Dubrovnik to Mostar at a glance
Mostar lies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so the trip from Dubrovnik leaves Croatia and the Schengen area and then returns. You can go by scheduled bus, by guided day tour or by car. Two legs of more than three hours each leave limited time in Mostar on a single day, which is why many visitors stay a night or book a tour that handles the timing.
Prices and times below come from operator route pages in October 2026. They are dynamic: a "from" price is not a fixed price for every date, and a route page does not prove that a bus runs on your day. This site is independent and does not sell bus tickets.
Bus options compared
Single examples from operator pages, not a full timetable.
| Route | Operator | Fastest or typical time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubrovnik to Mostar | FlixBus | 3 hours 15 minutes | From €21.98 |
| Dubrovnik to Mostar | Arriva | About 3 hours 30 minutes, depending on traffic | – |
| Split to Mostar | FlixBus | 3 hours 30 minutes | From €19.97 |
The Arriva page names the border crossing with valid travel documents. Its booking form can show no connections for a given date, so check your date before you plan around it. FlixBus days and final prices vary.
Our picks: from Dubrovnik
Two full-day trips to Mostar, one with Kravica and one with Počitelj and Medjugorje.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Mostar, Počitelj and Medjugorje from Dubrovnik
Pickup and return in Dubrovnik, an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking driver and a guide. The itinerary lists Mostar for 2.5 hours, Medjugorje for 1.5 hours and Počitelj for 30 minutes.
Check availability →
Mostar and Kravica from Dubrovnik
Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide and a 30-minute walk in Mostar with a local guide. Kravica entry (€10) and the border fee (€3) are extra, as are food and tips.
Check availability →Day trips to Mostar and Herzegovina
Guided trips to Mostar, Kravice and more, with live prices and availability.
The border and the Entry/Exit System
What changes your wait, and what does not.
Entering Bosnia and Herzegovina
US citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days, with a passport valid for 3 months beyond departure. German citizens need a passport or ID card that is still valid for 3 months on departure and may stay up to 90 days within 6 months without a visa. Rules for other EU nationalities differ. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a Schengen member.
Travel tips →Returning to Croatia
The EU Entry/Exit System has been fully in use since 10 April 2026. It generally applies to non-EU citizens on short stays in the Schengen area, and EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered in it. Some residence permits are exempt. A US tourist and an EU citizen are therefore treated differently.
How long will the border take?
No fixed time can be given. The UK foreign office warns of extra time at Schengen external borders because of the system, and the length of the wait depends on the day. Leave a margin, especially on the return and before a flight or a ferry.
ETIAS
ETIAS is not yet in operation, and no application is needed. Check the official EU page shortly before you travel, since the situation can change.
By car from Dubrovnik
For ordinary cars registered in a country of the multilateral system, such as Germany or Croatia, the license plate counts as proof of insurance. A blanket green card duty for all visitors is wrong. For hire cars, read the rental contract and ask for written permission to cross the border, since that depends on the company.
Foreign plates and rental cars are a target for break-ins, according to the German foreign office, so keep valuables out of sight. At Kravice, cars pay 3 KM (about €1.53) per started hour on the operator's Croatian-language price list, while its Italian page also lists a day rate of 6 KM. Ask at the gate which applies.
A day trip or a night in Mostar?
How the hours fit together.
The arithmetic
With the fastest bus in both directions you spend over 6 hours on the road, before the border waits. A late departure from Dubrovnik leaves little daylight in Mostar.
Opening hours that matter
The Stari Most Museum is open 10:00–18:00 daily from 1 April to 1 November. Kravice is open 07:00–17:00 from November to February, 07:00–19:00 in October and 07:00–22:00 from June to September.
Kravice guide →Staying overnight
The tourist tax in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton is 3 KM (about €1.53) per night from 1 January 2026. The tax does not apply the same way in other cantons or in Trebinje.
Where to stay →Seeing the sights
The old town and the bridge need a few hours at a walking pace. Kravice, Blagaj and Počitelj each add time and need a car or a tour.
Things to do →Split to Mostar
The same border, a similar journey.
FlixBus lists Split to Mostar from €19.97, with a fastest time of 3 hours 30 minutes. Operating days and final prices are not fixed, and no particular border crossing is guaranteed for the route. The border advice above applies equally. For the airport, the train from Sarajevo and other routes into the region, see getting there.
Dubrovnik to Mostar: frequently asked questions
How long does the bus from Dubrovnik to Mostar take?
FlixBus lists 3 hours 15 minutes at the fastest, and Arriva about 3 hours 30 minutes depending on traffic. The border crossing adds waiting time that cannot be fixed in advance.
How much is the bus?
FlixBus lists fares from €21.98 in October 2026. The price changes by date, so look at your date on the booking page.
Is a day trip from Dubrovnik realistic?
It is possible, but the road time is over 6 hours with the fastest bus both ways. A guided tour that handles the timing, or a night in Mostar, gives you more room. A smooth same-day return is not guaranteed.
Do I need a passport?
You need a valid passport or, for German citizens, an ID card, valid for at least 3 months on departure. Carry it on the whole trip.
Do I need a green card for my own car?
Not in every case. For ordinary cars with, for example, German or Croatian plates, the plate counts as proof of insurance. Hire cars need written permission and a check of the insurance terms.
Does the Entry/Exit System affect EU citizens?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered in it. Non-EU citizens on short stays generally are, which can lengthen the border time on the way back to Croatia.