Kravice Waterfalls

The Kravice Waterfalls (locally spelled Kravica, sometimes Kravice) are a horseshoe of cascades on the Trebižat River, about 40 km west of Mostar. Up to 25 metres high and 120 metres wide in good water conditions, they drop into a natural pool that is swimmable from late spring through September. In summer, the scene — turquoise water, white foam, surrounding greenery — is spectacular, and the waterfalls are one of the most visited natural sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At a glance
Where	Trebižat River, Ljubuški municipality, around 40 km west of Mostar
Cost	Adult entry 20 BAM (same all year); sun loungers around 5 BAM
Time needed	Around 2-4 hours for most visitors
Getting there	Self-drive (40 min from Mostar), taxi, or a half-day/full-day tour — no reliable public bus
Best time	May-June and September for fewer crowds; March-May for the most powerful flow

What to expect

The site is compact: a path along the rim leads to steps down to the pool level. Swimming is the main activity, and the water is refreshingly cool even in the hottest weeks of July and August. There are sun loungers for rent (around 5 BAM), a kiosk selling drinks and snacks, and basic changing facilities. The entry fee is 20 BAM per adult, the same all year (students and children 7-18 pay 10 BAM; under 7 free).

The falls are most powerful in spring (March-May), when snowmelt from the hinterland swells the Trebižat. In late summer (August-September), flow is reduced but still impressive. In winter (November-February), the site is often closed or staffed minimally.

Think of the visit as three small moments rather than one. First comes the walk along the rim, where you take in the full horseshoe and get a sense of how the water spreads across so many separate falls. Then comes the descent to the pool, where the scale of the place changes completely and the noise of the water takes over. Last comes the slow part: a swim, a drink from the kiosk, and time simply sitting on the rocks watching the spray catch the light. Visitors who rush straight to the water often say afterwards that they wished they had walked the rim first.

The surroundings matter as much as the falls themselves. Trees crowd the banks, the rock is pale and streaked with moss, and the contrast between the green setting and the bright water is what makes the place so photogenic. If you are coming from the dry, stony landscapes further south in Herzegovina, the change feels almost startling. For a wider sense of the region you are passing through, the Herzegovina day trip guide puts the stop in context.

Getting there

By car or taxi: From Mostar, take the M-17 south to Čapljina, then follow signs west to Ljubuški; the falls are signposted off the main road. About 40 minutes. Parking area is large but fills quickly on summer weekends.

By tour: A half-day Kravice tour from Mostar is the most common option for those without a car. Most depart mid-morning and return in the early afternoon. A longer full-day tour combining Kravice with Blagaj and Počitelj is excellent value if you want to tick off the Herzegovina highlights in one go.

From Dubrovnik: Kravice is frequently combined with a Mostar visit on day trips from Dubrovnik. The drive is about 90 km one-way via the Neretva delta crossing.

There is no reliable public bus to the falls.

If you are driving yourself, a few habits make the day easier. Fill the tank before leaving the larger towns, carry cash, and have your route to the car park saved offline in case the signal drops. Our driving in Bosnia guide covers road conditions and etiquette, and the renting a car in Bosnia guide explains what to check before you pick up a vehicle. Anyone crossing from Croatia should read the driving from Croatia to Bosnia guide and the Neum corridor crossing guide first, since border formalities can add time to the morning. Travellers without a car can compare their options in the getting around Bosnia guide and the Sarajevo to Mostar transport guide.

Visitors coming from the coast will find route-specific advice in the Mostar from Dubrovnik guide, the Mostar from Split guide and the Bosnia from Kotor guide. If you cannot decide between the two Croatian starting points, the Mostar from Split vs Dubrovnik comparison lays out the trade-offs.

Crowd management: the honest picture

In July and August, Kravice is very busy — particularly between 11am and 3pm when day-trip groups from both Mostar and the Croatian coast converge. The swimming pool area can feel cramped, and parking can be chaotic. On peak summer weekends, expect 500-1,000 visitors at any one time.

To avoid the worst of it:

• Arrive early: The car park opens at 8am; arriving before 9:30am in July-August means significantly fewer people.
• Weekdays over weekends: Even in August, weekday mornings are manageable.
• Shoulder season is the real answer: May, June, and September offer the same beauty with a fraction of the crowds, and cooler weather.

Swimming and safety

The pool is swimmable throughout the main season. The water is cold (12-16°C even in summer — significantly cooler than the Adriatic). There are no lifeguards. The rocks below the falls are slippery; wading close to the base of the main cascade is not advised. Children should be supervised at the water’s edge.

The Trebižat is calm within the pool area; there is no strong current. Jumping from the ledges above the pool is not officially permitted and has caused injuries.

Making the most of your time at the pool

A good visit follows a simple order. Arrive, pay, and walk the rim before you change into swimwear, so you see the falls while you are still dry and the light is at its best for photographs. Then head down to the water, leave your belongings somewhere you can keep an eye on them, and swim. Keep your phone or camera in a waterproof pouch or a dry bag, because spray reaches further than you expect and the rocks are wet nearly everywhere.

Families with younger children should pick a calm corner of the pool edge and stay there rather than exploring the base of the cascades. Strong swimmers will enjoy crossing the pool, but the cold can tire people faster than they expect, so get out and warm up in the sun before going back in. Our Bosnia with kids guide and the family activities in Bosnia guide have more ideas for travelling with children, and the Bosnia in summer guide explains what to expect from the heat in July and August.

Bring a towel, sun protection, a hat and plenty of water. A light layer is welcome after the swim, especially if you are leaving in the shade of late afternoon. A small bag for wet clothes keeps the car or tour minibus dry on the way back.

Photographing the falls

The best photographs usually come from the rim path, where you can frame the whole horseshoe with trees on either side. Early morning light is softer and the water looks cleaner without crowds in the frame. A slower shutter speed, or a phone’s long-exposure mode, turns the cascades into silky ribbons, but you will need to rest the camera on a rock or a small tripod. After heavy rain or snowmelt the water can look cloudier and the spray heavier, so keep a cloth handy for the lens.

Remember that the rocks near the water are the slipperiest part of the site. No photograph is worth a fall, so choose your angle from the stable ground and leave the ledges alone. If you enjoy waterfall photography, the Štrbački Buk guide and the Pliva waterfall Jajce guide describe two very different settings for the same subject.

Combining Kravice with other sites

Kravice fits neatly into a full-day Herzegovina circuit:

1. Morning: Blagaj Tekija and Buna spring (12 km south of Mostar)
2. Mid-morning: Počitelj (25 km south of Mostar)
3. Afternoon: Kravice Waterfalls (40 km west of Mostar, via Čapljina)

Alternatively, continue 20 km further west to Hutovo Blato Nature Park (a bird reserve and wetland on the Krupa River), especially good in spring and autumn when migratory birds are present. See our Hutovo Blato guide for details.

Kravice in a longer Herzegovina trip

Kravice works best as one chapter of a wider journey. Most visitors base themselves in Mostar, where the Stari Most guide and the best restaurants in Mostar fill the evening after a day at the water. If you need somewhere to sleep, the Mostar where to stay guide compares areas. Those who want to see more of the region can follow the Herzegovina weekend itinerary, the Sarajevo to Mostar in three days itinerary or the seven-day Bosnia itinerary, all of which leave room for a swim.

Other stops in the area make good companions. Konjic and the Neretva valley suit travellers who like rivers and mountains, and the Neretva rafting guide is the natural next step for anyone who wants more water. Wine lovers can pair the day with the Herzegovina wine guide, and those who like quiet canoeing will find the Buna canoeing guide appealing. Pilgrims and curious travellers often add Medjugorje, covered in the Medjugorje pilgrimage guide. On the Adriatic side, Neum is the small coastal stretch that interrupts the Croatian shoreline.

For a first-person account of the falls in high season, read the Kravice falls in summer blog post, and for an overview of the whole country start with the Bosnia travel guide. Planning the timing of the whole trip is easier with the best time to visit Bosnia guide and the avoiding crowds in Bosnia guide.

Practical information

• Entry fee: 20 BAM per adult, same all year; students and children 7-18 pay 10 BAM, under 7 free (kravica.ba, checked October 2026). Prices may change.
• ATMs: None at the site; bring cash (BAM). Some kiosks accept EUR at a poor rate.
• Food: Kiosk on site for drinks and snacks; bring your own lunch for a proper picnic.
• Time needed: 2-4 hours for most visitors — 30 minutes to walk the rim, 1-2 hours swimming, time for food.
• Footwear: Water shoes useful for the rocky pool entry. Flip-flops are sold at the kiosk.
• Nearest town: Ljubuški (10 km), which has restaurants and ATMs.

For the full context, see the Kravice Waterfalls guide and the best day trips from Mostar.

Kravice by season

Month	Water & weather	Crowds
March-May	Peak flow from snowmelt; water is powerful but cold, swimming less appealing early in the window	Low-moderate
June	Strong flow, warm enough to swim, greenery at its best	Moderate, rising fast toward July
July-August	Reduced but still solid flow; hot (30°C+), warmest swimming	High — very busy 11am-3pm
September	Flow noticeably lower but water is warm and clear	Low-moderate, best overall balance
October-February	Often reduced flow or partial closure; cold, few facilities open	Very low

Alternatives if Kravice is too crowded

Kravice is deservedly popular, but it is not the only waterfall worth seeing in the region. Štrbački Buk in Una National Park offers a wilder, less-visited alternative further north — see the Štrbački Buk guide. Closer to Mostar, the Buna spring at Blagaj has a different but equally photogenic character — read the Blagaj Tekke guide. Travellers doing a longer loop can also consider Jajce’s town-centre waterfall, described in the Pliva waterfall Jajce guide.

Frequently asked questions about Kravice Waterfalls

Can you swim at Kravice Waterfalls year-round? Officially yes, but realistically the pool is only comfortable from late May through September. Outside that window the water is very cold and facilities are minimal.

Is Kravice worth visiting if I only have a few hours in Herzegovina? Yes — even a two-hour stop, arriving early to beat the crowds, gives you the swim and the view. Combine it with Blagaj or Počitelj if you can extend to a half or full day.