A Skopje to Kosovo day trip: is it worth it?
I’ve recently returned from a trip to Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, and I absolutely loved it.
There’s a mix of interesting (and sometimes unique and arguably kitsch) architecture, a vibrant old bazaar, beautiful churches and mosques, and the city’s proximity to the stunning Matka Canyon, where you can sail a boat through the gorge to a cave.
If this takes your fancy for a short break, my post on Skopje details 18 of the top things to do here.
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Visiting other countries from Skopje
One of the top things on my list of things to do in Skopje is to visit another country.
North Macedonia shares borders with Kosovo and Serbia to the north, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, and Greece to the south. Because of this, it’s possible to book trips from North Macedonia to its neighbouring countries, or a day trip from other countries to Skopje.
I chose to go to Kosovo, a place I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. Skopje is less than an hour away from the border crossing, making it an easy day trip to add to my itinerary.
I booked a tour that took me to the capital, Pristina, and to Prizren, the second city. I had a great day out, so would recommend doing this if you have time.
About Kosovo
Kosovo is a small, landlocked country in the central Balkans, just under an hour’s drive from the border with North Macedonia. As well as North Macedonia, Kosovo is bordered by Serbia and, to the west, by Montenegro and Albania. Much of the country’s border regions are mountainous.
The capital of Kosovo is Pristina.
The country has a complex history. Once part of the Ottoman Empire, it became part of the newly formed Yugoslavia after World War One. When Yugoslavia broke up in the late 20th century, Kosovo formally became an independent state in 2008.
A Skopje to Kosovo day trip
It’s possible to get to Kosovo from Skopje by bus. Several buses run each day to the capital Pristina. They take around two hours. Buses also go to Prizren, but there are fewer direct connections, so many require a change in Pristina.
This is an affordable way to travel, but if you only have a day for your trip, it may be challenging to see both Pristina and Prizren, and connecting between the two cities.
You could also hire a rental car and drive into Kosovo. This would give you more flexibility around what you see and do. However, you will need to carefully map out your route if you do this.
If you don’t want to drive, but want to maximise your time, see as many of Kosovo’s highlights as possible, and benefit from being escorted by an expert guide, I’d recommend booking an organised tour.
Skopje to Kosovo tours
Below, I have outlined some details of my Kosovo day trip. The trip included a scenic drive through the mountains; a walking tour and some free time in the small, picturesque city of Prizren; and a walking tour in Pristina, the capital.
It was a small group tour in a minibus. We started early – around 8.30 am – and the tour lasted about 10 hours. So, be prepared for a full day out. But it’s worth it!
You can book the tour I took here.
There are also other tours that depart from Skopje for Kosovo. For example, this tour includes a visit to Pristina, time in the Gracanica Monastery (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and a visit to a bear sanctuary.
Alternatively, you could opt for this tour, which combines the above, plus a stop at the Gadime Marble Cave.
My Skopje to Kosovo day trip
The details outlined below reflect my experience on my day tour. Note that this tour was not sponsored, so all of this information reflects my own views and opinions.
First stop: the border crossing
After setting off at 8.30 am, we reached the Kosovo border, which is less than an hour away from our starting point at the Bristol Hotel in Skopje.
There was a bit of a wait here while we queued with other cars. When we got to the front, our guide took our passports and handed them over for inspection.
So don’t forget to bring your passport. You’re entering another country, so you need to make sure you have a current, valid passport with you, and can meet any relevant visa requirements.
A drive through the mountains
After leaving the border, we headed up into the mountains. We wound along the mountain roads, taking in spectacular scenic views along the way.
I visited in October and the autumn colours were beautiful. There were also remnants of snow on the ground from a fall a week or so earlier, and snow on the mountain tops in the distance.
After about an hour or so, we stopped for a break. We pulled up in a small mountain village where some stalls lined the road selling local produce, such as honey and other preserves.
There was a pretty alpine-style wooden chalet where we could grab a drink and use the toilet. A log fire was burning in the centre – this was really welcome because once we stepped out of the minibus, we could really feel the nippy mountain air.
There are also views of the mountains from inside the restaurant.
Note that the café only takes cash, so don’t forget to take hard currency.
Prizren
Our first main stop was in Prizren (apparently, the tour often goes to Pristina first, but on this occasion, the itinerary was swapped).
Prizren is Kosovo’s second city and the country’s historical capital. And it’s absolutely gorgeous!
After parking up, our guide escorted us on a short walking tour of the centre. This took us along the Bistrica River to see the Old Stone Bridge that straddles it.
Here you can see the view that Prizren is famous for: the bridge with part of the old town and the Sinan Pasha Mosque in the background.
If you stand on the bridge, you’ll be able to see into the distance and out to the mountains.
Our Prizren tour took us through some of the old streets, past an old hammam (an old Turkish bath) and on to a small museum. We then returned to the main square where our guide left us and gave us around an hour and a half of free time.
With this time, I’d suggest you firstly grab some lunch in the main square. It’s a pretty location with several eateries offering outdoor seating. You can then explore Prizren at your own pace.
It’s only a small city, so there’ll be ample time for you to do this. You can take more photos of the wonderful architecture and scenery, pop inside the mosque, visit the museum, and browse some of the traditional handicraft shops and stalls behind the mosque.
Pristina
After our time in Prizren, we boarded the minibus for the capital, Pristina, a travel time of around 90 minutes.
After we had arrived, our guide took us on a longer walk than in Prizren, offering information on the country’s complex history and showing us some of the significant sights. As with Skopje, it was apparent that the city showcases a mix of architectural styles reflecting different periods in its history.
First off, we saw the Newborn Monument. This monument, which stands over 3 metres tall, was erected on 17th February 2008 to mark the country’s independence day.
We then walked onto Zahir Pajaziti square. This is a wide-open space surrounded by relatively modern buildings. It has a huge mural of former President Ibrahim Rugova – a figure seen as being hugely significant in the country’s fight for independence – on the side of one of these.
Off this square is Mother Teresa Boulevard, a street lined with bars and restaurants. At the top, we saw a statue of Skanderbeg, an Albanian military leader (such is Skanderbeg’s significance, that you’ll find statues and places named after him in several parts of the Balkans, including in Albania and North Macedonia).
After this, we wandered up to the 15th century Fatih Sultan Mehmet mosque to see some of the city’s Ottoman architecture.
The final part of our city tour was the most memorable for me. We had two more sights to visit.
The first was the National Library of Kosovo, a brutalist building with 99 domes on the top and a metal exterior that, to me, resembles a prison. Love it or hate it, it really is an incredible building.
Our final stop was at the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa. This is a fairly new addition to the city and it has a statue of Ibrahim Rugova outside.
You can go inside to see the simple, but elegant interior, and then take the trip in the lift to the top of the clock tower (it only costs 2 euros). From here, you get great views across the city. It is also a good way to see the library and its domes from above.
Finally, we got about half an hour to wander independently and grab a snack before making our way back to Skopje.
A Skopje to Kosovo day trip: is it worth it?
Without doubt, a Skopje to Kosovo day trip is worth it.
And would I recommend going as part of an organised tour?
Yes, I thoroughly recommend it. My personal view is that it’s worth spending a bit more to do it this way rather than rely on public transport. And I felt the tour I went on was value for money.
Here’s why I say this:
• I’ve always wanted to visit Kosovo, and this was an easy way to travel there on what, for me, was only a short break to North Macedonia. Moreover, there are some beautiful and fascinating things to see on a day out here.
• An organised tour provides the opportunity to combine seeing several different places in a short space of time. I think this is often the best way to do this, especially if you need to connect between places and are not sure how reliable the public transport network is.
• The tour guides are fantastic. Not only do they drive you from place to place, they also impart a wealth of historical knowledge along the way (we found out a lot about ancient cities and events in the country, as well as more recent historical events), and provide interesting snippets about the local culture. And the small group size meant we were able to ask many questions.
• The guides know the places. They take you to the main sites of interest, so no research is needed! Our guide, Zlatko, recommended great eateries and pointed us to clean, decent, toilets!
• For me, at least, I appreciated the tour company through which I booked (Skopje Daily Tours). I emailed lots of questions in advance of my trip, and they answered them all really quickly. As a solo female traveller, it was reassuring to have that advance contact.
Overall, I had a fabulous day!
More ideas for short trips and days out in Europe
For more ideas for short trips and days out in Europe, see my website.
If you’re thinking of visiting Kosovo or the Balkans, you might be particularly in the following of my blog posts:
