When to Visit Kosovo?
The best time to visit Kosovo is between May to September when the weather is nice and warm; great for visiting all the outdoor natural spots in Kosovo like Peja, and since Kosovo doesn't get as many tourists as other countries in Europe, you don't have to worry about the crowds when you travel here during the peak season as you do in places like Croatia.
The price can be a tiny bit higher for accommodations and tours during this period, but Kosovo is already extremely affordable compared to its neighbors, so you won't be expecting to pay that much more than if you were to visit during the shoulder seasons. All in all, if you want to do a lot of outdoor activities, I highly recommend you stick to the recommended period.
How to Get to Kosovo?
From the US, you can either fly into Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, via Turkish Airlines, leaving from big cities like New York and LA, which should take around 13 - 20 hours, including the transiting time in Istanbul.
From Europe, you can find a few direct flights flying from major European hubs to Pristina via airlines like Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines, or you can also fly with low-cost airlines like Wizzair and Easyjet straight to Pristina.
You can also travel to neighboring countries like North Macedonia and Albania or even as far as Montenegro and take a bus from there. I took a bus from Kotor, Montenegro, to Prizren, taking around 8 hours, passing through Albania, and it went well. There is one bus running between Kotor and Prizren at 3 PM, so be sure to be at Kotor Bus Station on time. You will find significantly more buses from Albania and North Macedonia, and you can look up for bus schedules here.
From Asia, you can also fly with European or Middle Eastern airlines like Austrian or Turkish Airlines from any big cities in the region, and it should take you about 15 - 20 hours, including transit time, before you arrive in Pristina.
To find a cheap flight to Kosovo, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around Kosovo?
By Buses: Buses are the cheapest way to get around Kosovo. There are several buses running between major cities like Pristina and Prizren as well as to and from other neighboring countries like Albania and North Macedonia in case you are visiting Kosovo as part of a bigger trip in the Balkans.
For this itinerary, we will be relying on buses to travel around the country. Online ticketing for buses in Kosovo is not a thing quite yet, but you can still find bus schedules available here. Prices aren't listed, but the time is mostly accurate.
I relied on the website for my bus travels in Kosovo, and they were pretty spot on. The bus should cost between 3 - 10 EUR depending on the distance. You do not need to buy the ticket from the bus station, just go to the bus station, tell one of the staff working at the bus station where you want to go, and they will direct you to the right bus. The guy will come and collect the money as the bus departs the city. That's when you will pay for the bus.
By Rental Cars: You can also rent a car straight from Pristina Airport and drive around Kosovo, but for this itinerary, you won't need it. If you insist, hit the link below to rent a car in Kosovo:
How Much Money Do I Need for 7 days in Kosovo?
From this 7-day itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 7 nights in Kosovo, you can expect to pay around 56 EUR for accommodation, considering you are staying in budget guesthouses or hostels.
Food: For 7 days, 3 meals a day in Kosovo, you can expect to pay around 84 EUR for food, considering you eat out every day. It will be significantly cheaper if you buy your own groceries and cook yourself instead.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay approximately 30 EUR for bus tickets to get around the country.
Activities: Depending on how much you want to do in Kosovo, you can expect to pay no more than 10 EUR for entrance fees to all the tourist attractions around the country combined.
Total Budget for 7 days in Kosovo: 180 EUR
Is it Safe in Kosovo?
It is extremely safe in Kosovo. I spent about a week traveling around the country independently, and I found Kosovo to be one of the safest places I've been to so far in the Balkans. People are extremely friendly here, and they would often come up to me to ask for photos which are awesome. Since the country doesn't get many tourists, they are all very welcoming and very happy for you to be visiting their country.
That said, it is always a good idea to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended, especially when in crowded places, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for your belongings at all times. Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places to secure your phone and wallet. Other than that, you should be perfectly fine traveling around Kosovo independently.
Also, in the northern part of the country, bordering Serbia, where conflicts between the 2 countries are always brewing, you are best to avoid that area for now. This itinerary will not take you to this part of Kosovo, so do not worry about it.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Kosovo?
There are 2 major carriers in Kosovo, Vala, and IPKO, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Kosovo. That said, if you are looking for a more convenient way, I highly recommend you look into getting esims instead, which is something that you can buy prior to your arrival in Kosovo.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at these esims. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from.
The setup is fast and instant, and you can buy it prior to your trip, so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country. Although sometimes, it takes a while to connect, which is understandable due to how recently the country gained independence and the infrastructure may not be in place quite yet.
For more information on esims in Kosovo, click here: Check Kosovo's Available eSim.
What to Pack for Kosovo?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kosovo:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.