Tips on Mostar Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Mostar Warnings and Dangers

As the sun falls behind the jagged peaks of Velez Mountain, the twinkling lights of Mostar light up the hillsides on the banks of the   Neretva River. Behind the bewitching beauty of this enchanting tableau, lie the scars and residual effects of the war more than twenty years ago.

Ruins

All across Mostar are the remains of bombed out, burned and bullet riddled buildings. Many of them were built during the time when this part of Europe was under the Ottoman Empire. DO NOT go into these buildings. They are unstable and some of them have unexploded IEDs left over from the previous decades.  It is quite safe to roam around Mostar freely but you have to heed the warnings posted on many ruined buildings “Keep Out Dangerous Ruin” They are not to be taken lightly.

Heat

Mostar lies in a valley between mountains and is an absolute sun trap. It’s hot by ten and by mid afternoon can be bordering on unbearable. Dress lightly and conservatively.   Bearing in mind the Muslim population of the city, wear what would be appropriate sightseeing in the Middle East. Take it easy, stroll around, and drink plenty of water. Mostar has many parks with shaded trees and benches for resting out of the oppressive heat.

Stari Most Bridge

The ancient bridge that connected the two sides of Mostar was bombed during the war. It was painstakingly rebuilt using as much of the original material as available. However the navigable portion of the bridge was constructed with flat white stones that are very slippery even when it’s not wet. There are railings on the sides to hold on to but at certain times of the day the bridge is very crowded. The streets around the bridge are steep, uneven and narrow, and it’s easy to work up a sweat negotiating them. The bridge itself seems to be held under a magnifying glass for the sun, so be careful of sunstroke and sunburn.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about warnings and dangers in Mostar.