Backpacking in Kosovo: Top Things To See and Do in Pristina
Posted: July 17 2020 | Tagged: The Balkans
The Republic of Kosovo (Albanian: Republika e Kosovës) partially recognised state. My friend Lavdi is from Kosovo and she blogs on Kosovo Girl Travels, detailing the difficulties of travelling with a Kosovo passport. Later, she wrote about her Top 3 Favourite Countries for me.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17 2008.
As of March 2 2020, only 97 out of the 193 UN member states recognise Kosovo. For me, Kosovo is my 96th Country and Territory visited. Check out my post on all the countries and territories I have backpacked
As of March 2 2020, only 97 out of the 193 UN member states recognise Kosovo. For me, Kosovo is my 96th Country and Territory visited. Check out my post on all the countries and territories I have backpacked
From Beograd, I travelled to Pristina. And I tell ya, I spent 6 nights in Pristina and I loved my time there.
Here are my Top 16 Things To See and Do in Pristina
Here are my Top 16 Things To See and Do in Pristina
1. The Monument of Unity and Brotherhood:
The monument of unity and brotherhood: Symbolizing unity between the different ethnicities living in Pristina. Designed by Miodrag Zivkovic in 1957, constructed in 1959.
2. Union Hotel:
The Union Hotel, built-in 1927 on the corner of Bulevardi Nene Tereze by the Pavarësisë park. The image is taken from the balcony at the Prishtina Center Hostel.
3. Skanderberg Monument:
In 2001 Kosovo Albanians erected a monument of Skanderbeg, a medieval Albanian who fought against Ottoman forces, in the centre of Prishtina.
4. Radio Kosova Building:
Designed by the Slovenjia Projekt, the Radio Kosova Buioding is a fine example of 80's style architecture, on George Bush Street.
5. Bill Clinton Statue:
Bill Clinton statue on Bulevardi Bill Klinton. Unveiled November 1 in 2009 as a way of thanking Bill Clinton for his help in their struggle with the Government of Yugoslavia.
7. Mother Teresa Cathedral:
Mother Teresa Cathedral
8. The Partisans Memorial:
The Partisans Memorial, dedicated to the fallen partisans of the Pristina district during WWII, shame about all the graffiti.
9. Pristina's Youth and Sports Center:
FC Prishtina badge outside the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrii
10. Pse ky po unë jo:
Pse ky po unë jo
11. Mother Teresa Statue:
Mother Teresa - Nene Tereza statue - Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary born in Skopje, then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire
12. Newborn Monument:
NEWBORN, typographic monument unveiled on 17 February 2008, the day that Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. This image has been flipped as there is some work going on, on the 'correct side'.
13. Stone House Synagogue:
Stone House Synagogue, the only surviving building from the original Pristina Bazaar
14. Clock Tower:
The Clock Tower - Sahat Kulla from the 19th century, constructed by Jashar Pasha, 26 meters tall with a circular staircase inside but today is not accessible.
15. The Kosovo Museum:
The Kosovo Museum built in 1886 by the Austro Hungarians for the Ottoman administration. Used by the Yugoslav army from 1945 until the 1970s. Currently closed due to Corona.
16. The Heroinat Memorial:
Memorial built using 20,145 medals honoring the sacrifice of every ethnic Albanian woman during the 1998-1999 Kosovo War.
Where to stay in Pristina:
I stayed at the Prishtina Center Hostel on Bulevardi Nëne Tereze. 9€ a night in a dorm room, great mattresses, 2 sockets, a light, a locker and curtain for each bed. Lots of communal space, well-equipped kitchen, free tea and coffee and very clean and awesome staff.
Behind the hostel is a Viva Fresh Family supermarket. You can get a 33cl Birra Prishtina for 0,59€ or 50cl cans of Birra Peja for 0,49€.
Behind the hostel is a Viva Fresh Family supermarket. You can get a 33cl Birra Prishtina for 0,59€ or 50cl cans of Birra Peja for 0,49€.
How to get to Pristina by bus:
The Pristina bus station is shown below and its about a 30 minute walk into town. Hourly departures to Tirana and Skopje (Coronavirus permitting), as of July 20, no services to Skopje. Border to Serbia is open but limited services. 9pm Curfew in Pristina.
Pristina International Airport "Adem Jashari" is 20km Southwest of the city and under normal circumstances, bus #1A leaves on the hour, every hour from 4am til 9pm and the end stop is by the Grand Hotel
How to get to Pristina by train:
The only service running as of July 2020 is the 16:30 to Peja. The journey takes about 2 hours and you can pay on the train. 3€. I took the Pristina to Peja train later in the week.
