Our pick: The classic Mostar and Kravica day trip, free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Book this See the alternatives below
Mostar is one of the most popular day trips from Dubrovnik, and for good reason: the Old Bridge over the emerald Neretva is a sight many travellers want to see once. It is also a long day. With about 2.5 hours of driving each way and a border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a typical tour runs 10 to 13 hours door to door for about 2 to 3 hours at the bridge.
This guide covers the practical side: distance, route, bus and car options, and what a tour handles for you. For the passport and EES details, see the guide to the Bosnia border crossing, and to pick between the different tours, see the guide to Mostar tours from Dubrovnik.
Quick answer
The simplest way from Dubrovnik to Mostar is a day tour with hotel or meeting-point pickup, since there is no train and buses take about 4 hours or more each way. Driving takes about 2.5 hours each way without stops or border waiting. On the Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Trip, the listing states a 30-minute guided walk in Mostar, 2.5 hours of free time and an hour at the Kravica waterfall.
How far is Mostar from Dubrovnik?
Mostar is about 140 km from Dubrovnik, around 2.5 hours each way by car without stops or border waiting.
That figure is the pure driving time. Photo stops, a coffee break and the border crossing in both directions add to it, which is why a typical tour from Dubrovnik lasts 10 to 13 hours door to door.
Split is the other common base for Mostar trips and sits at a similar distance by road. From Dubrovnik, the trip is very doable in a day, as long as the long hours in the vehicle are part of the plan.
Is there a train from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
No. Dubrovnik has no passenger railway, so there is no direct train to Mostar.
A seasonal Talgo train runs between Ploče, Mostar and Sarajevo on weekends (Friday to Sunday) from 26 June to 27 September 2026, with one train pair. It is useful for travel inside Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it does not start in Dubrovnik.
For a day trip from Dubrovnik, the realistic options are a tour, a bus or a car.
Pickup in Dubrovnik, Kravica waterfall and a guided walk in Mostar in one day.
Book thisIs there a bus from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
Yes. Buses such as FlixBus and Croatia Bus run daily, but the trip takes about 4 hours or more each way.
The bus works well for travellers heading on through Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a same-day return it is harder, because 8 hours or more on the bus leaves limited time in the Old Town, and timetables decide when you arrive and leave.
If the plan is one day in Mostar and back to Dubrovnik in the evening, a tour usually gives more time at the bridge for the same long day.
Can you drive from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
Yes. The route commonly crosses the Pelješac Bridge and enters Bosnia at the Metković/Doljani crossing, though routing varies with traffic and the border.
The Pelješac Bridge opened in 2022 and bypasses the Neum corridor. Drivers should check in advance that their rental agreement allows the car to be taken into Bosnia and Herzegovina, and plan for full passport checks in both directions.
Driving gives the most freedom, for example to stop in Počitelj or at Blagaj. The trade-off is that one person spends roughly five hours behind the wheel plus border queues.
Do you cross a border on the way to Mostar?
Yes. Croatia is in the Schengen area and Bosnia and Herzegovina is not, so there are full passport checks in both directions.
Since the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026, non-EU travellers register fingerprints and a facial image, and at land crossings with Bosnia passengers may have to leave the vehicle. This adds waiting time, especially in summer.
EU citizens may travel on a national ID card according to some listings. The full checklist is in the border crossing guide.
Passport or EU ID, entry to Kravica and the Bosnia entry fee included, according to the listing.
Book thisIs a day tour the easiest way to get to Mostar?
For most visitors based in Dubrovnik, yes. A tour handles pickup, the drive, the border and the parking, and usually adds a second stop.
On the Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Trip, the listing states 11 to 12 hours, English guiding, pickup at around 22 points, a 30-minute guided walk in Mostar followed by 2.5 hours of free time, and an hour at the Kravica waterfall with time to swim. Food is not included, and the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Other tours swap the waterfall for Počitelj or Medjugorje, cap the group at 8, or run privately with Blagaj. See the comparison of Mostar tours.
How much time do you get in Mostar on a day trip?
Usually about 2 to 3 hours at the bridge, depending on the tour.
- Small group tour: 3 hours of free time, according to the listing.
- Kravica, Mostar and Počitelj tour: 3 hours of free time.
- Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Trip: 30-minute guided walk plus 2.5 hours of free time.
- Tour with a local licensed guide: 45-minute guided walk plus 2.25 hours of free time.
- Private tour with Blagaj: 45-minute walk plus about 1 hour of free time, with more stops elsewhere.
Maximum 8 travellers in a van and 3 hours of free time in Mostar.
Book thisWhen is the best time to go from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
April to early June and September to early October are the most comfortable months.
July and August are hot in Mostar, with temperatures that can pass 40C, and the border queues tend to be at their slowest. Travellers going in high summer can plan for water, sun protection and a longer day than the timetable suggests.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
About 2.5 hours each way for roughly 140 km, without stops or border waiting. Tours typically last 10 to 13 hours door to door.
Can I take a train from Dubrovnik to Mostar?
No. Dubrovnik has no passenger railway. A seasonal train runs between Ploče, Mostar and Sarajevo, but not from Dubrovnik.
How long does the bus take?
Buses such as FlixBus and Croatia Bus run daily and take about 4 hours or more each way.
Do I need my passport?
Yes, there are full passport checks at the border. EU citizens may travel on a national ID card according to the listings of some tours.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Tours are booked on GetYourGuide and can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before.
Mostar and Kravica Waterfall Day Trip
- Pickup and drop-off at around 22 points in Dubrovnik, according to the listing
- 30-minute guided walk in Mostar, then about 2.5 hours of free time
- About 1 hour at Kravica waterfall, with time to swim; entry to Kravica and the Bosnia entry fee included
Small-Group Kravice Waterfalls and Mostar
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Dubrovnik; pickup can be a short walk away in the Old Town
- About 1.5 hours at Kravice waterfall, then about 3 hours of free time in Mostar
- Guide and tour escort; tourist tax and waterfall entry included, according to the listing
Private Tour: Mostar, Kravice and Blagaj
Your own vehicle and driver-guide: Kravice, a 45-minute walk in Mostar, the dervish house at Blagaj and Počitelj on the way back
