Stari Most at a glance
Stari Most means Old Bridge. It is a single stone arch over the Neretva river in the middle of Mostar and the best known sight of the city. It links the two banks of the old town, and most visitors cross it more than once.
This page covers the history in a neutral way, the World Heritage listing and the practical side of seeing the bridge. For the wider city, see our Mostar guide. This guide is independent and has no connection to the divers' club, the city or any museum.
Mostar Bridge: how it was built and rebuilt
Four dates, in the order they happened.
1566: the original bridge
UNESCO's project page names Mimar Hajruddin as the builder and gives 1566 as the year the bridge was completed.
1993: destruction
The bridge was destroyed in 1993. For many residents the place is closely tied to that event, so treat it with care when you visit.
2002 and 2004: reconstruction
UNESCO's project page reports the reconstruction work for parts of the project as completed in 2002. UNESCO's anniversary report gives 23 July 2004 as the day the rebuilt bridge was inaugurated. These dates may describe different stages, and the sources do not settle that, so both are given here.
2005: World Heritage
The register lists the Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar, inscribed in 2005 under criterion (vi). One UNESCO overview article gives 2006, so you may see both years. The listing covers the whole old bridge area, not only the structure of the bridge.
Our picks: around Stari Most
Two guided walks in the old town and a day trip from Dubrovnik.
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.
Old town walk with Stari Most and a mosque visit
A guided walk with a view of Stari Most, a visit to the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque and the minaret panorama, all included.
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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.
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Mostar old town with a local guide
A local guide and a walk through the old town. Wine tasting and museum visits come only with the matching option; food and tips are extra.
Check availability →Mostar tours with the Old Bridge
Old town walks, day trips from Dubrovnik and guided tours that include the bridge, with live prices and availability.
Mostar Old Bridge today: where to see it
The bridge looks different from every spot, so walk around it. From the riverbank below you see the full arch against the water. From the lanes of the old town you see it in its setting of stone houses and mosques. The minaret of the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque offers a view over the roofs, which our Mostar page describes.
Midday in July and August is hot and crowded. The average August daily high is 33.5 °C (about 92 °F), so bring water and look for shade. Early morning and the hours before dusk are calmer. After dark the bridge is lit, and it looks very different from the day view.
Bridge jump in Mostar: what to know
Local jumpers dive from the bridge into the Neretva. Travel guides name the Mostari Divers' Club as the contact point, and they warn that badly executed jumps can have fatal consequences. This is not a casual attraction, and nothing on this page is a how-to.
Watching is the realistic choice for most visitors. Jumpers collect money from onlookers before a show. That collection pays for the show, not for your own jump. Shows depend on the collection and on the water, so do not plan around a fixed time.
Can visitors jump too?
Travel portals say guests can jump after a training session with the club. The prices they quote do not agree: one gives roughly €25 to €30 for training, jump and membership together, another gives €25 for training plus €25 for the ceremony and jump. Treat the range of about €25 to €50 as a rough guide only, because the club sets its own prices and conditions. Ask the club directly about the current price, the rules for guests and what happens in bad weather or at high water.
Do not expect a guest jump to be part of any pass. The city's announcement of the Mostar Pass in April 2025 uses a phrase about jumping from the bridge, and it does not make clear whether a show or a guest jump is meant.
If you only want to watch, find a spot on the riverbank or at the edge of the bridge and give the jumpers room. A tip when the collection comes round is the normal way to support the show.
Light, season and crowds
The old town faces the evening light, so sunset is a favorite hour for photos of the bridge. The stone takes on warmer colors in the late afternoon, and the crowds thin out as the day-trip groups leave.
May, June and September have lower average highs than July and August, but September is wetter on average. All twelve months are on the weather page. If you sleep in town, you can stay in the evening and see the bridge in the quiet hours, and our where to stay page compares areas near the bridge and in the newer center.
To reach Mostar from the coast, FlixBus publishes fares from €21.98 on Dubrovnik to Mostar, with a shortest travel time of 3 hours 15 minutes. Fares vary by date. See from Dubrovnik for the border and the options.
More around the bridge
Where to go next.
Stari Most: frequently asked questions
Who built the Old Bridge of Mostar?
UNESCO names Mimar Hajruddin as the builder and gives 1566 as the completion year.
When was the bridge destroyed and rebuilt?
It was destroyed in 1993. UNESCO reports reconstruction work for parts of the project as completed in 2002 and gives 23 July 2004 as the day of the inauguration.
Is Stari Most a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The register lists the Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar, inscribed in 2005. The listing covers the area around the bridge, not only the bridge itself.
Can I jump from the bridge?
Travel portals describe guest jumps through the local divers' club after training. The risks are serious, so ask the club about conditions and the current price.
Is there a fixed time for the jumping show?
No fixed daily schedule can be relied on. A show depends on the money collected from onlookers and on the water.