Waterfalls in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina's waterfalls come out of limestone karst, where rivers deposit tufa, a soft calcium rock that builds natural dams and ledges over time. Kravica, on the Trebizat River near Ljubuski in Herzegovina, spreads around a wide amphitheatre about 25 metres high, with a pool some 120 metres across at its base that has long been a summer swimming spot for families from Mostar, 40 kilometres away. The Pliva waterfall in Jajce, in central Bosnia, drops about 22 metres where the Pliva meets the Vrbas, directly below the walls of the medieval royal town. It stood closer to 30 metres before flooding and an earthquake during the 1990s war lowered it; the falls and old town are now on UNESCO's tentative list.

When to go

Flow is strongest in spring, roughly April to June, when snowmelt and rain fill the rivers and Herzegovina's dry hills briefly turn green. By July and August Kravica's curtain thins, though the warm water and long days suit swimming. Autumn rains from October restore volume at both falls, and Jajce, being in the middle of town, is easy to visit in any month.

Getting around

Kravica is an easy half-day trip from Mostar by car or organised tour, often combined with Blagaj and Pocitelj; buses reach Ljubuski but not the falls themselves. Jajce lies on the main road between Sarajevo and Banja Luka, about three hours from Sarajevo by bus and less from Banja Luka, and the waterfall viewpoint is a short walk from the old town. Sarajevo and Split airports are the usual gateways.

Entry requirements

Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the EU or the Schengen area; US, Canadian, UK and EU citizens enter visa-free for up to 90 days within six months, and EU citizens can use a national ID card. Visitors must be registered with the police within 48 hours of arrival; hotels, hostels and campsites do this for you.

Entry rules checked September 2026. They change without much notice — confirm with the official government source before you travel.