Where to go in Kosovo: a city-by-city guide
Kosovo (Kosova in Albanian) is small enough to see several cities in one trip. The seven main ones are all within about two hours of the capital, so you can base yourself in one place and visit the others in day trips. Here is what each is known for and what to see there.
Where to go in Prishtina
The capital is the biggest city in Kosovo, with more than 200,000 residents. Walk the pedestrian Mother Teresa Boulevard and Skanderbeg Square, then visit the Kosovo Museum, the Ethnological Museum and the National Library of Kosovo, one of the most recognisable buildings in the city. The Newborn monument, the Imperial Mosque from the 15th century and the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa are all in the centre.
For a break from the streets, Germia Park is on the edge of the city, and the ruins of the Roman city of Ulpiana are close by. Coffee bars are everywhere, and the evenings are the liveliest in the country.
Read the guide: A night out in Prishtina: where to go after darkWhere to go in Prizren
Prizren is the second-largest city. The old town sits on the Lumbardhi river, with the Old Stone Bridge, the Sinan Pasha Mosque and the fortress on the hill above. The Monumental Complex of the League of Prizren recalls the town’s role in Albanian history, and the church of Our Lady of Ljeviš is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
DokuFest, the international documentary and short film festival, takes place in Prizren every year in early August and fills the town with visitors.
Where to go in Peja
Peja lies about 85 km west of Prishtina, at the foot of the Accursed Mountains. It has an old bazaar, the medieval Patriarchate of Peć, and the Rugova Gorge on its doorstep, which is why most people use it as a base for the mountains.
Read the guide: A weekend in Peja and Rugova: how to plan itWhere to go in Gjakova
Gjakova lies roughly halfway between Peja and Prizren. Its Old Bazaar (Çarshia e Madhe) is described as the oldest in Kosovo and is the reason to come. Nearby are the Hadum Mosque, built in 1594, the Tailors’ Bridge, the Great Tekke and the Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in a building from 1830.
Where to go in Gjilan
Gjilan is in the south-east, about 46 km from Prishtina. Look for the Clock Tower, the Regional Museum and the City Theatre, which dates from 1944. The Flaka e Janarit cultural festival brings artists from across the Albanian-speaking regions every January.
Places to visit in Ferizaj
Ferizaj is the third-largest city in Kosovo, about 35 km south of Prishtina, and the Brezovica ski area lies in the same district. The town is known as the City of Murals: painted walls are all over the centre, and the MuralFest has added new ones every year since 2016.
Two buildings that visitors often photograph stand right next to each other: the Orthodox Cathedral of St Uroš and the Mulla Vesel Guta Mosque. The railway station dates from 1873. If you are heading to the mountains, Ferizaj is a convenient place to stop on the way.
Where to go in Mitrovica
Mitrovica sits where several rivers meet, in the north. The Ibar river runs through it and divides it into a southern and a northern part. Above the city stands the Zvečan Fortress, and the Trepça mining complex, now mostly idle, shaped the town’s history. Outside the city, the National Museum of Crystals and Minerals is in the village of Stantërg.
Beyond the cities
Kosovo’s nature is close to its cities. The Rugova Gorge, about 25 km long, begins at Peja. The Sharr Mountains National Park and the Brezovica ski resort are in the south. The Mirusha waterfalls and Gadime Cave, also called the Marble Cave, are popular day trips from Prishtina.
For the details of each place, such as addresses, opening hours and contacts, open the KosovoGo app.