46 beautiful photos of Kosovo that will inspire you to visit Kosovo

Kosovo was one of those countries that made me wish that I had all the time in the world to experience every country.  With on time buses, ridiculously friendly locals who spoke great English who occasionally gave us free dessert, beautiful mountains, amazing architecture, a fascinating history, small distances between its major cities, and low prices, Kosovo is the perfect country for travelers interested in diving into Balkan culture and history.  Ready to see 40+ beautiful Kosovo photos?

Many backpackers only pass through this tiny Balkan country without leaving its modern capital Pristina or taking the time to learn more about its complex history.

For me, Kosovo is really about people.   I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people that we met ranging from strangers who offered us beds in their houses to a stranger who gave me a tour of his neighborhood after greeting me on the street.  If you’re not sure about Kosovo, you need to see it to believe it.

I visited Kosovo one year ago.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found elaborate mosques, historic churches, stunning mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, and nobody else around. The last bit amazed me: How can there be so much beauty in a country without mobs of tourists (like I’m used to in the Netherlands)?

Kosovo tourism is growing, but Kosovo tourism isn’t mainstream yet.   Before tourism in Kosovo gets to the point that it has in many other European countries, you should discover Kosovo for yourself. Hopefully these photos of Kosovo will inspire you to visit Kosovo…

Note: This post is just a lot of wanderlust inspiration with beautiful photos of Kosovo, so if you’re looking for Kosovo travel tips or more places in Kosovo that I didn’t get to visit, head over to my detailed post with all the logistics you need to know about visiting Kosovo.

On a related note, a lot of people have no idea what Kosovo looks like or where it is on a map, so I hope that I can show you through my photographs what Kosovo actually looks like.  I did not get everywhere and these are my favorite photos.

Pristina is  the capital city of Kosovo.  It’s full of interesting architecture, including the National Library… You can judge it for yourself!

As an American visiting Kosovo, I had to visit Bill Clinton’s infamous statue in Pristina…

Peja surprised me in the best way possible.  This charming city in Kosovo was full of fantastic markets, beautiful nature accessible via a day trip from Peja, and beautiful mountains framing the city.

The color of the water in Peja was absolutely beautiful.

The owner of one of the traditional dress shops in Peja invited me into her store after I spent a while admiring the gowns outside. She even showed me her traditional weaving techniques, which were all done by hand.

We ended up on a rooftop and the view was absolutely spectacular.

It’s hard to miss the Patriarchate of Peja.  This UNESCO recognized church is absolutely beautiful and its setting in the Accursed Mountains is awe-inspiring.

If you’re in Peja, you can take the bus to the nearby town of Radavc for Kosovo’s most beautiful waterfall, White Drin waterfall, and to visit the caves there.

If you visit Radavc, you should make a reservation for the Sleeping Beauty cave there.  Click for more information about things to do in Kosovo, including contact information for the Sleeping Beauty cave.

We ended up in Gjakova by mistake, but this city in Kosovo has some of the most charming architecture in its Bazaar that we saw while in Kosovo.

Although much of the city was destroyed, the Grand Bazaar of Gjakova has been rebuilt and it’s full of beautiful streets and cafes.

A must-see is the historic Hadum Mosque with beautiful hand-drawn embellishments all over the mosque.

Most backpackers in Kosovo pass through Prizren, simply for its convenience, however this historic market city of Kosovo is a photographer’s paradise.  If you’re looking to take the famous photo of Prizren, you must find the stone bridge of Prizren.

Similarly, the most beautiful mosque in Prizren (Sinan Pasha Mosque) was built in the 1600s.

The perfect place for a Kosovo photo is from the top of the Kalaja in Prizren where you can enjoy the sunset.

After seeing photos of the Kosovo mountains (especially the Sar mountains), I had to go hiking. We managed to get out from Prizren to Prevallë (more about how we got to Prevallë here).  It was October and the colors of the leaves were spectacular.

Before leaving Kosovo, we visited the UNESCO recognized Gračanica church, only 30 minutes from Pristina, Kosovo.  It was absolutely stunning inside although photos are not allowed.  You’ll just have to visit for yourself to see the elaborate paintings that are being restored.

Note: Please keep the discussion polite and comments that are disrespectful may be removed. I understand that this is a difficult topic and the wounds are still recent.  I wish for peace in the region. 

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