Time needed 60 to 90 minutes
Best light late afternoon
Crowds peak 11:00 to 14:00
Toilets near the lower gate cafés
Entry small fee for tower when staffed
Footwear shoes with grip
Shade limited on steps
Pronunciation: Počitelj [PO-chee-tell] • Neretva [neh-REHT-vah]
Hill above the Neretva, south of Mostar, with lanes rising from the river road to the tower
Late afternoon for warm light on stone and soft tone on the river; early morning is cool and quiet
Free to walk the lanes; a small fee may apply for the tower or a staffed interior
Allow 60 to 90 minutes for the climb, the tower view, and a short lane loop
Public buses pass on the main road; tours and taxis from Mostar take 25 to 35 minutes. Parking sits below the town; the approach is on foot up stone lanes and steps.
Počitelj is a compact hill town of pale stone, terraced houses, a mosque and clock tower, and a fortress above the river. Lanes step up to the keep, fig trees lean over walls, and the arch of a small bridge frames the lower path. It is a short, rewarding climb with broad views over the Neretva and quiet corners for a pause in shade. The best visits unfold slowly: a lane, a terrace, a tower, and a look back down to the river.
Time your visit for late afternoon when colour warms and tour groups thin. Early morning is also calm. Midday is busiest in summer. Surfaces are uneven and steps are steep in places; shoes with grip help and a hat is useful on exposed sections. Treat the town gently. Keep to paths, do not climb parapets, and dress modestly if you enter the mosque. Photography is straightforward from lanes and terraces; for the widest river frame, stand below the tower and look across to the bend. Počitelj pairs naturally with Blagaj Tekija by the spring or with Kravica for a late swim in season. Cafés near the lower gate make a sensible last stop for water or tea before you drive on.
Enter by the lower gate, take the lane that climbs behind the mosque to reach the tower first, then descend via the clock-tower path. You will meet most visitors on your way down.
Carry a small note for the tower if staffed, then step one terrace below for the cleanest river line. Late light puts the wall in warm tone and soft shade underfoot.
Now: Tower terrace for the river bend and stone roofs Next: Blagaj Tekija at the Buna spring for a calm hour Nearby: Kravica Waterfalls for a late swim in marked zones
Lanes are stepped and uneven with shallow risers and worn stone. Shade is limited on upper sections. Carry water, wear shoes with grip, and keep hats secure on breezy terraces. The mosque courtyard is a quiet pause; dress modestly if you step inside. Drones are restricted along the river corridor. Cafés at the lower gate offer drinks and simple plates.
From the tower terrace, face downstream for the classic bend in the Neretva with stone roofs below. On the clock-tower path, frame the keep and walls against the slope. Near the small bridge at the lower gate, step back to include the lane arch, a minaret, and the first flight of steps. Late afternoon gives warm edges on stone and even tone across the town.
The hill position explains the settlement: height for defence, river for movement, and terraces for houses. Reading the plan from the tower and then walking back through lanes makes the town’s shape and rhythm clear.
A brief last climb puts you on the terrace with the widest river view. Keep well inside the parapet and use the inner ledge for a stable stance.
From here you see roofs stepping down to the river. The line of the keep sits cleanly above the terraces.
A cool pause midway. Dress modestly if you enter; shoes off at the door. The courtyard is a good place to reset before the last steps.
A small arch frames the first flight. In low light, water colour sits soft under the span.
Look for fig leaves over stone, carved lintels, and the polish of many feet on the shallow treads.
Hill-town climb and riverside house by the spring; hotel pick up available
Emerald pools in season and a sunset tower view; hotel pick up available
Bridge viewpoints and a short fortress loop; hotel pick up available
It is short but stepped and uneven. Most visitors manage it in trainers with grip at a steady pace.
Sixty to ninety minutes for the lanes, tower view, and a short loop. Add time for tea or for pairing with Blagaj or Kravica.
Lanes are free; a small fee may be charged for the tower or a staffed interior. Carry some cash.
Yes, with supervision. Steps are shallow but slick when wet; keep children close near parapets.
Blagaj Tekija for a riverside hour, Kravica for a late swim in season, or Mostar for an old-town evening.
