A Budget Traveller's Guide to Priština

To save money in Priština, there are two options: walking around the city or using cabs. Yes, you read that correctly. In the capital city of Kosovo, cabs are very cheap and are the best option for reaching places farther from the centre if you don’t want to walk. With only a 2€ fare (during the night, too), it is possible to traverse the city and chat with English-speaking taxi drivers who love to talk with tourists about their lovely country.

Priština has a great selection of places to spend the night, but most of the central hotels are expensive (compared to other Balkan capitals), so the best option is to book a room in a hostel. The coolest hostel in Priština is The White Tree Hostel, a lovely place frequented by international travellers. The White Tree has a beautiful bar-café as well. It is the perfect place to sip coffee and work on your laptop.

White Tree Hostel, Mujo Ulqinaku No. 59, Pristina, Kosovo

Kosovar gastronomy is simply delicious. Priština is home to many great restaurants where you can sample typical Albanian dishes as well as vegetarian options or international cuisine. One of the best restaurants in the capital is Babaghanoush, a cozy vegetarian place hidden behind the famous Boulevard Mother Teresa, the heart of Priština. Is not easy to find it because Babaghanoush is hidden away on a small street, but once you’ve found it, don’t forget to order the tasty falafel bowl (4€): a huge bowl with falafel, avocado rice, tabouleh, pita bread and hummus.

Priština is an international town where many students live, along with a large expat community who work for international organizations. The town has a lively atmosphere and is home to several cool bars and cafés where beer costs less than 3€. The best in town are Soma Book Station, an elegant café with a lovely garden and a great selection of English books, and Dit’e’Nat’, a cozy bar with a patio and some of the best homemade organic cakes in the Balkans.

Museums

Priština is home to the two main museums in the country, the Kosovo Museum and the Ethnographic Museum. Neither museum has an admission fee, but, if you want, you can leave a donation at the end of the visit. While the Kosovo Museum has a permanent collection with archaeological artefacts that were found in the town and surrounding areas, the Ethnographic Museum shows visitors some aspects of Kosovar culture, especially during the Ottoman occupation of the country.

Kosovo Museum, Ibrahim Lutfiu, Prishtina, Kosovo

Ethnographic Museum, Prishtina, Kosovo

National Library

The National Library of Kosovo Pjetër Bogdani is one of the most controversial edifices in the world. It has been elected as one of the worst buildings on the globe, but fans of Yugoslav architecture will enjoy it. The structure is made entirely of iron and has 99 glass domes. The admission is free, and we strongly suggest that you go inside to admire the domes from a different perspective, also because on occasion the library hosts photographic exhibitions of local artists.

The National Library of Kosovo Pjetër Bogdani, Prishtina, Kosovo

National Gallery of Kosovo

Right behind the National Library is the National Art Gallery of Kosovo, the largest art collection in the country, opened in 1979. The gallery is the largest institution of visual arts of Kosovo and displays works of international and local artists, like Muslim Mulliqi, and often hosts temporary exhibitions.

National Art Gallery of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo

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Gërmia Park

Gërmia Park is the largest park in Priština, located in the northeast part of the city, with a lovely recreation area that includes a children’s playground, sport terrains, meadows, a swimming pool and three restaurants. Gërmia, which is free, is the right place to escape the warmer days and enjoy nature. The park is home to many species of flora and fauna, included eagles, squirrels, tortoises, lizards and frogs.

Gërmia Park, Dr. Shpëtim Robaj, Prishtina, Kosovo

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Kosovo is a small country, so within just one hour by car or bus from Priština it is possible to reach all the main tourist destinations. The cultural capital of Kosovo, Prizren, is totally worth a look with its magnificent Ottoman-era architecture, old bridges and mosques, especially in August when hosts DokuFest, the main cinematographic event of the country. For nature lovers, the perfect destination is Peja, also known as the gateway to the Rugova Valley, the largest natural area in Kosovo with mountains, canyons, caves and forests.

Prizren, Kosovo

Peja, Kosovo