'Beautiful' European city that leaves tourists 'pleasantly surprised'

Tourists have raved about an often overlooked European city break that some say left them "pleasantly surprised". Some of the most popular city breaks for British tourists include Paris, Prague and Madrid, to name a few. However, there are plenty of underrated cities dotted around the continent that many Brits have never considered travelling to. One of them is located in the Balkan region of the continent and is home to fascinating history, beautiful architecture and stunning nature.

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 and pretty architecture, and tourists have raved about it after visiting. It is located in the southern part of the country and sits on the Neretva River, across which its iconic medieval bridge stretches. For culture vultures, history buffs, and foodies, there is plenty to experience in Mostar.

Mostar's top-rated tourist attraction is Mostar Old Bridge. This 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 reviews on TripAdvisor, is the Museum of War and Genocide Victims 1992-1995. This place teaches visitors about the 1992-1995 war, including the concentration camps, mass graves and crimes against children. Albeit tough to take in at times, tourists have described it as "impactful" and "essential".

Other top-rated attractions in Mostar include the Bazar Kujundiluk market area, the Koski-Mehmed Pasha Mosque and Jablanicas Lake.

Sharing their experience of Mostar, one TripAdvisor user said: "During our visit to Dubrovnik, we decided to take a day trip to Mostar at the suggestion of our travel agent. 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 city. We stayed two nights in the Shangri La and totally loved it. We drove in from Dubrovnik and left for Split, Croatia. Easy drive."

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.