Čapljina between the Neretva, nature and cultural heritage
Accommodation in Čapljina
In Čapljina, the landscape stretches from the Neretva to Hutovo Blato. The Neretva flows for 21.6 km through the area of the Čapljina municipality. Hutovo Blato is located in the municipalities of Čapljina and Stolac and is considered one of the largest wintering grounds for birds in Europe.
Nature and water
At Hutovo Blato, guided tours of the lakes and canals by motorboat are available; canoes are also rented for birdwatching. On the Trebižat, the “Canoe Safari” tour includes opportunities for swimming on selected sections of the river. The “Canoe Safari” tour by Čapljinka follows a 10 km route from Božjak to Struga and is conducted in two-person tourist canoes. Lunch can be ordered for this tour and is served in nature.
The settlements in the municipality also combine different historical periods. Počitelj is a historic urban complex in the Čapljina municipality with preserved medieval and Ottoman fortifications and buildings. Stari most Klepci is a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina; historically, its construction is dated to 1517.
Culture and history
The historic Čapljina I district preserves the layout of the old development, with narrow streets and courtyards. Gabela is a national cultural monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the remains of an old fortress and a stone slab depicting a winged lion. Gradina is the oldest part of Čapljina, dates from the Turkish period and has an Oriental-Herzegovinian character.
Other historic structures include Mogorjelo. It is one of the finest examples of Late Antique architecture in Herzegovina and comprises the remains of a suburban villa rustica from the 4th century. The Cape Tower on the Krupa River, also known as Rt Kula, is a fortification from the Ottoman period in the settlement of Dračevo in the Čapljina municipality and has been declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Štangerova ćuprija is an iron bridge in the village of Sjekose within the Čapljina municipality, designed by Gustave Eiffel. It commemorates the former narrow-gauge railway, which was partially destroyed during the Croatian War and subsequently restored. A historic detail on today’s town square in the centre of Čapljina also refers to this railway: the railway station building once stood there; after it was demolished in 1998, four plane trees were planted to commemorate the former narrow-gauge railway.
Routes and events
A longer route through the landscape is the cycling route from Mostar to Ivanica. It is 134 km long; with the turnoff at Hum to Trebinje, its total length is 152 km. The route runs mainly through rural areas and is suitable for road bikes and mountain bikes.
The events calendar includes the International Summer Carnival in Čapljina. It has been held continuously since 1997 and traditionally takes place every year in August. In 2026, the village of Trebižat hosted the 19th International Klapa Festival “Trebižat”, a traditional cultural and music event. It continues an almost two-decade tradition of bringing klapa ensembles together and preserving klapa singing.
You can find other destinations in this regional selection under Lakševine, Međugorje, Dračevice, Konjic, Višići and Blagaj.
For the higher-level travel overview: Herzegovina-Neretva Canton.
