The small seaside town of Neum is situated 29 miles northwest of Dubrovnik, 31 miles south of Mostar, and 76 miles southwest of Sarajevo, the country’s capital.
It has a pretty interesting past. The town was first mentioned in the 4th century under the name “Neuense.”
Like many places, it has changed hands several times. Until 1718, it was part of the Republic of Dubrovnik. Then, in 1878, Neum and the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina became part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, until the end of the First World War in 1918. At that time, it became part of Yugoslavia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina finally became an independent country in 1992.
The town’s first resorts and hotels began popping up In the second half of the 20th century, and it was at this time that Neum started to become a tourist destination. It’s still a pretty small community—as of 2022, the Neum municipality was estimated to have had a population of just 4,358 inhabitants.
The best time to visit is summer, but it is fairly temperate year-round: the average sea surface temperature ranges from around 55°F in January up to 89°F in July and August.
Some Popular Things to Do in Neum:
1. Neum Beach
Neum has the only beach on the Bosnia and Herzegovina coastline, making it the country’s only access to the Adriatic Sea. Not surprisingly, its beach is its main attraction.
2. Neum Promenade
Strolling the promenade is a popular pastime in Neum. Locals and visitors alike enjoy walking along the waterfront and stopping at local restaurants for drinks or a bite to eat.
3. Muzej i Galerija Neum (Neum Museum)
This museum is small but contains local art and artifacts that provide a perspective into the past and current Neum.
As of this writing, it is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. It’s located at Gospe od Zdravlja 1.
4. Hutovo Blato Nature Park
About an hour’s drive away, Hutovo Blato is a great site for bird watching. (It is, in fact, one of the largest bird wintering grounds in Europe.) It is quite large, encompassing an area of about 20,000 acres of wetlands.
One can take a canoe or tour boat down its waterways to view the wildlife there. As of this writing, it is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
5. Cultural Festivals
From time to time, Neum is home to various cultural festivals. These occur mainly in summer.
6. Day Trip to Ston
Ston is easily reachable from Neum—only about a 20-minute drive. We visited Ston while we were in Croatia and found it quite interesting.
The walls are Europe’s largest remaining fortification system and the world’s second largest after the Great Wall of China.
Some Snapshots of Our Time in Neum:
We spent most of our time at the beach, which is the main activity at this little slice of the sea.
Where We Ate
We enjoyed dining at Restoran Laguna. The employees were gracious, and we were encouraged to stay as long as we wanted. It was laid-back and beautiful.
Final Thoughts
Neum is a lovely little seaside town that can serve as a launching point for a myriad of day trips. Since it is so small, there’s not a lot to do in the town itself, but for anyone seeking a quiet beach getaway, it could provide the perfect respite.
Originally visited in 2019; content refreshed in January 2026.
You can see a map of Neum here.
