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Need Advice: Mostar and/or Sarajevo En Route from Dubrovnik to Split

Our extended family group (5 adults and 3 teenage boys) will spend 13 days in Croatia and Slovenia June 2025. We will arrive at Dubrovnik (DBV) and drive on a rental car all the way to Zagreb. En route from Dubrovnik to Split, we would like to make a detour to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH). I am considering the following 3 options to do this short detour visit:

Option 1
From DBV drive all the way to Sarajevo (SJJ). Do sightseeing in the afternoon and evening. Stay overnight in SJJ. Drive to Mostar the next day and visit there for a few hours. Then drive to Split.

Option 2
FROM DBV drive all the way to SJJ. Stay 2 nights there for a full day visit. Then drive to Mostar for a few hours visit before arriving at Split.

Option 3
From DBV drive to Mostar. Stay overnight there. Next day drive to Split.

We are mostly interested in scenery, architecture and cultures, not much in the history. I understand that there are some pretty sceneries on the way to these places. We may only want to visit a few, not all of them. We plan to visit Plitvice NP after Split. Therefore, may not want to stop to visit other waterfalls there. I also don’t plan to visit too may history museum there.
I would really appreciate some feedback from very knowledge people on this forum. Which of the above 3 options is/are practical? I just want some different taste/culture experience mixed with Croatia experience with our limited time there. Thanks very much for your help!

Posted by
4803 posts

I understand the temptation of Option 1, but I don’t think you would enjoy it.

Either Option 2 or 3 are doable; but, as much as I love Sarajevo, I would probably say Option 3.

Although, if you actually have 2 nights to give to Sarajevo, I might choose that as long as you skip Mostar. The drive on to Split will require concentration and time. Take the north route and stop in Travnik - it is beautiful and more manageable as a short stop.

Posted by
1 posts

I would do Option 3 unless you have more time. In fact, plan to do this in May. Stops in BiH at Blagaj, Krivaca, and Pocitelj and a night in Mostar. If Catholic you could also stop in Medjugorje. Add stops in Croatia of Ston, Makarska, Brela and Omis. and you will have some pretty busy days. You really cant do all of these, but pick and choose!

Posted by
1043 posts

Too bad you are not interested in history as it will be all around you in Mostar and Sarajevo. Recent enough history too with maybe some awareness to be applied to the present also.