Prizren

Prizren, in Kosovo, is a charming city of mosques and monasteries dating back to the 14th century. Happily spared (mostly) from both the "destroy the old, build the new" drive of the communists during the early years of their rule in Yugoslavia, as well as the ethnic and religious atrocities that plagued the Western Balkans in the last decade of the 20th century, Prizren has the best-preserved old town in the country by far, and is often referred to as the cultural capital of Kosovo.

Understand


Clinging to the slopes of the lush Sharr Mountains, and divided by the river Lumbardh, Prizren, including its modern suburbs, was home to about 180,000 people in 2011, making it the second largest city in the country, after Pristina, the capital. The majority of the population is ethnic Albanian. Kosovo's Turkish, Bosniak and Gorani community is focused in Prizren as well. As such, the standard bi-lingual street signs in Albanian and Serbian are complemented here by Turkish, which can be freely used particularly in the old town, and with other Albanians. The local Serbs vacated the city in the aftermath of the Kosovo War of 1998–99, when Kosovo was de facto detached from Serbia, with their charred houses standing derelict on the upper streets leading to the fortress.

Prizren is also where the Albanian national awakening began, as the League of Prizren, a political organization for defending the rights of the Albanians, was founded here in 1878.

By bus


The best way to get to Prizren is by bus through Pristina (€5, around 2 hr). You can also take buses from Peja (€4), where the famous Orthodox monasteries are located.

You can also catch a bus from Tirana or Skopje. Most bus companies that run from Istanbul to Pristina continue onward and terminate in Prizren. There are several direct buses from Belgrade (1 day 7 hr bus & 2 night buses, cost approximately €10, and stops depending on the route in Nis or Kruševac, with Pristina and other towns on the road (as of Feb 2005).

By car
From Albania, there are two good ways
 * From Tirana on the newly-constructed highway via Kukës. This masterpiece of civil engineering takes you over and through the mountains with stunning views—about 3 hr.
 * The more adventurous summer route is from Shkodra via Lake Komani. Catch a furgon from Shkodra at 06:00 to Koman. Catch the passenger or car ferry to Fierze, then furgon to Bajram Curri. At Bajram Curri get another furgon to Prizren via Gjakovë, arriving in Prizren mid-afternoon.

By plane

 * Kukës International Airport is the closest airport and has connection between Basel and Kukës starting at 4,200 lek as of June 2023.
 * Prishtina International Airport is the better choice though.

Daytripping from Skopje
With direct buses from Skopje arriving in the evening, and making their return in the morning, a day-trip from Skopje may not seem possible, but if you put some thought and effort into it, you will realize that it is entirely feasible. Read on:

Take the 06:00 bus from Skopje to Pristina. If the bus is not very crowded (particularly the case on weekdays), you won't lose much time at the border crossing, and arrive in the bus station of Pristina just in time for the 08:20 bus to Prizren. (You could have got off in Ferizaj on the way at 07:30, but you will need a lot of creativity to pass the time there until the departure of the next bus to Prizren at 09:15.) This bus will arrive in Prizren at about 10:15.

Upon returning, the last bus to Skopje leaves Pristina at 17:00, making a stop at Ferizaj bus station at about 18:00. This means that you will have to catch the 13:45 bus to Pristina from Prizren (which will let you stroll around Pristina for a little more than an hour—to spare more time for Pristina, take the 13:00 bus from Prizren), or the 17:00 bus to Ferizaj (and hope it arrives at its scheduled time of 18:00, and doesn't miss the last bus to Skopje—the 14:30 bus, which arrives in Ferizaj at 16:10, is probably a better bet). Note that the evening bus to Skopje is often almost completely full by the time it arrives in Ferizaj, which means that, should you decide to take it there, you may have to travel standing for part of the route, and then take a taxi in a village near the border for the rest of the route to Skopje, perhaps because of a rule regulating border crossings.

If you prefer a faster and more efficient day-trip from Skopje, is possible to arrange a private round-trip tour by car to Prizren for approximately 180 EUR. Inquire with local tour companies about this, preferably with a driver/guide who speaks Albanian and can navigate the border crossings. Additionally, this option may allow you to take the more scenic route through the mountains back to Skopje (preferably in the afternoon).

On foot
From the bus station, everything is within walking distance.

By taxi
Taxis are abundant and quite inexpensive. You can get around the city for €3.50 at most.

See



 * There are other Orthodox churches in Prizren.
 * There are other Orthodox churches in Prizren.
 * There are other Orthodox churches in Prizren.


 * Prizren Fortress (2021).jpg
 * Prizren Fortress (2021).jpg

Events
The main event in the city is Dokufest, an annual international documentary and short film festival held in August.
 * Old Timer Fest – Old car festival held in May/June every year since 2006.
 * Bunar Fest – A festival held in June/July. It features rafting through the Lumbardhi (Prizrenska Bistrica) river using tractor-tire inner tubes.
 * Old Timer Fest – Old car festival held in May/June every year since 2006.
 * Bunar Fest – A festival held in June/July. It features rafting through the Lumbardhi (Prizrenska Bistrica) river using tractor-tire inner tubes.
 * Bunar Fest – A festival held in June/July. It features rafting through the Lumbardhi (Prizrenska Bistrica) river using tractor-tire inner tubes.

Shopping
There are few traditional crafts that are still practiced in Prizren and the surrounding area. In Pristina, there are some women's cooperatives selling carpets and embroideries, and there may be one or two in Prizren as well. Ask around and someone will be able to direct you. The most traditional craft for Prizren has always been filigree. Very ornate pieces are made for traditional local wedding feasts, but more simple pieces are available in any of the shops that line the road leading into town. Poke around and ask to see the older pieces.

What
The center of the town is full of barbecue restaurants (qebaptore). Prizren is well known in Kosovo for its barbecues as they make everything in front of your eyes. In the downtown or in Shadervan you can get plenty of these restaurants.

Various downtown sweets shops offer sweets such as baklava and tullumba which are traditionally made locally in Prizren. For traditional sweets try Shendeti (near Shadervan), which also sells Boza (fermented cornflour drink).

Also, various bakeries exist in the area with the most outstanding pastries and fresh daily specials.

Drink
There are plenty of coffee shops, bars, and pubs in the downtown Shadervan.

Sleep
There are a number of places to stay in Prizren.

Room availability may be rather limited in August for the Dokufest film festival.

Go next
Kosovo:
 * Shishtavec – A village in Kukës County in eastern Albania that represents rich unique folklore, endless varieties of customs, traditions, stories, songs, legends and inspiring landscape.
 * Rahovec – Kosovo's wine country
 * Pristina – There are buses every 30 minutes until 19:00. The price is €5 and it is paid on the bus, leaving from the main road out of town.
 * Gjakova – The closest city in Kosovo with the largest Ottoman-era bazaar in the Balkans. €2.50 paid on the bus, leaving from the bus station. 36 km and 45 min away.

Albania:
 * Kukës – A small town in northeastern Albania, last one to the Kosovo border. It is the only town in the world that has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Kukës received this honour in 2000 for receiving hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Kosovo War.
 * Tirana – Albania is generally considered a safe country to visit. The buses stops at the kiosk outside the bus station at 06:30, 7:30, 9:00, 12:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:00, 17:30 and 23:55. €15 one away, €20 return ticket.
 * Shkodër – There is only one bus that leaves everyday at 10:00 from the bus station, for €15.

North Macedonia:
 * Skopje – Buses leave at 09:00, €9.

Montenegro:
 * Ulcinj – Closer to and during the summer you can also get buses to here.

Turkey:
 * Istanbul – Bus tickets are around €30.