Weekend trip to Prishtina and Western Kosovo

A two-day tour including Prishtina and Western Kosovo offers a unique cultural experience with all UNESCO sites of the country. Join us for a different kind of weekend adventure!

Highlights: Gracanica Monastery, Marble Cave, National Library, Kosovo Battle monuments, Rugova Gorge; Deçan Monastery, Prizren.

Day one Prishtina and Battle of Kosovo

Driving time: 2hrs, for the tour, 1 hour 20 minutes to Peja.

Content: The tour will start with The Gracanica Monastery one of the oldest buildings in Kosovo’s religious sphere. A centrepiece of cultural Kosovo, the Monastery was built in the 14th century. Inside the paintings are stunningly preserved, covering all of the walls. Look straight up and you’ll see the face of Christ in the topmost dome enigmatically smiling down at you. Apart from this, you will visit Ulpiana one of the few Roman ruins in Kosovo.

Following the itinerary, you will explore the Battle of Kosovo monuments with the Gazimestan and the Sultan Murad Turbës (or tombs) visits. You’ll step back in time to the one event that has defined Kosovo for over 600 years: The 1389 Battle of Kosovo Field. Ottoman forces defeated the allied Christian forces of Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria and Hungary. They controlled Kosovo and most of the Balkans for 500 years. It also led to Kosovo becoming the only place outside of Turkey where a part of the Ottoman Sultan is buried. The Kosovo Field area is without a doubt a rich place with religious, political, cultural and social meaning.

This weekend trip will continue with the Prishtina City tour, firstly with a visit to the popular Newborn monument in the city centre. Across from Newborn is the Heroinat (Heroines) monument in honour of the women who contributed to the liberation of Kosovo.

8:30 – Start the tour
9:00 – Gracanica
10:00 – Ulpiana
11:00 – Battle of Kosovo monuments
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Prishtina inner city tour and National Library
18:00 – Drive to Peja

Day two Western Kosovo – Natural wonder of Rugova and UNESCO Monasteries

Driving time: 2hrs 30 min, for the tour, 1 hour 20 minutes Prizren to Prishtina.

Content: This is the last but not least day. The tour will start with a walk to the 15th century Bajrakli Mosque in the old Bazaar of Peja was one of the first mosques built in Peja. The mosque still has one of the highest and oldest domes in the city. Besides the city tour, the trip will continue with a small walk and a drive-in Rugova Gorge. (Optional The Patriarchate of Peja)

A 30 minutes drive will take you to the 300- year old Osdautaj Kulla in Isniq. It is definitely a pristine example of the family Kulla (or Tower) found in the Dukagjin, western part of Kosovo. This unique piece of architecture provides a meeting place for families and communities and it is what Kosovo is known for, especially in the Dukagjini region. Few people get to see a living Kulla today. Twenty minutes drive and you will be at Deçan Monastery (1327) a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It should be noted that Prizren was once the capital of Kosovo. It is situated around the Lumbardhi river and tucked underneath the Sharr mountains. Prizren contains holy sites for Muslims, Orthodox Christians and Catholics making it a key Kosovo religious city. Many in Kosovo consider Prizren to be the capital of cultural Kosovo – both contemporary and ancient. This blend of the old and the new makes it absolutely one of the must-see stops while visiting Kosovo.

8:30 – Start the tour
9:00 – Bajrakli mosque and city visit
10:00 – Drive the Rugova gorge and return to Isniq, and Deçan Monastery
13:00 – Lunch
14:00 – Prizren City Tour
18:00 – Drive to Prishtina