Welcome to Kosovo's prettiest city, a hidden gem of the Balkans. While this country isn't nearly as popular as its neighbors, there truly are some beautiful spots, and especially plenty of things to do in Prizren, one of the most underrated destinations in the area.
Prizren is loved by locals, and still under the radar for travelers. After visiting Pristina, we didn't truly have high expectations. But when we started driving through we started to realize that this was going to be our favorite city in all of Kosovo.
We're here to share the beauty of the area, how to get there, and all of the beautiful things to do in Prizren and around it. Let's jump right in so you can see why we recommend you add this adorable town to your list.
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Where is Prizren, Kosovo?
Prizren is located in the south west of Kosovo, tucked in the corner near the borders of Albania and Macedonia. Kosovo is a tiny landlocked country in the Balkans, surrounded by Montenegro and Albania to the west, Macedonia to the south, and Serbia to the north and east.
Prizren is located in the south west of Kosovo.
How to Get to Prizren, Kosovo
Prizren is the second most visited city in Kosovo, making it pretty well connected to other cities in Kosovo, as well as other big cities in the surrounding countries.
Which Airport is Closest to Prizren?
Prizren itself doesn't have an airport. However, there are a few cities that have airports not too far away.
Visiting Prizren from Pristina
The most common way to visit Prizren is coming from Pristina, which is the capital of Kosovo. We had a rental car, and drove from Pristina, which is just a couple of hours away. We found this was the best way to get there, as there are some great places to explore between the two cities.
If you don't have a car or want to rent one, you can in fact take a bus to Prizren from Pristina from the main bus station. Buses go every 15-20 minutes, and the ride is 2 hours, with tickets costing 4-5 euros.
Visiting Prizren from Other Cities
Other close cities that you can travel from are Skopje (Macedonia), Tirana, Shkoder (Albania), or Podgorica (Montenegro). Just go to the central bus terminal in any of them and you can book them in person.
Flight Tip: In order to find which city is cheapest to fly to, you can go on Skyscanner and put "your country" to "everywhere" in the search box. The result will show you which of the surrounding countries are cheapest to fly to!
Entry Requirements for Kosovo
Now that you know where Prizren is located and how to get there, it's important to know the specific requirements for entering the country.
Visa Entry Requirements for Kosovo
Due to where the country of Kosovo is located, and the war in Kosovo a few decades ago, visiting Kosovo from Serbia can get complicated. However, visiting via another surrounding country is pretty easy (which the others are also closer to Prizren anyway).
Kosovo allows visa-free access for up to 90 days for all nationalities in Europe (including the UK), the USA, Australia, and plenty of other nationalities. If you aren't sure whether or not you do need a visa, make sure to check out the official website of foreign affairs in Kosovo, or to get in contact with your local embassy.
Covid Entry Requirements for Prizren, Kosovo
There aren't any restrictions anymore when it comes to Covid-19 for entering the country of Kosovo. Masks are also no longer mandatory, and it's pretty rare that you'll come across anyone wearing one.
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Local Adjustments for Prizren, Kosovo
Whenever traveling somewhere new, there may be certain things that differ from your home country, such as the language, currency, or even electrical outlets used. Here are a few of the "local adjustments" to keep in mind when traveling to Prizren, Kosovo.
What Language is Spoken in Prizren Kosovo?
The official language in Prizren is Albanian, which is classified as an Indo-European language. 92% of people living in Kosovo are actually of Albanian decent, which is why they speak Albanian, and not Serbian.
What is the Currency in Prizren, Kosovo?
The currency used in Kosovo is the euro. The center of Prizren has plenty of places that take credit cards. However, if you are visiting smaller restaurants or staying in cheaper accommodation, you may need to pay in cash. Always make sure to have euros on you in case the establishment doesn't accept credit cards.
Outlets Used in Prizren, Kosovo
The electrical outlets in Prizren, Kosovo support the same plug types as the rest of Europe, which is primarily for plug type F. The standard voltage in Prizren is 230 V and has a standard frequency of 50 Hz. If you are from the Americas, we definitely suggest purchasing a travel adapter that converts the energy too. This way you won't burn out your electronics.
Can I Drink the Water in Prizren?
The tap water in Prizren is totally safe to drink, so you'll have no issues drinking from the tap. They also have fountains in town where you can fill up your water bottle for free, so we suggest carrying a refillable water bottle with you.
Prizren has a fountain in the Old Town where you can fill up with fresh water.
Tipping in Prizren
The tipping culture in Kosovo can be a bit tricky, as many websites claim that tipping isn't common or necessary, However, many locals from Prizren told us that it is very much appreciated and it definitely seemed expected in the restaurants that we visited. We personally suggest leaving 10% as a tip (in cash) if you feel that you received good service while at a restaurant.
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Things to Do in Prizren, Kosovo
Now you know all the basics for visiting this beautiful city and country. Now here are the best things to do in Prizren.
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Things to Do in Prizren #1: Stroll Around the Old Town
Prizren is the most picturesque city in the country of Kosovo. The orange roofed buildings and beautiful mosques layer the hill up to the fortress, and is positioned right along the river that runs through the city.
Take some time to walk around and admire the architecture, pop in the shops, and listen to the live music in the streets.
The Old Town is the most picturesque part of Prizren.
Things to Do in Prizren #2: Climb to the Top of the Fortress
One of the top things to do in Prizren is to go up to the fortress. It is completely free of charge to visit, and despite it looking like quite the hike, it really only takes around 10-15 minutes to get up to.
The views leading up to the fortress are also super beautiful.
Perched right above the Old Town, the fortress has spectacular views of Prizren, and we particularly recommend visiting during sunset.
The fortress has beautiful views of the Old Town.
Things to Do in Prizren #3: Visit the Street of Umbrellas
While the Old Town of Prizren is super Instagrammable, there is also a beautiful street covered in umbrellas on the other side of the city. Head to the ABI Carshia Shopping Center and you'll find that the entrance has a long street covered in colorful umbrellas. Not only that, but here is where you'll find some of the better shopping in the city.
There's a shopping center in Prizren that is covered with colorful umbrellas.
Things to Do in Prizren #4: Listen to Live Music Along the Water
Let's head back over to the Old Town. Right in the center you'll find restaurants and bars lines up right across the river. Once that evening hits, you'll find that there is live music playing right in front of them, and you can even here it from up at the fortress! Grab a drink or early dinner and enjoy the musicians singing local music while enjoying the views around you.
Right along the river there are restaurants with live music.
Things to Do in Prizren #5: Enjoy the Nightlife
We visited Prizren on the weekend, and thought we were just going to have a nice dinner. As soon as we walked outside to go get our car we heard loud and energetic music playing. We decided to following the noise, and found that ther were tons of people partying right in the street! There were people dancing on the bar, guys with giant drums, and locals dancing their asses off. Needless to say, the vibe was incredible!
Corner bar is the name of the first bar we went to, and then we found a second one that was equally good with live music, just across the river.
One thing to keep in mind that is pretty much everyone smokes both inside and outside the bars, so chances you leave without wreaking of cigarettes are pretty low.
Prizren has super fun nightlife.
Things to Do in Prizren #6: Discover Jazinacko Lake
If you're looking for some beautiful nature outside of the city, there is an amazing lake that is pretty close to the big resorts on the countryside of Prizren. About 45 minutes away, this lake is a hidden gem of Kosovo. The trek is a big adventure though. At 18 km, it takes around 5-7 hours of hiking to make it to this beautiful spot and back.
Things to Do in Prizren #7: Go up to the Prizren Viewpoint
While one of the most popular things to do in Prizren is to visit the fortress for great views, there is actually another viewpoint that you can check out. The Prizren viewpoint is 15 minutes outside the Old Town. and can be reached with a car to show you some breathtaking views of the city and the mountains surrounding it.
Things to Do in Prizren #8: Visit the Monastery of the Holy Archangels
Speaking of gran views, on our way to our hotel outside the center of Prizren we saw a large stone structure that caught our attention. We decided to stop by, and realized that it is actually a large monastery.
The monastery is between the Old Town and the resorts of Prizren.
We roamed around and admired the monastery, and then also saw that there was a path up to the stone structure above it. A 15 minute steep hike along the rocks was definitely not the best choice for a hot summer day, but the views from the top truly were beautiful.
The top of the trail gives you beautiful views of the monastery down below.
There were parts of the trail that felt particularly dangerous. We don't recommend people to go up here if they are not in great shape, or are not well prepared. Please proceed with extreme caution if you happen to choose to make the climb up, and don't go by yourself.
The climb up is steep, so be super careful.
Things to Do in Prizren #9: Relax at a Spa
One of our favorite things to do in Prizren that we experienced was relaxing at a spa. Our hotel (Hotel Sharri) had several heated pools, an infinity pool, and saunas. Located in the mountains, this was truly the perfect way to enjoy the scenery and take a break from the busy schedule that we had.
Hotel Sharri has an awesome spa surrounded by the mountains.
Things to Do in Prizren #10: Check Out a Nearby Waterfall
When we posted about the waterfall in Prizren, we actually had a ton of locals messaging us wondering where it was! It truly is a hidden gem of the area, and is a great place to stop. Located in the small town of Korishe just 10-15 minutes outside of the city is a waterfall tucked away in the middle of nowhere.
The waterfall is just right next to the parking lot, and there is also a restaurant on site. One thing to note though, is that bathing suits are not permitted. Right when we were taking the photo below we were told we needed to put on clothes because it was a "family place". Truthfully, this is the first time in my life that I went to a piece of nature and was told that I couldn't wear a swimsuit, so if you do want to swim, we suggest going super early before anyone else is there.
This waterfall is just outside the city of Prizren.
Things to Do in Prizren: The Best Places to Eat & Drink
We had a limited time in Prizren, so we made sure to get some of the best local recommendations in town. Here are some of the spots that you should eat at in Prizren.
Hani I Jveter
This was recommended to us by several people, so we made a reservation just hours before. The restaurant is traditionally decorated, romantically lit, and has both indoor and outdoor seating, The food was incredible, and so was the service. They even have a special dish that you need to use a sword to cut off the top! If there is one place to eat in Prizren that we suggest you to try as a traveler, then it truly is this one.
Hani i Jveter restaurant in Prizren has delicious local food.
Boheme
Right along the river there are a few restaurants lined up. Starting from the afternoon, you can find live music, and crowds starting to flood the area. We chose to stop by this particular one to just have a drink. The atmosphere was great, and there was a table of locals next to us that had gotten this massive leg of meat to share for the table. Between the great live music, being on the water, and that delicious looking food, we definitely have this on our list of places to return to.
Quick Bar
Looking for a cute spot to have a drink or to smoke some shisha? Well, thick spot is tucked down a small street, and super adorably decorated.
Quick bar has a super fun vibe to it.
Cioccolat Italiani
If you plan on going to the shopping center with all of the colorful umbrellas, then make sure to stop here for some coffee and ice cream. Everything is super easy, the servers are super nice, and the patio has a great vibe to it.
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Getting Around Prizren, Kosovo
If you plan on just visiting the highlights of things to do in Prizren, then you can easily get around by foot. However, if you'd like to visit some of the surrounding spots such as the monastery or the waterfall, then it is definitely much more advised to have a car.
While we didn't see any car rental companies in Prizren, it will certainly be worth it to rent a car in Pristina, or from whatever other major city you are coming from.
We definitely recommend driving so that you can admire the surrounding landscapes of the area.
Rent a car in Pristina:
We found parking in the Old Town to be limited, but the lots were pretty affordable. If you do have a car, it will be easier to base yourself outside of the Old Town, or to find accommodation that includes parking.
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Where to Stay in Prizren, Kosovo
There are two types of stays that we recommend for Prizren. The first is to stay inside the Old Town. This is where to top thing to do in Prizren area, and where you can find great restaurants and bars to go out at night. Overall, this is perfect for those that want convenience, or are young travelers.
The Old Town is one of the best places to stay in Prizren.
Book a place to stay in Prizren's Old Town:
Another option that we love is to stay in the mountains outside the city. We stayed at Hotel Sharri, which was just a 15 minute drive outside the Old Town. It had an amazing spa, and overall a great vibe for being out in nature and having a relaxing stay. We had a car, which made this stay much easier for going back and forth to the center.
Hotel Sharri is located in the mountains right outside the city of Prizren.
Is Prizren Safe?
Due to the conflict with Serbia, many people are scared to go to Kosovo. However, after spending some time there, we can confidently say that Kosovo is super safe, especially the city of Prizren. People were extremely warm and welcoming, and we find that it can be a great destination for all types of travelers.
Prizren is safe to walk around even at night.
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Other Things to Know About Visiting Prizren in Kosovo
Now that you know the best things to do in Prizren, how to get around, and other local adjustments, here are a few other things to keep in mind when visiting.
Weather in Prizren
Prizren experiences all four seasons, with hot summers, and cold winters. Being that it is surrounded by the mountains, it can get chilly at night from the end of summer to end of spring. We visited in the summer, and it was extremely hot during the day, with very pleasant temperatures at night time.
Prizren is a great place to experience both in winter and summer.
The Best Time to Visit Prizren, Kosovo
We personally think that Prizren is beautiful year round, and can be appreciated in all seasons. In the summer it had a really good vibe at night, and we loved hanging out at the pool at our resort in the mountains. We also think that it would be super beautiful covered in snow, and it would be a great time for a spa experience there.
Packing For a Trip to Prizren
If you plan on staying at a resort like us, or going to a spa, you'll want to bring a swimsuit, flip flops (our favorite are Havaianas), and sunscreen if you plan on walking around. We also suggest comfortable shoes for climbing up to the fortress, and a reusable water bottle (we use Cafago to refill at the fountain in the center of the city.)
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So are you ready to discover the most beautiful city in Kosovo? Prizren is the perfect place to spend 2-3 days to enjoy the city, and the beautiful landscapes around it.
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