Considering it’s one of Europe’s youngest capitals, Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, really had me thinking what I might find there. I definitely wasn’t expecting the usual cobbled-street European old town or ancient buildings. But I will say, I was surprisingly impressed with Pristina.
Picture striking concrete architecture, Ottoman mosques, and a busy boulevard lined with Cafés. Strolling past the Newborn monument, wondering what the heck the infamous National Library is (more on my thoughts later), and admiring the great Mother Theresa Cathedral just about tips the iceberg.
And it’s not just the city centre. Ancient Roman ruins, Monasteries and brown bears are close enough for a day trip, giving you a little more to add to your Kosovo itinerary.
I’ll be honest, if you’re after Instagram worthy surroundings, Pristina likely won’t be for you. But what Pristina lacks in good looks, it more than makes up for in character and history.
In this guide, I’ll be sharing my favourite things to do in Pristina, along with a few practical tips to help you plan your visit.
You might also like:
- How To Take A Day Trip From Tirana To Kosovo (Prizren & Pristina)
- How To Take A Day Trip From Tirana To North Macedonia
- 19 Best Things To Do In Tirana (Before Everyone Else Discovers It)
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Where is Pristina?
Pristina, also written on local signs as Prishtina, is in the north-east of Kosovo, in the Western Balkans. It’s roughly 90 km from Prizren and 80 km from the border with North Macedonia.
Pristina is a relatively compact city, so it’s super easy to get around the city. It’s also a fantastic base for visiting other parts of Kosovo, like Prizren, Peja and the nearby Gracanica Monastery.
How to Get to Pristina
From Tirana
I came to Pristina from Tirana, Albania. The easiest options are to hire a car and drive yourself, or take a guided tour, which is what I did. The journey takes around four hours but this can increase with border crossing delays.
From Skopje
There are direct buses from Skopje to Pristina a few times throughout the day. The journey is about 90 km and takes around two hours, including the border crossing. Buses leave from Skopje’s bus station and arrive at Pristina’s bus station.
By air
Pristina International Airport is about 15 km from the city centre. From the airport, you can take a taxi or the airport shuttle bus into town. I tend to prebook an airport transfer when I first land in an unknown city.
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How to Get Around Pristina
As I mentioned earlier, Pristina is an extremely walkable city. And most of what you’ll want to see are right in the centre, so you likely won’t even need to take a bus.
If you do want to use a bus, they’re extremely cheap at just €0.60–€0.80. You can use the Trafiku Urban app to find the right bus route and times.
Even taxis are relatively cheap compared to other European cities so if buses aren’t your thing, taxis are the way to go. Make sure the driver starts the meter as soon as you get in.
Best Things to do in Pristina, Kosovo
1. Take a Guided Walking Tour
One of the first things I always try to do in a new city, is take a walking tour with a local. It really is the best way to learn about somewhere new.
Pristina’s architecture is an unusual mix of Ottoman-era buildings, Communist-era concrete structures and modern developments, so you’ll no doubt want to take lots of photos.
But having a tour guide take you from one building to the other makes it even more immersive.
Starting at the Mother Teresa Cathedral, this free walking tour takes you to five different locations with a local guide sharing stories of Kosovo’s past and present, as well as fun facts.
If you’d prefer to take a private tour, this is a very reasonably priced option.
There’s also this street art walking tour, which I’m devastated I missed!
2. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa
The Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa’s twin bell towers stand out above the streets, and the building has a very different look from Pristina’s concrete landmarks.
I recommend heading inside to see the interior and the beautiful stained glass windows.
Quick note: The security is strict when it comes to attire, no shorts and shoulders must be covered. So come prepared (bring a scarf if necessary).
If the bell tower is open when your visit, take the lift up for a 360-degree view over the city, including the nearby National Library (more on that monstrosity later).
3. Grab a Pic of the Newborn Monument
The NEWBORN Monument is quite a big deal in Pristina. Located in the centre of the city, the sign was unveiled on 17 February 2008 on the day Kosovo gained its independence.
Fun fact: The sign gets a new design every year, so if you’ve seen pictures of it before it might not look the same as when you visit.
When NEWBORN was first unveiled, it was painted bright yellow, and people were invited to sign the letters. It’s also much bigger than it looks in photos, stretching 24 metres across the square.
Best place to snap a pic to make sure you get it all is across the road.
4. Visit the Emin Gjiku Ethnological Museum
Behind the high walls of Pristina’s old town, the Emin Gjiku Ethnological Museum gives you a peek inside one of the city’s traditional Ottoman-era homes. It’s built around two courtyards on Iliaz Agushi Street, near the Great Hammam and Imperial Mosque.
The name comes from Emin Gjinolli, whose family owned the house. His nickname was Emin Gjiku, and so it just stuck to the whole complex.
Inside the family home and guest house, exhibits show traditional clothing, household objects and customs from everyday life in Kosovo. The building is just as interesting as the displays, so have a wander through the courtyards before you head off.
5. See the National Library of Kosovo
Okay, I’m going to be honest. The National Library of Kosovo isn’t a building I love. But it is a one you’ve got to see.
The concrete blocks, white domes and metal grid make it impossible to miss, but all together it’s a bit much for me. I can appreciate how unusual it is, even if I wouldn’t call it beautiful.
The library opened in 1982 and was designed by Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković, who drew on Balkan, Byzantine, Romanesque and Ottoman influences. It’s beside the University of Pristina campus, a short walk from the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa.
But hear me out – it’s not just me. It’s also been named as one of the ugliest buildings in the world! I’d love to know what’s your take on this building.
6. Visit Gracanica Monastery
About 15 minutes south of Pristina takes you to Gračanica Monastery. It’s part of the UNESCO-listed Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, and I’d recommend pairing it with the nearby Roman ruins at Ulpiana.
If you’re not driving, you can take a taxi from the centre of Pristina, or the bus from Pristina bus station which heads towards Gjilan.
The church dates back to the early 14th century, and its interior is the main event. Almost every wall is covered in medieval frescoes, with scenes and figures painted across the arches, domes and upper walls.
Gracanica is an active Serbian Orthodox monastery, so you’ll need to quiet and dress respectfully. Security is also in place and enforce strict rules, and there’s no photography allowed inside.
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7. Wave at the Bill Clinton statue
A 10 foot statue of Bill Clinton waving at passing traffic isn’t what you’d expect to see in a small European city. But you’ll find this one on Bill Clinton Boulevard (of course), named in honour of the former US president.
The statue, which is painted gold, was unveiled in 2009, and it’s a striking glimpse of the gratitude many people in Kosovo feel for the role Clinton played during the Kosovo War.
8. See the Clock Tower
The Clock Tower, Stone Mosque, Jashar Pasha Mosque and Imperial Mosque are all in Pristina’s Ottoman-era quarter.
The tower dates to the 19th century, while the Imperial Mosque was built in 1460–61 during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II. Head inside and look up: the mosque’s 15-metre dome rises above an interior beautifully decorated with intricate floral patterns.
9. Explore the Roman ruins at Ulpiana
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about Kosovo’s Roman past, head to Ulpiana, near Gracanica Monastery.
This was once a Roman city, later known as Justiniana Secunda, and archaeological work is actually still uncovering more of the site. I recommend pairing it with the monastery for a day outside Pristina.
10. Visit the Heroinat Memorial
The Heroinat Memorial is a striking tribute to the women who experienced sexual violence during the Kosovo War.
From a distance, the thousands of small pieces form the profile of a woman’s face; up close, you can see the individual pins that make up the image.
It’s a sobering stop, and one that gives space to a part of the war’s history that was left unspoken.
11. Take a Day Trip to Prizren
Prizren is a beautiful little city located around 82 km south of Pristina – roughly an hour and 15 minutes by car. It was my favourite place in Kosovo.
Prizren gives you a different side of the country to explore: an old town strung along the Lumbardhi River, Ottoman mosques and stone bridges at street level, and a fortress perched above the rooftops.
The centre is compact enough you can do see it all by foot and I recommend starting at Shadërvan Square, the old town’s natural meeting point, then cross the Old Stone Bridge for a view back towards the square and the domed Sinan Pasha Mosque.
From there, stroll through the lanes to the League of Prizren complex. Its museum explains the 1878 Albanian League, with historical documents, weapons and portraits on display. Nearby, you can also see the Gazi Mehmed Pasha Mosque and its old hammam.
Prizren’s history isn’t limited to its Ottoman buildings though. The medieval Church of Our Lady of Ljevis is part of the UNESCO-listed Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, and the Church of the Holy Saviour stands on the uphill route to the fortress.
And when you’re ready for a climb, set off for the fortress. This is the best piece of Prizren. The path up is steep, but fairly smooth (you don’t need to be of any great fitness level – I am clear proof of this!). You’ll catch views over the river, mosque minarets and red rooftops on the way up.
12. Visit the Kosovo Museum
The Kosovo Museum sits between the old town and the city centre, in a 19th-century building with a huge, curved staircase at the front.
It was built around 1885–86 and originally served a military purpose. The museum’s collections cover archaeology, history and ethnography, and photographs and documents about Kosovo’s independence offer a more recent chapter.
I was surprised to learn that in 1999, a huge number of items from Kosovo Museum’s main collection was taken to Belgrade and to this day has not been returned!
13. Visit a Bear Sanctuary
I find it hard to imagine bears being kept in tiny cages beside restaurants, but that was the unfortunate reality for many of the bears now living at this sanctuary.
About 20 km from Pristina, near Mramor and Badovc Lake, Four Paws Bear Sanctuary gives rescued brown bears 16 hectares of space to roam free.
If you’re driving, it’ll take you less than 30 minutes to get there. But I can’t go without mentioning this fantastic organised tour from Pristina. You’ll be picked up from your accommodation, get a history and geography lesson along the way and even stop at the monastery on the way back to Pristina.
Heading to Kosovo from Tirana, Albania? Check out my guide on how to take a full day trip to Kosovo!
