Visit Kosovo: an itinerary through Prizren, Peja and Pristina

A small mountainous territory in the Balkans, Kosovo packs into less than 150 kilometres an Ottoman old town on the Bistrica river, Orthodox monasteries covered in frescoes and the wild peaks of Rugova. One week is enough to grasp the essentials, with a young and lively capital.

Why travel to Kosovo?

Kosovo concentrates Ottoman heritage, UNESCO-listed medieval monasteries and great hiking mountains in a small territory. Having declared independence in 2008, it is not recognised by all states, which has practical consequences for anyone combining several Balkan countries of Europe.

What to discover in Kosovo?

Pristina and the centre of the country

The capital can be seen in a day: the pedestrian Mother Teresa Boulevard, the Newborn monument unveiled in 2008, the strikingly designed national library and the small Ottoman quarter around the Imperial Mosque. Its nightlife and cafés reflect a very young population. About ten kilometres away, Gračanica monastery, built in 1321, is worth a half-day detour. Pristina is also the overland gateway from North Macedonia: Skopje is only about an hour and a half by road.

The south-west, from the Bistrica to the Šar mountains

About 80 kilometres from Pristina, just over an hour on the motorway, Prizren is the most popular stop. Its Ottoman centre is arranged around the 1615 Sinan Pasha Mosque and the old stone bridge, below a fortress reached in a twenty-minute climb. Allow two nights. In early August the Dokufest documentary festival fills the town. A motorway then links Prizren to Albania and the Tirana area in about three hours. In winter, the Šar mountains host the Brezovica ski resort.

Peja and the Accursed Mountains

In the west, Peja (Peć) backs onto the Accursed Mountains, shared with Albania and Montenegro. The Rugova gorge road starts at the edge of town and climbs in an hour to high pastures and trailheads. The cross-border Peaks of the Balkans trail, about 190 kilometres long, takes ten to twelve days, from June to September. The Patriarchate of Peć is two kilometres from the centre and Dečani monastery some fifteen kilometres south: two to three nights are recommended for the area.

Cities to visit in Kosovo

Featured destinations appear first.
Coming soon.

Not to be missed in Kosovo

Six places that capture Kosovo, from Ottoman heritage to medieval monasteries.

Prizren Old Town

Ottoman lanes, the Sinan Pasha Mosque and a stone bridge over the Bistrica, overlooked by a fortress with a view across every rooftop in town.

Visoki Dečani Monastery

A fourteenth-century Orthodox monastery listed by UNESCO, famous for thousands of painted figures, one of the best preserved fresco cycles in the Balkans.

Patriarchate of Peć

Four adjoining medieval churches at the mouth of the Rugova gorge, the former seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church, with remarkably preserved frescoes.

Rugova Gorge

A narrow limestone canyon west of Peja, with a via ferrata, a zip line and mountain roads leading to high pastures and border peaks.

Gračanica Monastery

A five-domed church founded in 1321 near Pristina, a masterpiece of late Byzantine architecture with densely painted interior frescoes.

Mirusha Waterfalls

A chain of waterfalls and pools carved into a limestone canyon between Pristina and Prizren, popular for swimming and walking in summer.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from Pristina to Prizren?
Buses leave Pristina bus station several times an hour during the day and take about an hour and a half. By car, the motorway cuts the 80-kilometre journey to just over an hour. The Mirusha waterfalls lie close to the route.
Can you freely visit Dečani monastery?
Yes, the monastery is open to visitors, but it remains under KFOR protection. You must leave or show an ID document at the entrance checkpoint and wear clothing covering shoulders and legs. Photography is usually not allowed inside the church.
Why does Kosovo use the euro?
Kosovo adopted the German mark in 1999, then the euro when it was introduced in 2002, without any formal agreement with the European Central Bank. For travellers it is a plus: no currency exchange, and cash machines in towns dispense euros.
How many days does the Peaks of the Balkans trail take?
Allow ten to twelve days for the full loop of about 190 kilometres across Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro, from June to September. Several sections cross borders away from official checkpoints: a permit must be requested in advance from the authorities of the countries concerned.
Can you combine Kosovo and Serbia in one trip?
Yes, provided you plan the order carefully. Entering Kosovo from Serbia and going back is normally fine. If you arrived via Albania or North Macedonia, reach Serbia through a third country instead, as entry may otherwise be refused.
When is the Dokufest festival in Prizren?
This international documentary film festival takes place every year in early August, over about ten days. Screenings are held outdoors, even inside the fortress and along the river. Accommodation in Prizren fills up fast: book several weeks ahead.

Plan your trip to Kosovo

Day-by-day itinerary, budget, bookings and packing in a single app.
Aperçu de l'application PlanTripNow