30 Best Things to Do in Prishtina, Kosovo (Including My Favourite Places to Eat)

How to get to Prishtina

Pristina is easy to get to from other Balkan cities.

Pristina also has some of the cheapest flights so if you are elsewhere in Europe it’s very inexpensive and easy.

The most popular way to travel to the Balkans is by bus.

If you’re coming from Tirana, Skopje, Sofia or Belgrade, there are direct buses to and from Prishtina.

Is Prishtina safe?

Yes, Prishtina is safe!

It’s one of Europe’s youngest cities and it’s also one of the most progressive in my opinion.

I felt safer in Prishtina than in most other European capitals.

1. Visit the statue of Mother Teresa

Outside of the euro information centre is a statue in memory of the great Mother Teresa.

She was born in today’s North Macedonia, but she was of Albanian descent.

As the vast majority of people in Kosovo are Albanian, she’s very important to the locals here.

2. See the cathedral of Mother Teresa

More important than the statue is the cathedral of Mother Teresa.

It’s just off the main boulevard, and it was consecrated in 2017, on the 20th anniversary of her death.

3. Take the lift up the cathedral bell tower

To get the best view of Prishtina, take the lift up the cathedral’s bell tower, which is about 70 metres tall.

It costs a small fee of around €1 to €2, in cash.

From the top, you gain a magnificent view of the city as well as far in the distance.

You can visit the tower daily in the morning or early afternoon.

4. Check out the mosques of Prishtina

Kosovo is home to over 500 mosques so there is plenty to check out when you visit Prishtina.

Two of the best are the Imperial Mosque (built in 1461) and the Jashar Pasha Mosque (built in 1834), which was restored with Turkish government funding.

5. Ethnological museum

Within the old part of Prishtina, you can find a treasure of history at the ethnological museum.

Make your way to the Emin Gjiku Complex which was owned by one of the wealthiest families in the country.

The residence is set exactly like it would have originally.

If you want a visual look into an old wealthy home, then this is a great spot to visit.

The keeper of the museum is happy to show you around!

The museum is open from Tuesday-Sunday.

6. Newborn monument

The newborn monument celebrates Kosovo’s independence.

Kosovo is Europe’s newest country, declaring independence in 2008, but some countries, including Serbia, Russia, China and Spain, still don’t recognise it.

If you enter Kosovo from Albania, North Macedonia or Montenegro, you can’t cross straight from Kosovo into Serbia, because Serbia sees that as entering the country illegally.

You can still visit Serbia afterwards, as long as you go in through another country.

Serbia and Kosovo’s relationship is very complex so I will not get into it on this website.

If you would like to learn more about the history of these two countries, it’s best to learn from the local’s perspective of both sides.

7. See the ‘ugliest library in the world’

I don’t personally agree with the term ugly, to me the library of Pristina is unique and unlike any other building, I have seen in the world.

From the outside, it might look like an alien jail building but from the inside, it’s quite beautiful.

Make sure you don’t judge this book by its cover!

8. Wander around old Prishtina

The old town of Pristina is full of beautiful gems but sadly in the 1960’s most of it was destroyed.

There are a few buildings that remain from the 15th century.

Although the old bazaar was destroyed and replaced with ‘newer’ buildings, you can still find some great local markets which sell local artisan products and fresh produce.

9. Eat at Liburnia

This was my favourite restaurant when visiting Prishtina.

This beautiful restaurant has the most amazing local food.

Kosovo is known for having fantastic meat (sorry vegetarians!) and this is a great thing to have at Liburnia.

One of the best things to get here is the meat plate so you can try all the delicious types.

If you’re looking for a traditional meal to start off your adventures within Kosovo, then having a meal at Liburnia is a great start!

10. Visit the Skanderbeg statue

On the end of the boulevard is the prominent statue of Skanderbeg, an Albanian hero who fought against the Ottoman rule and ultimately led to Albania gaining independence.

After the conflict in 1999 with Serbia, Kosovo Albanians erected the statue of Skanderbeg as a symbol of independence from Serbia.

11. Stay at Prishtina Centre hostel

My favourite place to stay when I’m in Prishtina is Prishtina Hostel and Apartments.

This hostel has such a friendly vibe and the owner Bimi is a character you won’t forget!

The hostel is intimate and has 3 big bedrooms.

They also have private rooms upstairs if you prefer some peace and quiet rather than the hostel life.

The breakfast is amazing too, fresh bread with Ajvar and cheese!

The location is the best in the city as the hostel and private rooms sit looking over the boulevard making it a great base to explore the city!

12. Eat at Pishat

Another fantastic thing to do in the city is to eat at Pishat.

I had the sujuk which is a spicy sausage, with grilled vegetables.

You can get all the typical food from Kosovo at very affordable prices.

13. Visit the bear sanctuary

This was one of my favourite things to do whilst in Prishtina.

The bear sanctuary is only a short drive away from the centre.

Up until 2010 it was totally legal for homeowners or restaurants to keep wild bears.

Unfortunately, restaurant owners would keep them in small cages for the entirety of their life as ‘entertainment’.

They were very malnourished and badly looked after.

If restaurants closed the bears were just left to die.

That’s why the bear sanctuary opened in 2013 to house the bears in a natural environment just outside of the city.

Here they are safe, fed well and not used for any sort of entertainment.

Today the sanctuary is home to around 20 bears, which have all been rescued from horrible conditions.

You can go to support this amazing cause by visiting the sanctuary and donating, and if you’re lucky you might spot a bear or two!

I visited in the winter and got to see 2 bears, as most of them were in hibernation.

The sanctuary is open every day, and tickets are €4 for adults.

14. Relax at Germia Park

Germia is an extensive park located on the outskirts of the city.

In the summertime the park is buzzing with people enjoying the sunshine and enjoying a dip in the Germia public pool.

When I visited in winter, it was still very beautiful, and I spotted many families with snow sleds!

The park is around 62 kilometre square and has a big range of flora and fauna.

15. See a show by the National Theatre

Whilst in prishtina why not check out one of the shows at the National Theatre?

There are 3 theatres in Pristina, but the national theatre is the oldest and largest in Kosovo.

Don’t expect to pay exorbitant prices to see your favourite shows either!

The theatre building has been closed for renovation for a few years, so for now the National Theatre and the National Ballet perform at the Palace of Youth and Sports.

Check what’s on while you’re in town.

16. See the Bill Clinton statue

It’s no surprise that Bill Clinton is idolised in Kosovo as he was a huge help for ending the war against Kosovo and helping the country gain independence.

This 11-foot statue stands prominent, but it doesn’t stop there.

In fact, you will notice Bill Clinton’s name all over the place as well as Hillary’s!

17. See Lake Batllava

Lake Batllava is one of the largest lakes within Kosovo.

It serves as one of the main sources of water for Prishtina.

This beautiful lake is a great daytrip nature spot and is about a 45-minute drive from Prishtina.

18. See Lake Badovc

If you’re visiting the bear sanctuary, then you will see lake badovc on the way.

During spring and summer, this is a popular hangout for locals and tourists.

19. Have a coffee at Lulu’s

Lulus is one of my favourite little cafes within Prishtina.

You will notice Kosovo has a huge cafe culture.

Everyone is always out having a coffee and catch up with friends.

In Kosovo and Albania, a coffee date can be hours.

Coffee is an excuse to catch up with friends rather than the actual act of needing coffee.

20. Visit Gracanica Monastery

About 10 km south-east of Prishtina is the Serbian Orthodox Gračanica Monastery, and frequent local buses run there.

In the 6th century it was a Christian basilica, then in the 13th century from the ruins of the church, it turned into a church of Theotokos.

Gracanica monastery was then built on the ruins of that!

This monastery has a fascinating past.

Today it’s an important spiritual centre for the Serbian minority living in the region but also it serves as a national and political centre for them.

21. Enjoy a xhiro

Kosovo Albanians love a good xhiro!

A xhiro is a walk which usually happens at sunset/night-time.

This is the most popular time for locals to catch up whilst walking the streets.

22. Taste some rakia with a meat plate

Prishtina has plenty of small bars and traditional restaurants where you can try it.

Whilst in Prishtina you must try some raki which is a distilled alcohol made from grapes, peaches or any other fruit.

It’s a very strong alcohol which can spiral up to 80 proof if homemade.

Why not try a meat plate to help you digest the raki, or the other way around!

23. Take a day trip to Prizren

Prizren is Kosovo’s most beautiful old town, with Ottoman mosques, a stone bridge over the river and a fortress on the hill above.

It’s about an hour and a half from Prishtina, so it’s an easy day trip, and this day tour of Prizren from Prishtina takes care of the driving. Check availability →

24. Take a free walking tour

A great way to get your bearings around the city of Prishtina is by taking a walking tour with a local.

The free walking tour runs every day at 10am and 4pm, meeting at City Point near the Mother Teresa Cathedral.

The tour takes approximately 2.5 hours.

You can book a spot on GuruWalk, and it’s worth checking the times before you go in winter.

25. Visit the abandoned Christ the Saviour Cathedral

Just past the ‘ugly’ library, you will see the abandoned Christ the saviour cathedral.

Construction was halted during the Kosovo war and has left this cathedral unfinished and abandoned.

26. Check out the street art on Rruga B

If you want to check out the street art scene you must visit rruga B (street b) on the outskirts of the city centre.

This project was started by Q’art which is a local non-profit organisation promoting art within Prishtina.

International and national artists come every year to paint beautiful murals on the wall.

27. Eat at Baba Ganoush

If you are looking for a little bit of the Middle East in Kosovo, then Baba Ganoush restaurant is a great choice!

If you’re looking for great vegan and vegetarian food, then make sure you eat here.

Kosovo’s food can be very meat-heavy, so this is a nice change from the traditional restaurants that are in Prishtina.

I’m just gonna say it, Kosovo has some of the best food in the Balkans.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll love it here.

28. Enjoy a drink at Soma Book Station

Prishtina loves cafes and they also love bookstore cafes.

Soma is a popular hangout for food and drinks.

It’s a beautiful place, so make sure you check it out when you visit Pristina!

29. National Gallery

If you want a look into Kosovo’s art scene, make sure you check out the National Gallery.

Exhibitions change regularly, with a focus on contemporary art.

It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, and at weekends from 10am to 5pm.

30. Try a macchiato at Half & Half

Half and half cafe is another great hangout spot in the city.

But whilst you are in the city you should absolutely try a macchiato.

Many say that the locals of Kosovo can make better macchiatos than the Italians, but shh don’t tell them!

There’s your full guide on the best things to do in Prishtina!

I can’t wait to go back and find even more great spots in this city.