Destinations · 6 min read
Day Trips from Capljina — Makarska, Neum, Ploče Compared
Day trips from Capljina: Makarska beach (1h), Neum coast (40 min), Ploče port (45 min), plus Mostar, Pocitelj, Mogorjelo, Hutovo Blato.
Quick answer
Day trips from Capljina: Makarska beach (1h), Neum coast (40 min), Ploče port (45 min), plus Mostar, Pocitelj, Mogorjelo, Hutovo Blato.
If you’re staying in Capljina as a base or stopping for a few days, you have access to a wider range of day trips than from Mostar — because Capljina sits closer to the Adriatic coast. Within 1 hour you can be on a Croatian beach.
This guide covers all worthwhile day trips, organized by direction.
Quick comparison
| Destination | Distance | Time | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mostar | 35 km | 30 min | UNESCO Old Bridge + Old Town |
| Pocitelj | 10 km | 10 min | Free Ottoman fortress village |
| Mogorjelo | 3 km | 5 min | Roman villa ruins |
| Hutovo Blato | 15 km | 20 min | Bird-watching wetlands |
| Stolac & Radimlja | 30 km | 40 min | UNESCO stećci, Ottoman town |
| Kravica Waterfall | 25 km | 30 min | Iconic waterfall |
| Neum (Bosnia coast) | 40 km | 40 min | Bosnia’s only beach |
| Makarska (Croatia) | 60 km | 1 hour | Adriatic resort, sandy beach |
| Ploče (Croatia) | 45 km | 45 min | Port town, Mljet ferry |
| Dubrovnik (Croatia) | 110 km | 1.5 hours | UNESCO walled city |
| Trebinje | 90 km | 1.5 hours | Wine, Trebišnjica river |
North: Mostar (the obvious one)
35 km, 30 minutes. Most travelers based in Capljina come for Mostar specifically.
What to do
- Stari Most bridge (UNESCO since 2005)
- Old Town & bazaar for shopping, lunch, coffee
- Bridge divers in summer (June–September)
- See our Mostar Travel Guide
Transport
- Bus: hourly, €4, 40 min
- Train: 4 daily, €5, 35 min
- Drive: 30 min via M17
- See Capljina to Mostar guide
North: Pocitelj + Mogorjelo + Hutovo Blato cluster
These three sites are within 30 minutes of Capljina and combine into a single 6-hour day perfectly.
Itinerary
- 9 AM: Pocitelj fortress + village (90 min)
- 11 AM: Mogorjelo Roman villa (1 hour)
- Noon: Lunch at Mogorjelo restaurant
- 1:30 PM: Hutovo Blato boat safari + walk (2 hours)
- 4 PM: back to Capljina
Detail guides
This is the best day trip from Capljina if you only have one day to invest in the local region.
South: Adriatic coast options
Neum (Bosnia’s only seaside)
40 minutes, 40 km. The only Bosnian coastal town. 20 km of Adriatic coast at Neum, with a small pebble beach, hotel boardwalk, and seafood restaurants.
Why go: Bosnia’s only sea access, novelty value, cheaper than Croatia Why skip: Pretty average compared to nearby Croatian beaches See: Mostar to Neum guide — same details apply from Capljina
Makarska (Croatian Riviera)
1 hour, 60 km. Mid-sized resort town on the Croatian coast. Sandy beach (rare for Croatia — most are pebble), promenade, restaurants, water sports.
Why go: Best beach within an hour Watch out: Crowded July–August, parking nightmare Border: Cross at Doljani (5–15 min, EU passport)
Ploče (port town)
45 minutes, 50 km. Working Croatian port at the mouth of the Neretva. Less touristy, better lunch options than Neum, ferry to Mljet island (national park, 90 min ferry).
Why go: Mljet ferry connection, authentic working port atmosphere Why skip: Limited beach, more about transit
Dubrovnik (the famous one)
1.5 hours, 110 km. UNESCO walled city, Game of Thrones filming location. Single border crossing at Doljani.
Why go: Genuinely spectacular, even with the crowds Watch out: Cruise ship days are misery (check schedule), expensive Tip: Visit Dubrovnik old town before 11 AM or after 17:00
East: Trebinje + wine country
1.5 hours, 90 km. Bosnia’s southernmost major town. Less famous than Mostar but charming — Old Town walk, Tvrdoš Monastery, Vjetrenica Cave nearby, wine vineyards along the Trebišnjica river.
Why go: Wine, fewer tourists than coast, Vjetrenica Cave is fascinating Watch out: Limited public transport from Capljina — best with rental car or private transfer
See our Trebizat vs Trebišnjica river guide which covers the Trebinje region.
West: Stolac + Radimlja stećci
30 km, 40 min east. UNESCO stećci necropolis at Radimlja + Ottoman town of Stolac. See Stolac & Radimlja guide.
Combined multi-stop days
The smart play with Capljina as a base is combining short trips:
Best 1-day combos
- Pocitelj + Mogorjelo + Hutovo Blato (above)
- Stolac + Radimlja + Hutovo Blato (eastern day)
- Mostar half-day + Pocitelj (compact)
- Neum beach + Pocitelj sunset (coast + culture)
Best 2-day plans
- Day 1: Mostar + return via Pocitelj/Kravica
- Day 2: Coast (Neum or Makarska) or Trebinje wine country
How to actually do it
Self-drive (most flexible)
Rent a car in Capljina (€30–50/day). All destinations above are easy drives.
Public transport (limited)
- Mostar, Pocitelj, Stolac: easy by bus
- Coast destinations (Neum, Makarska, Ploče): 1–2 daily buses, restrictive
Private transfer (premium)
We run private transfers from Mostar that can pick you up in Capljina and do any combined day trip — Mostar + Pocitelj, coast day, Trebinje wine, Stolac/Radimlja, etc. Starting at €60/vehicle for short routes; longer multi-stop days scale by distance.
WhatsApp +387 61 209 388 for quote.
Tour from Mostar
For Kravica + Pocitelj + Blagaj on a single day, our Kravica day tour from Mostar can pick up at Capljina (slight detour) — €50 per person, full day.
Practical tips
- Border crossings (to Croatia): EU passport = 5–15 min. Bring documents always.
- Currency: EUR widely accepted in tourist coastal stops; KM in BiH; pay attention to exchange
- Croatian SIMs don’t work in Bosnia (and vice versa) — get an international plan or buy a local SIM
- Phone signal strong throughout, except in Hutovo Blato wetland and Vjetrenica Cave
- Sundays in Croatia: shops mostly closed, restaurants open
Related reading
- Capljina Travel Guide — base info
- Capljina to Mostar — daily trip
- Pocitelj Guide — top day trip
- Mogorjelo Guide — Roman villa
- Hutovo Blato — wetland
- Stolac & Radimlja — eastern day
- Mostar to Neum — coastal logistics
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Capljina a good base for day trips?
Yes if you want quiet — Capljina is 30 minutes south of Mostar's tourist crowds with similar access to Pocitelj, Mogorjelo, Hutovo Blato, and 40 min to Neum on the Adriatic. Most travelers still pick Mostar as base.
How long is Capljina to Makarska?
1 hour by car (60 km via Pelješac route). Cross border at Doljani (5–15 min). Bus from Capljina daily, €15-20. Beach day feasible — leave 8 AM, back by 8 PM.
What's the closest beach to Capljina?
Neum (Bosnia's only beach) is 40 minutes by car. Makarska Riviera (Croatia) is 1 hour. Both are crowded July-August. May and September are quietest.
Can I do a Croatia day trip without a car from Capljina?
Yes — daily buses from Capljina to Makarska, Ploče, Neum. Schedule limited (1-2 daily). Easier with rental car or our [private transfer from Mostar](/private-transfers/) which can pick up in Capljina.
