If you find yourself in Kosovo or anywhere in the Balkans, a Prizren day trip should definitely be on your list. Located in the south of Kosovo at the foot of the Shar Mountains, it’s the second biggest city in the country and has been called the historical and cultural heart of the region. This guide covers everything you need for the perfect visit from logistics to our recommendations of things to do for a one day itinerary. We hadn’t heard much about the city before our visit but we were so glad we went!
The Balkans are full of hidden gems and Prizren is right up there with the best of them. It feels like a place where time has stood still in the best possible way. We absolutely loved our time wandering the cobbled streets here. It’s a very picturesque town that’s just pretty wherever you look. It’s got a rich blend of cultures that shows exactly why Kosovo is such a fascinating melting pot. You’ll find mosques, Orthodox cathedrals and Catholic churches all sitting just a short walk from each other.
It has a nice chilled atmosphere with lots of lovely shaded areas under the trees to escape the warm weather. It gets quite hot in the summer so those shady spots are an absolute lifesaver. We spent our afternoon soaking up the history, drinking the local mountain spring water and sharing our lunch with the friendly stray cats. If you want a relaxed day out full of stunning sights, we really recommend adding this beautiful historic city to your itinerary. We’ve a feeling that Kosovo is just going to get more and more popular.
Quick Prizren Travel Guide
- Budget: Very cheap
- Currency: Euro
- Language: Albanian and Serbian but English is widely spoken
- Getting around: Entirely on foot (the old town is pedestrianised)
- Best for: Culture, food and relaxed exploring
Watch our Prizren vlog or keep reading the guide below.
A Little Bit About Prizren
Prizren’s history stretches back thousands of years. In the Middle Ages, it even served as the capital of the Serbian Empire before being captured by the Turks in 1455 and becoming part of the Ottoman Empire.
The Kingdom of Serbia recaptured it in 1912 and it became part of Yugoslavia after the First World War. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Kosovo remained part of Serbia but declared independence in 2008 after a war and a period of UN administration.
Prizren has a completely different atmosphere to the capital. We found it to be a lot calmer and much more laid back than Pristina. While the capital feels like a modern city finding its feet, Prizren feels more historic and traditional.
The main areas are connected by old stone paths and pedestrianised streets lined with bustling cafes. Everywhere you look there’s a interesting mix of Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman architecture. It’s like an open-air museum. Or at least that’s what our tour guide Vlad said anyway!
It’s definitely one of the hidden gems of the Balkans and a fantastic spot for a guided walking tour. Because the old town is so compact, you can easily spend hours just wandering around the little alleyways, admiring the old buildings and soaking up the lively atmosphere.
Getting There
We visited Prizren as part of a wider day trip exploring Kosovo. It’s very easy to reach whether you’re coming down from Pristina or crossing the border from North Macedonia. The surrounding countryside is lovely too so make sure you look out the window on the way. Here are the best ways to get there.
Booking a Guided Tour
Because we wanted to learn as much as possible about the city’s history we joined the amazing tour guide Vlad (top lad, Vlad!) for a full walking tour of the old town. Getting a bus or driving yourself is definitely doable but going with a local guide takes all the stress out of navigating the winding streets. It also gives you all the essential context as you explore the mosques and monuments. We always book excursions on GetYourGuide.
By Bus
If you prefer to do things yourself, getting the bus from Pristina to Prizren is very straightforward and budget-friendly. The buses run regularly from the main bus station in the capital and the journey usually takes just under two hours depending on the local traffic. It’s a very cheap DIY option if you’re backpacking through the region. There’s direct buses from cities like Tirana and Skopje in neighbouring countries too. We always recommend using Omio to check the latest bus schedules and ticket prices before your trip so you aren’t caught out on the day.
By Car
If you’ve rented a car for your holiday, the drive from Pristina is very easy on the main motorway. If you’re driving across the border from North Macedonia or Albania, just make sure your rental agreement covers taking the car into Kosovo. You might need to buy extra border insurance on the day which can slow you down slightly at the checkpoint. We suggest using Discover Cars to compare local deals and ensure you’re fully sorted for the crossing. Once you arrive in Prizren, find a secure car park on the edge of the city centre because the old town is almost entirely pedestrianised and very narrow.
Getting Around the City
The historic centre of Prizren is compact and walkable. You’ll spend your day rambling through the lovely small streets and squares without needing to worry about local buses or taxis. It’s the perfect place to explore on foot.
Just a quick warning about your footwear though: the old cobbled streets and the Old Stone Bridge can be absolutely lethal! The polished stone is very slippery even in the dry weather, let alone if you’re visiting in the rain. You’ll definitely want to make sure you wear runners or walking shoes with plenty of grip so you don’t end up breaking an ankle while you explore! That’d be awful and would definitely ruin the holiday.
Your Perfect Prizren Day Trip Itinerary
Because the centre of the city is so compact, it’s very easy to tick off the main sights in a few hours. Here’s the best way to spend your day in Prizren, starting from the main square.
1. Shadërvan Square & The Spring Water
We recommend starting your walking tour right in the centre of Prizren at Shadërvan Square. This is the main pedestrian street and it’s completely surrounded by great restaurants and cafes. It’s a brilliant place to soak up the atmosphere in the city. Right in the middle is a famous drinking fountain. Vlad told us it’s pure spring water straight from the mountains so we filled up our bottles straight away. It’s very refreshing on a hot day! The spring water in Shadërvan Square comes straight from the mountains and is perfectly safe to drink.
2. Gazi Mehmed Pasha Hammam
Next up, take a short stroll to visit the Gazi Mehmed Pasha Hammam which is one of the most famous things to see in Kosovo. It’s a historic Turkish bathhouse that dates right back to the Ottoman Empire and gives you a real sense of the city’s history. It was closed for renovations during our trip but it’s normally used as a contemporary art gallery! It’s a massive building and it’s definitely worth checking out when the doors are open if you’re into art. As you’ll know if you’ve read our article from Madrid or Paris, we’re not.
3. Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Afterwards, head inside the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour which dates back to the fourth and fifth centuries. It’s really lovely and the painted ceiling is absolutely stunning to look at. We met a lovely bunch of nuns who were only delighted with the chat. The cathedral is in a very tranquil and peaceful part of the city to just sit and take a breather from the busy streets outside. It’s a great spot to cool down in the shade too.
4. The Old Stone Bridge
You have to take a walk across the iconic 15th-century Old Stone Bridge. It connects the two sides of the city over the river Bistrica and makes for a brilliant photo spot with the mosque in the background. Just be careful because the polished stone is absolutely lethal even in the dry! You’d easily break an ankle if you aren’t paying attention to where you’re stepping.
5. Sinan Pasha Mosque & The Courtyard Market
You can’t miss the Sinan Pasha Mosque because it dominates the skyline right next to the river. It’s a must-see while you’re wandering around the centre. The interior is beautiful with floral paintings covering the walls and the main dome. Just remember to dress respectfully if you want to go inside! Once you’re finished admiring the architecture, take a stroll through the little market stalls in the courtyard. It’s a nice spot to pick up a few local souvenirs or handmade crafts before moving on to your next stop.
6. Prizren Fortress
Prizren Fortress overlooks the entire city and is supposed to offer the absolute best views of the old town from above. If you’ve seen our Kotor video, you’ll know Denis isn’t a fan of hiking to fortresses! The hike looked intense in the heat so we decided to skip it and grab a kebab instead. If you’re feeling energetic, you should definitely do it but we were quite happy staying down at ground level!
Where to Eat & Drink
No trip to the Balkans is complete without trying the local food and Prizren has some nice options to choose from.
Our Restaurant Recommendation
For a proper local fast food experience, we grabbed a quick lunch at Bash Burek to taste some authentic doner kebabs. It was absolutely delicious. You can’t come to the Balkans and not have a kebab. We actually had a lot of kebabs in the Balkans. We even ended up sharing some of the meat with a very friendly local stray cat who seemed to enjoy it just as much as we did!
Our Café Recommendation
If you fancy a more relaxed sit down, you have to stop off at Prince Coffee House. Kosovo is actually famous for having some of the best macchiatos in the world and the coffee here didn’t disappoint. They also do shisha if you want the full local experience! It’s the perfect place to rest your legs before you cross the Stone Bridge.
Prizren Day Trip FAQs
Is one day in Prizren enough?
Yes, one day is plenty of time to explore the old town properly. Because all the main sights like the mosque, the stone bridge and the squares are so close together, you can easily see them all in a single afternoon without rushing.
Is a Prizren day trip expensive?
Not at all! Just like the rest of Kosovo, it’s a very budget-friendly destination. Street food like doner kebabs and local coffees are really cheap. They use the Euro here which makes keeping track of your spending very easy if you’re from a Eurozone country (and we are!)
Is the water safe to drink in Prizren?
Yes! The water from the public fountain in Shadërvan Square is pure spring water piped directly down from the mountains. We drank a couple of bottles of it and it was perfectly safe and very refreshing.
Do they speak English in Prizren?
Yes, you won’t have any issues communicating. English is widely spoken in the cafes, restaurants and local shops.
Do you need a passport to visit Prizren?
If you’re travelling down from Pristina you won’t need it on the bus but if you’re crossing the border from North Macedonia or Albania for the day you’ll definitely need your passport! The border crossings are usually very straightforward and only add a few minutes to your journey.
Is a Prizren Day Trip Worth it?
We really loved our time in Prizren. It’s got a completely different vibe to Pristina and it feels like stepping back in time. The mix of Ottoman and Roman history alongside the bustling cafes makes it a superb place to just wander around for an afternoon.
If you’re already visiting Kosovo, you’d be absolutely mad to miss it. It’s one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans and we can’t recommend a day trip here enough! Just remember to wear decent shoes to avoid breaking an ankle on the cobbles and make sure you save a little bit of your kebab for the local cats.
