People don’t know much about Kosovo, let alone visit Kosovo.
In fact, one of the most commonly Googled things about it is “where is Kosovo?” (hint: it’s in Europe).
And those that do know about the country probably have no idea about all the great things there are to do in Kosovo as a tourist.
Maybe they remember the 1998-99 civil war, or perhaps the continued conflict between Serbia and Kosovo about its status as a country.
Today, the dust has settled, and while resentments can still run high, Kosovo is not dangerous. But it’s much more than that.
Kosovo is a gem of a country… and yes, I consider Kosovo a country, though I acknowledge that’s not a universally shared belief.
You should be aware that many countries in the world, particularly Serbia but also Russia and other countries within the Balkans, view it as a part of Serbia has that seceded illegally.
However, I stand behind Kosovo’s right to independence.
As such, I have decided that comments negating its existence as a country will not be published, as it’s counterproductive to what I’m trying to do.
My goal here is to show that Kosovo is not a dangerous, conflict-riddled place, but rather an emerging gem for tourist.
While I won’t deny there are problems that still need to be worked out, these involve communities within Kosovo and Serbia — not tourists.
As a tourist, you’ll have no problems if you visit Kosovo today.
Kosovo’s primary language is Albanian due to the fact that most people from Kosovo are ethnically Albanian.
There is a large Serb ethnic minority, who speak Serbian as their first language.
That said, English is pretty widely spoken by the younger population (and half the country is under 25!). I had no trouble being understood in my eight days traveling Kosovo.
So without further ado, enjoy this quick Kosovo travel guide – and feel free to ask me any questions in the comments.
21 Top Things to Do in Kosovo: Prishtina & Beyond
For the few travelers who do visit Kosovo, there’s a tendency to visit Kosovo’s capital, Pristina (also written Prishtina in Albanian language – I’ve used the two interchangeably here) and then move on, skipping other key Kosovo destinations like Prizren and Peja.
I urge you to look beyond. Prishtina is fun and modern, and though I thought I’d be there only two nights, I ended up having so much fun that I extended my stay to four.
But I also loved the beautiful Ottoman architecture of Prizren and the stunning mountain scenery of Peja.
There are so many things to do in Kosovo, it’s hard to know where to start, but here are some of the best Kosovo travel destinations and experiences you should add to your bucket list!
Visit one of the country’s beautiful mosques.
Kosovo is a majority Muslim country, although you should note that it is a very secular society.
While you will see some women wearing hijab and dressing modestly, most women prefer to dress in Western styles of clothing.
Kosovo has many lovely mosques that are very welcoming to outsiders.
In fact, in Kosovo’s capital, Prishtina, a group of four men beckoned us towards the mosque to visit – and then insisted on us taking photos of them afterwards!
Pay homage to its newness at the Newborn monument.
Kosovo only officially gained its independence in 2008, making it the youngest country in Europe.
The Newborn monument in downtown Prishtina was created in honor of that moment.
Every year on the country’s anniversary, they repaint it in a different style representing that year’s theme.
When I visited in 2016, the monument was painted blue with clouds and barbed wire, which is said to symbolize its isolation within Europe due to the continued conflict with Serbia.
It’s an interesting, important Kosovo tourist attraction.
Air high five Bill Clinton’s enormous hands.
OK, you can’t really high five Bill, as the monument is quite huge, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
Kosovo feels a kinship towards Bill Clinton, who came to their aid and rallied NATO to defend them in 1999.
He is memorialized in downtown Prishtina, just a short walk from the Newborn monument, another very famous Kosovo attraction.
You can also visit the nearby women’s clothing story called – what else? – Hillary, where I’m certain you can buy a great pantsuit.
Absorb the coffee culture.
All over the Balkans, coffee culture is huge! People from Kosovo often sit for an hour over a single espresso or cappuccino, chatting with friends.
One thing I loved witnessing is how older people maintain strong connections and friendships.
All over my time visiting Kosovo – especially in Prizren – I saw older men in their 60s and 70s drinking coffee in groups of three or four.
The older generation there has such a great sense of camaraderie and connection that I think we lack in North America and Western Europe.
You can get everything from Turkish-style coffee (as Kosovo was part of the Ottoman empire for several centuries) to more modern third wave-style coffee at hip cafés.
Check out the cafes and bars on the sidestreets of Prishtina.
Raki Street is one of the small streets just to the right of Nene Tereze Boulevard.
There, you’ll find better cafes and bars than on the main street, which is where lots of locals go to hang. This was one of my favorite things to do in Kosovo!
A few of my favorite cafes in Prishtina are Soma Book Station and Half & Half.
There’s also Prince Coffee, which is so omnipresent that it’s basically the Starbucks of Kosovo.
In addition to a wide variety of espresso drinks and teas, they also offer the most epic dessert list of all time.
Top billing? Macarons which can be had for only 60 cents apiece!
Of all the things to do in Kosovo, this may be the most delicious.
Check out the hostel scene.
I traveled solo on my first visit to Kosovo back in 2016, when not many backpackers were traveling there.
Since I was alone that first time, I opted to stay in hostels so I could meet other travelers.
And good thing, too — I met so many amazing travelers who I really connected with.
In Prishtina, some of the best-rated hostels include Prishtina Backpackers, Center House Prishtina, and ODA Hostel.
In Prizren and Peja, you’ll be a little less spoiled for choice.
For Prizren, I recommend Ura Hostel.
For Peja, I recommend Sky Hostel in the city and Hostel Panorama if you want to be out in the countryside near great trails.
Copy the locals and take a nightly xhiro.
Kosovo isn’t exactly known for its tourist spots or “top 10s”, so some of the best things to do in Kosovo is just to people-watch and experience the culture the way the locals do.
The xhiro, confusingly pronounced the same way some people say “gyro”, is the Albanian word for the nightly stroll that Albanian and Kosovar people take.
Typically, the stroll leads through the main pedestrian plaza of whatever town or city in Kosovo you happen to be in.
It’s great to stroll there or grab a seat at a cafe and people watch.
Visit one of the world’s “ugliest buildings”.
The poor National Library of Kosovo gets quite a lot of flak.
It’s certainly not pretty, but I think it’s quite interesting, and maybe not worthy of being on the shortlist for world’s ugliest building.
However, it’s definitely one of the quirkiest points of interest in Kosovo!
Chat with the locals
The locals in Kosovo are so incredibly friendly, and they love to talk with outsiders.
Most Kosovars are used to Peace Corps volunteers and people from the UN or NGOs living or working in their countries, but they’re a bit perplexed by Kosovo tourism since it’s a relatively recent phenomenon.
Don’t be surprised if people ask you “why are you here?” when visiting Kosovo.
They don’t mean it in an aggressive or foreboding way; they are genuinely curious why you have chosen to travel to Kosovo!
Visit the fortress in Prizren.
Prizren is definitely one of the most picturesque places to visit in Kosovo, with its gorgeous Ottoman-influenced architecture.
For the best view, you’ve got to make your way up to the fortress (kalaja) in Prizren, which is free to enter.
You’ll enjoy stunning views of red-tiled roofs, minarets, and the Bistrica River that runs through the city.
It’s definitely one of the best tourist attractions in Kosovo’s charming second city!
Experience Prishtina’s nightlife.
I didn’t think Prishtina would be as fun as it was, but it was a blast. There’s a lot of fun things to do in Prishtina going on all the time, a lot of it free!
I got to see a free ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet at the National Theatre, a blues show at Soma (the classiest bar in Kosovo), and a hip hop night at Dit e Nat (the best brunch place in Kosovo).
There are also plenty of clubs in Prishtina if that’s your scene.
However, Kosovo nightlife is pretty much limited to Prishtina – you won’t find that much in the way of bars or clubs in other smaller cities.
Try rakia, the favorite liquor of the Balkans.
Rakia (or rakija) is a way of life in the Balkans and a pretty much unavoidable part of Kosovo travel.
Some hardcore Kosovar people even have it in the morning, claiming it kills the bacteria in your stomach.
While I certainly believe that (as certain raki have more in common with nail polish remover than any of their fruity origins), I don’t think I’ll be having any rakia with my toast anytime soon.
That said, into the night, rakia is the drink of choice.
I tried a delicious homemade pear rakia at Dit E Nat that was actually quite pleasant to sip (note that you sip, not shoot, rakia!)
Visit a Serbian Orthodox Church.
The Serbian Orthodox churches in Kosovo are beautiful and historic.
Unfortunately, some Albanian extremists have tried to vandalize or even destroy these churches due to the conflict.
As a result, NATO and local police forces guard many of the churches.
At the Peć Patriarchate in Peja (the Albanian word for the town, which is also called Peć in Serbian language), you have to register your passport with the police to be able to enter.
It may seem extreme, but it’s worth it to see the incredible beauty of the monastery – a true Kovoso must-see.
Of all the things I saw in my week visiting the country, I’d say that hands down the Peć Patriarchate is one of the best places to visit in Kosovo.
Eat at a qebabtore.
Like the rest of the Balkans, Kosovars love their meat, and they love it grilled.
My favorite qebabtore (barbecue restaurant, similar to a rostilj in the rest of the Balkans) was in Prizren, at a restaurant called Alhambra.
There, you can get an epically large mixed meat plate for a mere 6 euros – plenty for two.
Definitely one of the best things to do in Kosovo…. as long as you’re not a vegetarian.
Or indulge in surprisingly good Asian food.
If you’ve been traveling the Balkans as long as I have been, you’re probably growing tired of grilled meat. Luckily Prishtina has some delicious international cuisines!
There is a Thai restaurant which, pulling no punches, is simply called Thai Restaurant which serves surprisingly legit curries (the noodles dishes, less so).
Just across the street, on the second floor of a shopping center, Himalayan Gorka churns out some fantastic Nepali momos, Himalayan curries, and Indian favorites like butter chicken.
All are a little pricier than local Kosovo food, but at under 10 euros a head including drinks, in the throes of serious grilled meat overload, it was worth it.
Go hiking in Peja’s Rugova Canyon.
Give it time and Peja will become the adventure hotspot of Kosovo’s tourism sector.
The nearby Rugova Canyon is gorge-ous (pardon the pun) and there’s plenty of fun adventures to be had there.
Admire the stunning Drin Blanc waterfall, explore the magical “Sleeping Beauty” caves, and finish off with a visit to the above-mentioned Serbian church in Peja.
It can be a bit of a hassle to get to Rugova Canyon with public transportation, so I recommend taking a tour from Prishtina.
Squeal at the bear sanctuary.
All over the Balkans, bears were kept in cages as entertainment at restaurants.
Luckily this practice is now illegal and falling out of favor, and this sanctuary is providing homes in a natural environment to many rescued bears from the region.
If you’re an animal lover, this is a definite must see in Kosovo. They have tons of space to roam free,high quality food, and they enjoy taking only-slightly-menacing walks around the perimeter with visitors.
It’s not far from Pristina and it’s one of the more unique places to visit in Kosovo!
See the rural countryside.
The modern city of Prishtina turns into rural rolling hills quite quickly.
You’ll see farmers herding goats and sheep and cows hanging out on abandoned fortresses, such as Novo Brdo.
It’s a fascinating contrast and an insight into the fact that Kosovo is a country still modernizing at its own pace.
Visit the anthropology museum in Prishtina
This museum is free to all and includes a personal guided tour, often by the curator himself!
It’s a great insight into Albanian Kosovars traditional way of life.
You get to see what traditional homes looked like, plus you can see wedding dresses, traditional jewelry, and many other fascinating things! A must if you visit Kosovo.
Shop at a traditional bazaar
Need something? Anything? The bazaar will probably have your back.
You can buy produce on the cheap, or if you need a deck of cards, hair dryer, iron, whatever, you can probably get that there too!
It’s a delightfully ragtag shopping experience.
Admire Kosovo’s mountains
Kosovo’s terrain is mountainous and lovely, with tons of potential for hiking.
Unfortunately, because Kosovo tourism infrastructure is just beginning, it can be a bit difficult to plan hiking trips.
There are sometimes buses from Peja bringing you to Rugova Canyon, but they don’t always run.
You may be left paying for a taxi or having to do an organized tour properly.
Be aware that there are still unexploded land mines throughout Kosovo (as with some other parts of the Balkans, like Bosnia, where there was armed conflict) so it’s inadvisable to hike off the path.
This is also why a guide is a good idea!
| ✈️ Best Travel Insurance: SafetyWing I use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance for all my trips as it is both travel insurance (coverage for trip delays, cancellations, interruptions) and travel medical insurance (coverage for things like accidents, illnesses including Covid, etc.) Plus, coverage is really affordable — for me, it costs roughly $11 USD for a week of coverage outside of the U.S., with a policy max of $250,000 after a deductible of $250. Not bad! ➜ Check SafetyWing for a quote here |
Where to Stay in Kosovo
Prishtina: For a luxury option, check out Swiss Diamond Prishtina.
Prizren: For a mid-range option, try Hotel Kacinari
Peja: For a mid-range/luxury option, check out Hotel Dukagjini — bonus that their restaurant is amazing and serves some of the best food in Peja!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.