My curated travel guide to Kosovo’s cultural capital shows you all the best things to do in Prizren.
As much as I loved Pristina, Kosovo’s hip capital, and Gjakova, the country’s most charming city, Prizren will always have a special place in my heart.
Kosovo’s ‘cultural capital’ is small but boasts a wonderful selection of museums, galleries, shops and cultural attractions (and, of course, cafes). It’s a great introduction to the country and a wonderful place to start your Kosovo itinerary.
Here are my 10 favourite things to do in Prizren along with a video and map, restaurant recommendations and travel tips.
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Watch my Prizren travel video
One of the prettiest cities in the Balkans, Prizren has a special feel about it. It’s difficult to put into words, so I decided to make a video instead!
Once you’re done watching, keep reading for my recommendations and a handy map to help you plan your trip.
10 captivating things to do in Prizren
Here are my top recommendations for Prizren, including major attractions and hidden gems.
Cross the stone bridge & stroll the waterfront
Prizren Bistrica, with its iconic stone bridge and cafe-lined waterfront, is the heart of the city. Known locally as Shadervani, this is the main restaurant and cafe area where locals come to eat, drink and be merry.
We arrived on a holiday and couldn’t believe how many people were out and about walking the Bistrica River. The atmosphere on weekends is electric.
Stop by Shadervan Square & Fountain
Shadervan Square, with its marble fountain in the centre, is the perfect place for people-watching. This is the heart of Prizren’s Old Town and the most atmospheric spot in this beautiful city.
Go inside the Sinan Pasha Mosque
Prizren’s largest mosque is centrally located adjacent to the main square. Visitors are welcome inside as long as prayers aren’t in session. The white-washed interior is understated but beautiful.
Other prominent religious buildings to visit include the Emin Pasha Mosque.
Climb to Prizren Fortress for sunset
Located on a hill overlooking the city, this majestic fortress complex dates back to the 6th century and was added to in the 11th century. A short walk from the city centre, it’s fun to explore on foot.
The views from the top are breathtaking. No wonder locals flock here for sunset.
Visit the Albanian League of Prizren Museum
Established in the late 19th century, Prizren’s best-known museum is dedicated to the political party that has traditionally advocated for the rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
The traditional house and grounds are beautiful; inside there’s a small display of costumes and an art gallery.
Peek at the UNESCO-listed Our Lady of Ljevis
One of four religious sites that make up the UNESCO-listed Medieval Monuments in Kosovo complex, this 14th century Orthodox church was all but ruined during riots in the city and is yet to be restored.
Visits are by appointment only – but you can still see the exterior of the church through the barbed wire. For the best views, climb the watchtower.
Buy a ticket for the Archaeological Museum & climb the watchtower
This should be on tourists’ radar but most people seem to bypass it (it’s not on Google Maps, which doesn’t help). Prizren’s Archaeological Museum is housed in a 15th-century hamam (bathhouse) and features an interesting display of pottery and metallic objects salvaged from the area.
The real highlight in the adjoining watchtower (this is supposedly the only example of a hammam-watchtower architectural hybrid in the Balkans!). From the top, you get an excellent aerial view of Our Lady of Ljevis. Entry costs just 1 Euro.
Browse the Tregu i Gjelber market
One of many green markets, we liked the laid-back atmosphere and friendly stallholders here.
Visit a filigree workshop
Kosovo has a long tradition of filigree silversmithing, and Prizren is the country’s official capital of filigree.
Filigran ShPK is a small workshop where about a dozen master craftspeople and apprentices make intricate jewellery according to traditional techniques first inherited from the Ottomans. The co-op leader, Faik Bamja, welcomes tourists to visit and watch the process, which involves using a blowtorch to melt the silver fragments.
It’s wonderful to watch – and if you’re lucky, one of the young apprentices will be there to explain things for you in English. Their products are sold all throughout Prizren and you can buy items directly from the workshop.
Browse the textile shops & wedding outfitters
There are a number of textile shops on Remzi Ademaj selling vintage fabrics and tablecloths as well as new outfits and traditional wedding attire.
The particular shop we visited (marked on the map below) has a sewing room out the back where you can watch the seamstresses at work.
Traditional Albanian wedding attire, all gold thread and velvet, is a sight to behold. There are dozens of shops along Rruga Adem Jashari that specialise in handmade costumes.
Where to eat & drink in Prizren
Prince Coffee House
The local branch of this wildly popular Kosovo coffee chain has outdoor seating and a beautifully decorated interior. Their Turkish coffee and macchiato (Kosovo’s coffee of choice) are both excellent; if it’s a hot day, opt for an iced coffee. An absolute icon – don’t leave Prizren without trying it!
‘Fortress’ Bar
It doesn’t have a Google Maps listing and we didn’t catch the name, but this bar near Prizren Fortress has fantastic city views from the outdoor terrace. It’s located right on the main path up from town – you can’t miss it.
Pashtriku
Serving Albanian dishes and Kosovar specialties, this was probably our most memorable meal in Prizren. We really loved the flija (traditional layered pie served in slices) as a starter.
Alhambra (Te Syla)
A local favourite, this riverside restaurant serves the best Prizren-style qebapa (the Kosovar equivalent of cevapi) in town. We really loved the salads here as well.
Gjelltore Rexha
A no-frills local grill joint that serves up qebapa, pljeskavica (meat patty) and other Balkans favourites with a side salad and bread. Very reasonably priced.
Besimi-Beska
Located on the main square, this place is always full to the brim. Again, qebapa, chicken fillet and other grilled meats are the favourites. You can’t go wrong with a mixed grill and shopska salad.
Sarajevo Burek
Located opposite the fountain on the main square, this tiny joint serves up the most delicious burek in Prizren. Wash it down with a glass of ayran drinking yogurt Sarajevo-style.
Fellas Coffee & Kitchen
One of Prizren’s newer cafe/bars, this is a nice place for an afternoon beer or cocktail. The Western food menu is good for bar snacks and they also offer daily budget deals (we had the burrito and panna cotta combo).
Prizren map
All the sights, restaurants and hotels mentioned in this post mapped out for your convenience.
Click here to open the map and save a copy to your Google Drive.
Where to stay in Prizren
Mid-range hotel: We spent our 4 nights in Prizren at Hotel Denis . It’s located close to the bus station (handy if you’re arriving late at night like we did), but still walking distance to the centre of town. It’s a brand new build, so everything is sparkling and fresh. Rooms are simple but tastefully decorated, and most come with a small balcony.
The thing that really sold Hotel Denis to us was the free breakfast included in the room rate. Served at the gorgeous cafe downstairs, we got to choose between an omelette and pancakes each morning. In our opinion, the baristas here make the best macchiato in Prizren (no small feat!). Staff are incredibly hospitable and helpful.
→ Check prices for Hotel Denis on Agoda.
Budget hotel: We had originally planned to stay at Driza’s House, but a booking clash meant that we couldn’t. This family run, hostel-style accommodation is set in a local home and receives high commendations from other travellers.
Luxury hotel: There are a few boutique and luxury hotels to choose from. Hotel Tiffany is located in the centre of town and also features an on-site restaurant.
How to get to Prizren
From Pristina: There are bus connections between Prizren and Pristina at least every hour. Travel time is between 1.5 and 2 hours. Check up-to-date times and fare information here.
If you’re heading to Prishtina next, check out my guide to Kosovo’s capital.
From elsewhere in Kosovo: Bus travel within Kosovo is cheap and straightforward. We travelled onward to Gjakova, which took just over an hour and cost 2.5 Euros each.
From Montenegro: Since it can be problematic to enter Kosovo directly from Serbia, most people choose to transit through a bordering country. After a lot of research, we decided to enter Kosovo via Montenegro and arrived in Prizren from the beach town of Ulcinj.
Ulcinj is a favourite holiday spot for Kosovars, so regular buses ply the route (in summer, at least). The route goes through northern Albania via a new highway, making the trip relatively fast and easy. Travel time is approximately 5 hours (including border crossings), and the fare was 17.5 Euros ($19) when we travelled.
Check up-to-date bus times and fare information for Ulcinj to Prizren here.
Prizren day tours
Prefer to visit with a guide on a day trip? This private tour departing Skopje, North Macedonia includes a visit to both Prizren and the nearby city of Pristina. Perfect for a whirlwind introduction to Kosovo’s two biggest cities.
If you plan to travel between North Macedonia and Albania and want to see Kosovo on the way, this private taxi transfer between Skopje and Tirana features a stopover in Prizren to break up the journey.
What to pack for Prizren
- A good quality backpack. I recommend using an anti-theft backpack for your day pack.
- A scarf (women). A lightweight cotton scarf is my number one travel essential. In Prizren, it will come in handy for covering your hair when visiting the mosque. This neutral travel scarf goes with anything and it even has a hidden pocket.
- Good walking shoes. Like all Kosovo’s cities, Prizren is very pedestrian friendly. Comfy shoes are essential – I love these ones for women, while my partner lives in these waterproof shoes.
- A reusable water bottle. I always travel with a S’Well water bottle.
- Biodegradable wet wipes. Try this convenient travel pack.
- Entertainment for bus journeys. I always carry my e-reader for passing the time on road journeys. If you have a travel buddy, pick up a headphone splitter – probably my favourite travel gadget of all time – so you can share a screen or a podcast.
What are your favourite things to see in Prizren? Leave your suggestions in the comments below.
Regarding the church of Our Lady of Ljevis, there is now Nikola, a custodian/caretaker who can let you into the church (as long as you are dressed appropriately – no shorts, etc.). I believe he is there on a full-time basis. He showed me around the church and seems to be very knowledgeable about it and its history.
Thank you so much for the update, Romano! I hope I can make it back to visit some time.
Firstly, let me say how much I love your guides. They for me through Armenia and Georgia last year and have been invaluable in Albania and now Kosovo this year.
I got lucky today; a few groups are wandering the city with guides so I got to walk inside our Lady of Ljevis because it happened to be open. The clock tower has an amazing view of the city as well as the church. Just a little thing that may have changed; I visited the Clock Tower in the Archeological Museum and there was no entry price- just the chance to tip. My favourite part was having someone open the door to the museum when I entered and ask me if I climb the clock tower whether I could make sure I close the windows after me? The climb was most definitely worth it!
Wonderful, Gareth! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi Emily, thank you so much for this well-curated guide. Since it is so hot in Prizren at the moment, we’ve done the walk starting at Sinan Pasha Mosque (the nature trail) which mostly leads through forest. It’s lovely, we’ve seen turtles, dozens of butterflies and lizzards.
Another suggestion for everybody who loves veggie/vegan food is noja.kuzhine. The place opened during the pandemics, the food is fresh and very tasty. It’s a bit difficult to find, but they are on insta/facebook!
Thank you so much Sina for these amazing suggestions! Have a wonderful time in Prizren!
I’ve pinned this for my upcoming trip to Kosovo! Thanks for the helpful information.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
for the best food you must go to Mburger
Im from Germany I went oce last year to Prizren im going this year to .
Wow thank you for such an extensive guide to Prizren! I’d love to see the waterfront area and all of the food places that you listed!
We only tried a fraction of the restaurants! So many options to choose from 🙂