A beautiful city in Europe feels like stepping into a fairytale and is “different from any other European destination”. Mostar is a small city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country that sits between Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro.

The city is known for its interesting history, cobbled streets, and pretty architecture, with buildings dating back to the 15th century, though most are from the 1800s. It is located in the southern part of the country and sits on the Neretva River, across which its iconic medieval bridge stretches. Mostar’s top-rated tourist attraction is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mostar Old Bridge. This 16th-century spot looks like it was taken straight out of a fairytale and offers great views of the surrounding old town. Following that on the list of visitor favourites, based on TripAdvisor reviews, is the Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992-1995. Other top-rated attractions in Mostar include the Bazar Kujundžiluk market area, the Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque and Jablanica Lake. Sharing their experience of Mostar, one TripAdvisor user said: “Bosnia wasn’t on our list, but we were very pleasantly surprised. There’s the beautiful bridge and plenty of shops and restaurants, churches, etc. to see, along with the obvious results of their turbulent recent history.”

Another shared: “Mostar is a must-visit masterpiece city.” A third wrote: “Mostar is so different from any other European destination.

“We took a day trip from Dubrovnik to see the town and the old bridge. There are lots of unique shops that offer a great selection of gifts. The bridge is a spectacular sight to see, with divers waiting to jump.

“I was blown away by this incredible place,” said another. “Cradled by a ring of mountains, the city nestles in a green valley, with grey stone buildings and white minaret towers piercing the incredibly blue sky.

“The water of the river Neretva is a wonderful shade of blue or green, depending on where you are standing. I don’t think I have been anywhere more picturesque or photogenic.”

There are no direct flights between the UK and Mostar. However, you can fly from a number of UK airports to the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo. From there, it’s a couple of hours on a scenic train to Mostar.

Mostar is also easily accessible from Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia, and can be easily visited during a stay in one of these popular coastal cities.