Pristina Things to Do

4 more images

Gracanica is a Serbian enclave outside of Pristina. It is probably the main attraction in the area because of it's famous monastery. The monastery was founded in 1321 by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin. It is one of the most famous monument in Kosovo.

After Kosovo war of 1999 the monastery became the national and political center of Serbian people in Kosovo.

Currently the monastery is a convent. It is the home of a community of nuns. Feel free to buy their produce during the visit. We found the quality of the honey outstanding and there are many kinds of it to chose from. There are several rooms for guests in the konak - but be prepared to face electric shortage. The monastery is protected by Swedish army contingent. I did not notice any sign of ethnic violence - in the fact, quite a few Kosovo Albanians visit the village of Gracanica for administrative errands.

the Albanians are the main ethnic group of Kosovo, and are the most part of muslims too (there are Bosniaks and Turks there too)...

this mosque has a Tuskish style, since it was made during Ottoman rule... and it was converted to a special symbol during the war of Kosovo

this one is the main mosque of Pristina and Kosovo

1 more image

Kosovo Caves are near the beautiful village of Gadimje just 15 Kms South of Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo. Look out for the blue motorway sign for Gadimje, 10 Kms along the route from Pristina to Skopje. (Route Hawk if you are from KFOR or EULEX!).

Follow the road for 2 kms to the village of Gadimje and park in the coffee shop car park beside the small town bridge. Buy your tickets in the coffee shop. A personal guided tour of these wonderful and spectacular caves from the owner or one of his family takes just 45 minutes and costs just Euro 2.50 per person. The caves are a constant 16 Degrees Celcius so warm clothing is not essential. It is reccomended however that you wear appropriate footwear as there are some large puddles of water throughout the caves (Don't wear your Gucci or Manolo Blanak shoes !).

Kosovo Caves. After your tour, relax in the coffee shop and river side terrace with views of the surrounding mountains.

Like many places in Kosovo this is very much a work in progress! Plans for future development in the area include a complete tidy up / make over / beautification of that section of their village. At the moment they have prepared over 1,300 meters of cave walks for visitors. Another 5,000 meters have been charted and await development and safety works. There is apparantly an underground lake the size of a football field which they hope to open in a year or so!

This could quickly become Kosovo's most important tourism resource if it receives the right support.

See Kosovo Caves for further info.

3 more images

Mirusha Waterfalls, located on the way to Gjakova (about 1 hour from Pristina, depending on traffic), is a must-go for those visiting Kosovo. The waterfalls are a popular destination for Kosovar families during the spring and summer months because of the swimming in and around the three waterfalls at the site.

Getting to the waterfalls isn't incredibly easy, but it is fun. From Pristina, drive towards Peja and take the Peja/Gjakova intersection towards Gjakova. Drive app. 8 kilometers and turn left when you see a small sign (Ujvarat e Mirushes) near the first petrol station on the road. There is no other signage, but the waterfalls are pretty easy to find. Park your car at the restaurant just after the left hand turn near the petrol station. Then follow the trail about thirty minutes directly to the waterfalls.

The waterfalls are a great place to spend a summer afternoon. There are two cafes located at the base of the falls that are nice to sit at and have a cold beer (or Coke). The waterfalls themselves are beautiful and the hike to the waterfalls is also fun (though a bit muddy if it has recently rained).

If you have a free afternoon, Mirusha is a fun day trip from Pristina!

Pristina is surrounded by a number of paintball arenas - including one in Novo Brdo (1 hour drive) and one in Ferizaj (45 minute drive), near Camp Bondsteel. Price range from 5 Euro to 15 Euro with all the protective gear and guns provided. Paintball can be a lot of fun and a good excuse to get out of Pristina for an afternoon!

Check out Dukagjini Bookstore in Pristina for a good selection of English language books (fiction and non-fiction) and periodicals. Dukagjini is the largest bookstore in Pristina and is certainly worth a visit if you are going to be here a while. They also sell some somewhat bizarre Pristina-related gifts, such as postcards.

The bookstore accepts Visa and Mastercard.

Pristina is full of great and relaxing cafes and restaurants. Some of the best ones are located along "Police Street" near UNMIK HQ and on Bill Clinton Blvd, though fabulous restaurants can be found virtually anywhere in the city. As such, it isn't surprising that a pass time for most Kosovars is to go out for coffee, sit around, chat, and smoke (often a lot). At anytime during the day, and into the early evening, Pristina's cafes and restaurants are quite full with a young and hip crowd. During the spring and summer, most cafes open up outdoor seating, making for a relaxing afternoon.

Pristina is full of great and relaxing cafes and restaurants. Some of the best ones are located along "Police Street" near UNMIK HQ and on Bill Clinton Blvd, though fabulous restaurants can be found virtually anywhere in the city. As such, it isn't surprising that a pass time for most Kosovars is to go out for coffee, sit around, chat, and smoke (often a lot). At anytime during the day, and into the early evening, Pristina's cafes and restaurants are quite full with a young and hip crowd. During the spring and summer, most cafes open up outdoor seating, making for a relaxing afternoon.