There’s no doubt Bosnia / Herzegovina has had a rough past. The remnants of war are still very present throughout the capital, Sarajevo, and the large southern city of Mostar.

Regardless, this area and its people are strong and stunning. There is no shortage of history, character, and beauty. I absolutely loved my time backpacking through and getting to chat with some of the locals.

Sarajevo

I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to expect upon arrive here by bus from Croatia. I’d done minimal research and had only booked the Franz Ferdinand hostel a day in advance (which I HIGHLY recommend).

Bus ride with a view

Mostar

This city in the Herzegovina region has easily been one of my favorites, primarily because of the people who add so much charm to the city. “Stari Most” (The Old Bridge) stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croat forces during the Croat–Bosniak War. It was rebuilt in 2004 and is the focal point of the quaint city.

If you’re craving an adrenaline rush, you can join some of the locals who jump daily off the 29 meter landmark! If not, opt for some of the smaller platforms along the river for a leap. You may even get lucky and catch a RedBull world cliff jumping competition!

*A Warning: We swam in the river upstream with the bridge and noticed a subtle smell of sewage, so we didn’t stay long… swim at your own risk.

Blagaj

This short local bus ride from Mostar was a fantastic day trip! It’s home to just a couple monasteries tucked against a cove with pristine blue waters running into a cave… Pretty much a fantasy. There are a handful of decent eateries along the water, great for a drink and rest under the trees but nothing to write home about.