| We enjoyed a delightful lunch at Thea (the red building above), just off Shadervan Square |
Where We Be
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| Prizren, Kosovo |
The phrase "war-torn Kosovo" may still ring in
your ears if you're of a certain age and happen
to remember the 1998-99 conflict that once
raged there. While those days are long gone,
you may still find yourself reluctant to go there
because of a lingering sense of unease. Well,
we're here to tell you that nothing could be
further from the truth. Kosovo these days is
peaceful and prosperous -- and nowhere more
so than Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo.
Prizren is nestled in a picturesque valley. It's
surrounded by green hills and mountains. A
river runs straight through the middle of town.
Outdoor cafes line the river, and ample
walkways allow you to stroll up and down the
riverfront with ease. Cobblestone lanes wind
their way through the rest of Old Town, with
Shadervan Square at their heart. High above is
Prizren Fortress. You can hike up to it , if you
have the legs for it, and stare down at the city's
red-tiled rooftops. Honestly, we weren't sure
what to expect when we first arrived, but within
minutes we fell in love with this beautiful place.
your ears if you're of a certain age and happen
to remember the 1998-99 conflict that once
raged there. While those days are long gone,
you may still find yourself reluctant to go there
because of a lingering sense of unease. Well,
we're here to tell you that nothing could be
further from the truth. Kosovo these days is
peaceful and prosperous -- and nowhere more
so than Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo.
Prizren is nestled in a picturesque valley. It's
surrounded by green hills and mountains. A
river runs straight through the middle of town.
Outdoor cafes line the river, and ample
walkways allow you to stroll up and down the
riverfront with ease. Cobblestone lanes wind
their way through the rest of Old Town, with
Shadervan Square at their heart. High above is
Prizren Fortress. You can hike up to it , if you
have the legs for it, and stare down at the city's
red-tiled rooftops. Honestly, we weren't sure
what to expect when we first arrived, but within
minutes we fell in love with this beautiful place.
| If you're making a tour of the Balkans, we would urge you not to skip Prizren -- it's a hidden gem! |
| In this one picture you can see Stone Bridge, Sinan Pasha Mosque, and Prizren Fortress -- along with plenty of happy people enjoying drinks by the water's edge |
| Back in town, we found more cool mosques and churches to explore on some of Prizren's back streets |
| This sure-footed dog "adopted" us, taking us for a walk all the way up to the fortress and back down |
| Robin always looks super-happy when she's exploring something new |
| Parts of Prizren Fortress date back to the sixth century |
| From the top you can see Bistrica River cutting right through town |
| The excellent views make up for the hard climb (okay, it's only fifteen minutes, but it's steep!) |
| Okay, put your walking shoes on! Time to conquer Prizren Fortress! |
| We stayed at Triumf Hotel right along the river. The included breakfast is excellent, the room comfy, and the wifi fast. |
| The population of Kosovo is primarily Muslim, so you'll hear the call to prayer several times a day, which adds to the sense of the exotic. If you've never been to a Muslim country before, you're in for a real treat -- the people couldn't be more friendly or welcoming. |
| A stone's throw away from Stone Bridge is Shadervan Square, the center of social life in town |
| The river is a delight -- it runs fast in the spring |
| Stone Bridge is the most famous of the bridges crossing the Bistrica River |
| Beautiful Sinan Pasha Mosque sits right in the middle of town, close to the river, framed by snowy mountains |
| This is the view from Triumf Hotel's breakfast room on the fourth floor |
| We happened to cross paths with a nun on the day before Easter who told us, “There is only one Catholic church in town [above left], five Orthodox [Serbian] churches, and well over forty mosques." |
| "Stroll-worthy" cobblestone streets wind out from Shadervan Square |
| We think the steep climb is worth it for views like these |
| Restaurant prices in Prizren are a delight by European standards -- e.g., €2 for a domestic beer and €4 for an entree (as of 2025) |
Hani i Vjeter Restaurant
Hani i Vjeter Restaurant