This summer Balkan`s hottest emerging destination was the city of Mostar, situated on the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alongside the many historical sites and beautiful architecture, this city also offers shopping malls for fashion lovers.
The Mepas Mall is the biggest shopping center in the region of Herzegovina that has the surface of 100.000 m². It is located at the crossroads of the street of Kardinal Stepinac and streets of Kneza Višeslava. As one of the most attractive locations in the center of Mostar, there are 3 level underground garage with 605 parking spaces, 7 above ground level, two floors of the hotel level, 4 panoramic elevators, and 5 cinemas.
This is the place where you can find leading high street brands like Zara, New Yorker, Bershka, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, Benetton, Adidas and much more.
There are also lots of entertaining activities. Enjoy blockbusters and 3D projections in Cinestar movie theater, bowling or game of pool in the Bowling center, while the kids can spend time in good entertainment and sports activities in the playroom “Jungle”.
All of the food lovers can enjoy delicious treats at Restaurant Prestige.
This restaurant is located on the 4th floor in the Mepas Mall. The customers love to praise the chocolate soufflé dessert, lots of meals from Italian cuisine and also regional meals such as sheepskin cheese, Livanjski cheese, Herzegovinian prosciutto and Herzegovinian doughnuts.
Families with children can enjoy lunch at Prestige while the kids are well taken care of at the nearby children’s playroom Jungle.
Mostar is one of the most beautiful and most visited attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thanks to its outstanding natural beauty, architecture, and, of course, its famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Stari Most, this city has lots of tourists and foreigners that pour in the city every year. It is full of architecture that Ottoman brought with themselves, with plenty of traditional restaurants, market stalls, mosques and other historic buildings. It is also surrounded by stunning landscape waiting to be explored.
Scroll down your page and discover the top things to see and do in and around Mostar:
1.Old Bridge in Mostar – Stari Most
The Old Town of Mostar has been attracting millions of tourists from all over the world because of its unique blend of rich history, picturesque architecture and exotic locations. The Old Bridge is the most magnificent monument in Mostar and it has become the worldwide known symbol of Mostar. During the civil war, however, the bridge was destroyed but it has since been rebuilt. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, having received this status in 2005 soon after it was rebuilt, and it attracts thousands of tourists to Mostar every year.
On the east bank rises Tara Tower which was used as a deposit for ammunition in the Ottoman era. The Halebija Tower is on the west side. It was once the prison.
2.Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque
Today the iconic Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque is probably among the most famous symbols of Mostar. It`s the second largest mosque in Mostar, situated on the left bank of the Neretva river, just about 150 meters north of the Old Bridge. Forget the Taj Mahal and the Colosseum as some of the world’s most impressive structures remain out of the public eye. So when planning to visit Mostar. for the best places to visit include the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque on your list. We promise – you will not regret!
3.Kravice Waterfalls
A short drive south, around 40 minutes from Mostar are the Kravice Waterfalls. The best time of year for visiting is during the spring time when the fall is at its fullest and the vivid landscape turns bright green as the surrounding nature is blooming with life.The area around the waterfall is very popular for swimming and having picnic.
Most see places in Herzegovina-Kravice Waterfalls
4. Franciscan Church
Today’s church with its dimensions, appearance and the bell tower (107m high), dominates the city of Mostar. Due to the increased number of catholic community in Mostar, there was the need for larger church so during the latest reconstruction in 2000., the new church was built on old foundations but following the tendency of massiveness from the Middle Ages.
Now visitors can enter the church, take photographs and enjoy the singing of the church assembly. There is also a large parking lot in front of the church, which serves for visitors and tourist groups.
Bell Tower of Franciscan Church in Mostar
5. Muslibegović House
One of Mostar’s best examples of Ottoman architecture is the protected national monument, Muslibegović House located in Brankovac area.
Due to its cultural and historical importance, as well as its preserved traditional artifacts, the Muslibegovič House is a unique tourist destination in Mostar.
This residential complex of unique architecture was inscribed on the list of national monuments and has a dual function, as a harmonic museum with educational component, and as a top class hotel in the category of cultural and historic heritage.
The interior is in keeping with traditional eastern styles, such as Ottoman rugs, white walls and wooden furnishings, with the museum exhibiting items such as books, manuscripts and handmade crafts.
It is perhaps the mix that makes Sarajevo such an attractive tourist destination. if you are in Bosnia and Herzegovina and are not sure whether to make the trip to Sarajevo – GO!
1. This is the place where you will find one of the best ćevapcčići in the Balkans
If you are coming to Bosnia and Herzegovina then you must try eating ćevapi(chevaps). It is a favorite dish in the whole country and food lovers from all over the world always enjoy eating ćevapi in our country. Ćevapi has its origins in the Balkans during the Ottoman period, and represents a regional specialty similar to the kofte kebab.Chevaps are incredibly versatile. Eat them grilled with veggies, baked potatoes or just go for fresh salad, these meat rolls will excite your taste buds. There are several great restaurants in Sarajevo which serve traditional ćevapi, find more info about them in our Gastronomy section.
2. It is cheap and easy
Sarajevo is a very cheap city and you can get a lot for the value of your money. Weather it is the accommodation, shopping, food, drink, sightseeing or enjoying the night life, all visitors agree are delighted with what they can get here for their money.
3. Food is delicious
Traditional food is both organic and delicious. You must try local traditional food that can be found in traditional restaurants called Aščinica.
4. It is only two hours from Mostar
In spite of how slow buses in Bosnia travel, it will take you no longer than two hours to reach Sarajevo from Mostar. Even if you hate it—and you won’t, trust me—you’ll be out nothing more than a few Bosnian marks and a little of your time. Enjoying Sarajevo is as close to a sure thing as I’ve recommended on this blog!
5. Architecture is amazing
Sarajevo is famed for its tumultuous history and the city’s architecture expresses this beautifully; the Ottomans, the Austro-Hungarians, the Yugoslav wars and the Siege of Sarajevo have all left their mark, making the city one of the most interesting in Europe.
Sarajevo is the largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina and home for more than six hundred thousand people. Because of its rich cultural variety this city was sometimes called the “Jerusalem of Europe” or “Jerusalem of the Balkans” . It is the only major European city to have a mosque, Catholic church, Orthodox church and synagogue within the same area and has been home to many different religions for centuries. It is perhaps this mix that makes Sarajevo such an attractive tourist destination.
Sarajevo is a foodie’s paradise, with some 200 restaurants registered on Google dishing up an array of cuisines from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the world.
This weekend I was heading to Sarajevo to try the Japanese food served at Kimono Sushi Bar and believe me it tastes as good as it looks.
Kimono Sushi Bar you can find on the floor +3 in Sarajevo City Center.
Kimono Sushi Bar is conveniently located at the third floor in Sarajevo City Center, address Vrbanja 1.
The design of the Kimono Sushi Bar gives you the sense you are entering to a restaurant brimming with confidence. Such feeling is assured when you meet the staff.
What do you expect from a Japanese restaurant in a shopping mall in Sarajevo?
I didn’t expect much but the food was actually excellent.
We ordered the vegetable spring rolls as a starter to share (7 BAM – 3.58 EUR)
Vegetable Spring Rolls served in Kimono Sushi Bar -Sarajevo
Deep-fried until the outside becomes deliciously crispy while the inside stays soft and full of flavour these rolls are very delicious. Whatever they put inside, the thing that makes a great spring roll is simple: the contrast between a soft filling inside and crunchy pastry outside
As the main course we ordered Katsu Chicken (9 BAM – 4.60 EUR)
Katsu chicken served in Kimono Susi Bar-Sarajevo
and...Kimono Deluxe sushi(28 BAM or 14.30 EUR)
Sushi Deluxe served in Kimono sushi bar -Sarajevo
Katsu chicken is a best choice for all of those people who love fried chicken. It’s lightly breaded and pan fried to a crispy piece of chicken perfection. Old school, unhealthy yet so unbelievably delicious!
If you are looking for a healthy meal than the perfect balance of sashimi and rice will melt in your mouth in Kimono Sushi Bar! Sushi of this caliber is a treat which only a select few are able to experience.
First time at Kimono Sushi Bar and I can say with confidence that it is one of the best sushi places I visited so far: the design of the place is cozy yet fancy, the staff welcoming and attentive to every detail and fast service. Kimono Sushi Bar team have friendly waitstaff (especially Srdjan C.) to boot!
Everything was fresh and tasty. The fish to rice ratio is great and everything was fresh. It was a little pricey for lunch but well worth it.
Sushi lovers, I advise you to try Kimono Sushi Bar when shopping in Sarajevo City Center.
The historic and beautiful city of Mostar is usually associated with the Old Bridge and Neretva river. But these historic places are not the only things this area has to offer.
Located just about 20km north from Mostar is Ruište, untouched jewel of nature situated almost at the bottom of mountains Prenj and Velež. It has an altitude of 1,703 metres (5,587 ft).
This place is among the richest European places with oxygen content in the air. Surrounded by munika trees, a rare and endemic species, this area is also well known for its rich beauty among nature lovers.
In addition to picnic lovers, hikers and nature lovers, Ruište is also visited by athletes who prepare themselves here for high profile competitions.
This mountainous area in winter becomes the favorite place for skiing.
Ruište is also just one of the stops for real adventurers and mountain climbers who pass is on their way to conquer the Prenj mountain, which has six peeks above 2,000m and the tallest peak is the Zelena glava at 2,155m.
Before the war, Ruište was an attractive excursion place for people from Mostar, nature lovers and people who come to spend their vacation in nature, those who go to one-day and two-day trips, and those who enjoy barbecues. This place is visited all year round – in winter there is snow, and in summer a lot of people come here to get away from the high temperatures in Mostar.
In summer, when in Mostar heats up to more than 40C, the temperature in Ruište does not exceed 25C, and at night the temperatures drop so it is necessary to take extra blanket for sleeping.
