The train from Sarajevo to Mostar and back is the only railway connection in Bosnia and Herzegovina that is popular among tourists. The trains continue to Čapljina, and on summer weekends, to the Croatian port of Ploče. However, regardless of the season, most passengers board and disembark in Mostar.
The first train from Sarajevo to Mostar ran on August 1, 1891.
The line follows the valley of the Neretva River – from the train, passengers can see hills, the river, and roads running alongside parts of the railway. The line is 194.6 km long and single-track. Along the route, there are 27 stations and stops, and 106 tunnels (the longest, Ivan sedlo, is 3.23 km). When I first wrote about this route, it was virtually unknown among tourists. I predicted it would become a tourist attraction as one of the most beautiful railway lines in Europe – and that’s exactly what happened.
The line was built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, starting with the Metković–Mostar section, with construction beginning in 1884. The extension to the port of Ploče only began in 1938. Construction was interrupted by the German and Italian invasion of the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and the line was completed by the Italians in 1942. Toward the end of the war, retreating German forces destroyed part of the line, and the repaired Metković–Ploče section reopened only on August 15, 1945.
In the 1950s and 60s, the narrow-gauge line was converted to standard gauge, and electrification was completed in 1966.
The railway survived the Yugoslav civil war in relatively good condition, especially compared to other rail lines in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Sarajevo–Mostar train is operated by the Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine). Currently, the route is served by comfortable Talgo trains made in Spain and purchased by the Bosnian Railways. The trains are very comfortable and air-conditioned, but the windows cannot be opened, which makes it difficult to take beautiful photos from the train.
The railway runs along the banks of the Neretva River. In recent years, it has been damaged by floods multiple times, with prolonged service suspensions. The latest disruption occurred after a flood in 2025, and the damaged line took over half a year to repair.
Sarajevo – Mostar Train – Key facts
– Tickets for the train from Sarajevo to Mostar can be reserved online via the Bosnian Railways website. With a five-digit pick-up code, you must go to the ticket office at the Sarajevo or Mostar train station 1.5 hours before departure, where a staff member will issue the ticket upon presenting the code.
– At the ticket office, tickets can only be purchased on the day of travel. There is no advance ticket sale.
– Tickets are checked before boarding the train.
– There is a bar car on the train, but in practice, there is usually nothing available for purchase.
– On the Sarajevo–Mostar route, the best views are on the left-hand side of the train; on the return trip from Mostar, the views are best from the right-hand side.
– The train may be canceled without notice.
– Sometimes, trains run earlier or later than scheduled.
Useful websites:
Željeznice Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine – timetable and online shop
Related articles:
Train travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina – a comprehensive guide
Sarajevo train station – a passenger’s guide
Mostar train station – a passenger’s guide
