7 Days Backpacking Kosovo Itinerary for First-Timers

7 Days Backpacking Kosovo Itinerary

Day 1 - 2: Pristina (2 nights)

Our backpacking itinerary begins in Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, a vibrant and diverse city full of interesting architecture, lively cafe culture, and interesting way of life that will give you a glimpse of what it is like to live in one of the newest countries in the world, gaining independence only in 2008.

First order of business, we are going to visit the National University Library of Kosovo which many people considered to be the ugliest building in the world but to tell you the truth, I do not know what the hell they were talking about. This place is freaking amazing!

I think the library is one of the most unique-looking stunning piece of architecture I have ever seen, and it really make Pristina stands out from the other capital cities in the Balkans.

In fact, it is one of the main reasons why I want to visit this city in the first place! The library's stunning glass facade and imposing design are what make this structure stand out for me. Out of all the places I have visited in Pristina, this is the most memorable landmark of all. I even dare say this is the mother of all Brutalist buildings!

The library is open to the public and offers a wide range of services and resources, including access to books, journals, and multimedia materials, so be sure to go inside and check out the interior before we continue our exploration of Pristina.

There is also an abandoned Orthodox church on the premises of the library, which still retains its impressive exterior, so be sure to drop by there after you are done at the library.

Once you are done at the national library, walk across the main road, and you will find the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa, one of the most prominent structures in the city with an impressive bell tower that you can climb up to the top to get an incredible vantage point over the city and the surrounding areas.

Since it was only built in 2010, the cathedral boasts a grandeur and modern design, both from the outside and inside, unlike the other Brutalist building designs you will find elsewhere in Pristina. Inside, you will find a nice modern-looking nave with wooden ceilings and benches, a beautiful modern take on the European Cathedral design that is a breath of fresh air to see.

The best part of the Cathedral though is not the interior but its 70 meters bell tower, one of the tallest structures in the city that you can go up with an elevator all the way to the top for an incredible view of the city.

To get access to the elevator, you are going to have to pay around 1.5 EUR, and you will have access to both the interior and the elevator to go up the bell tower, which is a pretty good deal. Spend around 15 minutes up there to admire the view of Pristina above before we continue exploring the capital city.

One of the liveliest places you will find in Pristina is Mother Theresa Boulevard, the commercial hub of the city where a pedestrian street runs through the city center with both sides of the street, lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, and park benches you can hang out at.

This is why I would recommend you check out Mother Theresa Boulevard after you are done with the cathedral. I just love how spacious the square is, with trees and park benches along the street, allowing me to sit and relax in between my exploration of Kosovo, watching the locals out and about, enjoying themselves.

If you can manage to align your visit to Sundays, you will be surprised how lively this place gets, with the main road that stretches from the square all the way to the cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa closed off from traffic, and ping pong tables, basketball hoops, and make-shift futsal fields, sprung up along the streets. A really fun and lively environment to be in!

Since the streets around the city center are all connected together, you should be able to visit the National Library, the cathedral, and the boulevard all in one go without having to via off course.

While you are in Pristina, also be sure to check out Kurrizi or "The Spine", a massive high-rise apartment building followed by chains of shops, stacked on top of each other, reminiscent of the spine, a result of the 80s housing project designed to house the 80s thriving middle class.

It was the social fabric of the people in Kosovo during the troubling years, and after its deterioration during the 90s, the people living in these stacked buildings were able to preserve the sense of freedom that Kurrizi was known for, which makes for a great place to explore if you wish to see what life is like in Pristina during the 90s.

Also, after you are done with Kurrizi, be sure to drop by and check out the Statue of Bill Clinton, a monument erected in 2009 depicting Clinton with his arm raised and a broad smile on his face, standing tall on the street that was named after the US 42nd president. I've never seen Bill Clinton more revered than here, not even in the US.

Other notable attractions you should check out while you are in Pristina are the Imperial Mosque (Džamija Cara), one of the most sacred and beautiful mosques in the city, the Kosovo Museum, and Ethnographic Museum, great places to visit if you want to learn more about the history of Kosovo, and so much more.

After spending the entire day exploring Pristina, it is time to retreat for the night and prepare for our next destination, Peja, the hiking capital of the country, where we will be tackling a few small hikes here and there in the next few days so be sure to prepare yourself!

Looking for a complete travel guide to Pristina?11 Best Things to Do in Pristina

Getting from Pristina to Peja

To get from Pristina to Peja (Peć), you should be able to catch one of the many buses that connect the 2 cities together from the Pristina Bus Terminal which is walkable from Pristina City Center. There are several buses running this route from 7 AM to 8:40 PM every day. The bus runs every 20 minutes or so and should cost between 5 - 10 EUR. You can check out the bus schedule here. If you can't find Peja, try typing in Peć as your destination, which is the Serbian name of the city.

In Kosovo, you do not have to buy bus tickets at the bus station unless you are traveling internationally. For local buses, just go on the bus, and there will be a staff that comes and collects money when the bus departs. You can ask the terminal staff to point you to the right bus as well as the price so you can prepare enough cash for the trip. No credit card is accepted for local buses here.

Day 3 - 4: Peja (2 nights)

Sits on top of the ruins of an ancient Roman town, Siparantum, right on the foothills of the famous Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps), Peja is known as one of the oldest towns and one of the best hiking spots in the country and is what we will be doing here.

But first, we should explore the city and see what it has to offer by starting in Peja Bazaar, a long pedestrian street lined with all kinds of local shops selling all sorts of things from clothes to spices.

It is one of the oldest commercial areas in the region, dating back to the Ottoman period, and you can still find original artisan shops here, such as the Albanian cap-makers, gown-makers, tapestry-makers, shoemakers, watch-makers, and even goldsmiths. Some of these shops have been operating for decades! A great place to stroll around and get a feel of this city before we give the city undivided attention the next day.

For the first full day in Peja, we are going to spend the morning half of the day doing some hiking to see why Peja is considered the best hiking spot in the country.

One of the best short easy hikes you can do in Peja is Livadhi Sakes Trail, a small 3 hours hike that will take you along the foothill of the Accursed Mountains, up to a beautiful opening where you will be able to enjoy a nice view of Peja from above as well as a great vantage point to see some of the beautiful peaks of the surrounding mountains here.

The trail begins from this trailhead on the western side of town. You should be able to reach the trailhead on foot from Peja city center in about 20 - 30 minutes. You can stroll along the riverside boardwalk I recommended earlier so that you can get a glimpse of the view you will be seeing during the hike.

Along the way, you will be surrounded by a beautiful lush green forest set against the backdrop of Peja and the surrounding mountains. There will be rest stops along the way that will provide a nice vantage point over Peja so be sure to keep an eye out for one.

From the trailhead, it should take about 1 hour before you arrive at Livadhi Sakes, which is a nice spacious opening on the foothills of the Accursed Mountains with an incredible view of the surrounding mountains.

At the viewpoint, you will find several park benches where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view as you are surrounded by a spacious grassy area, lush green forests, and the beautiful mountain peaks that make the Accursed Mountains so popular among hikers.

Once you are done at the viewpoint, you can make your way down to the main road, cross the river, and make your way back to Peja, but before that, we are going to stop by some of the tourist attractions in Peja along the way.

One of the first attractions you will stumble upon as you make your way back to Peja is the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, a medieval Serbian Orthodox monastery that is considered one of the most important cultural and religious sites in the region and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a must-visit place in Peja.

The monastery contains several churches, all of which are adorned with beautiful and incredibly detailed frescoes that are considered some of the finest examples of medieval Serbian art out there. The amount of details of these frescoes in the monastery is mind-blowing, to say the least.

From left to right, from top to bottom, the entire interior of some of these churches is covered entirely by these intricately designed frescoes in all the colors the human eyes can register.

After you are done at the monastery, you can continue east until you arrive at Rugova Canyon tourist information center where you can rent a bike and ride west towards Rugova Canyon, the canyon we just saw from afar during the hike.

With the bike, you can visit some of the most popular viewpoints along the canyon or you can zipline across the canyon for 10 EUR instead if you have never done it before.

After you are done exploring Rugova Canyon, you can make your way back to town and visit Peja Town Square, a more modern side of town where you will find yourself surrounded by Brutalist and modern buildings set against the beautiful Accursed Mountains.

It is another lively area of Peja surrounded by all sorts of cafes and restaurants and a perfect place for you to rest after a long day of exploration and indulge yourself in the delicious local cuisines here.

If you are looking for a big local grilled meat platter, I highly recommend you check out a local restaurant located somewhere around here that serves a great selection of grilled meats where you can select a bunch of them and try. You know the restaurant is extremely local when it is unmarked on Google Maps!

For the dish above, it only costs me 4 EUR, which is a deal you won't find anywhere else but in Kosovo. After dinner, you can spend more time exploring the square or retreat for the night and prepare for your trip to Prizren the next day.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Peja?8 Best Things to Do in Peja

Getting from Peja to Prizren

To get from Peja (Peć) to Prizren, you should be able to catch one of the many buses that connect the 2 cities together from the Peja Bus Terminal. There are several buses running this route from 6:45 AM to 5:15 PM every day. The bus runs every 1 - 2 hours and it should cost between 5 - 10 EUR. You can check out the bus schedule here.

Day 5 - 7: Prizren (2 nights)

Located on the banks of the Prizren River between the foothills of the Šar Mountains in southern Kosovo, Prizren is the second largest city in the country and is considered to be the history capital of Kosovo, due to its long rich heritage that dated all the way back to the bronze age which makes for a great place to visit as we explore Kosovo.

From the Romans to the Byzantines to the Serbians to the Ottomans, the city had always been the cultural and intellectual center of the region for centuries. Because of that, you will find some of the country's most well-preserved structures and historical buildings here, in Prizren.

Out of all the historical places I visited in Prizren, Prizren Fortress has got to be my favorite. This medieval fortress perched atop a hill overlooking the city offers one of the best viewpoints in the city. Hell, I would even go as far as to claim this to be one of the best viewpoints in the entire country!

It is also a popular place for both locals and travelers alike to sit back, relax, and experience the magnificent sunset as it dips behind the mountainous landscapes surrounding Prizren.

It is the best time to visit the fortress, and I highly recommend you make your way up around an hour before sunset so you can explore the fortress first before finding a nice spot to sit and enjoy the sunset.

The best sunset spot is, of course, on the walls right above the front entrance you entered the fortress from. The walls are facing west, providing the perfect sunset spot as well as incredible views over the Prizren and its mountainous landscapes.

If you arrive in Prizren in time for sunset, you can hit the ground running and go straight to the fortress to watch the sunset before retreating for the day, or you can leave it for the next evening as we will have the entire day dedicated to exploring this wonderful city.

The next day, we are going to explore Prizren's Old Town, home to all kinds of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as beautiful old buildings, narrow streets, and a pretty riverfront street, perfect to start your exploration of Prizren.

This area is one of the liveliest neighborhoods in the city, and you will find many people from all over the city coming out in droves and hanging out in this area, socializing with one another, indulging themselves in the awesome riverfront restaurants and cafes, especially after sundown.

While you explore Prizren's Old Town, you might start noticing many people hanging out in cafes, socializing and enjoying each other's company at all hours around the old town area.

Kosovo is well known for its awesome coffee culture. It is part of their identity, and you can clearly see that by the number of cafes you find across the country, one of the most well-known and well-established of all, is the Prince Coffee House, a local cafe chain that rivals Starbucks in every way but way WAY cheaper!

With the same comfy vibe of Starbucks and a wide variety of fresh coffee and pastry selections, but at a very affordable price of around 1.5 EUR for a cup of coffee, after you had a coffee here, you will start to wonder why you pay so much for Starbucks!

Before we cross the river and explore the other side of Prizren, I highly recommend you walk west from the old town and check out the Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, a stunning cathedral featuring a striking neo-Gothic design and towering spires that dominate the city's skyline.

once you are done, you can cross the Stone Bridge that connects the 2 sides of the city together, which is a tourist attraction in itself with its beautiful iconic Ottoman-style stone arch bridge that reminds us how influential the Ottomans were to his part of Europe.

Located not too far from the Stone Bridge, you will find Xhamia e Emin Pashës Mosque, a small but very impressive mosque with one of the most colorful interiors you will see here.

It is one of the hidden gems of the city that not many tourists know about. I mean, Prizren in itself is already a hidden gem, but this mosque is a hidden gem inside a hidden gem, so be sure to drop by here when you are in Prizren.

Other tourist attractions in Prizren you should check out are the Mother of God of Ljeviš Church, a beautiful 14th Century Orthodox considered part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Turkish Bath, a well-preserved Turkish bath with its walls and roofs still intact, and the Albanian League of Prizren, a museum dedicated to the political organization who advocate for the rights and interests of the Albanian people, who were living under Ottoman rule at the time.

With all of these tourist attractions in Prizren, it should occupy your entire day here. You can spend the rest of the evening relaxing at your accommodation or hanging out at Prizren's Old Town and trying some of the delicious local cuisines before you retreat for the day and prepare to travel out of Kosovo the next day, officially completing our itinerary! Congratulations!

Looking for a complete travel guide to Prizren?10 Best Things to Do in Prizren

Getting out of Prizren

From Prizren, you can continue on your journey to Albania, Montenegro, or North Macedonia. There should be plenty of international buses leaving from Prizren Bus Terminal heading towards these countries every day. You can check outgoing buses and their bus schedule here.

When to Visit Kosovo?

The best time to visit Kosovo is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm; great for visiting all the outdoor natural spots in Kosovo like Peja, and since Kosovo doesn't get as many tourists as other countries in Europe, you don't have to worry about the crowds when you travel here during the peak season as you do in places like Croatia.

The price can be a tiny bit higher for accommodations and tours during this period, but Kosovo is already extremely affordable compared to its neighbors, so you won't be expecting to pay that much more than if you were to visit during the shoulder seasons. All in all, if you want to do a lot of outdoor activities, I highly recommend you stick to the recommended period.

How to Get to Kosovo?

From the US, you can either fly into Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, via Turkish Airlines, leaving from big cities like New York and LA, which should take around 13 - 20 hours, including the transiting time in Istanbul.

From Europe, you can find a few direct flights flying from major European hubs to Pristina via airlines like Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, or you can also fly with low-cost airlines like Wizzair and Easyjet straight to Pristina.

You can also travel to neighboring countries like North Macedonia and Albania or even as far as Montenegro and take a bus from there. I took a bus from Kotor, Montenegro, to Prizren, taking around 8 hours, passing through Albania, and it went well. There is one bus running between Kotor and Prizren at 3 PM, so be sure to be at Kotor Bus Station on time. You will find significantly more buses from Albania and North Macedonia, and you can look up for bus schedules here.

From Asia, you can also fly with European or Middle Eastern airlines like Austrian or Turkish Airlines from any big cities in the region, and it should take you about 15 - 20 hours, including transit time, before you arrive in Pristina.

To find a cheap flight to Kosovo, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

How to Get Around Kosovo?

By Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to get around Kosovo. There are several buses running between major cities like Pristina and Prizren as well as to and from other neighboring countries like Albania and North Macedonia in case you are visiting Kosovo as part of a bigger trip in the Balkans.

For this itinerary, we will be relying on buses to travel around the country. Online ticketing for buses in Kosovo is not a thing quite yet, but you can still find bus schedules available here. Prices aren't listed, but the time is mostly accurate.

I relied on the website for my bus travels in Kosovo, and they were pretty spot on. The bus should cost between 3 - 10 EUR depending on the distance. You do not need to buy the ticket from the bus station, just go to the bus station, tell one of the staff working at the bus station where you want to go, and they will direct you to the right bus. The guy will come and collect the money as the bus departs the city. That's when you will pay for the bus.

By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from Pristina Airport and drive around Kosovo, but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, hit the link below to rent a car in Kosovo:

Rent a Car in Kosovo

How Much Money Do I Need for 7 days in Kosovo?

From this 7-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 7 nights in Kosovo, you can expect to pay around 56 EUR for accommodation, considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.

Food: For 7 days, 3 meals a day in Kosovo, you can expect to pay around 84 EUR for food, considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.

Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay approximately 30 EUR for bus tickets to get around the country.

Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Kosovo, you can expect to pay no more than 10 EUR for entrance fees to all the tourist attractions around the country combined.

Total Budget for 7 days in Kosovo: 180 EUR

Is it Safe in Kosovo?

It is extremely safe in Kosovo. I spent about a week traveling around the country independently, and I found Kosovo to be one of the safest places I've been to so far in the Balkans. People are extremely friendly here, and they would often come up to me to ask for photos which are awesome. Since the country doesn't get many tourists, they are all very welcoming and very happy for you to be visiting their country.

That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Kosovo independently.

Also, in the northern part of the country, bordering Serbia, where conflicts between the 2 countries are always brewing, you are best to avoid that area for now. This itinerary will not take you to this part of Kosovo, so do not worry about it.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Kosovo?

There are 2 major carriers in Kosovo, Vala, and IPKO, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Kosovo. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead, which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Kosovo.

If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.

The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip, so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country. Although sometimes, it takes a while to connect, which is understandable due to how recently the country gained independence and the infrastructure may not be in place quite yet.

For more information on esims in Kosovo, click here: Check Kosovo's Available eSim.

What to Pack for Kosovo?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kosovo:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Kosovo

I hope you found this Kosovo travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Kosovo, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
• You can't visit Kosovo without visiting Pristina, where it all began. If you are planning to visit the capital city of Kosovo, here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Pristina.
• Prizren is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kosovo, and a place you should not miss! If you are planning to visit Prizren, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Prizren.
• If you like hiking and nature, you are going to love Peja. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Peja.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Kosovo, visit the Kosovo Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.