21 Awesome Things to Do in Kosovo, Europe’s Newest Country
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As such, I have decided that comments negating its existence as a country will not be published, as it’s counterproductive to what I’m trying to do.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! âžœ 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, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
That last photo is ridiculously beautiful. Would love to make it here the next time I am in the Balkans!
Also, I appreciate your Trump trolling. 😀
Oh man, it is so worth it! I more than doubled the time I planned to spend there. I’d love to go back and hike the mountains properly next trip.
And thank you! I really tried 🙂
Hi Allison, first of all thank you for visiting Kosova. Suggestion for you, when you visit the mountains of Kosova, venture into Plava and Gucia – the Montenegro side but still Albanian lands. If u like hiking and breath taking scenery the cursed mountains is the place to visit. Hope to see you there!!!!
Added to my neverending list – thank you!
I hadn’t given much thought to the place. I suppose its just hearing it on the news during the troubles that makes you put it on a back burner.
It looks fantastic and I would certainly give it a wee explore once my hubby retires. Kosovo has much in common with Scotland , we are fighting to regain independence , they are independent but fighting for recognition.
I definitely think so… whenever I told people I had come from Kosovo, one of the first questions would be about safety. It’s a small country and you can see quite a bit of it in a week, and now that there are low budget flights to Prishtina you can even just go for a little weekend visit 🙂 I hope you do go and enjoy!
Interesting point about the parallels! I had never thought about it this way. I’ll be interested in watching to see what happens with Scotland’s independence in the future post-Brexit.
You had your independence vote. The voting age was even lowered from 18 to 16 specifically for the independence vote and you still didn’t get enough votes for independence. The majority voted to remain part of the UK. You can’t keep voting just because you don’t like the result.
Nice blog by the way.
I’d argue frequent votes are healthy for a society… especially when something as game-changing as Brexit happens.
Thanks for the tips! I’m headed to Prishtina from Skopje today, and looking forward to checking a lot of these things out.
I’m so glad you found it helpful!! I hope you enjoy Prishtina and do try to visit Prizren or Peja if you get a chance – they’re both stunning. Enjoy your trip! 🙂
Nice article! do you think it is absolutely safe for a female solo traveller to explore Kosovo?
Yes, definitely. Nothing is ever 100%, of course, but I walked alone many times including at night and never felt unsafe. Take normal precautions and you should be fine.
Kosovo is a safe place.. this is the first time that I’ve seen someone argue about Kosovo’s safety.
Lots of people have a bad image of Kosovo due to the wars there many years ago. Same with a lot of places in the Balkans. I agree that it’s safe but it’s also true that the perception is not positive in much of the world, because much of the world is very behind the times 😛
I was undecided to visit Kosovo until I read your article. Thanks and kudos!
That’s so great to hear, I hope you go soon! <3
Great Blog. Thanks, as a great introduction to Kosovo.
So glad you enjoyed! Hope you visit soon.
Hi Allison, about how long do you think it would take to take a drive up through the Rugova canyon and back? I am only going to be there in Peja for an afternoon and am just wondering if I will have time and how best to do it (hire a driver?) Thanks for any info you can provide 🙂
Hi Nicole, the best way to do it would be to hire a taxi for the day. It’s about an hour or so each way, and buses are infrequent. Hope you enjoy!
Awesome information Nice article.
Really quick tips and tricks to enjoy the trip to Kosovo thanks specially Pristina
I’m so glad to have come across this at 11:30 pm! I’m moving to Kosovo in less than 3 months for a teaching job and there’s not much information on what to do in Kosovo! I’m super excited (even more so now) to take in the country and what it has to offer! Do you have any knowledge about traveling from Kosovo to Serbia? I hear different things about it (the hoops one must jump through) since there is tension. Thanks for posting this!!!
Hi Anjeline! I’m so glad you came across this too!! You will really love Kosovo. I’m imagining you’re moving to Prishtina? It’s not the most beautiful of cities, I’ll admit, but it’s SOOOO much fun – I’ve considered getting an apartment there for a month and calling it home base, that’s how much I liked it!
So, as far as I know, you can travel from Serbia into Kosovo no problem, but you can only travel into Kosovo from Serbia if you are an EU resident and use your national ID to cross… Since I had to use my passport, I was told I couldn’t cross from Kosovo into Serbia. The reason for this is that Serbia considers Kosovo part of Serbia, so when you try to cross the Kosovo-Serbia border they view you as having already “entered” Serbia but have no stamp. I personally did not try to cross the Kosovo-Serbia border. I entered via Albania and left via Montenegro. It’s very common to travel to Serbia via Skopje as Prishtina is only 2 hours away from Skopje 🙂 Of course, this is all totally subject to change! This was true one year ago 🙂
I’m going there tomorrow so hopefully I have enough time to get mingling with the locals (although some tend to give a weird eye due to my color) ha ha
People in Kosovo are very friendly and I’m sure you’ll find it easy to mingle with locals especially as you visually stand out. I was traveling in Kosovo with a black female friend and while she did get a lot of looks (and I might add a few flirtacious/bordering on inappropriate comments) we felt very welcome and safe there 🙂
Like Anjeline, we’ll be moving to Pristina in the not-too-distant future. The photo of the fresh produce at the market has me over-the-moon with happiness! (Where we currently live, the produce is usually looks dejected and overpriced.)
Thanks for sharing your experiences — just adding to the excitement!
Oh that’s so exciting to hear! I was similarly excited by the fresh produce — you may think that in places like Albania/Kosovo the produce would be lacking in quality, but the truth is, it is so much more organic and fresh than in the US supermarkets I was used to in inner city Brooklyn. Best of luck with the move and hopefully you’ll love Prishtina as much as I did! <3
I’m planning a trip by self to Pristine. I was already excited about it but now super excited. And now I have great suggestions to start with! I’ve never traveled out of the country but Kosovo and Poland are my top goals! Thanks for this.
Those are both beautiful countries but Kosovo is one of my personal favorites 🙂 Feel free to reach out if you have any questions I can help you with as you prepare for your trip!
Great list; you hit all of my favorites! I spent about a month in Kosovo in 2016. It was easily one of the most interesting countries I visited on my trip, both socially and politically. The one thing I would recommend to anyone traveling to Kosovo is to stay with local families. I did stay in one hostel in Prizren (ideal for enjoying the nightlife), but spent the majority of my time with a family, in Gjilan, I found on workaway.info. Staying with a local host allowed me to further immerse myself in Albanian Kosovar culture, develop lasting friendships, and experience more than I would have had I only stayed in a hostel. If you’re thinking about visiting Kosovo, do it!
Hi Kendra! Glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Kosovo as much as I did! I think that’s a great point – people in Kosovo are super friendly and welcoming, so I imagine staying with a local family would be a great way to immerse yourself in the culture 🙂 Hoping to go back to Kosovo next year and explore more and hopefully update this list!
Really good article. Lived there for 3 years just after the war and returned with my family in 2017. Lovely land even more lovely people. The ugliest building (the national library) has an interesting story behind it. The architect created it to represent the oppression of the Albanian people by the Serbian majority. It looks like your typical ugly communist building, but the white domes represent the Albanian traditional white hat the Plisa, and it is all behind bars representing the oppression. The Serbs approved the building not realizing the political statement being made.
Oh wow, I had no idea about the national library! That’s such a cool backstory, really awesome to know its history and the idea behind it. Now that you’ve explained it, it makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hello, I spent a few days this past August in Kosovo also. Nice write up. I didn’t realize you were a woman until the end. And I was thinking about all the (men’s) barber shops and how every man seemed to have a fresh haircut. $2. Yes, we were shocked at how friendly the locals were to Americans. It was a real pleasure traveling there and we will go back when they finish the Via Dinarica trail through Kosovo.
Thank you! That trail sounds really lovely – that’s the one that goes through Bosnia, right? I’m hoping to go back for a visit sometime soon.
I lived in Kosovo for 7 years. It’s an amazing and unique country with beautiful people. Another really cool place to check out is the waterfalls at Mirusha. Have you heard of that? It’s a series waterfalls that you have to climb up to. When you get to the top waterfall there are caves and a weird looking rock naturally formed like scull. It’s a really beautiful place.
I haven’t been to Mirusha, but I have heard of it — it looks absolutely beautiful! I didn’t hear about the caves or the skull looking rock, how cool! I definitely didn’t have enough time in Kosovo with only one week. I’m living not far away now in Bulgaria, so I’m hoping to return soon 🙂 Thank you for commenting and I definitely have to return and check out more 🙂
This is so kind of you saying this about my country!Thank You
Thank you for reading! 🙂
Hallo allison
Danke dir dass du so schön über kosovo berichtest
Ich bin Kosovar und gehe heute für 1 Monat auf meine Herkunft Suche
Ich war paar mal in kosovo und habe nur Gutes erläbt
War in gjeravica bjeket e nemura
Vale de valbonja und noch vieles mehr
Mach weiter so
Hi Toni, danke schön for your kind comment, I wish you a good month-long journey in Kosovo 🙂
Great article Allison,
You put my mind at rest as I move to near Peja next month to work there.
Nice to hear its similar to Scotland as that’s what I’m leaving behind.
ps Don’t worry about landmines next time you visit, we’ll get rid of those.
Hi Barry, thank you! Good luck with your upcoming move to Peja. I think you will really enjoy it. And best of luck with your work, that’s amazing what you’re doing!
Thank you for the beautiful words about my country , now i live in US but i miss my home my family my friends . We are very friendly people specially to those who helped us when we nedded the most . If you love mountains and try a different food and tradition Visit all the Albanian places
Hi Allison! Love your blog! Can you give a bit more information about where the last picture is taken? I can read it’s near to Peja, but where exactly? 🙂 thank you!
Hi Ine! If you are walking towards Patriarchate of Pec, pass it and keep walking further away from Peja, down the road. The road is not honestly that scenic beyond this one part, so I would recommend having a taxi or bus take you to Rugova Canyon instead 🙂
Great article Alison, thanks. I like your style!
Thanks Tim!
This post has placed Kosovo on my list for Eastern Europe 2019! I’m so glad i came across it. Thank you 🙂
You will not regret it, believe me!
Kosovo is a Great Country because of politic from serbia its destroyed and albanian would never try to destroy church we are the only country that we respect every religion serbian politic lie every day just to make kosovo bad country i respect people from serbia because its not their foult but the politic like in kosovo like in serbia are bad all criminals …..
Hi Leo, I’m actually reading and responding to this from Serbia now. The situation is very complicated and I respect Kosovo’s right to independence and love traveling Kosovo, but I don’t think Serbian politics are entirely to blame for all issues in Kosovo. Albania is lovely and certainly has a better track record with religious tolerance than Serbia, that’s for sure, but moving forward I think it’s better to try to promote a healthier dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo while respecting Kosovo’s self-sovereignty. Also Albania unfortunately did destroy many churches and mosques in the communist era, which I realize is the fault of Hoxha and his dictator cronies who tried to enforce athiesm, but you can’t really say Albanians have never destroyed a church. Anyway, especially now that Kosovo is de facto independent and has been for the last 10 years, I believe it is up to them to determine and create a better future. And I am rooting them on every step of the way 🙂
Albania and Kosovo are two separate countries, however! And as an kosovar, most, if not all, of our problems stem from the ottoman takeover and mostly the Kosovo War (when the Serbians committed genocide).
Yes, I know Albania and Kosovo are two separate countries… that’s why I call Kosovo “Europe’s newest county” in the title 😛 Just pointing out the dominant language is the same. I think today’s problems come from many sources, including both ones you mentioned, but at the end of the day – it’s up to Kosovars living there now to make it better for themselves and future generation 🙂
Thank you for giving the chance to “visit” this unique place again. I am glad people there are doing well, and moving on. God bless them, and may give you many wonderful trips and similar posts. Personally prefer travel posts which keep the politics by side, but appreciate your correctness and best intentions.
Hi SaÅ›a – thanks for your kind comment. Unfortunately, I’ve found it’s impossible to extricate politics from travel – it’s present in every single part of it, whether you write about it or not. For example, the fact that I’m American gives me the right to visit over a hundred countries visa-free or with a simple e-visa, whereas people with Kosovo passports (or most African or South/Southeast Asian passports, etc.) struggle a lot to travel anywhere. I have a lot of love and respect for Serbia (have been there 3 times and count Belgrade as one of my favorite cities) and I respect how Serbs feel about the matter, I just am trying to keep this post from becoming the “KOSOVO IS SERBIA” back and forth that I see so many posts on Kosovo devolve into, which I think hurts both parties and diminishes tourists’ desire to travel to either country. Anyway, I truly appreciate your comment and wish you happy travels 🙂
I’m from Kosovo and when I saw this I was shocked at how good it was . I appreciate that you found the time to come here and visit our country .
Thank you! I hope to return soon!
Thanks for the lovely information Kate.
I am very excited to rub elbows with the Kosovo crowd as a Canadian.
Cheers!
You’re welcome! Have a good time!
I wasn’t planning on spending time in Kosovo during my next trip (Turkey back to France in about 3 months or more: Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and northern Italy) but now I’m like “mmm… Maybe I should spend a few days there…”. Thank you for the article.
Definitely do! It makes an easy side trip from Tirana, Albania 🙂 Or if you go via Bulgaria and Macedonia, that’s also quite easy. I run another site about the Balkans that should be useful for your trip — I wrote up the Tirana to Prishtina journey here: https://sofiaadventures.com/tirana-to-prishtina-bus/ but you can navigate around and see what is useful for you!
Wow…..Awesome tips. I’m heading to Kosovo tomorrow for a short 3 days trip and I’m very excited about it.
Thanks a lot for helping us :))
You’re welcome! We have more tips on SofiaAdventures.com if you are continuing on around the Balkans 🙂
You have done a great job by shedding light on this less known region. I am planning my trip to Eastern Europe. Never showed interest in visiting Kosovo, but now i am including it too. Let’s ste foot in the youngest european country….
Sounds great Amish! Enjoy 🙂 It’s a wonderful place!
WOW, an amazing blog. Thanks Allison for this. Actually I am at Kosovo and Kosovo is pretty and an incredible place. So, the people are here nice and the food is amazing.
Thank you Donat, have a great time
Nice article – albeit with a few cringeworthy and unself-aware American takes on things. Grrat to see you had a good time in Kosovo.
I don’t really know what to make of the condescension to compliment ratio of this comment. I’m glad you somehow found it useful despite how cringeworthy and unself-aware and American I am!