When we were planning our trip to the Balkans, we knew we had to squeeze in a visit to Kosovo. If you’re staying in North Macedonia or Albania, a Pristina day trip needs to be at the top of your list! We hopped over from Skopje to see what Europe’s newest country was all about and we really enjoyed the visit. This guide gives you our perfect one day itinerary covering everything from travel logistics to the best things to do in the capital. Interesting fact: it’s the birthplace of Rita Ora and Dua Lipa!
Pristina might not be the first place that springs to mind for a quick getaway but there are so many brilliant things to see. Rather than trying to navigate it ourselves, we decided to book a guided day trip. We joined a tour group with our brilliant guide Vlad, a few Italians and some Maltesers for the day! If you’re looking for an easy and budget-friendly addition to your holiday, a Pristina day trip is a fantastic option and we highly recommend it.
Quick Pristina Travel Guide
- Budget: Very cheap
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Language: Albanian and Serbian but English is widely spoken
- Getting around: Entirely on foot in the centre
- Best for: Coffee culture, unique architecture and modern history
Watch our Pristina vlog or keep reading the guide below:
A Little Bit About Pristina
While it might be Europe’s youngest capital, Pristina’s history stretches right back to the Roman Empire. The current city became a major Ottoman trading hub in the Middle Ages. In the 20th century, it became a key part of Yugoslavia and then Serbia before Kosovo eventually declared independence in 2008.
Because of all this deep history, Pristina is a really fascinating place. It blends those old Ottoman influences with former Yugoslav communist architecture and new modern developments.
Despite being a capital city, it actually has a very relaxed and authentic feel. We found it to be a city in transition. You can really see that it’s on its way to becoming a modern European capital but it still holds onto its unique history. We never felt rushed while wandering around the pedestrian streets and taking it all in. It was nice! We get the feeling it’s going to become a really popular spot in the next few years. Get there before the hen and stag parties arrive!
Getting There
We visited Pristina as a day trip while staying in Skopje just across the border in North Macedonia. It’s really easy to reach from there and makes for the perfect addition to a Skopje city break or a tour through the Balkans.
Booking a Guided Tour
Because we didn’t want any of the hassle of getting buses or renting a car, we booked a guided tour from Skopje. Getting a bus or driving yourself is definitely doable but going with a guide takes all the hassle out of the border crossing. It also means you get all the local knowledge and context as you walk around the monuments! We tend to use GetYourGuide A LOT when we’re booking anything for our trips and we’ve never had a bad experience.
By Bus
If you prefer to do things yourself, getting the bus is definitely the easiest DIY way to travel from Skopje to Pristina. There are regular buses that leave from the main bus station in Skopje and the journey usually takes about two hours depending on how busy the border crossing is. It’s a very straightforward and cheap journey. We always recommend using Omio to see the latest bus schedules and prices for your trip.
By Car
If you’ve rented a car for your holiday, you can drive across the border. Just keep in mind that you need to make sure your rental agreement covers taking the car into Kosovo as you might need to buy extra insurance at the border on the day. Once you get to Pristina traffic can be a bit heavy so we definitely recommend finding a central car park and walking. If you’re planning to rent a car to explore more of Kosovo and the Balkans, we suggest using Discover Cars to compare the best local deals and ensure you’re sorted for the crossing.
Getting Around the City
Once you arrive in Pristina, you’ll find the city centre is very compact and walkable. You can walk to all the main sights without any hassle.
If you prefer to save your legs, taxis are very cheap but you really won’t need them for the main tourist spots. Once you’re in the centre itself you’ll be walking everywhere because places like Mother Teresa Boulevard are completely pedestrianised.
Your Perfect 1-Day Pristina Itinerary
Because the centre is so compact it’s very easy to tick off the main sights in just a few hours. Here’s the best way to spend your day in Pristina to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
1. Saint Mother Teresa Cathedral
We started our day taking in the views of the city from the Saint Mother Teresa Catholic Cathedral. Mother Teresa isn’t actually from Kosovo (she was an Albanian Macedonian from Skopje) but the cathedral is beautiful. You can get the elevator to the top of the bell tower for just €2 each. Pristina is a lot more built up than we thought it was going to be and the views from the top are the best way to see it all.
2. The Newborn Sign
You can’t do a Pristina day trip without seeing the iconic Newborn sign. It was unveiled when Kosovo declared independence and it’s a symbol of the city being the youngest country in Europe. They actually repaint it every year with a brand new theme or message so it always looks different!
3. Mother Teresa Boulevard
We took a relaxing walk down Mother Teresa Boulevard to soak in the local atmosphere. It’s a lovely pedestrian street lined with cafes. Keep an eye out for the local stray dogs while you walk! They’re looked after by the city and even have GPS tags on their ears so the locals know exactly where they are. Denis absolutely loved them and unleashed his dog whisperer skills for the afternoon.
4. Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque
Vlad explained that the communists destroyed most of the original old town but we did get to explore the historic Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque. It’s the biggest mosque in Pristina and is located in a lovely peaceful part of the city. Make sure to dress respectfully and take your shoes off to go inside (make sure you don’t have a hole in your sock which is far too common if you have a Pomeranian like us). The interior is absolutely beautiful.
5. The National Library of Kosovo
We wandered through the university park and saw the unfinished Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and the National Library. Our first reaction was honestly wondering what in the name of God it was! Vlad explained it’s known as the building of the 99 domes. It features incredibly unique architecture with a massive metal grid and white domes. People usually either love it or hate it but it’s definitely memorable.
Where to Eat & Drink
Pristina has a really amazing café culture. You’ll see locals sitting outside drinking macchiatos at all hours of the day and it gives the whole city a brilliant buzz. It can feel a little bit like Italy in places and reminded us a bit of our day trip to Verona.
Our Street Food Recommendation
For a proper local fast food experience you have to try some qebapa. They’re traditional Balkan grilled kebabs. We had some free time so visited Qebaptore Gjakova e vjeter right in the city centre. It’s incredibly cheap and you get a massive portion of juicy grilled meat served with fresh bread, cabbage and a spicy dip. It’s the ultimate comfort food to keep you going while you explore!
Our Coffee Recommendation
Vlad brought us for a well-deserved coffee break right next to a massive mural of Dua Lipa. It’s an Albanian chain called Mulliri and we were told it’s among the best coffee in Europe. It definitely hit the spot. It was the perfect place to rest our legs and chat with the rest of the tour group before tackling the rest of the walking.
Pristina Day Trip FAQs
Is one day in Pristina enough?
We would say yes. One day is really plenty of time to see the main sights. Because the centre is so compact and flat you can easily walk between the Cathedral, the Newborn sign and the Library without feeling like you’re rushing.
What is the Skopje to Pristina border crossing like?
It’s actually very straightforward! When our tour bus got to the border we just handed our passports over. You rarely even have to get off the bus yourself. It usually only adds a few minutes to your journey unless it’s a very busy bank holiday weekend.
Is a Pristina day trip expensive?
Not at all! It’s actually a very budget-friendly city. Things like the €2 Cathedral elevator and local coffees are very cheap compared to Western Europe. They also use the Euro here which makes keeping track of your spending very easy for us anyway!
Do you need a passport to visit from Skopje?
Yes, you’re crossing an international border so you definitely need your passport! The border crossing is usually straightforward but as we mentioned it can add a little bit of time to your bus journey.
Do they speak English in Pristina?
Yes, most people do. We had no issues at all getting by with English in the cafes, shops and with our guide. The younger generation in particular speak great English.
Is a Pristina Day Trip Worth it?
We really liked Pristina. It’s a city in transition with a great mix of history and very unique modern architecture but it still feels like a relaxed and welcoming place. It reminded us a bit of Vilnius and Ljubljana. Unlike some of the bigger capitals like Paris that can feel a bit much, Pristina is just really manageable, safe and compact.
If you’re basing yourself in North Macedonia or building a big Balkan itinerary, you really should add this to your list. Because it’s so compact you can easily see all the best bits in a single afternoon. We really can’t recommend it enough! If you have a little more time to explore the country after visiting the capital, we recommend heading south to Prizren, Kosovo’s second biggest city. It’s got a completely different vibe and is absolutely packed with history!
