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Pristina - Wikitravel
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The main language you will hear in the street is Albanian. English is widely spoken. Most of people from Kosovo, especially young people, speak at least a little English so you can more than likely get by. Navigating around the city is easy - the city centre is small and walkable. Serbian is Kosovo's other official language, but it is seldom heard on the streets in the capital. German is easily the next most widely spoken language. Ties between the Kosovo Albanian diaspora in Germany and Switzerland and Kosovo are very strong; many older Kosovo Albanians have worked there as guest workers in the past.
The easiest way to get to Pristina is by plane. There are direct flights to Pristina International Airport (IATA: PRN) [3] from London, Zurich, Geneva, Gothenburg, Copenhagen [4], Vienna, Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen, Verona, Ljubljana, Budapest, Tirana, Istanbul, Oslo and Helsinki. There are low-budget flights to Pristina from Liege, Belgium and with Easyjet from Switzerland. There are cheap connecting flights via Tirana and Ljubljana, but also from most of German airports. UAE-based Air Arabia flies twice a week from Sharjah, connecting Pristina to the Middle East.
Airport bus 1A started running an hourly service between the airport and the city in late April 2019. For timetables, visit the Pristina transport website: [5].
There is a bus that goes from the airport of Prishtina to downtown and it costs only 3 euros. Cabs are around 20 to 30 euros. The bus runs from 5 am till 11 pm every half an hour and it’s yellow. When you get out of the airport it’s stop is on the left side.
If you arrive at Pristina airport - small, haphazard but recently modernized and efficient in a Balkan kind of way - you should get from the plane to the outside world within 15 minutes. The city itself is about 25 minutes away by car. The many taxi drivers outside the airport will quote you 25-30€ for the trip but 15€ is what you really should pay. Insist on the price and walk away if the driver won't agree. You can also call a local taxi dispatch agency beforehand, and have a driver waiting for you for €15 (plus the price of the phone call). If you pretend to be waiting for a lift from someone else they'll compete with each other down as far as 5 Euros, but it hardly seems fair.
There is a not very frequent shuttle service from the nearby Skopje Airport leaving the airport at 13:15 on Sun, Mon and Thu (as of Aug 2013). Price is €10 one way. Look for the sabagroup minibus in the parking lot. To confirm the timetable visit their website [6]
From Albania, there are several daily direct bus connections to Pristina, from Tirana (€ 15), and Durres (€ 16). In Tirana the bus office and stop is right behind the Hotel Internation. As of Dec 2011, there are two busses daily, at 06:00 and 15:00, and a ride takes approximately 6 hrs. There is no formal bus station in Tirana.
There are also direct bus links from most cities in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia, and Montenegro.
(As of 15th July 2012) From Podgorica in Montenegro there is a daily night bus at 9:30PM that runs via Peja and arrives in Pristina at 5AM - €16.
There is one bus every night that runs from Pristhina to Ulcinj, Montenegro with stops in Peja, Prodgorica and Bar. The buses leave at 7PM from both Pristhina and Ulcinj. The trip is €20 round trip and take 9 hours.
From Skopje in Macedonia there are buses at 0600, 0800, 0900, 1010, 1100, 1145, 1230, 1320, 1400, 1500, 1545, 1630, 1700 and 18:10 hrs [as of May 2014]. Tickets cost 320 MKD (just over €5)
The Prishtina bus station is quite a safe place to await sunrise (I was there on a Sunday morning). The bus station is not far away from the city center and can easily reached by foot, but if you want to take a taxi, the trip should cost you 1,5-3€ (minimum charge is 1,5€). The drivers near the bus station will quote you 5€ but that is a ripoff. Walk a bit further away from the station and take one of the taxis there - and make sure the meter is on.
From Serbia there are several direct buses from Belgrade run by Kosovo Albanian companies, costing around 2000 dinar, stops depending on the route in Niš or Kruševac. You can check the timetables at the Belgrade bus station website at http://www.bas.co.rs/. Bus tickets can be purchased from the БАС bus station next to the train station in Belgrade. Buses leave at 5:45, 12:00, 13:30, 16:00, 16:30, 21:30, 22:00 and take 6-7 hours.
If you are planning to travel from Kosovo to Serbia: WARNING: The serbian government doesn’t recognize Kosovo as an independent country but still as a Serbian territory. If you entered Kosovo from Albania, Macedonia or Montenegro, then you will be denied entry in Serbia at the Kosovo’s border because you didn’t enter Serbia legally, this is only happening if you are using your passport which will not have a Serbian entry ctamp. In this case, you will need to exit Kosovo through Albania, Montenegro or Macedonia (the easiest) and enter Serbian’s border directly, not from Kosovo. In order to cross the border from kosovo to Serbia you need either to have entered Kosovo from Serbia with your passport (in this case you would have a valid Serbian entry stamp) OR to use an ID card accepted by Serbia - ie from a "Yugoslav" or EU country or Switzerland (as this doesn't need to be stamped by Serbia in the first place).
Adio Turs run two buses daily from the main bus station in Niš at 7:00 and 18:00. A one-way ticket costs 870 dinars. Ask for the bus to Gračanica (a Serb-majority town near Prishtina) and ask the bus driver to stop at Prishtina (otherwise, the bus will go straight past!). There are twice daily mini-buses from Niš, they cost 600 dinars (about $10) and the guys at Niš Hostel (http://www.hostelnis.rs/) will help you get in contact with organizers, even if you aren't sleeping there, as it is necessary to book in advance (information dates from October 2009). If entering direct from Serbia, be aware that you need to leave by the same way that you came in so that you get Serbian entry/exit stamps (see note under Kosovo).
There is also a bus service from Sarajevo (via Novi Pazar; Buy ticket to Novi Pazar on 10PM bus, the bus continues to Prishtina, tickets available onboard,i.e. the ticket Novi Pazar-Prishtina have to be bought on the bus, but after Novi Pazar; it is possible to buy the ticket Novi Pazar-Prishtina on the bus Sarajevo-Novi Pazar, it is the same bus that then continues to Prishtina; you can pay in euro, serbian dinar or bosnian mark); so from Sarajevo to Novi Pazar you buy the ticket for that trip (15 euro one way and 22 euros return - return has to be within a month)and after Novi Pazar you buy the ticket to Kosovo (7euros to Prishtina one way). You arrive in Novi Pazar at around 5.30. At 5.45 there is one bus that heads towards Skopje (Macedonia)with stops in Mitrovica and Prishtina as well as sometimes along the road (7/8 Euros is the ticket to Prishtina - the bus will stop on the road outside of the main bus station). It passes at the EULEX patrolled border post in North Kosovo, which might be quicker and more preferable. At 6.am there is a bus from Benko tours that leaves Novi Pazar direction Kosovo (final destination is Prizren). The bus used to pass through North Kosovo (only Serbian border post) - there are no security issues,even after July 25,2011, but when there is heavy snow the bus will not be able to the trip. In that case, you have to do the alternative route (if the weather permits) over Rozaje pass in Montenegro and Pec/Peja - bus to Rozaje from Novi Pazar at 9.30a.m. (4,50€) and then with taxi to Peja/Pec bus station (taxi will cost around 30 euros), in Peja/Pec every 20 minutes buses to Pristina (4€). Overall the trip Sarajevo-Novi Pazar-Prishtina over Mitrovica lasts around 11 hours and costs around €22 (one way - return is a bit cheaper.) The bus should be in Prishtina around 9 a.m. and continues to Prizren. Advantage of passing through North Kosovo (non Eulex border) is that you enter Kosovo via Serbia, which might save you trouble if you exit Kosovo via Serbia. Whether this is important very much depends on the political climate and on the agreements between Belgrade and Prishtina. Alternatively,if you pass through Montenegro,you can ask Kosovo police not to stamp the Kosovo entry stamp in the passport as you have to exit via Serbia. Even better,though,is if you use your ID cards when travelling to and from Kosovo.
City buses are the preferred method of local travel. They run on set routes and cost next to nothing, 50 or 60 cents a trip. You also have the 24h for 80 cents. It is usual to pay when you get in so try to have some change. The collector will come for the money after you have sat down. Minibuses were replaced by city bus since Oct. 1st 2006. For detailed maps and timetables, visit [7]
Taxis are readily available but more expensive. Make sure your driver has a meter in his vehicle. No trip around the centre or from the centre to Dragodan / Arberia, Valenia, Sunny Hill, etc. should cost more than 2-3 €. The minimum charge is 2€.
Don't miss the Pristina Ethnographic museum tucked back in the old town streets about 5 minutes walk from the main museum. It's been creatively curated, with video and music, and is housed in two stunning eighteenth and nineteenth century houses, one kept as it would have been lived in, the other with 'the room of birth', 'the room of death', costumes, and beautiful traditional jewellery with enthusiastic guides.
The national museum, in an Austro-Hungarian style building is free
Check out the mosques on Nazim Gafurri Street including Jashar Pasha Mosque
A couple minute's walk from the Grand Hotel Pristina is the library of the University of Pristina. It looks like it is constructed of massive concrete Lego bricks and then covered with chain mail. It is certainly worth a look.
To see the city from street-level is best: you could start in front of the three-storey portrait of Bill Clinton, and stroll past the university to the Grand Hotel. Follow Nena Tereze (Mother Teresa) street towards the Skenderbeg monument and the new Government Building, then point yourself toward the historic mosques and the old quarter and market. You could also visit the park dedicated to now-deceased President Ibrahim Rugova. Stop off regularly at one of the cafes that are the heart of Kosovo's social, political and business life, and drink a wonderful makiato (the best outside of Italy).
Huge oak forest beyond Germia park, adjacent Pristina.
Out of the city, you can refresh and stretch your legs in Gërmia Park. During the summer, the lake-sized swimming pool here is a hot spot for families and young people, but year-round the park itself offers grassy spaces to relax or kick a ball around, and a network of trails through the dense woods perfect for dog-walking or drunken hide-and-seek tournaments. A couple of restaurants at the top of the park have good food and nice views. Also interesting to check out the cluster-bombed police bunker, just up the road from the best restaurant.
Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas.
Nena Tereze Cathedral (Katedralja Nene Tereza), Rruga Justiniani, Prishtinë 10000, Kosovo. Pay 1€ to get to the top of the bell tower and enjoy the panoramic view of the City.
Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas is located in Shkodra Street. It was built in 1833 on the foundations of an older church building. Desecrated and vandalized in 1999 and again in 2004, the church is now partially renovated, with many scars still visible, and it is open for public. Entrance is free. To get to the church, first go to Shadërvani Square on the north end of the pedestrian zone, go past the Kosovo Museum, King's Mosque (Xhamia e Mbretit) and Sami Frasheri High School, and then at the Archives building turn right into Haxhi Zeka street. Keep going up the street, and turn left in the third street (Shkodra Street).
Serbian Orthodox Monastery Gračanica - UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the eponymous village (Alb. Graçanicë) 17 km south-east from Prishtina.
Bear Sanctuary Prishtina, Novo Selo, ☎ + 377 45 826 072, [x]. was built by the animal welfare organisation Four Paws in 2014 and is located 20 kilometres from Prishtina near the village Mramor. The land has an area of 16 ha and includes seven open air rehabilitation enclosures for bears. The sanctuary is open for visitors from the months of February until December. Visitors can take walks through the sanctuary and see bears in their natural environment. Since summer 2018, an Environmental Education Centre enriches the visitor & education offerings of the sanctuary and provides insight into a wide range of topics surrounding local environment, nature and wildlife.
Gazimestan. The monument on outskirts of Pristina built in Yugoslavia period to commemorate Serbian-Turk battle of Kosovo Polje in 1389.
If you like coffee, and have a massive amount of time on your hands, Pristina is the city for you. There are cafes absolutely everywhere, and most of them are packed through the warm season with fashionably-dressed young people, dropping a euro a day to keep themselves amused. Unemployment / underemployment is pervasive throughout Kosovo, and tends to affect people from all walks of life and different levels of education. Which means that dude in the sleeveless tshirt with streaked-blond hair at the table beside you could just as easily be an economist as a farm kid from Kamenicë, so learn to say "Mirëdita" with a passable accent and feel free to start a conversation. What to order? "Macchiato" (espresso with hot milk, similar to a latte). Most cafes have free wifi.
Privately-owned outdoor swimming pools are springing up around Kosovo, some just outside the city and worth the euro to cool off in the summer.
Shopping-wise, Pristina is full of good bargains but low on selection. Silver is sold in the old quarter and is a pretty good value; Albanians are known throughout the former Yugoslavia as silversmiths.
Do as the locals do: In Pristina, this means korza. In the evenings, when it's warm, a large proportion of the population heads out into the streets and promenades, between cafes or in with no particular destination. The objective is to see and be seen, chat with friends, and take in as much fresh air as possible before the horrific winter descends. Note that 53% of Kosovo's population is under the age of 25, so most of the people on the street around dusk are teenagers and people in their early twenties.
Stay out late because the streets are safe and Albanians love foreigners. Also go out to bars and cafes, as they are usually filled but make sure you drink some "Peja" beer (Key word PEJA)
For clubs there are Fullhouse and Duplex in Pristina which are right near the newborn sign. Good for dancing, usually play American hip-hop.
ODA Theatre, Pallati i Rinisë 111 (next to City Stadium), ☎ 038 246 555, [x]. Theatre venue with variety of cultural and artistic events, including theatre performances, concerts, exhibitions, International Jazz Festival in November and many more. This is a place to have fun
People watching. Being the poorest country in Europe, Kosovans struggle to afford nights out and meals in restaurants. Instead, they get dressed up in their best clothes and walk up and down the main street. Join them, or if you prefer, grab a beer or coffee in an outdoor cafe and watch them go by.
The outdoor bookstalls adjacent to the Grand Hotel are a good place to pick up a copy of the Code of Lekë Dukagjini. Or a map of Pristina that most likely has names for all the streets many have never heard of.
The covered market sells the small, distinctively-shaped enamel 'xhezve' saucepans for boiling coffee. They come in all sizes, from a single cup to an extended family coffee round and make great, unbreakable, cheap (from 1.50 euro) and authentic souvenirs
There is just one antiques shop, 'Delvina', which is on Bill Clinton Boulevard (on the first floor of a block - visible from the street - at the junction with Bob Dole street where all the carwashes are, and where you can buy old (and some new) textiles, traditional costume, jugs etc
Traditional silver filigree jewellery is still made in Pristina and is a light and very beautiful though not always cheap souvenir. There are shops selling old filigree on UCK street, and Krenare Rugovica's shop on Garibaldi Street, leading down from the Grand Hotel
Women's microfinance projects are run by a number of NGOs, supporting women through handcrafts. Open Door has a shop in the shopping centre behind the 'Newborn' sign, and The Ideas Partnership sells its handmade olive oil soaps, tote bags and candle jars in the BioNatural Shop on UCK and online
There is food delivery service in Prishtine which is called Kupohajna, you can order from the best restaurants of Prishtine and get delivered to your hotel, hostel, home, or wherever. You can visit https://www.kupohajna.com/
There are a variety of restaurants with something for everyone's taste.
Home restaurant and bar, by the former OSCE building, opposite the large ABC cinema, for a variety of delicious food and home-prepared food.One of the best restaurants in Kosova.Serves Mediterranean and international food. Visitors come from many international staff of the surrounding offices, embassys and national ministries. Local actors and well known singers. Very good selected music, English speaking staff and very good wines.Adress.Luan haradinaj(on front of EUROKOHA)300 m from Grand Hotel or Hotel Prishtina and just 200m from Diamond Hotel Contact; 044 336 336, 049 455255 [email protected]
Pjata, Rruga Dubrovniku nr.1 (a block away from the UNICEF office), ☎ ++381 38 220 739 ([email protected]), [x]. WiFi connection for free and good international-style food.
Pinocchio, in the Dragodan / Arberia neighbourhood, which has excellent food and a warm atmosphere, as well as a panoramic view of Pristina below.
For lunch, hit Te Komiteti on Qamil Hoxha street and have the gazpacho and chicken sandwich.
As far as views go, however, you cannot beat Chalet Denis (up Dragodan hill from the bridge, toward Film City / KFOR). Friendly service and the best banana splits in Pristina, presented in a Swiss chalet-style atmosphere.
For quick snacks, Aroma near Strip Depo and the ABC Kino and Metro across from the Grand Hotel have terrific sandwiches; Hemingway (in the road behind the large KEK building is the best bet for fish-fanciers, who should also check out Restaurant Rio near Gërmia Park;
Il Passatore is an authentic Italian restaurant, run by a real mama and her family. Go there in a taxi as it's a bit hard to find, but all the cabbies know it.
The Lounge, (Opposite RTK building, Mother Theresa street). Smart and upmarket bar/restaurant. Food is very good. Offers a mixture of international and local cuisine.
Tiffany Pizza, directly behind Home, with an eerily simliar layout, features perhaps the best pizza in Pristina. The spinach pizza is highly recommended, as is the special Raki, all the way from Mitrovica. Another good pizza place is Margarita, opposite of main Police building, wide menu including fresh summer salads and tasty pastas are at your disposal. Home pizza "Margarita" is highly recommended.
Not to be missed: Pellumbi
If you are interested in trying some Albanian food (with possibly the best bread in the world), then head to Pishat restaurant, not difficult to find, but it's probably best to ask someone to point you in the right direction. Seriously delicious local food. Gets very busy at lunchtimes with Kosovan politicians.
Fast Food Places and great food: Sarajeva sells Burek (5 locations), Aurora (across from RTK tower), Sarajevo (banjallucki qebab) also close to RTK and one behind the old Post Office.
For a really special meal, go to Renaissance. There are two restaurants near Peyton - one owned by a father and the other his son. Wonderful creative decor, no menu, no sign, so you have to find your way there as if you're going to a speakeasy.
Every taxi driver knows the location of most major restaurants frequented by internationals. Try a traditional qebabtore (you can find one anywhere), or a Turkish doner shop (best ones around the corner from Payton Place, near UNDP) for a real taste of the local food and great value. If you are a foreigner you may have to do a fair bit of pointing to order, but it should be worth it.
Himalayan Gorkha, at Qafa Galery, TMK Street. Fine Asian restaurant. Pineapple lassi or Masala tea is a great non-alcoholic drink if you don't like beer, vodka or the local drink (Rakh rrushi). For starters there is chicken pakora which is nice fried chicken which tastes exactly like Kentucky Fried Chicken or vegetable pakora. Best thing about this restaurant is you can have both spicy and non spicy items. For main course there is Chicken Tikka with Roti or Naan. They also have Chicken Biryani, Vegetable Biriyani and Butter chicken.If you are fond of Chinese you can have Chicken fried rice and Veg Fried Rice. Meal for two will not cost more than €10 to 15 with drinks.
Restaurant Ex, on Fehmi Agani. Friendly, English-speaking staff, varied menu including curry.
Amadeus. Another restaurant in the Dragodan neighborhood. Serves pizza and other western dishes.
City Bakery, Nena Tereze 41 (Center of Prishtina), ☎ 045 785 785, [x]. If you want to try traditional food of Kosovo, try City Bakery.
Rron Restaurant, Veternik - Prishtinë (On Route Rat towards Gjilane, top of the hill before turn for Swebat. Right turn immediately after sign.), ☎ 044 347-777; 044 141-215, [x]. Rron Restaurant is actually just outside the Pristina city limits on the way to Gracanica. Hidden behind an under-construction building for the past couple of years, Rron is a treasure that is popular with local and international politicians as well as the normal guests. The bar area is quite impressive with vaulted ceilings and shelves lined with all different kinds of alcohol all the way up. The far end of the restaurant has a plate-glass wall that looks out into the garden seating area which is lovely during the summer. There is a small playground for children outside on the far end of the garden which can make summer meals a bit loud at time when there are groups of children running around.
Thai Restaurant, 21/1 Fehmi Agani (Center, Greca Street), ☎ 045-243 588. 1000-2300. Its located in the city center, next door to restaurant Greca. The Thai food is excellent and its a clean and modern restaurant with a great atmosphere. There is a nice outside terrace in front of the restaurant too. They have free WIFI and they also have take away.
Aroma 2, Rrustem Statovci. Does Albanian and international fast food, take away or eat in, for low prices - e.g. a mixed grill which two people can stuff themselves on, €6.
Fellini, Near Law faculty , Rruga 3 Sheshirat , Te rrethi. know for best cakes, in Prishtina.Famous for their independence cake 1.5 ton, Bill Clinton Cake when " ex.President of America Mr.Bill Clinton came in Kosovo".Fellini its in 3 locations in Prishtina , and its present almost in every event in Kosovo with their amazing cakes.
Cafes and bars are especially crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. Clubs open up and close down on an almost seasonal basis, but there are some reliable standouts, and neighbourhoods where something good is bound to present itself. In cafes, a good cup of coffee can be bought for under €1.
Miqt Pub (Miqt), Tringe Smajli (behind Swiss Diamond Hotel in the city center). 08:00-00:00. Miqt Pub is a nice pub in the city center. There's great music playing all day long, you can eat different food and you can play picado too. €1-20. (42.6624082,21.1639141)
Soma Book Station (Soma), Fehmi Agani (behind the Scanderbeg statue, near Dit' e Nat'), [x]. 08:00-00:00. Soma Book Station is a new coffee bar with different book selections. You can also eat at the place even though the food is a little bit expensive.€1-50. (42.6634085,21.1622469)
Internationals gravitate to Zanzibar, near the ABC Kino cinema, and Strip Depo ('Strip' as in 'comic' not as in 'taking your clothes off') down the street from there. Places around the former OSCE, like the Little Cafe and Outback, are also popular. For the ultimate foreigner experience, down a pint at Phoenix Bar on a Saturday night with the folks from UNMIK, but be warned: if the idea of drinking and dancing with fortysomething long-term single expats in a downscale Yorkshire pub doesn't appeal, this is not the place for you.
Hamam Jazz Bar (Hamam), Luan Haradinaj (City Center), ☎ +37744222289 & +38138222289, [x]. 21:00-03:00. Hamam was rewarded as Best Bar Design from the World Interior News Awards (WIN)[1] on November 28, 2013. It's a very cozy place where you can eat and drink while listening to live jazz.€1-20. (42.6631303,21.1606284)
Crème de la Crème, Mujo Ulqinaku (Peyton Neighborhood), ☎ +38649315783, [x]. 21:00-03:00; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Crème is probably the best all-round bar in the city. It’s run for the amusement of the young, arty owners and not for profit, which explains the more-than-generous pricing arrangements, especially for the perfectly executed cocktails. Its five tiny floors heave on Fridays and Sundays with Pristina’s cool to the variety of beats.€1-5. (42.657024,21.154687)
The White Tree Terrace (Druni i Bardh'), Mujo Ulqinaku 15 (Peyton Neighborhood, behind Crème de la Crème), ☎ +38649166777, [x]. 08:00. It's a beach in the middle of concrete! It's a very cozy place, a good collection of beers and rakia (local spirit/liquor), very good music and nice urban people. It's also the terrace of a nice hostel.23:00. (42.657095,21.154912)
Hot cafe districts include the strip down from the former OSCE near Tiffany's (especially Kaqa), the area at the beginning of Luan Haradinaj street across from KTA, and the student hangouts on Bill Clinton in Dardania.
Accommodation can be very expensive in Pristina, as everything is tailored for internationals on expense accounts and hefty per diems. If you look around you should be able to find fliers offering accommodation. If you can find these place(s), go there as the cost is usually €10-15 per night.
The White Tree (Druni i Bardh'), Mujo Ulqinaku Nr.59 (Just 5 minutes from the city center, Peyton Neighborhood), ☎ +38649166777, [x]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 11:00. The freshly renovated hostel, inside bar with a restaurant designed by staff members, owners and guests, and the best terrace in Prishtina offer a place with a capacity of 20 people (3 private rooms, two 4 bed rooms and a 6 bed room), free WiFi and a computer, lockers, quality mattress and a cozy atmosphere. Staff keep guests entertained with different activities, screening movies/documentaries, different jam sessions, parties with DJs, card games and chess, etc. Free welcome drink is included in the price.€10-35. (42.657095,21.154912)
Buffalo Backpackers ([email protected]), 274 Musine Kokolari, ☎ +377 45 643 261, [x]. Located in the city center, great, young staff very passionate about Kosovo, breakfast included, Free Wifi and computer access, free coffee and tea, kitchen with cooking facilities, homemade raki and ice cold beer, large garden, exhibition room displaying Kosovo's history, XL jenga and Cornhole toss, fire pit, multiple balconies, luggage storage, lockers, lounge area and more!€10.
Velania Guesthouse (The Professor's Guesthouse), [x]. Free laundry service, free cable TV in every room and 24-hour free internet access. Reception is open 24/7. (Taxi from the bus station shouldn't be more than €5.)€13-30.
Hostel Pristina ([email protected]), 16 Musine Kokalari (From Bus station take Bill Clinton street and come on main square where is new church, take a right turn and cross Ben-af Super market and take first right street, second left and second right.), ☎ +38649187791. checkin: Any time; checkout: 11:00 AM. Free pickup from bus station for the group of 3+ person with minimum stay of 2 nights, washing machines, cable TV, Wi-Fi in whole building. All rooms are with shared bathroom. Breakfast included€8-12 per person per night.
Hajde Hostel, Ismail Dumoshi 40, ☎ +37744945015, [x]. breakfast, WiFi and extremely friendly owners, detailed map of Pristina showing best places to visit, homemade book of top 10 must-see's in Kosovo, laundry service and private room available.€12-€12.50.
Hostel Han, Fehmi Agani 2, ☎ +377 44 760 792, [x]. Located in the city center, very friendly young staff, modern interior, free WiFi, comfortable beds, free coffee and tea in the kitchen, chillout room with TV and PS3, balcony, multicultural open-minded atmosphere.€10-13.
Hotel Afa, Ali Kelmendi Nr. 15, ☎ +381 38/225 226 (+381 38/225 226, [email protected]), [x]. checkout: 12:00. Free Internet and a cheap restaurant.€45 to €75 singles, €75 to €112 doubles.
Hotel Real, Kosta Novakovic 14, ☎ +381 38/245 270 (+381 38/225 029, [email protected]), [x]. checkout: 12:00. Free Internet and a cheap restaurant.€30 to €50 singles, €40 to €60 doubles.
Hotel Aldi, Cagllavica nr. 303, ☎ +381 38 54 88 02 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: after 12AM; checkout: 12AM. Fresh, modern family-run hotel. Situated only 2 km from the centre, perfect choice for travelers and business people. €25 to €35 for single rooms and €45 to €55 for double rooms.
Hotel Begolli, (off Mother Thereza Street), ([email protected]), [x]. An exceptionally clean family-owned boutique hotel with five fully furnished self contained apartments and eleven rooms. Apartments have kitchens and well appointed amenities and one suite has a full sized jacuzzi spa. Some other rooms have private jacuzzis or three beds for families.€30-80.
Hotel Ora[8]. Hotel ORA is hidden in a small, calm side street very close to the European Union office in the center. Some rooms are suite type with a small desk, couch and armchairs.
Hotel Princi i Arberit, ☎ +381-38-244244, [x]. Modern hotel some 4 km from the centre. Its distance from the centre means it is often empty, with a risk that the restaurant may be closed and the heating switched off. Internet is available.€40.
Hotel Sara, Maliq Pash Gjinolli St (in the heart of the bazaar), ☎ +381 38 23 62 03, [x]. Rooms for one to three people and renovated albeit very simple. Clean and basic, this hotel features lurid red and green corridors, a handful of satellite television channels, a few rooms with small jacuzzis and a garage for two cars.Singles €30, doubles €40, triples €60, apartments €60, suite €99.
Hotel Victory, Mother Teresa, p.n., ☎ +381 (0/38) 543 277 (+381 (0/38) 543 267, fax: +381 (0/38) 543 286), [x]. On the southern side of the city, about 15 minutes walk from the centre. A friendly and upmarket hotel. Rooms have air conditioning and wireless internet works well throughout. Excellent breakfast with lots of fresh fruit and pastries. Dinner in the restaurant - about €10 for a meal with drinks.€80.
Hotel AFA Residence, Deme Ahmeti, ☎ +381 38 255 210 (+381 38 255 210, [email protected]), [x]. checkout: 12:00. Free Internet and a cheap/classy restaurant.€55 to €75 singles, €75 to €100 doubles.
Golden Hotel, Motrat Qiriazi Ulpiane (Providing free parking and free Wi-Fi, the centrally located Golden Hotel is within a 5-minute drive from the most of Kosovo's government institutions, UN agencies, European Commission and the Council of Europe offices.), ☎ +381 (0)38 533 533, [x]. LCD TVs with more than 100 cable channels are featured in all rooms. Minibar, safety box, hairdryer and desk are also standard equipment. The private bathrooms are separated by glass walls. Front desk is at your service 24 hours a day. Guests can visit Pristina City Park, 2 km away, and the remains of the ancient Roman town, both about 9 km away. The airport is about 15 km from the hotel.€79+ per night.
Swiss Diamond Hotel, Sheshi Nëna Terezë 10 000 Prishtina (Located opposite the fountain.), ☎ +381 (0)38 220 000, [x]. Founded by wealthy businessman and philanthropist, Bexhet Pacolli. Luxury hotel with single rooms, business rooms and suites available. Marble baths, separate showers and LCD TV in room. American breakfasts served. Hotel has a sauna, Turkish bath, swimming pool and gym. Hair and beauty treatments offered. The hotel has a restaurant and a lounge bar.€128+ per night.
Grand Hotel Pristina Unio Commerce, [9]. A state company during the Communist era and in the process of privatization, The Grand Hotel has not been substantially renovated yet—and as such the place is very worn and rightfully mocked for its ironic name. Dangerous electrical connections, and substandard bathrooms especially require attention. The hotel offers seven halls for every kind of activities, wireless and cable internet, business center, and cable TV.
Hotel Sirius[10]. Centrally located and offering a luxurious top-floor restaurant providing unique city views. Rooms are supremely decorated and equipped with air-conditioning, an LCD TV, a minibar and a safety deposit box. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Wake-up service can be arranged. Private bathroom provides a shower and hairdryer.
Hotel Prishtina[11]. Just two or three blocks from the UNMIK headquarters, very close to most places of interest. The Hotel Pristina is used by many international workers, including UN workers and members of the international police. It is very clean, has comfortable rooms, offers free internet access (including wifi), and the price of the room includes breakfast.
Hotel Baci is comparable to Hotel Pristina and is close to a couple of the more important transportation hubs (i.e. bus station, taxi roundabout, intersection to other towns in Kosova etc.). There's also a decent restaurant downstairs and free Internet in the lobby. Besides this, Hotel Baci offers to its clients free laundry, free fitness and sauna. Breakfast is included in the price, there is 24/7 electricity and water.
Hotel Ambassador[12] near the Swiss Liaison Office in the Velania neighbourhood is also up to the standards of a discerning visitor.
The destination received high remarks from travelers, but it is advised to stay aware and be cautious at all times.
ATMs in central locations, even those belonging to banks, charge very high fees for withdrawals (5 Euro per withdrawal and up). Those fees are charged on top of what your bank charges, making the withdrawals very expensive. The fees are not disclosed before the withdrawal, and you will only know that you've been charged after seeing a receipt. Try to bring enough cash.
Don't visit Gazimestan in Vidovdan (28th of June). It's a day where Serbs use to gather there. There can happen some clashes. Don't provoke include in them. Never come here this day when you're drunken.
Serbian Orthodox Monastery of the Assumption of Holy Virgin Mary, Gračanica.
Gračanica Monastery - UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the eponymous village (Alb. Graçanicë) 9 km south-east from Prishtina. This monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church is dedicated to the Assumption of Holy Virgin Mary, and it was built in 1321 by Serbian king Stefan Uroš II Milutin. Richly decorated with XIV and XVI century frescoes, the monastery is a rare gem of Serbian medieval art and archicture. A round trip to the monastery will take about 45 minutes, minimum. You can hire a taxi (€5 one way as of Aug 2013) and ask them to wait for you, or if you wish to have an experience of everyday life, take a bus for €0,5 (lines 17, 18, 19 and 20) from the centre of Prishtina. Monastery has a gift shop. Entrance is free.
A day trip to Prizren or Peja can be interesting. Buses depart from the bus terminal or you could hire a taxi for the day.
Old and new church in Lipljan.
Lipljan (Alb. Lipjan) is a small town located 15 km south of Prishtina, and 5 km from Prishtina Airport. In antiquity, it was known as Ulpiana, and there are still many remains from that period scattered across the region. The main attraction of the city are two Serbian Orthodox churches, located in the same courtyard, in Shen Flor Street. The old church, dedicated to the Presentation of Holy Virgin Mary, was built in XII century, on the foundations of an older Byzantine church building. Church's medieval frescoes are still well preserved, and there is also a peculiar stone iconostasis that separates the altar from the main nave (iconostases are usually made out of wood). The new church, built in 1936, is dedicated to Saints Florus and Laurus, saints from the II century, martyred in Ulpiana. One of the icons in the church is widely believed to be wonder-working, as tears have flown from the eyes of the Virgin Mary on the very day of the pogrom in March 2004, when Albanian mobs desecrated and destroyed many churches around Kosovo and Metohija, and expelled the local Serbian populace. Entrance to the churches is free. Lipljan can be reached by most of the buses that go from Prishtina to Ferizaj, or by taxi.
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