Everything you need to know to plan your visit to Europe’s youngest country.
A trip to a new destination can be daunting. The Balkans are somewhat difficult to navigate without proper knowledge, and it can cause you to miss out on some of the best of what this region has to offer. After living in Kosovo for a few years and making multiple short trips there for visits, I want to put my insider knowledge to good use with a complete and thorough series so that you can see it all. Let’s get started by looking at that stage which to some is dreadful and to others is half of the fun: planning.
Flights
Kosovo has only one international airport, and it is located in the capital city, Prishtina. Depending on what airline you are booking through, it may be listed as Serbia, so use the airport code (PRN) to rest assured that you are looking at flights to the correct place.
To find flights, I recommend using Kiwi.com as a search engine. However, you should consider finding the flights there and then booking directly with the airline. It’s typically cheaper, and you will have way better customer service when you book directly.
Flying to Kosovo can be somewhat frustrating, because the airlines which fly into Prishtina are limited. If coming from the States, Turkish Air and Lufthansa have been good options for me in the past. Flights are crazy right now though, so looking into other options may be necessary. If coming from Europe, Wizz Air has a lot of direct flights into Prishtina for good prices.
Where to stay
Prishtina is located almost exactly in the middle of Kosovo, which can make it a good base for your visit. It has its charms, but I would actually not recommend staying in Prishtina for your entire trip. The true beauty and charms of Kosovo lay in its nature and smaller cities and villages. Peja in the west and Prizren in the south are great options to consider for your main accommodations, and because Kosovo is so small, the entire country is still accessible by day trip from either of these places.
Prishtina: The capital city is starkly different from the rest of Kosovo. It definitely has more energy, more shopping, and more dining than the smaller cities. Kosovo has the youngest population in Europe, and in the capital city you can see the passion of the younger generations to build up their country and inspire change. However, Prishtina is by far the least attractive of the main cities in Kosovo, and does not provide as easy access to the beautiful nature that the country has to offer. You definitely need to visit Prishtina, but you do not have to stay there!
Peja: Known for being the gateway to Rugova, this is the city that I called home during most of my time in Kosovo. If you are into hiking, skiing, rock climbing, etc., this is the city you want to base in! Peja lays right at the foot of the towering “Accursed Mountains” and provides easy access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the Balkans. Peja is also a charming city in itself. If you choose to stay here, be sure to check out my post on What To Do in Peja, Kosovo !
Prizren: The postcard city of Kosovo, Prizren boasts the largest intact “old town”. There is great hiking nearby Prizren as well, and the city is rich in history and in beauty.
All of the cities are connected by buses and taxis, and rental cars are extremely affordable. I will go more in detail about transportation later in the series, but for now just know that getting around Kosovo should not be a problem, so plan to visit as many places as you are interested in!
Accommodations
Unless you are visiting in July or August, you likely do not need to book ahead of time just to find somewhere to lay your head. However, if you like to plan out your travels, I would start with Booking.com or AirBnb, depending on what you are interested in. Also, if you are looking on Booking.com or any other third-party site, always remember to check the website of the hotel you are considering, because you may find a better deal there!
AirBnB is limited in Kosovo, but it is growing and there are some great options! I recommend this route if you enjoy meeting locals when you travel. Kosovars are some of the friendliest people on earth, and they are the best hosts. AirBnb is still pretty authentic in Kosovo, and is mostly comprised of local people renting out levels (apartments) in their homes, or the entire home or apartment itself.
Staying in a hotel or a house in or very near the city center is a good idea, because you will be able to walk everywhere, and there will be plenty of people around if you ever need assistance. In Kosovo, you cannot go a stone’s throw without hitting a coffee shop, so if you stay in the city center you can be comfortable in knowing that you will never be far from food or coffee!
Accommodations are very affordable in Kosovo, so you should be able to get lots of bang for your buck if you book in advance. Hostel beds are going to be around 10-15 euros, and you can stay in a good hotel right in the city center for 60-80 euros. Anything right outside of the center (still very close) will be around 40-50 euros per night. Airbnb can get you a whole apartment in a good location for around €30-40/night.
Itinerary
As I mentioned before, Kosovo is quite small. This does not mean there is not much to see, though! I personally recommend going without a solid itinerary and being flexible. Flexibility is a must when traveling the Balkans, and your trip will be much more enjoyable if you go in already knowing this. Here are my personal recommendations for a week in Kosovo.
Rugova: 1-3 days
If you like hiking, I would definitely plan to spend at least one or two nights in Rugova. There are plenty of options for hotels/villas tucked into the peaks that will give you affordable access to incredible hikes or simple relaxation with incredible views
Peja: 1-2 days
Peja is the perfect place to slow down, sip coffee, meet locals, and appreciate the beauty of Kosovo. Again, I have an entire other post about what to do in my favorite Kosovar city, so I will leave it at that!
Prishtina: 1 day
Spend some time exploring the city and its monuments, visit the Kosovo museum, eat at a delicious traditional restaurant, walk the sheshi, see interesting architecture, buy some beautiful souvenirs from my friend Granita, and of course drink some coffee! Also if you are coming from the US, don’t miss the giant poster of Bill Clinton, his statue, and the small Statue of Liberty.
Prizren: 1-2 days
Explore the old town, walk up to the small castle ruins, visit the large mosque, do some shopping, and enjoy some of the prettiest city views Kosovo has to offer. There are also incredible hikes/mountains to explore in this area!
If you are interested in exploring any of the nearby cities/villages, add in some more time to Peja or Prizren and visit some of these more hidden gems from there.
Comment with any other questions or tips for planning your trip to Kosovo! Come back for more installments in my Complete Guide to Visiting Kosovo.
Traveling Truly 