Kosovo is the newest country in Europe and there are lots of great sites packed into this little country. If you have limited time, you can do the best things to do in Kosovo in this 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary, which includes a 48-hour car rental. This is a Kosovo Travel Blog of what I was able to see in Kosovo in only 3 days.
Day 1 of 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary
Pick up Your Car by Mid-Day
Perhaps you arrived in town in the morning. Pristina is connected by bus to Novi Pazar, Serbia and Skopje, Macedonia, among other destinations.
You will pick up your car at noon. There are a number of car rental agencies both in the center of the city and at the airport. If you’re busing into town or spending more time in Pristina, I recommend renting from one of the central agencies. We rented from Hertz at the base od the Grand Pristina Hotel. Although there are buses that connect the main cities, many of the most interesting sites are best visited by car.
Gadime Cave (Marble Cave) & Lunch
Marble Cave is a beautiful cave in the village of Gadime. It was only discovered in the 1960’s and is largely unexplored, but you can take a guided tour in a portion of it. I was amazed by the formations and crystals. Have lunch at the restaurant outside the cave. They have excellent salads.
Ferizaj Town Center
From the cave, you’re going to take the scenic route of highway R115. Your next stop is the town center of Ferizaj. Walk the pedestrian street, snack on some of the street food, and visit the iconic sight of a mosque next to a cathedral. Chat with the friendly locals.
Mountain Road to Prevalla
From Ferizaj, head south for a short while and head west on highway R115. This mountain road has great views. If you visit in fall, you can see fall colors and buy freshly picked walnuts. Take a break from the driving and stop at the charming mountain village of Prevalla. This small hiking and skiing village houses many vendors that sell wares including honey, cheese, walnuts, syrups, and fresh doughnuts.
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Prizren Dinner and Nightlife
From Prevalla you can continue on R115 into Prizren to check into your hotel. There are several hostels in town and lots of choices for hotel. There are some excellent hotels in the Prizren city center for very reasonable prices (Check Rates and Availability).
After checking in, take a stroll and have dinner near the river. If it’s the weekend, stop into one of the lively bars on the south side of the river.
Day 2 of 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary
Today will be a busy day, so make sure you have a good breakfast and coffee!
Hike to the Prizren Fortress & Visit Prizren Old Town
Leave your rental car parked at the hotel and set off on foot to the Old Town. Follow the signs up the hill from the main mosque to visit the Prizren Fortress for the most incredible view of the second largest city in Kosovo.
Gjakova
After your hike and an hour drive, it’s time for a coffee break. Head immediately to the “Old Bazaar” which is a pedestrian street lined with coffee shops and restaurants. If the weather is pleasant, you can sit outside and enjoy a beverage and people watch. You can get a light lunch such as a salad or wrap.
Visoki Decani Monastery
From Gjakova you will head north to Decan (or Desan), then west towards the mountains. We almost thought we were going the wrong way as we started seeing military compounds, road blocks, and menacing warning signs to not take photos. But we continued on and found ourselves at Visoki Decani Monastery, a heavily fortified Serbian Monastery deep in Kosovo. This monastery is protected 24-7-365 by the United Nations. We had to give up our passports and have our bags heavily searched to go inside the church grounds. No cameras were allowed, but they did allow cell phones to take photos on the exterior of the church. The armed UN peacekeepers outnumbered the Serbian monks.
I have seen some beautiful monasteries in my life, but this one was so beautiful it brought me to tears. The 14th century monastery is jamb packed with frescos, many painted with a rare blue paint from Afghanistan that at one time was more valuable than gold. After visiting the monastery, make sure you stop at the gift shop. Not only can you buy religious items such are rosaries and icons, you can also buy locally crafted honey, cheeses, liquor, and wine. You can even sample the wine (the monk giving us samples seemed like he had sampled a little too much that day)!
Patriarchate of Pec
If you haven’t had your fill of monasteries, head north to Peja then west on the M9 road to the Patriarchate of Pec Monastery. This monastery is less remote and has less security and more tourism facilities. While not as pretty as Visoki Decani Monastery, the red exterior is dramatic in the wooded hill surroundings. There is a small entry fee and audio guide in English for rent, as well as a well-stocked gift shop.
M9 Mountain Road
The M9 Mountain Road goes up over the mountains to Montenegro and offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the country. Follow the windy road up the mountain and stop to fill your bottles with spring water and stop to view ribbons of waterfalls. There are several restaurants serving local trout if you want an early dinner.
Get Some Dinner in Peja
By now it might be getting dark. Head over to Peja (home of the most famous beer in Kosovo) and take a walk on the pedestrian road along the river. For dinner, you can’t beat the restaurant at the Hotel Dukagjini – huge selection and reasonable prices. Drink some Peja beer on tap in the city of Peja.
Stay in a Kulla
If you’re up for a rustic historical homestay, you can stay in a traditional Albanian Kulla, a square tower with housing for farm animals and humans. The accommodations are quite rustic – you may or may not have running water and electricity (we had neither after a rain storm).
Alternatively, if rustic living isn’t your thing, stay in a nice hotel in Peja (Check Rates and Availability)
Day 3 of 3-Day Kosovo Itinerary
Today it’s time to head east and return to the capital city of Pristina. Have breakfast at your Kulla, hotel, or hit one of the many Kosovo bakeries as you head east on the M9.
Bear Sanctuary Pristhina
Before you return your car, it’s well worth the detour to visit the rescued bears at the Four Paws Bear Sanctuary Prishtina. It’s only a few dollars to visit the bears, and support the housing of these bears rescued from captivity. Most were previously caged in restaurants in Kosovo to attract customers. Now they have many acres to roam. Find out if it’s feeding time and you can get some great photos. Before you leave, have some soup or coffee at the Bear Sanctuary café.
Drop off the Car
Know your car rental return time and give yourself a little extra time as traffic in Pristina can be bad. Drop your car and check into your hotel so you don’t have to worry about storing your bags. It’s time for an afternoon walking tour of Pristina.
Mother Teresa Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa is one of the most prominent buildings in Kosovo. Mother Teresa is highly respected in this area of the Balkans, as she was ethnically Albanian like many people from Kosovo. Make sure you visit the inside to see the many stained glass windows, some depicting Mother Teresa herself.
World’s Ugliest Building (National Library of Kosovo)
The National Library of Kosovo, One of the world’s ugliest buildings is near the cathedral on the grounds of the University of Kosovo. Make sure you visit the inside as there are some great art in the rotunda.
Bill Clinton Statue
Another person revered in Kosovo is Bill Clinton, you can visit his statue along Bill Clinton Boulevard. The statue is waving so you can get your photo taken giving him a high five, or maybe something more X-rated (think Monica).
Sheshi Zahir Pajaziti Pedestrian Street
One thing I love about Kosovo is the pedestrian streets. Every city seems to have one and Pristina is no different. This street is like a park, with plenty of street food like roasted chestnuts and popcorn. Check at the national theater to see if there is a good play or opera to attend that evening. Make sure you also visit the famous Newborn Statue, just a couple blocks away.
Where to Stay in Pristina
There are 100’s of places to stay in Pristina. On the budget end, I recommend the White Tree Hostel, a hostel with a bar popular with locals on a quiet street that’s home to several embassies. On the upper end, you can’t beat the Swiss Diamond. Check Rates and Availability in Pristina.
Do you like my Kosovo Travel blog? Are there any other things to do in Kosovo that you suggest? Please leave a comment below.
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