Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on the 17th of February 2008. Serbia however does not recognise Kosovo as an independent country, which can make crossing borders between the two country’s chaotic. If you do not entre Kosovo through Serbia, you cannot decide to exit through Serbia. So, to avoid any inconveniences, when planning a trip to both Kosovo and Serbia entre through Serbia. My trip to Kosovo was unplanned like most great adventures and I had a great time and learnt so much about the people and the culture. There is some very painful recent history in Kosovo that the people are still recovering from; But the people are so kind and generous you wouldn’t know there was so much pain. I hope this short summary of Kosovo will help you plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
The winters are cold with snow and the winters are warm, the best time to visit is in May and September, it is neither to hot or cold.
Things to do and see
- The Gjeravica Mountain at 6714ft is the largest mountain in Kosovo located near the border of Montenegro and Albania. Worth the hike when in Kosovo.
- Brezovica slopes is a ski resort run by Serbs near the border of Macedonia attracts majority Albanian guests and is a great place to go skiing when in Kosovo.
- Ferrata Berim is a protected climbing mountain route which has steel cable fixed on a large rock. It’s a very popular hike for experienced and novice hikers
- A walking day tour of Pristina will allow any visitor to explore the sights of Pristina with some historical knowledge learning about the history and culture of Kosovo, there are many sites around the city of Kosovo that memorialise the victims of the Kosovo war. Most tours will also include beyond the city limits sightseeing.
Food
The Kosovan cuisine is a combination of Balkan dishes of different ethnic groups. One of the most popular dishes to try is a Flija which is a type of pancake bake made with flour, butter and yoghurt then baked in a spherical tin pan for several hours and served with sour cream. Meat is also very popular in Kosovo and served as a collection of different grilled meat, which often comes with potatoes, rice and bread with a side of salad. Fish is also very popular especially trout. Accompanying most meals are wine, Kosovo has a large growing wine tradition.
Transportation
Air: There are no direct flights from London to Kosovo, there are also no domestic flights.
Roads: The roads in urban areas are well maintained and the motor ways have tollbooths, Foreign vehicles are charged a higher fee. The rural areas can be dangerous to drive especially when the weather is bad.
Rail: There is a limited rail service in Kosovo operated by Trainkos which connects Pristina to Peja and an international service to neighbouring countries.
Taxi: Uber is available in some parts of Kosovo like Sofia, there are also metered taxis throughout Kosovo. You can negotiate the price if the taxi is not metered.
Ferry: Kosovo is a landlocked country that has no ferry service.
Bus: Coaches connect the whole country and travel internally to neighbouring countries. The coaches are frequent but slow.
Visa
Visas are not required for all E.U, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays of up to 90days over a 6month period.
Language
The official language spoken in Kosovo is Albanian. Serbian, Bosniak and Turkish is also widely understood.
Money
The official currency in Kosovo is the euro (EUR) You will find ATMs accepting all major credit and debit cards in all cities and larger towns, but if you are visiting rural areas you should make sure you have enough cash as they may be harder to come by.
Tipping
10% is customary, restaurants add a service charge and taxes to the bill.
Social etiquette
Majority of the people in Kosovo are Sunni Muslim. Avoid taking pictures of military installations and abandoned Serb houses. Smoking is allowed everywhere even on coaches and public transport.
Adaptor
There is one plug associated with Kosovo.
Wi-Fi
Internet cafes can be found in main urban areas, but it can be limited in rural areas.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 