If you’re visiting Tirana for a few days and are anything like me – a.k.a always up for hopping over to another country for a day – Kosovo, one of the world’s newest countries, is a no-brainer.
Despite its somewhat grim history, Kosovo has a lot more to it than many you might think.
Prizren has an old town, a riverside and a fortress you can climb for views over the whole city. Pristina is a little different, modern, with cafés, street art and a mix of buildings that tell you quite a bit about the country’s recent past.
FYI, Prizren was my favourite!
Before I get into the full details on how to take a day trip from Tirana to Kosovo, here’s some practical information.
You might also like:
- How To Spend Two Days In Tirana: Best Guide For First-Timers
- 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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Kosovo Day Trip at a Glance
Where is Kosovo?
Kosovo is a small, landlocked country in southeastern Europe, in a region known as the Balkans. It borders Serbia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia.
Its capital is Pristina, while Prizren sits in the southwest of the country, closer to the Albanian border.
Visiting both in one day is definitely doable – I know because I did this – but you’ll need an early start as it’s a long day.
Distance from Tirana
Prizren is around 180 km from Tirana by road, and Pristina is roughly 255 km away.
The drive from Tirana to Prizren takes around 2½ to 3 hours. And from there, Pristina is roughly an hour away.
However, one thing to take into consideration is the border crossing, You can be lucky and get through in 20 minutes, or it can take a lot longer. It’s not something you can plan for, unfortunately.
Also, traffic getting in and out of Tirana can be insane!. As I learnt on the way back from my North Macedonia day trip. But hey, these kinds of things are always out of our control and all part of day trips (which is exactly what I had to tell the lady complaining she was going to miss her 7pm dinner booking).
FOR PEACE OF MIND, FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR TRIP
Best Time to Visit Kosovo
If timing was completely completely in your control, I’d recommend visiting in May, June, September or early October. You’ll be spending much of the day walking around Prizren and Pristina, and those months are generally more comfortable for it.
I visited in June and the weather was perfect, albeit a little hot and sweaty walking up to the fortress in Prizren. But July and August can get very hot in both cities. In winter, the shorter days will make it harder to fit both cities in before dark, plus the daytime temperatures can reach between 0 and 6 degrees Celsius. That said, you won’t have rub noses with many other tourists!
How to Take a Day Trip from Tirana to Kosovo
You can get to Kosovo from Tirana by bus, guided tour or car. Unfortunately, at this time train travel is a bit limited through the Balkans so you can’t get to Kosovo from Tirana by train.
By Bus
Direct buses run from Tirana to Prizren and Pristina. However, I will stipulate that I’ve read some horror stories about busses not dropping you off at the station, but rather somewhere on the outskirts of the city, leaving passengers having to find their own way.
If you only want to visit Prizren, take a morning bus there and an evening bus back to Tirana.
Seeing both cities by bus takes more planning. You’ll need a bus from Tirana to Prizren, another from Prizren to Pristina, then a third back to Tirana.
The journey between the two Kosovo cities takes around 1½ to 2 hours. Add it all up and you’re looking at roughly 9 hours on buses, plus any time spent waiting for the next one.
As I didn’t get the bus myself, I suggest you do some extensive research to make sure you don’t get stranded in Kosovo!
Why I Book With Get Your Guide
I use GetYourGuide for almost all my activities when I’m travelling, mainly for these reasons:
‣ Free cancellation on most bookings: Plans change. It’s good to know you can cancel and get a refund if needed.
‣ Clear, detailed listings: You can see exactly what’s included, how long it takes, where to go, and what to expect before you book.
‣ Verified reviews: Makes it easier to avoid wasting time or money on something that isn’t worth it.
‣ Instant confirmation: Especially useful if you’re booking things last minute.
‣ Mobile tickets: No printing, no collecting tickets, everything is on your phone.
Taking a Guided Group Tour
This is definitely the best option if you want to see both Prizren and Pristina in one day without the hassle of sorting out the buses (or anything) yourself. This is exactly what I did and I was so glad I did.
This is the tour I took from Tirana to Kosovo. We left Tirana around 6.30am and got back around 8pm in the evening, so it was a long day. But in my books, a well-worth it day. They do stop for breaks along the way at service stations, so it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting on a bus with a numb arse for hours on end.
The journey also goes pretty quick because the guide – in my case, Orlanda – gives an incredible history lesson along the way.
Our first stop was Prizren, where our guide gave us a 1 hour guided tour. We then had our own time to explore the city by ourselves and were given the meeting point to get back on the bus.
Next up was Pristina. Again, Orlanda gave us a guided tour before we ventured off by ourselves.
Unlike many other Balkan countries, Kosovo allows the Albanian tour guide to give guided tours. When I visited North Macedonia and Montenegro, this wasn’t allowed so they either arranged for a local guide to give a tour, or sent you on your way.
If you prefer not to have the guided tour, that’s also fine. Your guide will give you meeting point details and you can just explore by yourself. Just make sure you have phone data to make your way back to the meeting point!
Why I Use Airalo eSIM When Travelling
I’ve started using Airalo on most of my trips now, mainly because it removes the hassle of sorting out data when I arrive in a new city.
It’s a digital SIM card, meaning I don’t need to insert anything into my phone (unlike local SIMs). I just need to install the eSIM before I travel and as soon as I land, I’ve got data.
Here’s what I generally use it for:
• Google Maps
• Checking train and bus times
• Booking activities or looking up opening times
It’s not at all complicated to set up. You buy a data plan in the app, follow a few steps to install it, and then switch it on when you arrive.
Driving from Tirana to Kosovo
If you like to be your own boss for the day, this is the best option for you.
You’ll head towards Kukës and cross into Kosovo at Morinë.
Driving lets you choose how long to spend in each city, but it’s a lot of time behind the wheel for one day.
Oh, and If you’re renting a car in Albania, check that the company allows you to take it into Kosovo. Ask about written permission, insurance cover and any extra charge before you pay for the rental.
What to See and Do in Prizren
- Walk around Shadërvan Square: The main square in Prizren’s old town, with cafés around the fountain and the Sinan Pasha Mosque just a few steps away.
- Cross the Stone Bridge: This small bridge over the Lumbardhi River is one of the best places to stop for a view of the mosque and old town.
- Visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque: Step inside and take a look at the painted dome. Remember to dress respectfully, as it’s an active mosque.
- Climb to Prizren Fortress: Give yourself around 30 minutes for the uphill walk from the old town. You’ll get views across Prizren from the top, but wear shoes you’re happy climbing in. It was a bit slippery on the way back down!
- Visit the League of Prizren complex: A great stop if you want some background on the movement for Albanian rights that began here in 1878.
What to See and Do in Pristina
- See the NEWBORN Monument: Unveiled when Kosovo declared independence in 2008, the large letters are repainted regularly, so they may look different from the photos you’ve seen.
- Walk along Mother Teresa Boulevard: Pristina’s main pedestrian street is an easy place to have a wander, stop for a coffee (or ice-cream in my case) and see a bit of everyday life in the capital.
- See the National Library of Kosovo: Its concrete domes and metal mesh exterior make this one of the most unusual buildings in the city. It’s actually known as one of the world’s most ugliest buildings!
- Visit Mother Teresa Cathedral: The cathedral is close to the centre. If the bell tower is open, you can go up for a view over Pristina for as little as €2.
Is a Day Trip from Tirana to Kosovo Worth It…
I say yes! If you’re based in Tirana and have a day to spare, my two cents is that it’s definitely worth the trip. It’ll be an early start and a late evening, but yep, still worth it.
Got an extra night? I’d take it. You could spend your first day in Prizren, stay overnight, then visit Pristina the next day before heading back to Tirana. You’d have time to do more than walk past the sights, and you wouldn’t have to watch the clock quite so closely.
Where to Stay in Prizren
Prizren would be my choice if I were staying overnight in Kosovo. These are some of the top places to stay in Prizren:
- Luxury: Premium Park Hotel
A five-star hotel with a sauna and hot tub. It’s outside the old town, so bear that in mind if you want to walk everywhere. - Mid-range: Prior Hotel
Around a six-minute walk from Sinan Pasha Mosque, with a restaurant and parking if you’re driving. - Budget: Ura Hostel
Right in the centre, about a two-minute walk from the mosque.
Where to Stay in Pristina
If you’d rather have more time in the capital, stay in Pristina instead:
- Luxury: Swiss Diamond Hotel Prishtina
A five-star hotel beside the National Theatre, in a handy spot for walking around the centre. - Mid-range: Hotel Opera
Close to the National Theatre and Skanderbeg Statue, so you can head straight out on foot. - Budget: Hostel Prishtina Backpackers
A hostel near the old town and Kosovo Museum.
