Sarajevo to Mostar: bus, train and day trip

You can get from Sarajevo to Mostar by train, by bus or on a guided day trip. The train leaves Sarajevo at 07:15 and 16:46, the bus takes about 2 hours 40 minutes, and a day trip with a guide takes about 12 hours with stops on the way.

Here is how each option works, and how to leave your big bag with us while you go.

Timetables change, so check them before you travel.

Is there a train from Sarajevo to Mostar?

Yes. ŽFBH, the railway of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, runs two trains a day from Sarajevo towards Čapljina, and they stop in Mostar. On ŽFBH's own list of stops for this line, the train also calls at Hadžići, Konjic, Jablanica Grad, Drežnica Stara and Žitomislići.

Check the ŽFBH timetable before you go, as times can change.

The timetable gives the Čapljina times, not the Mostar ones. Mostar comes before Čapljina, so your ride is shorter than the 2 hours 25 minutes to Čapljina. Ask at the ticket office for the exact time you reach Mostar.

In summer, ŽFBH has also run an extra weekend train on to Ploče in Croatia. Check its timetable to see if it is running.

Where do I buy a train ticket to Mostar?

ŽFBH's homepage says online ticket sales are off for now because of technical problems. So buy your ticket at the ticket office at Sarajevo station before you get on.

Get there with time to spare, as there are only two trains a day. If you miss the morning one, the next is in the late afternoon, and the bus may suit you better.

How long is the bus from Sarajevo to Mostar?

About 2 hours 40 minutes. On Centrotrans's booking page the ride took between 2 hours 36 minutes and 2 hours 45 minutes.

The departures we saw for the coming days were 06:00, 09:00, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 18:00 and 19:55, though not all of them run every day. Check the date you want on Centrotrans's Sarajevo to Mostar page.

We only checked Centrotrans, so ask at the bus station for every departure on the day.

Can I do a day trip to Mostar from Sarajevo?

Yes, and the easiest way is a guided tour. For tours, we recommend Meet Bosnia. Their Mostar day trip runs daily, leaves Sarajevo at 08:00 and lasts about 12 hours.

On the way, the tour stops at Konjic and its old stone bridge, the Kravica waterfalls, the old village of Počitelj, and the Blagaj Tekke at the spring of the Buna river. Then you get time in Mostar. The tour includes a licensed guide, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, a bottle of water, and pick-up and drop-off.

Not included: entry to the Kravica waterfalls, entry to the Blagaj Tekke, and food. You can also ask to be dropped off in Mostar at the end, which is handy if you are travelling on south.

You can book this tour at our reception: scan the code at the desk to book online with Meet Bosnia. If you like, they will pick you up in front of the hostel.

Can I visit Mostar in a day by train?

Yes, the times work. Take the 07:15 train from Sarajevo. Come back on the afternoon train, which leaves Čapljina at 16:42 and reaches Sarajevo at 19:07. It passes Mostar a little after it leaves Čapljina, so check the Mostar time at the station when you arrive.

That gives you most of the day in Mostar on your own. The bus works for a day trip too, with more choice of times. A guided tour costs more, but it adds Konjic, Kravica, Počitelj and Blagaj on the same day.

How do I get to the bus or train station from the hostel?

Take a city bus from Studentski Dom, the stop 1 minute from our door. The main bus and train station is about 30 minutes away by bus, with one change. Google Maps shows the next bus. Our guide to the airport, the bus station and the Old Town has more on tickets and stops.

Leave a little extra time for the morning train, as there is only one before the afternoon.

How do I get from Mostar to Sarajevo?

By train, bus or the tour. Two trains a day run from Čapljina through Mostar to Sarajevo: one leaves Čapljina at 06:03 and reaches Sarajevo at 08:35, and one leaves at 16:42 and reaches Sarajevo at 19:07.

For the bus, search Mostar to Sarajevo on Centrotrans's site, or ask at the bus station in Mostar. Meet Bosnia also lists a day trip from Mostar to Sarajevo on its site.

When you get to Sarajevo, it is about 30 minutes by bus from the station to us. Coming to stay? See our dorms and private rooms, and book direct for no booking fees.

What is there to see in Mostar?

The Old Bridge, Stari Most, is the reason most people go. UNESCO lists the Old Bridge Area of the Old City of Mostar as a World Heritage site. It says the bridge was destroyed in the conflict of the 1990s and rebuilt in 2004, and calls the rebuilt bridge and old city a symbol of reconciliation.

Around the bridge, Meet Bosnia's tour takes in Kujundžiluk, the old bazaar street, and the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque, whose minaret you can climb for a view over the bridge. The photo at the top of this page was taken from there.

Back in Sarajevo, our list of things to do in Sarajevo has plenty for the next day.

Can I leave my bags at the hostel while I go to Mostar?

Yes. We keep guests' bags during a trip to Mostar, so you can go with a small daypack and come back for the rest. We also keep bags before check-in and after check-out.

Going to Mostar and coming back to Sarajevo? Leave your big bag with us and travel light.

Quick answers

• How far is Mostar from Sarajevo by bus? About 2 hours 40 minutes on Centrotrans.
• What time is the Sarajevo to Mostar train? 07:15 and 16:46 from Sarajevo.
• Which tour company do you recommend? Meet Bosnia. You can book their Mostar day tour at our reception.
• Can I leave my luggage? Yes, we keep guests' bags while they go to Mostar.