Great Things to Do in Prizren, Kosovo

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The city of Pristina may be the first place people visit in Kosovo, but chances are Prizren is the place they best remember. That’s because Prizen is the more traditional tourist destination of the two cities thanks to its enchanting historical character. In a lot of ways it’s everything that the Pristina isn’t. Both destinations are great for different reasons in my opinion, but the various things to do in Prizren definitely make it my kind of travel destination.

What makes Prizren so beloved by visitors is the city’s complete and untouched Ottoman look. It’s a city that’s long been an important hub in the region, but also one that’s survived quite well throughout the conflict in Kosovo. As such, it’s a bit of a looking glass for tourists into Kosovo’s deeper history. And it really doesn’t hurt that it’s also an especially place to go, with plenty of scenery to explore. With all that in mind, here’s what to do in Prizren to get the most from your visit.

The Stone Bridge

When it comes to what to see in Prizren, the city’s iconic Stone Bridge is always near the top of the list. Joining the two halves of the historical centre of the city, this restored bridge spans the gentle Prizren Bistrica river. One of Prizren’s best features is its picturesque riverfront, thanks to the crystal clear water of the river and stone surrounds. And while there are many bridges across the river, this bridge has a special place in the hearts of locals. When the original 15th century bridge was destroyed by floods in 1979, they wasted no time rebuilding it.

Wander the Old Town

Prizren is definitely a place to explore on foot, particularly since there’s no real alternative. To see the sights around its Old Town you’re going to have to walk. Now, the Old Town does rest either side of the river, but the area north of the river has changed with the times. So it’s the south side of Prizren, that’s the most fun to wander about.

My advice is to start with Shadervan Square and head away from the water, down whatever streets take your fancy. As for feeling safe going into residential areas – I felt safer here than I did in big western cities like Hamburg or Rome. So don’t let that notion put you off seeing this neighbourhood and the occasional traditional Ottoman houses that lend it so much ambience.

Sinan Pasha Mosque

Having explored the city quite a bit, the Sinan Pasha Mosque feels like the central landmark of Prizren. Much of the Old Town revolves around it and while there are many, many mosques in Prizren, this really is “the one” to see. There’s just something about how this historic building stands apart from everything; you’d be hard to pressed to miss it.

This Ottoman mosque was finished in 1615 by Sofia Sinan Pasha, the local Ottoman chieftain at the time. It’s believed that a local and abandoned Serbian orthodox monastery was dismantled to help build the mosque. Today, there are sections of the mosque that have the original stone floor and woodwork. As for the interior, the artwork on the dome were done in the 19th century, helping make it quite special inside.

However, there have have been sections of the walls damaged by rain in the past, which together with the collapse of the front portico, has required serious restoration. Can’t argue with the results though.

Prizren Turkish Baths

Hamams or Turkish Baths were once a common sight across the Balkans in the days of the Ottoman Empire. But travelling the region, I can’t remember one as large or well-preserved as the Prizren Hamam. Built in 1574 and restored in 1833, today the baths are more of a venue for exhibitions and other meetings than anything else. Still quite a neat sight to see just back from the riverfront.  

Halveti Tekke

Just a street over from the Turkish Baths you’ll find the Halveti Tekke next to one of the city’s many mosques. Dating from the 17th century, this tekke was a place of learning for Sufi Muslims. While there are a number of buildings in the complex, the small inner courtyard seemed to be the only space open to the public. Besides the two ornate fountains, what really caught me eye was the kiwi fruit growing in the vines overhead. I realise that’s a strange thing to notice, but it’s simply something I’d never seen before.

Prizren Archaeological Museum

One attraction that we were pleased to stumble upon was the city’s Archaeological Museum. Not that we knew that there was one as there’s not about it online. In fact, what drew us to it was its distinctive tower poking through the rooftops. Rather than being yet another minaret, the museum’s white tower looks more like a bell tower. And that’s really all you have to go on to find it, because it’s not shown on Google Maps at all.

The bulk of the museum though is held inside a converted hamam, yes another one. There you can see a modest number of displays showcasing various artefacts, as well as original sections of the hamam. It’s by no means a big museum, but it deserve a look. Mostly that’s because climbing up the tower is the best thing about visiting here. It’s always good to get a new perspective on a destination and the tower views let you see Prizren in a new light. 

Our Lady of Ljeviš

Looking for the best places to visit in Prizren, the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš was near the top of many lists. Which seems mighty strange, given that the last thing you expect is a top attraction to be surrounded by barbed wire. But that is what’s waiting for you at Our Lady of Ljeviš, although there’s a good reason why.

This historic church from the 14th century is a Serbian Orthodox place of worship, one of many important ones in Kosovo. It’s actually part of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo recognised by UNESCO that focus on Serbian Orthodox Christian churches and monasteries. The problem is that this church was severely damaged in 2004 during unrest in Kosovo. Hence the fencing to keep people including tourists out. To see what it’s like, head on over to Wikipedia.

Albanian League of Prizren

Prizren was a key player in the region’s complex ethnic politics ever since the foundation of the League of Prizren in 1877. This organisation was dedicated to the unification of ethnic Albanians, which naturally added to the political tensions of Kosovo. The old buildings of this complex, considered an important cultural monument by some, was destroyed during the Kosovo War. However you can visit the rebuilt complex now called the Albanian League of Prizren to see its Ottoman-style buildings, statue and gardens.

Hike up to Prizren Fortress

We talked about viewpoints before and there’s no denying that Prizren Fortress is the king of viewpoints here. Sitting on top of a hill to the east of the city centre, it offers the perfect panorama of Prizren. You honestly couldn’t ask for a better spot.

To reach Prizren Fortress, you have a choice of two ways to get up there. One is the direct path from the old town which is shorter and steeper. The other is the longer route along the river that brings you up the far side of the hill. If you have the time, do the long route as it takes you past some superb scenery by the river and into the hills.

We timed our climb up for sunset and while we were worried we’d miss it, it all worked out perfectly. Honestly, the 14th century fortress kind of took a back seat to the view. Seeing Prizren bathed in golden light under the sunset was incredible and I couldn’t snapping photos of the city below. Visiting the fortress for sunset really is a great way to round off a day in Prizren.

Prizren Restaurants and Nightlife

I normally wouldn’t spend too much focus on food and nightlife in blog posts like this. But like with Pristina, the restaurants and bars reflect a major social element of the city. That’s because the city really doesn’t come to life until after the sun goes down. It’s like day and night – literally!

Now with Prizren restaurants you have plenty of choice, especially down by the riverfront. But one place we really liked was Ambient Restaurant, a little out of the centre. Great outdoor seating with a view and the food’s good too.

But what was really cool was seeing just how busy the bars and cafes of Prizren get in the evening. Head for the street corner opposite the DokuKino and there are just tables and chairs all over the place. Getting service wasn’t that easy mind you, particularly because we didn’t even know which venue was servicing which area. And finding a free table wasn’t that easy either as it felt like every young adult in the city was there.

If you want to people watch and learn about life here, this is definitely the place to be.

Travel Tips for Visiting Prizren

So, we’ve pretty comprehensively covered all of the sights to see in Prizren now. But what other things do you need to know? Well, unless you’re doing just a day trip, which I think is too brief, you’ll need somewhere to stay. There’s a decent selection of places to stay in Prizren, while we stayed at Deja Vu Hotel, an affordable and central hotel in Prizren.

The more important thing to understand is how to get to Prizren. Using public transport, it’s easiest to take the Pristina Prizren bus as there are buses every 20 minutes on that route. The trip from Pristina to Prizren takes 1 hour 45 minutes, so doing a day trip to Prizren like this is certainly viable. As for trips outside of Kosovo, Skopje and Tirana are your best options, but don’t expect many connections.

Have you been to Prizren Kosovo? Are there are other things to do in Prizren that I’ve missed? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

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