Kravice waterfalls are most impressive in spring, when curtains of water break over the surface of the lake at the foot of the falls. If you are lucky, you will see so much water that even the lower levels of the surrounding bars, will be flooded. A wonderful, magical water show!

During my last visit to Mostar, one day I simply bought a sightseeing tour. It may not have been the pinnacle of my dreams, as I had already been to Blagaj and Počitelj, which were included in the package. But beautiful places are always worth seeing again. The highlight of the trip that day was supposed to be the spectacle of falling water at the Kravice Waterfalls!

Arriving at the Kravice waterfalls, I was lucky, this year, spring in Bosnia and Herzegovina turned out to be very rainy, and the Trebižat river was carrying an extraordinary amount of water. That’s why the waterfalls looked so spectacular. The photos I had seen before coming here, were just a teaser, a small glimpse of what I finally see with my own eyes.
Kravice Waterfalls – pure beauty of nature.

Looking at the Kravice waterfalls

It starts quite innocently. Walking from the parking lot, you can see a waterfall down below. A white spot against the backdrop of a green, spring forest. Somewhere beneath me, masses of water are falling 25 meters and crashing onto the rocks and the surface of a small lake. A gentle murmur can be heard from afar. But the lower I go, the more interesting and louder it becomes. As I reach the upper level of the river, I see a floodplain. This is the upper level of the waterfalls. Today, the river is overflowing from its natural reservoir; there is simply too much water. From this spot, it would only take me two or three steps to jump into the whirlpool, like in the movie Mission – although the waterfalls there were, of course, immeasurably higher. However, the effect of the jump would probably be disastrous.

I am going down, towards the increasingly distinct rumble that is reaching me. It is sweltering, but the last few meters of descent are pure pleasure. Somewhere halfway down, a gentle breeze suddenly blows. A breeze that carries tiny water droplets created when water splashes from a height of 25 meters, forming a mist. The perfect refreshment on a hot day. I stand for a moment with a few other tourists, enjoying the natural air conditioning. From this spot, the entire theater that nature has decided to set up in this place becomes increasingly visible.

And finally, here it is! Level zero! I am finally at the level of the lake into which the Trebižat River flows. What a place this is, what a spectacle! An amphitheater stretches across 120 meters, showcasing the power of nature! Tons of water crash against the surface of the lake every second, creating a constant roar. A fresh humidity fills the air, awakening life despite the prevailing heat.

The most interesting thing is that in the photos I saw online, there was a path leading a certain distance from the waterfall. You could take close-up pictures from there. Today, the water level is so high that the wooden walkway has been flooded and lies deep underwater. The level is so high that the lower parts of the nearby cafes have also been submerged. Only the tops of some benches stick out of the water. If someone wants to take a closer look at the waterfall, they can certainly do so, but instead of observing from the walkway, they must hire a boat ride from the waiting gentlemen – of course, there are eager participants, but I do not belong to them because I did not bring a raincoat, and believe me, it is very, very wet right next to the waterfalls.

Instead of a getting near the white foam, I choose to visit a nearby pub. I order a beer and, with the amber liquid in hand, I watch the Kravice waterfalls. Sitting on a bar stool next to the railing, I see the bubbles in the beer rising to the top, while on the other side, a cascade of water flows down. A magical moment…

At Kravice waterfall I am still before the season, so there are no people bathing here. Apparently, there are masses of them here during the season, but their absence makes me happy. I like more intimate places, without screaming children, calling families…. Just nature and me. And other enthusiasts who try not to get in each other’s way. It was the same at Kravice waterfalls now. We were all equally fascinated by the place. Only later did it occur to me that, after all, in the photos the waterfall consisted of dozens of small streams flying down. During my visit, there was even a curtain of water falling down. The power of nature.

I came to the waterfalls again a year later, on a trip through the Balkans with my family. This time I didn’t have to rush anymore. But since it was August, there were plenty of tourists. For that, the summer month has the advantage that you could strip down and jump into the water for a swim. The water is very, very cold, and if we feel like it we can, of course, swim up to the waterfall itself. Be careful, though, because whirlpools form at the falls itself, and the current can be strong.
If you don’t feel like swimming yourself, you can take a boat out or simply walk across the footbridge leading across this small lake at the foot of the waterfall.

Getting to Kravice Waterfalls

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation to the waterfalls. We are doomed to either rely on our own car, or to buy a tour in Mostar or another major city where we are. Another option is to drive up by public transportation, to any of the nearby towns (such as Medjugorie) and take a cab there to the Kravica Waterfalls – this maneuver pays off only if you will be a group. Unfortunately, for one person it will be most cost-effective to buy the aforementioned tour (about 20-25 euros)

If you are in Croatia in Dubrovnik, Split or Makarska, you can come to the waterfalls for half a day. It is only about 100km. At the border with Bosnia you are not likely to stand for long, and the waterfalls are very close to the crossing.

Price and opening hours

Ticket prices are fixed and amount to 20 KM or 10 euros dor regular ticket, reduced price for students is10 KM (its 5 euros).
Opening hours depend on the length of the day and in the high season, that is, during our vacations, the gates of the waterfalls open at 7 and close at 10 p.m. I am talking about the months of June-September. In winter it is open until 5pm.
Next to the entrance there is a huge parking lot.

• The price is 3 KM per hour of parking for a passenger car or 6 KM for the whole day.
• Buses -10 KM per hour with the option of purchasing a daily parking ticket of 30 KM,
• Motorcycles – 3 KM per hour