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The Bosnian Convertible Marka is the main currency (2.2 to £1) but the Croatian Kuna is widely accepted. This is really useful if, like us, you’re visiting from Croatia.

How to organise a Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik 

You can wander Dubrovnik Old Town and compare prices at tour company stands. If you’d rather book in advance to ensure there’s availability (recommended in the summer months) consider a Get Your Guide tour.

What to eat in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

I loved digging into the local cuisine and sampled sogan-dolma for lunch. Minced meat was stuffed inside a cooked onion and served with rice-stuffed vine leaves, mashed potato and a side of sour cream. It was really tasty!

Read about the most popular Bosnian dishes here.

What a day it was! If you’re wondering whether to travel independently or take an organised Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik, consider the following:

Pros of a tour

– It was so easy and convenient with no map reading or driving required on our end– Having a local guide to explain the history– Relaxing and not worrying about research
– Potential travel buddies if you’re a solo traveller

Cons of a tour

– Personally, I struggle with the tight schedules of tours and would usually like to enjoy a place for longer
– As someone pointed out to me later, taking a tour from Croatia means less of your money goes to Bosnia. Travelling independently and staying overnight would be far more beneficial for the country.

Less of a tour con and more a problem with my family’s organisation, being on time for the stops was tricky for us. The most stressful moment of the day was my dad realising that he’d left his backpack with our passports in down by the Kravice Falls. It was a steep ten-minute walk from the carpark. He had to run there and back in the heat whilst the tour waited!
I consoled him with the story of when I left my entire backpack in the foyer of a hotel in Cambodia mistakenly thinking it had been put on the bus. The whole 20-person tour ended up two hours behind schedule for the rest of the day. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so unpopular before or felt so guilty.

Bye, Bosnia!

I hope this guide has helped you plan your Bosnia day trip from Dubrovnik. Have you been to Bosnia and Herzegovina or are you planning a trip? Let me know – I’d love to chat.