Want to know the best things to do in Prizren? If you’re planning a road trip to Kosovo, then Prizren should be high on your list.
This charming city in southern Kosovo has a bustling old town full of cafés and street life, and a youthful vibe thanks to its student population
Prizren is the historical capital of Kosovo. You’ll see churches, mosques, and monasteries here, reflecting the city’s long history of coexistence. The imposing Kalaja Fortress watches over the city and the Bistrica River winds gently through the centre.
Prizren was the first place we visited in Kosovo, and definitely our favourite town. We spent three days here and didn’t want to leave! Whether you’re here for a quick stop or a few days, here are the best things to see in Prizren.
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Best things to do in Prizren
1. Wander through the Old Town
The Old Town of Prizren is a like a living postcard. You’ll find cobbled streets, Ottoman-era buildings, and lively little shops selling everything from coffee to traditional crafts. We loved just strolling around, people-watching from the riverside cafés, and soaking up the energy.
The old town is only small and easy to walk around and is centred around Shadervan Square.
2. Old Stone Bridge
The Old Stone Bridge (Ura e Gurit) is one of Prizren’s most iconic landmarks. The bridge was built in the 16th century and has the typical arched form. The Old Bridge connects the two sides of the city across the Prizren River (also called the Lumbhardi I Prizren or the Prizren Bistrica).
We first walked into Prizren just on sunset, and the views of the bridge, Mosque and up to the fortress at Golden Hour are spectacular!
3. Climb to Kalaja Fortress
Perched high above the city, the Kalaja Fortress offers the best views in Prizren. The fortress was begun in Roman times and added to by a series of rulers, Byzantines, Serbs and Ottomans. Much of the fortress is now in ruins, and its fun to wander around exploring.
The climb to the top of the hill takes around 15 minutes, and the path is paved but very steep. We made the climb in the heat of the day which was probably not our smartest timing!
The views from the top are absolutely worth it. We enjoyed sweeping views of the city below, with its red rooftops, winding river, and the distant mountains. Even in the midday sun, there was something magical about standing on those old stone walls, looking down at this beautiful city and imagining all the history it has witnessed.
Entry to the fortress is free, and it is always open. Just after you enter there is a little refreshment stand to your right. We definitely needed to grab a drink here!
4. Visit the Sinan Pasha Mosque
This beautiful 17th-century mosque is a standout landmark in Prizren. You can go inside to admire its Ottoman architecture and peaceful interior. From the outside, it dominates the city skyline.
We were astounded at the number of mosques we could count in the city centre – around 18. It was incredible when the call to prayer sang out from each of them.
5. Old Bazaar
Just behind the Mosque is the tiny old bazaar of Prizren. The bazaar is actually within the mosque grounds, it took us a while to find it! Now there are just a few stalls selling traditional handcrafts and souvenirs.
6. Our Lady of Ljevis Church
Prizren is home to several impressive Serbian Orthodox churches, including the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš (a UNESCO site). This church dates back to the 11th century when it was originally built as a Byzantine church.
In the 14th century, King Stefan Mulitin of Serbia rebuilt and expanded the church in the Serbian Orthodox style, with 5 domes. Inside are some of the best Orthodox frescoes from this period, however some of them have been damaged.
When we visited the church there was a sign on the door saying it was open between 9am and 5pm, however it was closed.
7. Archaeological Museum & Clock Tower
We actually stumbled upon this little gem by accident and we’re so glad we did! For a small donation, you can climb to the top of the old Clock Tower (just watch those last few dodgy steps, yikes!). The view from the top gives a unique perspective of the Old Town.
The museum itself is staged inside a beautifully restored Ottoman-era hammam (Turkish bathhouse). Look up to the ceiling to see all the natural light flooding in through small glass domes.
The museum is full of archaeological relics from Prizren’s past, from old coins to medieval tools and everyday objects. It’s small but packed with history.
8. Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour is the Catholic Cathedral of Prizren and Pristina Diocese. The Church was built in the 19th century on the ruins of a much early 5th century church. Some of these foundations are visible under glass flooring just inside the entrance to the church.
We arrived just as a nun was closing up for lunch, but in a lovely twist of fate, she warmly invited us in for a private visit. What followed was an unexpected and truly memorable conversation using our Google Translate, we chatted in Italian about religion, the new Pope, and even broader world issues.
Her kindness and openness left a lasting impression on us, turning what could have been a quick peek inside into one of our most cherished moments in Prizren.
9. Gazi Mehmed Pasha Hammam
This 16th-century hammam is another of Prizren’s Ottoman-era treasures. Though no longer in use as a bathhouse, the building itself has been preserved and occasionally hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
The Hammam is currently undergoing renovations and is closed to visitors.
10. Window shopping along Rruga Adem Jashari
We were staying further up this street, so walked down here a couple of times into the old town. It’s well worth a wander along here to view all the goldsmith shops, and especially the dress shops. We saw wedding dresses and formal dresses that were encrusted with rhinestones and other jewels. I really wanted to try one on just for the fun of it!
11. Indulge in Kosovar Coffee Culture
Café life here is strong (and cheap!) Locals gather for tiny, potent cups of Turkish-style coffee or macchiatos that rival any in Italy. We loved sitting by the river with a coffee and just watching the world go by.
12. Sample Local Food at Shadervan Square
Shadervan Square is the heart of Prizren’s Old Town and the city’s favourite meeting spot. We loved the atmosphere here kids playing around the central fountain, friends lingering over coffee, and the hum of conversation being drowned out by the call to prayer from the nearby mosque.
The square is lined with restaurants and cafes. We ended up at a little pizza joint off the square. Not exactly local food, but it was the perfect way to end the day.
Prizren Travel Guide – Essential Information
How to get to Prizren
By Air
The closest airport to Prizren is Adem Jashari International Airport in the capital, Pristina. From here you can hire a car, or take a bus to Prizren.
By Bus
You can catch a bus to Prizren from Pristina, and also from within the neighbouring countries of Albania, Serbia or North Macedonia. We hear good things about the Gjirafa Travel booking site, although we haven’t travelled by bus in Kosovo ourselves.
By Car
If you want to drive to Prizren, the road between Pristina and Prizren is great. It’s a modern motorway with two lanes in each direction. The road from Kukës in Albania is also very good.
If you plan on driving in Kosovo, do make sure your vehicle insurance is valid. Our German insurance is not valid, so we purchased third-party insurance at the border which was €15 for 15 days.
Day Tour to Prizren
Many people arrive in Prizren on a day tour, either from Pristina, Skopje North Macedonia or even Tirana! While we believe its worthwhile spending a couple of nights here, you can definitely see most of the sights in a day.
Getting around Prizren
Prizren is a small city with a compact old town. We found the city to be very walkable. You could easily visit the sights we’ve mentioned in this post in one day.
Taxis are readily available within the city and they are reasonably priced.
Parking in Prizren
There are several parking lots on the northern side of the river. We spent several nights in a large bus park just outside the centre (our van broke down, but that’s a whole other story!)
Where to stay in Prizren
If you’re travelling around Kosovo in a campervan, be aware that there are not many campgrounds in the country. However, we felt welcome to stay in carparks throughout the country. We stayed in this carpark for several nights for free.
If you’re looking for hotel or guesthouse accommodation, we recommend booking.com to search for availability and pricing.
Best places to eat (and drink) in Prizren
If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Prizren, look no further than Shadervan Square. There is a great range of cafes and restaurants here serving traditional food. There’s also a good selection of restaurants directly over the Old Stone Bridge from the centre.
We can recommend the pizzas (and Aperol Spritz) at Nostra Nepolitana, just behind the Mosque. OK, it’s not traditional Kosovar food but sometimes you just need a pizza!
Known as “the best bar in town,” BarACA has a huge selection of European beers (including some great IPAs). We loved cooling off here with a cold one after a long day of exploring. We may or may not have made that up about “best bar in Prizren”
FAQs
Is Prizren worth visiting?
If you are only going to visit one place in Kosovo, I’d say let it be Prizren. This small city had everything we love about this country – interesting sights, a cool old town, good food and most importantly, incredibly kind and welcoming locals.
Prizren was our favourite place in Kosovo!
How long should I spend in Prizren?
While many people come to Prizren on a day tour from elsewhere in the Balkans, we believe that Prizren is well worth spending a couple of days. OK, so our van broke down on a Saturday afternoon and we were stuck here till we could get help on Monday, but this was one place we didn’t mind being stuck!
Spending two or three nights in Prizren will allow you to see all the sights and also slow down enough to soak up some of the amazing atmosphere of this beautiful city.
When is the best time to visit Prizren?
We would suggest visiting Prizren (and Kosovo in general) in late Spring. The weather should be beautiful and there will be less visitors than in the summer. Having said that, tourism really hasn’t come to Kosovo yet.
We visited Kosovo in early June 2025 and barely saw any other tourists there.
Is Prizren affordable?
We found Kosovo to be one of the most affordable countries we’ve visited – even by Balkan standards. A coffee was usually less than €1, a meal well under €10 and most of the museums we visted were free (or by donation).
Final thoughts
Prizren definitely left a lasting impression on us. This gorgeous little city packs a powerful punch — history, food, culture, and some of the friendliest people we’ve met on our travels. If you’re exploring the Balkans, don’t skip it. Prizren is easily one of our favourite small cities in Europe.
Where to next?
Continue your Kosovo Road Trip to Pristina, the capital of this Newborn Nation. And don’t miss out on some of our other favourite places to see in Kosovo.