Mostar is 130 kilometres south of Sarajevo. The train through the Neretva canyon takes a little under 2 hours and is the more scenic option, but it runs only twice a day. The bus takes around 2.5 hours and runs far more often. Either works comfortably as a day trip. Check current times and fares before you go, they change.
Mostar is about 130 kilometers south of Sarajevo. The drive takes roughly 2 hours, the train a little over 2 hours, the bus somewhere between 2.5 and 3. All three options work. Here is what you need to know about each one. If you are still planning how many days in Sarajevo, a Mostar day trip fits perfectly into a longer stay.
How Far Is Mostar from Sarajevo?
Mostar is about 130 kilometres south of Sarajevo. By road it is roughly a 2 hour drive, and the railway line covers a similar distance through the mountains.
On the map it looks like nothing. In practice the road and the railway both have to get through the Dinaric mountains and down the Neretva valley, which is why nothing does it in under two hours, and also why the journey is worth doing in daylight.
How Long Is the Train from Sarajevo to Mostar?
The train from Sarajevo to Mostar takes a little under 2 hours. It runs twice a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.
It is also one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe, and I say that as someone who takes it often enough to have stopped noticing most things. The route runs through the Neretva canyon: emerald river, steep limestone walls, villages tucked into the rock. Worth taking at least one way purely for the window.
I am not going to print the departure times or the fare here, because they change and I would rather you had them right than had them from me. The current timetable and ticket prices are on the railway's own site, zfbh.ba. Tickets are sold at the station counter, and cash is easiest.
If you are doing a day trip, take the morning train. You arrive with the whole day still in front of you, which is the entire point.
How Long Does the Bus from Sarajevo to Mostar Take?
The bus takes around 2.5 hours and runs several times a day from Sarajevo's central bus station, which sits right next to the train station.
Because it runs far more often than the train, it is the right choice whenever the train times do not fit your day, which is often, because there are only two of them. Again I am not printing the timetable or the fare, because they move. Centrotrans is the main operator on the route and publishes current departures and prices. Omio and Busbud also sell tickets online if you would rather have it settled before you arrive. Otherwise just buy at the station.
Train or Bus to Mostar, Which Is Better?
Take the train if the timing works, and the bus if it does not. The train is cheaper and far more scenic. The bus is more frequent and more flexible.
That is genuinely the whole decision. The only reason anyone takes the bus is that the train runs twice a day and the good one leaves early. If you can make the morning train, take it, sit on the right hand side going down, and thank me later. If you cannot, the bus is perfectly fine and you have not ruined anything.
Getting to the Train Station from the Old Town
The train and bus stations sit about 2 km west of the old town - walkable in 25 minutes if you're up for it, much easier with tram 5. From any old town stop, catch tram 5 heading west, ride about 10 minutes, and get off at Tehnička škola. The station is a 3-minute walk from there. Buy the ticket in cash from the conductor on board. Current fares are on gras.ba, the city transport operator. I tell guests to leave a little earlier than they think they need - Sarajevo's trams keep their own schedule.
View walking route from the Cathedral to the station on Google Maps →
Getting Back to the Old Town on Return
Coming back into Sarajevo station, the easiest move is tram 5 again. The Muzej stop is a few minutes' walk from the platform exit. Take it toward Baščaršija, get off at Drvenija, and you're a short walk from SoulHaus with the Cathedral as your landmark. Same ticket, same cash-only routine.
In Mostar
The train and bus stations in Mostar are in the north of the city, about 15 minutes' walk from the Old Town and the Stari Most bridge. The walk is flat and easy to navigate. Most visitors head straight for the Old Bridge area - from there, everything worth seeing is within easy walking distance.
Mostar is well worth the trip. Half a day is enough to see the main sights. A full day lets you slow down and actually enjoy it.
Everything You Need
Before You Go
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About 130 kilometres south. Roughly a 2 hour drive by road, and the railway covers a similar distance through the Neretva valley.
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A little under 2 hours. The train runs twice a day, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. Current departures and fares are on the railway's own site at zfbh.ba, and worth checking before you travel because they change.
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Around 2.5 hours, running several times a day from the central bus station next to the train station. Centrotrans is the main operator on the route and publishes current departures and prices.
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Take the train if the timing works and the bus if it does not. The Neretva canyon route is genuinely spectacular, but the train only runs twice a day. The bus is more frequent and more flexible.
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Take tram 5 and get off at Tehnička škola. Walk a few minutes to the station. View the route on Google Maps from the Cathedral if needed.
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From Sarajevo station, take tram 5 from the Muzej stop in the direction of Baščaršija. Get off at Drvenija and walk home.
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Yes, comfortably. Take the morning train and you arrive with the whole day still ahead of you. Check the current timetable at zfbh.ba when you plan, since the departures change.
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