A day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls, via Mostar
As part of a recent trip to Croatia, we took a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia Herzegovina. The ancient city of Dubrovnik is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Balkans, Europe even. Used in the filming of the popular Game of Thrones series, visitors from around the world arrive by land, air and sea to explore this picturesque walled city. We spent about 3 days walking the cobbled streets and stepped alleys before we decided to escape the crowds and take a day trip to neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
From Dubrovnik, we headed to the Bosnian city of Mostar and then on to the nearby Kravice Waterfalls. A small tour bus was the easiest way to access the town as there is little in the way of public transport and only the brave will hire a car in the Balkans.
Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls – We Stop in Mostar
Arriving in Mostar was the first stage of our day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls. Here, we had the morning to explore the town in our own time and spent hours wandering the Ottoman streets and sampling the exotic food and drink. Despite being quite busy with tourists from Dubrovnik, Mostar is a beautiful old town that will make you want to explore more of Bosnia Herzegovina.
Strolling along the bustling Ottoman era streets, it’s easy to imagine how this city must have looked a few centuries ago. Suddenly, the smell of sweet Baklava and rich Bosnian coffee draws us into a small coffee shop. The waiter greets us and takes us to a table on the terrace with an incredible view over Stari Most – the Old Bridge. Originally built in the 16th century, it was rebuilt in 2004 after it was destroyed during the Bosnian war.
It’s not lunchtime yet so we order a Bosnian coffee – highly recommended by the waiter – and a fresh orange juice each. The coffee arrives served in a dzezva with a small cup and a portion of rahat lokum, all presented on a tray. The coffee is dark, exceptionally strong, similar to an extreme espresso, and has a subtle, chocolate flavour. This will set us up nicely for the next part of the trip.
Onward to the Falls!
Not far from Mostar is Kravice Waterfalls. We drive for around 40 minutes until we arrive at the carpark.
These falls are known as one of the most beautiful natural sights in Bosnia, and there is certainly tough competition. The falls are 25m high and 120m wide, which is why they are known as the “mini Niagara Falls”. After all, Bosnia and Herzegovina is a “country of mountains and water”.
We step off the bus into a sunny, spring afternoon. Our tour consists of about 5 other people and the car park is not busy. We begin the 15 minute walk to the waterfalls.
As we get closer we hear the power of the water. Eventually we catch a glimpse of the falls through the thick, green leaves as we carry on down the dusty track. The hurtling water grows louder as we follow the small side river round to the main event. The spray begins to jump off the water and cover our faces. It is actually pretty refreshing after the short walk in the sun.
The water is at its fullest in the spring and the falls are majestic. We spend time just watching the beautiful, green water flow and listen to the thunder of it hitting the pool below. Of course, we have to capture some pictures.
After about an hour we make our way back up the hill towards our bus. From here, we set off back to Dubrovnik after an amazing day trip to Mostar and the Kravice Waterfalls and a great introduction to Bosnia Herzegovina.
How to Get from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls
If you’re planning a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls there are a few things to be aware of. There isn’t much in the way of direct public transport from Dubrovnik or Sarajevo so it’s best to hire a car or take a tour. If you drive, Kravice is only 140km from Dubrovnik, 170km from Sarajevo and 40km from Mostar.
However, any tours offer Mostar and Kravice in the same day from Dubrovnik, which is what we did. Our tour lasted for 11 hours and included transport from Dubrovnik to Mostar and Kravice and back for around €50. We used a tour booked through GETYOURGUIDE and thoroughly enjoyed it.
After parking, the falls are a 15-minute walk from a car park. We wouldn’t say the walk was particularly stroller or wheelchair friendly. There was a toilet at the car park (always good to know…).
What to Bring on a Day Trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls
Our visit was in April so the weather was warm and pleasant. In hot conditions make sure to bring sun cream, water and maybe a hat and sun glasses. Decent walking shoes or trainers will be useful. If you plan to swim you will need swimwear, a towel, flip flops and a change of clothes. You will also need to bring cash for the entry fee. There are two restaurants but it might be a good idea to bring some snacks as well – especially in the winter as the restaurants are closed.
Remember to pick up all your litter and keep the place beautiful.
Entry Fee to Kravice Waterfall
The entry free for an adult to Kravice Waterfalls is 20KM (€10). Parking costs 2KM (€1) per hour or 6KM (€3) for the day
Entrance fees are only charged between the times of 8.00 and 20.00 and the falls are open 24 hours per day.
What to do at Kravice Waterfalls
It is possible to go swimming in the river. The water isn’t that warm but in the summer it is very refreshing!
Have some food or a drink in the restaurants and take some great pictures.
You can also take a boat trip for €5 – €10 that takes you down the river towards the smaller waterfalls.
Kayaks are available to rent for around €5 per hour and are a fun way to explore the river.
We spent about an hour there as we didn’t go swimming. It would be easy to spend half a day soaking up the natural beauty of these spectacular falls.
The Best Time to Visit
Summers in Bosnia are very hot – up to 40°C – and winters are around freezing. If you want to swim, probably the summer months are better! However, the falls can become busy in peak season so it’s ideal to visit in late spring or early autumn for the best weather and quieter times. The falls are also at their fullest during the springtime.
Restaurants at the Falls
When planning a trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls it it important to consider food, as always! There are three restaurants and a bar that open in the summer, but not during the winter. They sell cevapi (Bosnian sausage), pizza, burgers, that sort of thing. They have a great view over the water and also have WIFI! There are toilets in the restaurants and toilets in the car park.
Is it Worth Taking a Day Trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls?
If you have a little extra time in the city we would 100% recommend taking a day trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls. It is refreshing to escape from the busy city and it is a fantastic way to experience a flavour of beautiful Bosnia Herzegovina.
Where to go next
Ready for another adventure? Why not try travelling from Dubrovnik to Montenegro’s capital Podgorica? There are plenty of mountains, rivers and lakes to discover in beautiful Montenegro.
Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.
Have you visited Mostar or Kravice Waterfalls? Are you planning a trip from Dubrovnik to Kravice Waterfalls and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!
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Hey, thanks for the message. Are you intending to drive from Dubrovnik to Kravice?
If so, make sure you plan your route and know which border crossing you are going to take as they can get busy. There are very thorough checks as it is an EU border. Make sure you bring all your documents.
I would also advice taking out full insurance if you rent a car. The driving style can be a little hairy at times.
There is parking at the falls but it’s better to get there early if you can
Saying that, it’s very doable and very worthwhile. Have fun!
We are going end of April – we are hiring a car from the airport and driving to dubrovnik – is this fairly easy?
I highly recommend it. Especially in the spring when it’s warm but not busy.
Definitely! And the coffee is such an important part of Balkan culture.
I really hope so! I can’t wait to get back and explore more.
Yeah, the tour was really great. I’m not usually a far of organised tours but this was definitely the easiest way without hiring a car. It was nice and simple and we learned SO much!
Yes, it should be your fist stop Sarah! 🙂 Such an amazing place. I could have spent my whole trip in that cafe if there weren’t hundreds of other amazing things to discover.
Absolutely, it’s a great day trip!
Kravice has you covered!
Yes, I bet! We were there in April and that was hot enough!
The waterfalls look beautiful! Sounds like a really great trip 😊
This looks incredible! I never managed to make it out of Dubrovnik when I was there so would love to do this in future
What a wonderful day trip, starting with that coffee! Those are my favourite kind of days, where you just don’t just rush to your destination but explore along the way.
wow this was beautiful loved the video of the waterfall. it reminds me of niagara falls really lovely.
Greta post, which brought so many memories on our own travel. We missed the Kravice waterfall, but looks awesome.
“Only the brave will hire a car in the Balkans” – How true! The price that you paid for the tour to Kravice from Dubrovnik is exceptionally good value considering the length of the journey and taking into account the tour crosses the EU border. Thanks for sharing as I’ll keep it mind next time I visit the Balkans.
Oh my goodness, what a magical looking town! I’ve heard so many things about Mostar. That view of your espresso with the bridge in the background looks like it’s straight from a fairy tale!!! I want to go now! Those waterfalls look amazing too. Definitely prioritizing this place as one of the first to visit when we can!
Such a beautiful waterfall to visit! Definitely worth a day trip and I would love to go here!
I like visiting waterfalls – as long as I can dip my toes in the water and get a good coffee afterwards – I’m set!
We also visited Mostar and the Kravice waterfalls, and loved it. We drove ourselves and visited in the Summer with 40+ weather. So the swimming at the waterfalls was very welcoming.
Wow! Phenomenal trip!