Feeling for Travel : Kosovo

Kosovo. Kosovo tourism is still developing, so expect friendly locals, cheap hotels, and a lot of beautiful places. Keep reading for a Kosovo itinerary with the best places to visit in Kosovo.

If you’re doing a Balkan trip, you might be passing through Kosovo. Often, Pristina, Kosovo is a transfer point for Balkan buses, but Kosovo is much more than Pristina. If you only visit Pristina, you’ll miss out on the many other things to do in Kosovo. Kosovo tourism is still developing, so expect friendly locals, cheap hotels, and a lot of beautiful places. Keep reading for a Kosovo itinerary with the best places to visit in Kosovo.

Planning to visit Kosovo? A complete Kosovo itinerary with local tips on the best things to do in Kosovo, including the most beautiful cities in Kosovo!

This is a travel guide to Kosovo for independent travelers. Although many people take tours in Kosovo, they are not necessary as Kosovo is safewith a robust bus system, friendly locals, and low crime. It is not a war zone, but a normal country. However, there are regions (Mitrovicë) more prone to ethnic tensions that may not be advised. I consider it one of the best countries to visit on a budget. Let’s just get this of the way now saying that Kosovo is a country is political, however I call it a country.

I strongly recommend that you read about the Kosovo war prior to visiting Kosovo.

Introduction to Kosovo
- Where is Kosovo?
- A brief history of Kosovo
- Kosovo travel basics
  - Which currency is used in Kosovo?
  - Is Kosovo safe? Yes
  - Visa to Kosovo
- Why Visit Kosovo?
Quick summary of things to do in Kosovo
Pristina. Best things to do in Pristina & Day Trips from Pristina
Peja. Best things to do in Peja & Day Trips from Peja.
Gjakova. Best things to do in Peja & Day Trips from Gjakova.
Prizren. Best things to do in Prizren & Day Trips from Prizren.
Where is Kosovo? It’s nestled in the Balkans, the region above Greece. It’s in between Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia. It’s okay if your geography isn’t great, however Kosovo has a great bus network to/from other countries, which makes both Prizren and Pristina great transfer points for buses in the Balkans. Many people only visit Prizren or Pristina en route to other places; however, this tiny country has incredibly friendly locals who speak good English, gorgeous architecture, great transportation, a unique blend of cultures, and natural beauty.

Kosovo's History: A Quick Explanation WHY it matters

It’s a very long history (click for Kosovo’s history), however Serbia still contests that Kosovo is part of Serbia and it illegally seceded, while Kosovo has advocated its independence since 2008. However you feel about its independence, Kosovo is a great place to travel (including solo) and I encourage you to visit Kosovo to experience it.

That said, Kosovo has had many difficultiesbecoming recognized by different institutions (including the United Nations) as a result of Serbia’s contention that Kosovo is part of Serbia. As a result, Kosovo citizens have some of the worst passports in the world, marginally better than the passport of South Sudan and North Korea. Kosovo is getting recognized by more countries, but Kosovo is not universally recognized as an independent country (hence why you might read that Kosovo is a disputed territory). Simply, writing that Kosovo is a country is inherently political. However, I call Kosovo a country and I am lucky to call Lavdi, a born and raised Kosovo citizen who has struggled to travel with a Kosovo passport, a friend.

Kosovo Travel Basics
- The currency that is used is the Euro (although this is NOT technically the official currency).
- The predominant language and ethnic group is Albanian. Serbians and Serbian speakers are the biggest minority group. There are other ethnic groups as well.
- Albanians and Serbians are culturally and religiously distinct.
- Cities often have two names: An Albanian name and a Serbian name.
- Kosovo has a robust bus system although you need to double-check the schedule 1 day before you leave (or just hop on the next bus).
- Hitchhiking is easy (and fairly normal). Buses in Kosovo run regularly between major cities, but schedules are less regular for smaller cities/natural parks.
Visa to Kosovo

If you visit Kosovo first, you may not be admitted into Serbia directly, so you must visit Serbia first if you want to visit Kosovo AND Serbia directly. However, you can visit both Kosovo and Serbia (with starting in Kosovo) if you go to Serbia viaMontenegro or Macedonia.

Why Visit Kosovo?

Kosovo is one of those countries that make you want to travel more and it's also one of the best countries for Americans to visit. People in Kosovo are ridiculously kind to travelers, sometimes to the point that you’re like: WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS KINDNESS? If you're American, it's due to America's role in advocating Kosovo's independence. If you're from anywhere else, it's simply because you're a tourist and Kosovo is developing itself as a European destination for tourism. Simply: You will feel welcome here.People from Kosovo are often happy that you’re visiting their country as a tourist and out of ALL the countries in the world, you’d decide to spend your money visiting their country.

View from a rooftop in Peja.

Unfortunately, Kosovo is still escaping its 100% unwarranted reputation as an active war zone. (Those half built houses are NEW construction sites.). In fact, Kosovo is one of the safest countries for Americans to visit. This often surprises fellow Americans, but you will be treated like a specialguest.

Hitchhiking Driving Selfie ...Because Why not?

It might seem strange, but given Kosovo’s issues being recognized as a country, you will feel like a beloved guest everywhere you go. Expect random acts of kindness: free desserts, strangers thanking you for coming to Kosovo, free rides to faraway towns, and strangers offering to help you. As someone who has traveled many places, I have never experienced a country like Kosovo--and it’s really become a special place to me.

Kosovo is a place that can seem like a backpacker’s paradise as it’s inexpensive, but do not mistake its low costs for a lack of interesting things to do. It just means that Kosovo tourism will be booming in a few years once people realize how much is possible within this tiny country.

Quick summary of the best things to do in Kosovo
- Visit Kosovo's gems: Prizren, Peja, Gjakova, and Pristina
- Visit Kosovo’s beautiful mosques!
- Visit Kosovo’s UNESCO protected medieval monasteries.
- Explore Kosovo’s beautiful markets
- Go hiking in Kosovo’s mountains!
- Experience the ridiculously warm hospitality of Kosovo citizens.
- Experience Kosovo’s historic cities and its new cities’ fascinating architecture
Pristina

How many days to spend in Pristina? 1-2 days.

This modern capital of Kosovo hosts some of the most fascinating architecture and quirky statues that I’ve seen in a long time. Pristina isn’t the most beautiful city, but it’s full of things to do. Admittedly, if you only visit Pristina, you might be wondering where all the beautiful places in Kosovo are, but I encourage you to continue reading as Pristina is lovely and modern, but it’s not beautiful in a historic way as the other cities in Kosovo.

One of the best things to do in Pristina includes theNational Library of Kosovo, which reminds me of the Hunger Games. I was just fascinated by the architecture! It’s surrounded by the University of Pristina.

If you’re a fan of the Clintons [or not], say hi to Bill Clinton’s statue in Pristina and stop into Hillary I orHillary II. A fan of Hillary Clinton created a line of women’s business clothes inspired by her wardrobe. Of course, you’ll find the infamous pant suits, but you’ll also find other suitable business clothes. Gender equality remains a significant issue in Kosovo with many women not part of the labor force. As a result, I found this quirky store inspired by Hillary Clinton really cool.

If you’re into shopping, I recommend saving some euros to shop in Pristina in stores that aren't necessarily inspired by Hillary Clinton. Overall, Pristina felt even more fashionable than Amsterdam. I ended up splurging on a fashionable jacket (30 euros) that I still use regularly. I routinely felt horribly underdressed when we were in Pristina as I went in my backpacker chic combination of hiking sneakers with jeans, and a hiking jacket.