Kosovo

Eco-friendly travel guide to Kosovo advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Kosovo, Europe.

Gračanica Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Air quality: 3 / 5

Bus connections:. 3.5/ 5

Train connections: 3/ 5

Hitchhiking: 3 / 5

National parks: 3.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 3 / 5

Locals' English level: 3/ 5

Safety: 3 / 5

Accommodation: US$70 - $300

Budget per day: US$60 - $200

Responsible Travel

Kosovo is a developing state which is also known by the name Republic of Kosovo. The state of Kosovo requires a lot of development and as the years are passing by it is getting developed. Kosovo is a small European state located in the Southern side of Europe and is a very popular tourist spot. Kosovo is a very small state and the population of this state is also very less around 18 lakhs but the population is increasing gradually. State of Kosovo is also a very popular tourist among the European regions and every year many tourists visit this state for exploration. Being a tourist in today's world comes with its own set of responsibilities and obligations. The change climate of the planet urges us to be more responsible and take accountability for our actions and also study the impact we have on the environment. One must travel in an eco friendly way and ensure that the local citizens or the natural surroundings are not affected. These are some of the most crucial tips that vacationers must follow to travel responsibly:

Choose green hotels over other accommodation options and if you cannot find a green hotel of your choice then opt for an apartment or hostel. This is because most of the five star hotels and resorts create tonnes of waste every day including 79,000 tonnes of food waste (9% total food waste from the sector) and they do not adhere to sustainable business practices. If you choose to stay in an apartment you can work on your carbon footprint and decide on things like using no plastic, minimum waste etc. This will not only help with reducing your carbon footprint but massively help help with improving the environment.

Eat Local food and buy the food from street food stalls or small restaurants. This is because most of the big restaurant chains or fast food conglomerates are guilty of producing so much waste and directly contributing the problem of pollution and climate change due to their harmful business models. Not only do the small business owners need the help of tourists to run their business and provide for their family but they also have ethical practices for example most of them do not use plastic.

Use local transportation or electronic vehicles to keep the city pollution-free and save a lot of money at the same time.

Shop local. In order to support local craftsmen and artisans always shop local. During your trip to the city, you will come across small shops and food stalls in almost every lane of the city. If you want to have an unforgettable experience in the city, then buy goods and handicrafts from these shops. This will not only help you to save a lot of money but you will be supporting a lot of local people who are dependent on their small businesses to earn a livelihood

Air Quality and Pollution

Air quality of the republic of Kosovo is moderate in Kosovo. The least polluted city is Gjakove and the most polluted city is Vushtrri. If you are someone who is particularly sensitive towards air pollutants or are asthmatic then it will be better to wear a mask outdoors. It won't be too out of place as well in the post pandemic world.

According to a study that was conducted, Kosovo ranked as the world’s 30th most polluted region of an included list of 98 countries and regions. This is just to illustrate that it’s very important to travel responsibly in today’s world. Tourists make an impact on the Air quality as well so do your part towards a sustainable travel model.

Respect the Culture

The republic of Kosovo has a very rich heritage and a very enriching culture and for the local people of this state respecting their culture is extremely important. Local people of the state Kosovo wear traditional dresses during any festivals or cultural activities and these dresses are extremely beautiful. Every year so many cultural activities and events are carried out in various museums of Kosovo and people love to participate in such activities. It is very important for the tourists and the visitors to respect the culture of Kosovo and they should not do anything which disrespects the culture of this state. Tourists and the visitors can get involved in any of the cultural activities of this state so that they can understand the culture of Kosovo. Tourists will get to experience something new when they will participate in the cultural activities of Kosovo, they will get to eat traditional food, they will get to wear traditional dresses and they also get to do the traditional folk dance of Kosovo which one can learn very easily.

Top 10 Places to Visit

There are so many beautiful and exciting places to visit in the state of Kosovo and this state is a very popular tourist spot. Top 10 places that people should definitely visit when they are in Kosovo are mentioned below

Mali I Zhlebit - Mali i Zhlebit is a very huge mountain range which is present in the western region of the state Kosovo, Mali i Zhlebit has an elevation of about 2382 metres which is located between the Hajla and mokna mountains.

Đeravica - Đeravica is also known by the name Gjeravica is named as the second highest peak which is present in the state of Kosovo, Gjeravica mountain peak has an elevation of about 2656 metres.

Pancic's peak -. Pancic's peak is the highest mountain peak of the mountain range Kopaonik which is present in the northern region of the state Kosovo having an elevation of approximately 2017 metres.

Koritnik - Koritnik is a limestone mountain consisting of a lot of species of plants which is present in the southern region of the state Kosovo having the height of about 2393 metres.

Peskovi - Peskovi is a mountain peak present in the mountain range of Sar which is present exactly between the state of Kosovo and North Macedonia, Peskovi has an elevation of about 2651 and is pretty high.

Maja E kallabakut;;; - Maja E kallabakut mountain peak also known by the name of Halabak is also a part of the mountain range Sar which has an elevation of about 2174 metres.

Hajla - Hajla is a mountain change which has so many mountain peaks and all the peaks are over 2000 metres, the highest mountain peak of hajla has a height of about 2403.

Nebeske stolice - Nebeske stolice is a very famous archeological site which is present in the region of Ravnište of the state Kosovo, Nebeske stolice is one of the best tourist spots present in the republic of Kosovo.

Gazivoda Lake - Gazivoda Lake is an artificial or man made lake which is present in the state of Kosovo, Gazivoda Lake has an surface area of about 12 square kilometres and a width of about 1.1 kilometres.

National Park Bjeshkët e Nemuna - National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna" is a very popular National park which is present in the state of Kosovo, this national park is ideal for bird watching and nature lovers.

Mali I Zhlebit

Explore

Exploration is one of the most important factors for the tourists and new visitors who are visiting Kosovo for the first time as it helps them enhance their experience during their whole trip. Kosovo has so many places which are worth paying a visit and the tourists should be aware of these places so that they can visit them during their trip. Kosovo has some places where some of the most exciting adventurous activities can be practiced by the tourists and local people of this state. City parks of the state Kosovo are the first choice to visit for the families as these parks are the most perfect place for the kids.

City Parks

City parks are the most preferred places in Kosovo of both local and tourist families and they love spending time here. Some of the popular city parks which are present in the state of Kosovo are mentioned below

Gërmia Park - Gërmia Park is a very good park for the children to visit which is present in the region of Pristina of the state Kosovo, the slides, sea saws and the swings which are present in this park are in very good condition.

Parku I Qytetit - Parku i Qytetit is also a very small city park which is present in the region of Gjilan of the state Kosovo, Parku i Qytetit is ideal for the children to visit as here they get a ery huge ground to play.

Gërmia Park

National Parks

National parks are one the best places where people can spend their weekend and there are so many national parks in the state of Kosovo some of them are mentioned below

National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna - National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna" is a massive protected area which is present in the region of Shtupeq i Vogël of the state Kosovo, this national park has so many diverse species of flora and fauna so nature lovers ca visit here.

Shar Mountain National Park -. Shar Mountain National Park is also a massive protected area having the surface area of about 53,000 hectares which is present in the state of Kosovo, Shar Mountain National Park is present in the southernmost region of the state Kosovo where species of plants and animals are kept safe from humans.

Heart lake at the National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna

Beaches

Beaches are one of the most visited places by the families of Kosovo and they love to spend their off days on the local beaches. Some of the beaches present in or near to the state of Kosovo are mentioned below

Velipoja - Velipoja is a very popular beach which is present near to the state of Kosovo and is a very family friendly beach where families can be seen doing picnics and people can also do outdoor activities here.

Velipoja

Landmarks

Landmarks of Kosovo helps the visitors in knowing about the past of this state and it shows the heritage and glory of the country. Some of the popular landmarks of Kosovo are mentioned below

Mother Teresa Cathedral - Mother Teresa Cathedral is a very fascinating landmark which is present in the region of Pristina of the state Kosovo, the unique architecture of Mother Teresa cathedral will definitely fascinate the visitors.

Fatih Mosque- Fatih Mosque is an ancient landmark which is present in the region of Pristina of the state Kosovo, the architecture of Fatih Mosque is in not a very good condition and it requires renovation.

Museums

Museums are the best places if anyone wants to gain information on any topic of Kosovo and this state has many museums, some of them are mentioned below

Kosovo Museum - Kosovo museum is the largest museum which is present in the region of Pristina of the state Kosovo, Kosovo museum was founded in 1949 and is a very popular museum of Kosovo.

Ethnographic Museum - Ethnographic Museum is a very ancient museum which is also present in the region of Pristina of the state Kosovo, Ethnographic Museum is an eighteenth century museum and tourists should definitely visit here.

Kosovo Museum

Eat

Local people of the state Kosovo are food lovers and they love to experiment with the food they eat. Local food of Kosovo is not so different from the cuisines of other countries, tourists won't find the traditional food of this state at any other place so they can taste it at any of the local restaurants in Kosovo. Tourists can opt for any of the restaurants present in the state of Kosovo to eat food, restaurants of the republic of Kosovo also have cuisines of other countries so if anyone does not want to consume the local food they can opt for another cuisine. Traditional food in Kosovo is only consumed during festivals, ceremonies or any other special occasion and it is very delicious to eat. People also have a choice of food stalls when they are in Kosovo and here they can also eat the local food of this country and at very affordable and budget friendly rates. Some of the common local and traditional foods being consumed in the state of Kosovo are mentioned below

Stuffed peppers

Lasagne

Qebapa

Cabbage roll

Drink

Local people of the state Kosovo are very fond of consuming drinks whether it be alcoholic or non alcoholic and they prefer to drink them with food they are consuming. Alcoholic drinks are extremely common in the state of Kosovo and people consume it mostly in parties, ceremonies and events, although the government of Kosovo has kept an age limit and people below 18 are not allowed to consume alcoholic drinks. Rasoj is one of the most consumed drinks of the state of Kosovo and people prefer to drink it everyday and on off days. After rasoj boza is also a very popular drink in this state and people consume it with the food they eat everyday. Kampot is a drink which can only be found in the state of Kosovo only as it is the traditional drink of this state. This traditional drink of Kosovo is made from some of the seasonal fruits and is usually consumed in autumn and the taste of the drink is really good.

Tap-water

Tap water in the state Kosovo is considered safe for human consumption although the local people of this state should boil it properly and then consume for the safety of their bodies. Tourists can consume the tap water directly in the state of Kosovo but if they can face any health issues then they can drink packaged drinking water which is safe for consumption. Local people of Kosovo have water purifiers in their houses so as to purify the water from all the harmful chemical compounds and microorganisms which can cause adverse effects on their body.

Activities

The state of Kosovo is not so big when compared on the basis of size but it still has so many activities to do which attracts the tourists towards itself. The republic of Kosovo has so many places where people can do so many adventurous activities like snorkeling, bungee jumping, hiking, jungle safari and many more adventurous activities like that. Tourists can visit various ancient landmarks present in Kosovo which were built hundreds of years ago and still are in a perfect shape. People can go and relax on the various beaches of the state Kosovo as beaches are ideal for spending an off day and people also get to play beach volleyball on these beaches.

Accommodation

Accommodation is one of the most important factors when any tourist is planning a trip to the state of Kosovo. Choice of the accommodation should be done very carefully in Kosovo as this would be the place where one has to live during the whole trip. The state of Kosovo has so many modes of accommodation not only for the tourists or outsiders but also for the local people of this state. Booking of an accommodation in Kosovo can be done very easily through online mode nowadays and it is very convenient and safe for the people. Every accommodation should have all the necessary facilities which one wants in their day to day lifestyle and in Kosovo most of the accommodation have most of the facilities. There are various modes of accommodation which are present in the state of Kosovo and people can choose any of them as per their requirements and budget, some of the most common modes of accommodation of this state are mentioned below

Hotels

Guest houses

Hostels

Apartments

Green Hotels

Green hotels are one of the best ways to contribute towards the environment and this new concept decreased the rates of environmental degradation in the state of Kosovo. Everything used in the green hotels of Kosovo is eco-friendly and it does not affect the environment adversely. In the state of Kosovo also so many green hotels are present and some of the hotels have also started using eco-friendly electricity. In the green hotels of Kosovo the food is being made from organic substances which are extremely healthy for the residents of the hotel. Cosmetic products available for the use of the residents of these green hotels in Kosovo are also made up of organic substances which are harmless to their skin. Countries and regions of the whole world have started opting for the green hotels as they are really helpful in saving the environment. There are various green hotels in Kosovo some of them are mentioned below

Hotel Prishtina

Hotel Prima

Hotel Sirius

Hostels and Guest Houses

Hostels provide a great way of comfort to the female visitors and tourists in the state of Kosovo as they are extremely safe and are the best mode of accommodation for the women. Hostels can be very easily booked from the online websites and the rates of the hostels in Kosovo are also very affordable. There are various hostels which are present in the state of Kosovo, names of some of the hostels of this state are mentioned below

ODA HOSTEL

Hostel Saraç

Guest houses are the first choice of accommodation for the people who are on an office trip to the state of Kosovo and also for the people who do not want other facilities in their accommodation. Guest houses are perfect if one has to stay for a very long period of time in Kosovo as the charges of hospitality are very affordable and the facilities are also good. There are various guest houses which are present in the state of Kosovo, names of some of the guest houses of this state are mentioned below

Guest House Prishtine

Guest House Velania

Apartments

Apartments are the best mode of accommodation for the middle class people of Kosovo and in recent times the use of apartments has increased drastically in this state. One can very easily rent any apartment of their choice at very affordable rates in the state of Kosovo and the facilities of apartments are very similar to personal houses. Anyone who wants to rent a room in the apartment can book it easily online or by talking to the agencies directly present in Kosovo. A very large proportion of the population in Kosovo is living in apartments as most of the local people of this state are middle class and finding it a bit difficult to make their living properly.

Couchsurfing

Local people of Kosovo are really good at giving hospitality to their relatives and friends and couch surfing is a very common practice done in this state. Local people of Kosovo are very humble and always welcome their relatives and friends with an open heart and try to provide them with the most ideal hospitality. If any tourists has any relative or friend in Kosovo then it will benefit them in so many ways mainly in the mode of accommodation. Tourists having local friends in Kosovo don't have to worry about the modelf accommodation as they can live in their friend's house and also they don't need to worry about the meals as they can easily get it as their friend's place. Couch surfing is a very budget friendly practice as it saves so much money on accommodation and food in Kosovo which are the basic necessities of every trip.

Camping

Camping is an adventurous activity which should only be practiced under an trained expert but nowadays many agencies which are present in Kosovo have made Camping really easy. In the state of Kosovo there are so many agencies which let people practice camping at their place and it is very safe and anyone can practice it here at a very affordable price. These camping agencies of Kosovo also have all the necessary equipment and other things which are necessary for camping for which they take additional charge from the visitors. People can search for the camping agencies of the state Kosovo over the internet and book their place over there very conveniently. Camping is the cheapest mode of accommodation in Kosovo and is very budget friendly and it also provides a whole new experience to the people. People who are planning to do camping should know how to make food over the bonfire as no stov

Regions

Cities

Getting There and Moving Around

Reaching to Kosovo is very easy for the people living in Europe as from regions direct flights are available to Kosovo and can reach here very conveniently. But people who are visiting Kosovo from any other continent then one will face difficulties reaching to this country as one has to change few flights to reach Kosovo. Flights are the most preferred mode of transportation if anyone wants to reach Kosovo as it is very time consuming and people can reach here at a very short period of time. After getting to Kosovo tourists can either opt for public transportation or they can hire taxis from the agencies present in this state. Tourists mostly prefer to travel by taxis as they are unaware of the routes of Kosovo and they can easily hire them through online mode and also have the option of hiring a driver.

Air

Air transportation is one of the most rapid and convenient modes of transportation in the state of Kosovo and everyday millions of people travel through this mode of transportation. Air transportation in Kosovo is a little bit costly but is the best option if anyone wants to cover a large distance at a very short period of time. Air transportation is developing at a very rapid pace in the state of Kosovo and there is a lot of work going on to construct new airports in this country. Kosovo has 1 international airport where flights from all over the world land and take off everyday and 2 domestic airports. People can easily book tickets online in Kosovo and choose the seat which they want as per their requirements. Economy class of the airplanes of Kosovo has the cheapest seats and the business class has a higher ticket price and has much more facilities for the passengers. Name of some of the airports which are present in the state of Kosovo are mentioned below

Pristina International Airport

Gjakova Airport

Batlava-Donja Penduha Airport

Pristina International Airport

Bus

Road transportation is one of the most developed transportation in the state of Kosovo and is a really good option when anyone has to travel inside the country. Bus transportation in Kosovo is very convenient and budget friendly but it takes more time to reach the respective destination. Buses in Kosovo are runned mainly by government agencies but many private agencies are also running their buses in this state. Buses are available on every route of the state Kosovo for the convenience of the local people and the visitors. Travelling by bus is a very good option when anyone wants to cover a shorter distance at very affordable rates in Kosovo. Prishtina Bus Station is the main bus station which is present in the state of Kosovo and passengers can board buses to every region of this state from this bus station.

A bus in Kosovo

Train

Train transportation in the state of Kosovo is really well developed and there are many railway stations in every region of this state. People choose train transportation when they have to cover a longer distance at a very affordable price and also they take less time to reach the destination in Kosovo. Every day millions of people travel through these trains and they are considered as the lifeline of transportation in the state Kosovo. Trains of Kosovo follow a very strict time table and mostly they are on time and the passengers don't need to wait for a very long time. Train tickets can be very easily booked in Kosovo on the online sites and passengers also have the facility of choosing the seat of their choice. Every region of the state Kosovo is very well connected with the railway network and the government is also planning to construct new railway routes. Names of railway stations which are present in the state of Kosovo are mentioned below

Domanek station

Drenas tourist station

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a really good option if anyone has to cover a very short distance and they can ask anyone on the way to drop them to their respective destination in the state of Kosovo. Hitchhiking is a very common practice which is practised in the republic of Kosovo but in recent times people stopped hitchhiking due to thieves and robbers. This is a very useful practice for the people who are unaware of the routes of the state Kosovo and mainly tourists can be seen practicing it. Tourists can take help from the local Hitchhikers regarding the public transportation and also about the routes of the transportation in Kosovo. Hitchhikers can also help the tourists by guiding them about the places that they can visit and how they can reach that place in the state of Kosovo.

Others

Other modes of transportation that people can opt in the state of Kosovo is hiring taxis and this mode of transportation is chosen mostly by the tourists as they are unaware of the routes of this country. Hiring of a cab or taxi is very easy in Kosovo and people can book it simply by contacting any of the private agencies of this state. As the roadways of Kosovo are really well maintained it makes it extremely easy for the drivers to drive in this state and reach the destination much faster than usual. People also have the option of just hiring a cab and can drive it on their own but this is only helpful when he/she is aware of the routes of Kosovo. Travelling in taxis is very costly and one needs to pay a very high fare if they hire it for only some hours in the state of Kosovo.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is an extremely useful option to reduce the environmental degradation in the state of Kosovo and contribute towards the environment. Products available in the sustainable shops of Kosovo are purely made up of eco-friendly products and substances which are harmless to the environment and also for the human beings. The price of these products are very affordable and anyone can purchase the products of sustainable shopping in the state of Kosovo if they want to contribute towards the environment. Local people of the state Kosovo have started using eco-friendly and organic products and in recent years the number of sustainable shops in this state have increased at a rapid pace. These products are not only good for the environment of the earth but are also good for the human beings as they are free from any of the harmful substances so people of Kosovo should definitely promote the use of sustainable products. Use of these products have increased rapidly in recent times in the republic of Kosovo which is a very good sign as it is very helpful for the environment.

Recycling

Every person living in the state of Kosovo should contribute and do recycling as recycling is a very useful process and has so many benefits both for the humans and for the environment of the earth. In the state of Kosovo recycling is an extremely common process and the government of this state has appointed so many agencies to practice recycling. Products derived after the procedure of recycling are safe for human use and it is also considered safe for the environment and the products are cheap also. The state of Kosovo has all the modern techniques and instruments through which they can very easily recycle any kind of material.

Waste

The state of Kosovo needs to learn a lot from other countries or regions when it comes to waste management as this state has insufficient waste management which is a matter of concern. The lack of enhanced machineries and modern technologies makes the scenario even worst for the state of Kosovo and there is a definite need to do something when it comes to waste management in Kosovo.

Work and Study Abroad

Employment rates of Kosovo still needs to be increased as the job opportunities are less and the population of this state is much higher. Government of Kosovo is trying extremely hard to increase the employment rates of the country and every year job opportunities in this state are increasing which is a very good sign for the local people of Kosovo. Middle class people of the republic of Kosovo have to work really hard to make their living and for this hard work they receive very less wages.

Local people of the state of Kosovo also have the option of studying abroad if they are not satisfied with the quality of education of Kosovo.

Exchange Student

Every year most of the universities of Kosovo carry out exchange programs in which they give a chance to the students of other countries. Education in the state of Kosovo is cheaper than other countries and the people of other countries who cannot afford studying in their own country can study here. Quality of education in the republic of Kosovo is really good and if students study properly they will definitely get successful and get a decent job in Kosovo. Students of other countries get all the necessary facilities in the state of Kosovo like they get a place where they can live and mess facilities are available for the students if they are living in the hostel affiliated with the universities. Students enrolled through exchange programs are given equal chances and opportunities by the universities of Kosovo and help them in every possible way to get a decent job.

Au Pair

Au pair agencies and companies are playing a very crucial role in providing employment to the needy people and increasing the employment rates of the state of Kosovo. There are many au pair companies and agencies in the Republic of Kosovo which have provided employment to so many local people of this country and helped them to earn their living. Although the jobs provided by the companies of Kosovo do not provide enough money to the people and they have to work really hard everyday to earn the money. Just by doing jobs which come under au pair companies people cannot make their living in the state of Kosovo so they have to do some other work also so that they can earn decent wages. Au pair agencies have really helped in bringing so many people out of poverty in the Republic of Kosovo by providing them with employment so that they can earn money. The number of these agencies are increasing at a very rapid rate in Kosovo and due to this the rates of employment for the people are also increasing.

Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the best and really effective methods which students can practice in the state of Kosovo after their completion of the course so that they can get a decent job and make their living. So many students got a decent job after practicing volunteering in the state of Kosovo so it is a very useful practice for the freshers to do. Volunteering is a very tough thing to do specially when anyone is practising it in the state of Kosovo and one has to work really hard so as to attract the members of the company and later they can choose the individual. But the competition of getting a job through volunteering in Kosovo is really high and one needs to be very hardworking and have creative ideas so as to get the job.