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0Things to do in Kosovo
The Republic of Kosovo is the newest country in Europe, having achieved independence only in 2008. The small country is easy to see by car or bus as nearly all of the interesting sites are within a short drive of the capital. You can also easily take day trips to Albania or Macedonia, or drive down to Greece for the weekend. We’ve highlighted the top things to do in Kosovo here. We hope you enjoy exploring one of the world’s youngest countries!
Celebrate the country’s newness at the Newborn Monument in Prishtina
One of the most iconic things to do in Kosovo is to have your photo made at Phristina’s Newborn monument. Dedicated to the newness of the country which declared independence only in 2008 the artwork on the monument is frequently changed to reflect different aspects of Kosovo’s culture. It’s located right in the city center directly in front of the Palace of Youth and Sports.
Explore History in Prizren
Much less affected but the war than Prishtina, Prizren is one of the top things to do in Kosovo if you hope to see historical sites and shop for handicrafts and souvenirs. A fortress looms over the city and a short but steep hike to the top affords gorgeous views of the city and the mountains surrounding it. The city center is charming with cobblestone streets, a few historic churches and mosques, and a nice stone bridge over the Prizren Bistrica river which runs through the center of town.
Eat Traditional Food at Pishat
The food in Kosovo has a mixture of cultural influences owing to their location and history as a crossroads of many cultures. The best foodie experience we had while in Kosovo was at Pishat restaurant. Pricy by Prishtina standards, but well worth it, we tried the set menu as recommended by our waiter. The meal included 6 or more courses all of which were delicious and interesting. We started with a cheese and charcuterie plate, bread with a selection of dips, and salad. Our stomachs were already starting to feel full when even more food came out – two different types of cooked vegetables: a tomato based dish and a cheesy baked mushroom. The cheesy mushroom was our favorite bite of the meal. Along with the two baked veggie dishes we were served another flat bread, this one topped with cheese on one half and sausage on the other. The sausage was spicy and rustic but very tasty, and the cheese bread had a “skunky” flavor (like blue cheese, and similar to many of the cheeses we tried in Kosovo). We were stuffed to the gills, but we weren’t finished yet, each of us got a plate with 3 types of meat and sautéed vegetables. Once again everything was delicious but we had to ask for a box as we couldn’t fit anything else in! After asking for the check the waiter brought out a tasty ice cream with kiwi for us to finish off our meal. The whole amazing experience was only $25 for our family and that included a personal size cheese pizza for our daughter, 2 cokes and a bottled water.
Bill Clinton Monument
Kosovo loves Americans and Kosovars are always excited to meet Americans. The US supported Kosovo’s fight for independence in the late 1990s and in honor of their appreciation, Kosovo has many different ways they play homage to the USA. There’s a large statue of Bill Clinton located along Bill Clinton Boulevard in Prishtina. You’ll also find other streets named after prominent Americans. Songs have been written to honor America, children have been named after the Clintons and there’s even fashion boutiques dedicated to the style of Hillary Clinton. American flags fly alongside the Kosovo flag in many public and private locations. During our visit to Kosovo, we just had to stop by and have our picture made with Bill!
Kosovo National Library
The National Library of Kosovo has received a good deal of publicity when it was chosen as one of the world’s ugliest buildings. We think the designation is undeserved. While the building is certainly interesting and quirky, we find it somewhat charming and certainly undeserved of the designation as “ugly.” Make sure to stop by and judge for yourself during your trip to Kosovo.
Gracanica Monastery
Visiting the Serbian Orthodox Gracanica Monastery is one of the most interesting things to do in Kosovo. The monastery was built in the 1300s and has been declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance and has been placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as one of the places of World Heritage in Danger. You’ll find the monastery just a short drive from Prishtina in the Serbian enclave of Gracanica. Today, only the church remains from the monastery’s original buildings but it provides an interesting look at the country’s Serbian history and culture.
While visiting the Gracanica Monastery, you can easily stop by the Roman ruins at Ulpiana or visit the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary which are both near here.
Another Serbian Orthodox church well worth a visit is the Pec Patriarchate in Peja (called Pec in the Serbian language).
Sip Coffee in one of Prishtina’s Cool Cafes
The up-and-coming capital of Kosovo has a surprisingly vibrant cafe culture for a city of its size. There are a seemingly never-ending number of cafes where one can sip and enjoy an espresso or cappuccino and a chat with friends. Some of the best cafes in the capital are located along Raki Street. Also make sure to try some of the desserts – they’ve got some of the best and cheapest macarons to be found in Europe.
Going for an evening xhiro
Taking an evening stroll, called a xhiro by locals is one of the most popular things to do in Kosovo. As evening falls, Kosovars spill out of their homes and take to the main walking street. It’s the perfect time to act like a local and join in the stroll or sit at a nearby cafe and just enjoy the people watching.
Prishtina’s Bear Sanctuary
For many years, many restaurants in Kosovo kept brown bears in small cages to attract customers. The practice was finally outlawed in 2010 and a need arose for a bear sanctuary in the area to provide a home for these bears. The Bear Sanctuary Prishtina was founded by Four Paws, an animal welfare organization that runs several bear sanctuaries in Eastern Europe. There are currently 19 bears living at the sanctuary. Guests are afforded the opportunity to see them in naturalistic habitats by walking a trail around the park’s perimeter.
We don’t get to spend a lot of time outside in Bangkok, and simply having a nice walk in the park’s beautiful grounds was worth the 2 euros each we paid to get in. However, seeing the bears play and lounge, and generally enjoy life in their habitats made for a wonderful day. There’s a small cafe and museum shop. The cafe was offering a soup or salad, pasta and coffee deal for 5 euros when we visited, and while we didn’t give it a try, it seemed to be a good price. Plus, a nice way to support the sanctuary. There’s a playground outside the visitor’s center. It is very cute, made from mostly natural materials and has some cute bears. Our Miss C (age 4) loved the entire day, especially the playground.
If you are looking for a hotel during your trip to Kosovo, please check out booking.com. This is an affiliate link and Adventure Family Life will receive a small commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
