Travel Guide Neum

Neum/Неум (pronounced "neoum") has about 3,500 inhabitants, 98% of whom are Bosnian-Croats. It is the capital of the municipality of Neum (population 4,800), within the Herzegovina-Neretva canton. The town is 38 km southwest of Stolac(via Hutovo), 48 km southwest of Čapljina(via Hutovo), 65 km northwest of Dubrovnik (Croatia). Bus connections: 3/day to Stolac, 2/day to Mostar(via Stolac), 2/day to Čapljina, 1/day to Sarajevo(via Stolac and Mostar), 2/day to Dubrovnik and Split.Neum is the only seaside resort in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And for good reason: it is the only access to the sea of the country. A strange situation that dates back to 1699 (see "A maritime enclave in Croatia" below). As a result, real estate promoters have been pleased, since we find here the highest concentration of hotels in all of Bosnia-Herzegovina. This represents more than 20,000 beds in unattractive buildings, one on top of the other, wedged between steep hills and five small beaches made of pebbles, rocks, embankments and concrete pontoons. Needless to say, in the summer, it is crowded. What people come here for is cheap beachwear: the prices are about 20% lower than in the neighboring towns of Dalmatia. To get some fresh air, you can venture to the unspoiled Klek peninsula or to the hinterland, where there is a ski resort (Babin Do, 7 km to the northeast) and the super farm Agroturizam Matuško.