Best Places to Visit in Kosovo: Historical and Natural Beauties
- berfinozelsel
- Jul 15, 2024
- 7 min read
KOSOVO TRAVEL GUIDE
Kosovo is the third country of our Balkan Tour. We planned a one-day trip route for Kosovo. We set out from Skopje early in the morning and crossed the Kosovo border in 1.5 hours. We visited the must-see places of Pristina in one day and set out for Albania in the evening.
Our first impression of Kosovo, which has a 2-hour difference from Turkey, was that of a small, sweet and friendly country. After gaining its independence in 2008, it continues to develop with its reborn capital, Pristina. When we were planning our Balkan tour, we did not give this country a chance at first, but since it was very close to Macedonia, we planned a day trip here and it was a destination that we are glad we went to. The young population is high, the cafes are lively and they love Istanbul very much. You may think that Kosovo is not touristic, but I recommend you to review my article before being prejudiced. Here is our Kosovo Guide for you:
Travel Guide: Kosovo
History
Kosovo is a small country located in Southeastern Europe and in the very center of the Balkans. Its capital is Pristina. The title of Europe's youngest capital goes to Pristina. The official languages of the country are Albanian and Serbian. Turkish, Bosnian and Romani are also spoken. Euro is used as currency. Various ethnic groups live in Kosovo, but the majority are Albanians. Since the country remained under Ottoman rule for many years, the Muslim population is high.
I . It remained under Ottoman rule until the Balkan War, and then came under Serbian rule. II. During the World War, it had the status of a province of Yugoslavia.
After being occupied for many years, it unilaterally declared its independence after the war with Serbia in 2008. Today, it is still not recognized by all countries. Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, and during our trip to Serbia, we even witnessed "Kosovo is Serbia" written on the bridges with spray paint. It accepts the region as 'Kosovo and Metohiya Autonomous Region'.
Places to Visit and See
Skanderbeg Square -Shesi ''Sk ёnderbeu'', Prishtinё
As in every Balkan city, there is a Skanderbeg Statue here too. It is located in the main square of the city, where you will start your tour.
National Library of Kosovo ''Pjetёr Bogdani''
While researching Kosovo, I first came across the images of this library and as soon as I saw it, I said I had to go here.
For some, it is described as the ugliest building(?) in Europe. This library, which is among the 10 ugliest buildings in the world, was opened in 1982. I think Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjakovic, who designed the library with iron cages to criticize the harsh architecture of the former Yugoslavia, has created a work of art and makes this building unique!
It has 99 domes. Their domes look like white balloons, and it looks like an iron fishing net has been thrown over these balloons to prevent them from flying. You should also see the interior design of the library, do not forget to visit it!
NEWBORN Monument
Located in front of the stadium is the monument, which is the most popular tourist attraction in Kosovo.
It was built in honor of Kosovo's independence. This monument is a symbol of the country that gained its independence very late.
They recolor and change the monument with a different concept every year. At first it was painted only yellow, then it was decorated with the flags of the countries that recognized the country, and then the design of the monument began to change every year on February 17. It was shaped according to local social and political events. You should definitely visit this monument!
MOTHER TERESSA CATHEDRAL
Mother Teresa Cathedral (Katedralja e Nënë Terezës) is one of the most important religious and cultural buildings in the country. The cathedral is located in the center of Pristina, on Vojvode Putnika Boulevard. The cathedral is dedicated to Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Mother Teresa is known worldwide for her charitable work for the poor and needy. The cathedral took this name to honor his legacy and keep his memory alive.
Mother Teresa Cathedral is one of the important symbols of Pristina and has great importance both religiously and culturally. It attracts attention with its modern architecture and hosting religious and cultural events. If you ever come to Kosovo, visiting this impressive structure will help you better understand the country's rich cultural and religious heritage.
Christ the Savior- Serbian Orthodox Church
Kosovo was the center of the Serbian Empire during the Middle Ages, and many Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries were built during this period. This church is located right next to the National Library.
Serbian Orthodox Churches and Monasteries in Kosovo represent the region's rich religious and cultural heritage. These structures serve as important centers of worship for the Serbian Orthodox community and are of great value in terms of history, art and architecture.
HEROINAT Monument
This monument was built with 20,145 medals, symbolically honoring the versatile contribution and sacrifice of Albanian women during the Kosovo war. At the same time, this monument is a reminder of the brutal crime of rape committed by Serbian forces against approximately 20,000 women during the last war. With the contributions and sacrifices of all women combined, the great portrait of the Kosovo hero is shaped. This portrait symbolizes the weight of the scars left by the war.
FATIH SULTAN MEHMET MOSQUE
The mosque was built in 1460 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet the Conqueror. This mosque is an important building reflecting the architectural features of the Ottoman period and is one of the oldest and largest mosques in Kosovo. More than just a place of worship, the mosque is an important part of Pristina's historical and cultural heritage.
This building, which bears the traces of the Ottoman period, is frequently visited by local people and tourists. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Mosque is actively used today and continues to be an important place of worship for the Muslim community. When you visit this mosque, which dates back to the Ottoman period in the 15th century, you will also see the Clock Tower next to it.
Mother Theresa Boulevard -Shesi Street
The street going down from the statue in Iskenderbeg Square, this is the main street of the city, many cafes and restaurants are located on this street. You will encounter statues, monuments and street arts along this busy, traffic-free street.
Other Points to Visit;
Bazaars in Pristina : Bazaars in the capital Pristina are a great spot for traditional handicrafts and local delicacies. If you have more than a day, you can also visit these places.
Kosovo Museum and Ethnography Museum
Yaşar Pasha Mosque
'Bill Clinton' Statue
Prizren Castle : Famous for its cultural and historical riches, the city of Prizren fascinates its visitors with its old churches and streets. Its historical castle offers magnificent views.
Decani Monastery : The monastery, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, attracts attention with its frescoes from the Middle Ages.
Gjakova : Known for its lively markets and historical buildings, the city of Gjakova is an ideal destination for traditional handicrafts.
Gracanica Monastery
Albi Mall ; You can visit the shopping mall in Pristina if you need or want to visit, you will come across many Turkish stores.
What Should We Eat?
Kosovo cuisine is meat-based. You can try delicacies such as Burek (meat pastry), Flija (traditional dessert), Tavë Kosi (meat dish with yoghurt) and Baklava.
Liburnia; You can choose the authentic restaurant, whose interior design we like very much, for dinner.
Bagolina; The place I can recommend for breakfast.
Proper Pizza; They have branches in many parts of the city, you can also choose this place with delicious pizzas.
There are many cafes in Pristina, and they have beautifully designed cafes where the young population usually spends their time.
· Soma Book Station; It can be preferred for breakfast, we tried coffee and cocktails, it was very good, there is also a library inside, you can spend time reading books,
· Half and Half
· Dit'e Nat' ; Side by side with 'Soma Book Station'
How to go? / Transport
Kosovo is among the countries you can visit from Turkey without a visa. You can reach Kosovo from Turkey and various points in Europe by plane or bus.
The most convenient way to reach Kosovo is by plane. In fact, most Balkan tours start from here because ticket prices are affordable. Pristina airport is 18 km from the city center and takes about 30 minutes by car.
Traveling from Kosovo to Serbia or from Serbia to Kosovo; This issue also needs to be mentioned:
Kosovo's biggest border is with Serbia. Foreigners cannot cross here because it is not recognized by Serbia. The land borders that tourists can cross are Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. After entering Kosovo from Skopje, we moved on to Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and then Serbia. Pay attention to this when planning your travel route.
If you want to go to Kosovo by bus, there are roads connecting to Pristina from many cities, including Tirana, Podgorica and Sofia.
Within the country, public transportation options, especially buses and taxis, are widely used. Before traveling around the city, after entering the country, we entered the city's shopping mall, ALBI Mall, and after parking our car there, we reached the city center by taxi, so we did not have to worry about looking for parking in the city center. Since the places to visit are close to each other, after completing our trip, we took a taxi again to the shopping mall. We returned to .
When to Go?
Kosovo; It has a humid continental climate. Winters are snowy and cold and summers are hot.
The best times to visit Kosovo are spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). During these periods, the weather conditions are more suitable and the tourist density is less.
KOSOVO-PRISTINA
POINTS TO TAKE PHOTOS
Suggestions
When traveling in Kosovo try to communicate with local people, they try to be very helpful.
When using a taxi, you can get together with a few people and share the fare, so that they cannot charge too much because you are a tourist.
For those who will travel by car; Even though we had your green insurance, when we were crossing the Kosovo border from Macedonia, they made us take out vehicle insurance at the customs gate for their own country. Paid 15 euros.
For intercity travels, it is recommended to make bus and train reservations in advance.
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