Bosnia Currency Guide 2026 — KM, EUR, Cards & Cash for Mostar Travelers

**Bosnian Convertible Mark — KM (or BAM internationally).** Pegged at the fixed rate of **1 EUR = 1.95 KM**. The peg has held since 1997 and is unlikely to change. **EUR widely accepted** in tourist areas at a roughly 1:2 round-rate (slightly worse than official 1.95). **HRK (Croatian Kuna)**: NOT accepted in Bosnia; convert before crossing. **USD/GBP/CHF/JPY**: NOT accepted; exchange to EUR or KM first. **Coins**: 5/10/20/50 feninga + 1/2/5 KM. **Notes**: 10/20/50/100/200 KM.

**Yes — widely accepted in tourist areas at ~1:2 rate.** Most Mostar Old Bazaar restaurants, hotels, museums, taxi services, and tour operators take EUR. **Where you'll get the best EUR rate**: bigger hotels and restaurants (closer to official 1.95). **Where you'll get a worse rate**: small souvenir stalls (round to 1:2). **Where EUR is NOT accepted**: small village shops outside tourist areas, public transport, parking attendants outside tourist zones, kayak/canoe rental at Kravica, smaller family restaurants. **Bring some KM** for these — €50–100 worth in small notes is the right amount for a 2-day Mostar visit.

**Yes in Mostar — every Mostar Old Bazaar block has an ATM**, plus all major banks (Raiffeisen, UniCredit, NLB, Sparkasse, Sberbank, Privredna Banka, Hypo Alpe-Adria). **In smaller villages**: Studenci has 1 ATM (sometimes offline), Pocitelj has none nearby (Capljina 12 km away has multiple), Blagaj has none (Mostar 12 km away). **At Sarajevo airport (SJJ)**: 5+ ATMs in arrivals. **At Dubrovnik airport (DBV)**: ATMs in arrivals on the Croatian side; for Bosnia withdrawal you do it after the border. **At Mostar bus/train station**: 2–3 ATMs.

**ALWAYS choose 'charge in local currency' (KM)**, NEVER 'charge in my home currency' (USD/EUR/GBP/etc.). The 'home currency' option is **Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)** which costs you **5–7% on the exchange rate** every time. **Why ATMs offer it**: the bank running the ATM gets a kickback from the conversion fee. **Do this every time**: when the screen asks 'continue with conversion?' or 'charge in EUR?' — say **NO / decline**, then the ATM uses your home bank's normal conversion rate which is much better. **Same applies to card payments at restaurants/hotels** — always pick KM, not your home currency.

**€100–200 in small notes for a 2-day visit** is the right amount. **Breakdown**: €30/person for cash-only spots (counter ćevabdžinicas, market stalls, parking, Tekija entry, small purchases). **Plus**: card-accepted spots (most restaurants, hotels, tour CTAs) for the bigger expenses. **Bring small notes (5s, 10s, 20s)** rather than 50s and 100s — vendors can't always break large notes for small purchases. **For Mostar+Sarajevo combined trip**: €200–300 in cash is plenty. **For tour-paying day** (Kravica entry €10/person, lunch €20-30/person): €40–50/person dedicated cash.

**Yes at sit-down restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, museums, larger souvenir shops, official taxis.** Visa/Mastercard nearly universal; American Express less common. **Cash-only or cash-easier**: family ćevabdžinicas (Tima-Irma, Buregdžinica Rodjeni), market stalls, tips, parking attendants outside main zones, kayak/canoe rental, taxi from rural locations. **Apple Pay / Google Pay**: works at most modern terminals (last 3 years). **Older terminals**: chip+PIN only. **For sat-down meals**: card is usually fine + small cash tip.

**Fixed peg: 1 EUR = 1.95 KM**. This rate has held since 1997. **For practical purposes in tourist areas**: places usually round to 1:2. **At ATMs**: you'll get the actual market rate (1.95) or close to it. **At currency-exchange booths**: 1.93–1.96 typically (small spread). **Don't use airport currency exchange** — typically 1.85–1.90 (10–15% loss). **Best practice**: withdraw KM at any Mostar bank ATM (best rate). **Never pay in EUR if you have KM** — use KM directly to avoid the round-down at the till.

**No — HRK is not accepted in Bosnia.** Croatia switched to EUR on 1 January 2023, so HRK is being phased out even in Croatia. **For travellers crossing from Croatia**: use EUR or KM in Bosnia, not Croatian Kuna. **For old Kuna notes still in your wallet**: exchange at any Croatian bank before crossing; don't try to use them in Bosnia.

**Bank ATMs are best** for foreign-card holders — 1.95 official rate, no extra fees beyond your home-bank's foreign-transaction fee. **Currency exchange booths** (Mjenjačnica) — visible in Old Bazaar; rates are decent but always check the buy/sell spread before committing. Avoid the booths at the bus station which have wider spreads than Old Bazaar. **Hotels** rarely offer good exchange; usually skip. **Don't carry large amounts of cash** — withdraw at ATMs as needed (you can do this multiple times throughout your visit).

**Tipping in Bosnia is appreciated but not mandatory.** **Sit-down restaurants**: 10% is generous, rounding up is standard. **Cash tips preferred over card** (card tips often don't reach the staff who served you). **Counter spots** (Tima-Irma, Buregdžinica Rodjeni): no tip expected; small change OK if you want. **Tour guides**: €5–10/person at end of day is generous. **Drivers** (transfer/private): €10–20/group is the norm. **Hotel staff**: €1–2/bag for porterage. **Don't double-tip** — some restaurants now include a 5% service charge; check the bill first.

(1) **Bringing only USD/GBP** — exchange to EUR or KM first; not accepted directly. (2) **Falling for Dynamic Currency Conversion** at ATMs — costs 5–7% every withdrawal. (3) **Bringing only big notes** — vendors can't break 100 KM for a 3 KM purchase. (4) **Trying to use Croatian Kuna** — not accepted; was phased out anyway. (5) **Exchanging at airport** — worst rates; use Mostar ATMs. (6) **Carrying too much cash** — Bosnia is generally safe but no need to carry €1,000+ at once. (7) **Not asking 'KM ili EUR?'** — vendors will tell you which they prefer; saves the round-down. (8) **Tipping by card** — often doesn't reach staff; cash tip directly.