kosovo travel safety

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Is Kosovo Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Kosovo is a disputed territory in Serbia and considered the de facto independent country in South-Eastern Europe.

After many, often violent, disputes with Serbia, that stretched over a couple of years, Kosovo declared its independence in February 2008 and now the UN states recognize it as a separate country called the Republic of Kosovo, despite heavy Serbian opposition.

Kosovo shares its borders with Albania to the west, Montenegro to the North West, Macedonia to the south, and Serbia (though only from Kosovo’s perspective) to the northeast.

This border is viewed by Serbia as an internal boundary separating the province of Kosovo from Central Serbia.

The political quarrels don’t make Kosovo the safest place for a visit, but for those of a more adventurous spirit, if you do happen to travel here, you can find significant historical and cultural architecture, such as the four Serbian Orthodox church complexes that make up UNESCO World Heritage Site of Medieval Monuments in Kosovo, as well as many other important Orthodox monuments.

You may also end up surprised at Kosovo’s breathtaking countryside, as well as Prishtina’s vibrant nightlife made up of 6 different cultures: Albanian, Serb, Roma, Ashkalia, Bosniak, and Turkish.

• Warnings & Dangers in Kosovo

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Kosovo is mostly safe to visit. Violent crime exists but is mostly related to organized crime, and most dangers are of petty nature. Take the usual precaution measures when traveling here.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transport is generally safe in Kosovo, though not too reliable and you can count on waiting for buses. Public transport schedules very often don't mean anything. You should count on pickpockets being very active in bus and train stations and especially on public transport.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Petty theft is the most common form of a crime you will find in Kosovo. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are regular occurrences here, so keep your valuables in a safe place, and be vigilant when visiting crowded places and public transport.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

As for natural disasters, Kosovo is pretty susceptible to forest fires, floods and flash floods, as well as extreme meteorological events.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Violent crime exists but is mostly linked to organized crime and individuals involved in it. It is rarely focused on foreigners. If you do find yourself in a violent incident, such as mugging or a robbery, always hand over everything you own immediately.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

The most dangerous aspect of Kosovo and the reason why tourists are skeptic towards visiting this province is terrorism risk. Namely, terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Kosovo. Apart from wars and lengthy fights over this territory with Serbia, that just recently ended, there's a threat of violent Islamic extremism growing stronger in Kosovo.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

As in any other country, there are scams in Kosovo, too. Always negotiate everything in advance, double check your change and never pay anything upfront. Never accept drinks from strange people or leave your drink unattended.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Kosovo is generally safe for women, especially in Pristina. Just use your common sense and have your wits with you. Avoid poorly lit and deserted areas at night and finding yourself in places filled with drunken people.

• So... How Safe Is Kosovo Really?

The political quarrels make this country an unwanted destination for tourists, which is wrong because tensions have existed in the past decade and the situation is now far better than before.

You are actually pretty safe from everything here, and the chance of any kind of conflict is pretty low due to high international supervision.

Even if a conflict occurred, all foreigners would be evacuated within 48 hours.

When it comes to crime, there aren’t many dangers to worry about in Kosovo.

You may encounter petty crime like bag-snatching or pickpockets, but violent crime isn’t common here, again, due to the heavy presence of international supervision.

Generally, people here, both Albanians and Serbs, are very friendly to tourists, and you can even talk about the war openly, and ask questions, as they’re willing to answer and talk about it.

Like in most other countries, you are advised to use only registered taxis, as only they have fixed fares and use meters.

If you’re planning on going hiking or camping, you should ask around about the areas you want to hike through.

Like in other Balkan countries, land mines were heavily used during the Yugoslav civil wars and you may end up in a suspicious area, though most hiking points are located in areas where war did not occur.

• How Does Kosovo Compare?
• Useful Information

Most countries do not need a visa to enter Kosovo. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past the date of your departure from Kosovo. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

Euro is the official currency in Kosovo, despite the fact that it's not a part of the eurozone of the EU. ATMs are common, and most establishments accept credit cards.

Kosovo has a mild continental climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The best months to visit are May and September, just before and after the high temperatures that are known to hit hard during June, July and August.

Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari is the only international airport located 15 km south-west of Pristina, Kosovo.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Kosovo since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Kosovo Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature
• Where to Next?

26 Reviews on Kosovo

What a big lie!! Kosovo is safer than Serbia, Albania and most of the countries around it.

Kosovo is currently under control of various drug cartels! Police there is under control of drug Lords, and simply can not handle criminals, especially during nights, and in suburbs. Kosovo should be returned to Serbia, or under direct EU protectorate.

Mike resents that Ontario is less safe than Kosovo. 🙂

This is propaganda against Kosovo.

This is terribly biased writing towards Kosovo. It is clearly influenced by Serbian propaganda rather than portraying the truth about the country’s safeness.

As for safety, I lived in Kosovo for about four years, working for an organization. It is an incredibly safe place, people are very welcoming and chill, especially towards internationals.

It is very untrue about terrorism as well, which makes me question your credibility as a source of information. Come on! Stop this propaganda against Kosovo.

Be honest and make another fair review.

I’ve lived there as well and I can assure anyone that Kosovo is the safest country in the Balkans for sure.

Pristina its capital is so welcoming and has a warm atmosphere all around.

This place just feels strange… Have been there as French member of légion étrangère to protect destroyed serbian patrimony (monasteries, churches, monuments…) It was like a horror move, i retired after my mission because i could not support anymore the lies made up by USA and mostly UK. Saw many albanians “going back” to their left homes, but 1 year before the war there was like 10% of albanians, and after the war 80% of albanians found again their “homes”. You need to see that, it’s really hard to explain. I would never and i will never go back there. I just felt strange, something like horror movies about abandoned zones full of zombies. Don’t know, maybe i’m wrong, but it’s only my experience.

Mate, I don’t know in which country you have been, but for sure it wasn’t Kosovo. In 1991 (7 years before the war took place) the Yugoslavian Government (dominated by Serbia) did a census in Kosovo. About 90% of the population was Albanian, everyone can google that information very easily. So Marquez, please stop fooling yourself. Maybe you shouldn’t lie that obvious if you’re already spreading this racist propaganda.

Kosovo is as secure as every other country in Europe, I guess it is even more secure than London, Paris, etc. when it comes to Pickpocketing or other forms of criminal-based violence. The risk of terrorism isn’t also higher than anywhere else. Basically, if you are interested to see how it really is there, you can go there very easily and you will get a lot of value for your money, since almost everything is very affordable, especially for visitors from richer places. Cheers, and welcome to Kosovo, if you are going to visit my place of origin.

Kosovo does not have a high terrorism rank. This review is pushing a false narrative. Safe place.

Your definitely live in Serbia

Yeah sure Kosovo is not really safe but it is much safer than Serbia. So you said not a lot of crime in Kosovo but there is a lot in Serbia! One of the worst things about Kosovo is they are poor, but who cares. YOU EITHER LIVE IN SERBIA OR YOU JUST WANT TO LIE!!!!!!!!

Very biased article which false information

I can tell this article was written by a serb judging the language used it seems to be very anti-Kosovo from the start.

Tourism is very big in Kosovo especially from the Albanians who visit home many times during the year, me being one of them. I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t be happening if it’s unsafe. Kosovo is one of the safest countries in the Balkans region, much safer than Serbia who deliberately take people of its registers and do not provide basic human rights to its citizens based on ethnicity.

Furthermore, Kosovo is no a province it’s a country and has been since 2008 officially.

Just thought I’d help you out a bit since you’re confused on who makes up 1% of Kosovo’s population;)

i can say without a doubt that Kosovo is one off the safest countrys is the world i dont know where you got this info from but its most likely that some serbian gave this info out here

STRAIGHT UP LIE

Excellent review. Thank you for the info!

Extra kidney

Just go there and find out for yourself

CLARIFICATION

Kosovo is a very SAFE place! I can easily say it is very much safer than Germany or France and even waaaay safer than UK. Judging by the content of the Article I can assume that the author might be an adviser in the Government of Serbia :D:D:D:D :A !!!

There goes the credibility of travelsafe-abroad 😛 :S :'(

This review is completely false

This article is heavily biased towards pushing a false narrative concearning the security of the country (Yes I said country, my fellow serbs we lost political control of Kosovo a long time ago. Grow a pair and get over it). I am a Serb from central Serbia, and I can confirm that absolutely nothing is true in this article regarding Kosovo. You bought into the lies, the teenage serbian internet trolls were telling you, when you wrote that review. If you are a serb and a decent human being, you won’t get hurt, mugged or be a victim of a terrorist attack (like wtf?!? you cannot believe that in all seriousness) while visiting Kosovo. Let alone being a foreigner that wants to visit Kosovo, you get the treatment of royalty for a fraction of the price. The people (Serbs and Albanians) are warm people in general, and if you keep politics out (personal opinions should stay personal), you will even enjoy your time there. The people there (Serbs and Albanians) will treat foreign guest with the highest level of respect, they’ll show you around the cities, show you some historic and natural sights, and are putting much effort into giving you the best experience possible. As a Serb I feel embarresed that you put the picture of the orthodox monastary above this poorly written review of this otherwise very delightful place. You should feel ashamed of yourself, having the audacity to post such lies in a website that is ought to help people, not offend them.

Avoid this place

Filthy, smelly, beggars and street scammers everywhere. Avoid, avoid, avoid

Stop relying on Blic Serbian news

“Kosovo has a high Terrorism risk” Source: “Trust me bro a Serb told me so”

Kosovo is much safer then Serbia, don’t believe me? Visit them. The only dangerous place in Kosovo is the North because of Serbian trouble makers, who can’t let go of a myth.

Kosovo is 100% Safe, walk wherever you want, whatever you do, people are frendlyst in the world, I will go back as soon as possible

Absolutely, 100% correct, Kosovo is a safe place to visit, I visit Kosovo at least once a year and I stay a minimum of five to seven weeks and I never had any problems of any kind, I have walked alone in the middle of the night after leaving the night clubs or bars on the main streets and side streets and never worried about my safety, you may see stray dogs scavenging through trash for scraps but that’s about it, the traffic is another story but as your safety is concerned; there’s no safer place that I know of.

Kosovo is very safe country

The most dangerous part of Kosovo is the north of the country Mitrovica because live a lot of criminal Serbs and animal people from Serbia that not recognize the Kosovo territory and don’t pay taxes don’t pay energy electric 💡 sells drugs, do robbery, etc… but all Kosovo territory except the north is very very safe.

Kosovo is the safest place in Europe and the Balkans… in general Balkans is a safe place… so stop making propaganda… Serbia should change once and for all if they want to become a normal country and a civilized nation…

No place is 100% safe, but Pristina is good for tourists

I’m an American tourist, and I am mostly ignorant of the politics mentioned in the comments. I have travelled in many cities and I can say that Pristina feels very safe. In other cities I have travelled, you can look around and note how the locals guard valuables. No one does that here. Women walk around freely and carelessly. As tourists, both my wife and I feel very safe, and we only take the simple precautions that we would take in any city.

The beautiful and kind Kosovans

A very biased review! And don’t know why when talking about Kosovo people immediately have to compare it to Serbia – Kosovo is not Serbia and has never been, they are just two different countries! What is even more sad is that people are stuck in the past and don’t focus in the present and future – while the world has way bigger problems (eg. Climate change) people still spend their energy into supporting the dark times of Serbia for which all the serbs and those supporters should be ashamed of (in the war during the ex Yugoslavia times, Serbia massacred not only Kosovo Albanians but also much of Balkan territories). Move on, people! And don’t spend your energy into negative thoughts!

And btw., I’ve lived in Kosovo for more than 20 years and visit the country quite often and never have heard of nor encountered any signs of terrorism! A visit to Kosovo is highly recommended – enjoying the beautiful mountains of the country and feeling the positive vibes (kindness and hospitality) of the society are some of the top attractions.

Beautiful country!

I have been to Kosovo many times and i never saw any crime there it is very safe, people are very kind and respectfull. Highway was better then the autobahn in Germany in my opinion 🙂 , Definitly worth a visit.

Kosovo is Safe

I live in germany but am ethnically albanian from Kosovo. This article seems weirdly biased. Terrorism risk is supposed to be high? In my 22 years of life where I have visited Kosovo, not once was I struck by disaster of that kind. Listing the serbian orthodox churches as the only monuments worth visting feels strange. Especially since the population is primarly muslim. There are loads of beautiful mosques you can visit. You should also try a traditional albanian restaurant with all the traditional food! If you want to explore actual kosovar-albanian culture, these are the places to go to. As to for overall safety, ironically, the serbian provinces in the north of kosovo are listed at high risk. The ethnically albanian people do not live in city´s like mitrovica. If you avoid the north (where all the beautiful orthodox churches are located according to OP) you will be absolutely fine (:. I would recommend to visit the city prizren and prishtina!

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Article Contents

• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
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Travel Advisory July 26, 2023

Kosovo - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise increased caution due to  terrorism .   Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel To:

• North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan due to  the potential for civil unrest due to ethnic tensions.

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the Balkans region, including Kosovo. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Read the  country information page for additional information on travel to Kosovo.

If you decide to travel to Kosovo:

• Avoid demonstrations.
• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Kosovo.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Tensions within and between communities in the north of Kosovo remain a source of potential unrest in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan.

Although recent unrest has been politically-related and does not involve tourists or members of the international community, bystanders can be affected.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the north of Kosovo as U.S. government employee travel to North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan is restricted.

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas

Embassy Messages

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Quick Facts

Must be valid at time of entry

One page required for entry stamp

Not required for visits less than 90 days in a six-month period

10,000 euros or more in cash must be declared

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy pristina.

U.S. Embassy Pristina Rr. “4 Korriku” Nr. 25 10000 Pristina, Kosovo Telephone: +(383) (38) 5959-3000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone:  +(383) (38) 5959-3000 Email:   [email protected]

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens need a valid passport to enter Kosovo and may be asked to provide documentation stating the purpose of their visit.

§  No visa is required for tourist trips of up to 90 days within six months.

§  For work, study, or visits longer than 90 days within six months, you must apply for a temporary residence permit once in Kosovo at Pristina’s Division for Foreigners, Visa and Residence Permit. Please contact this office for additional information prior to arrival in Kosovo.

§  To apply for a temporary residence permit , you will need to provide proof of local health insurance and an official police background check report. See our Criminal Records checks page on our website. The U.S. Embassy cannot assist you in obtaining background checks, certificates of conduct, or fingerprints.

The U.S. Embassy cannot intervene on your behalf, obtain a background check report for you at the airport when applying for a visa, or assist if you are denied entry into Kosovo.

Kosovo law requires U.S. citizens to present photo identification (original ID, driver’s license or a passport) to prove identity when asked by an authorized official.

Additional Entry/Exit Requirements for Minors: Kosovo law requires unaccompanied children under 14, regardless of nationality, to have written, notarized permission from either both parents or legal guardians to depart Kosovo. Please review our website for more information on children’s issues.

Special note on travel to Serbia: If you wish to travel to Serbia after visiting Kosovo, you must have initially entered Kosovo through Serbia and have a valid, recent Serbian entry stamp . U.S. citizens entering Kosovo from a country other than Serbia, including from any other country via Pristina’s airport, will be barred from entering Serbia by Serbian border officials.

Visit the Embassy of Kosovo website for the most current visa information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Kosovo.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.

Safety and Security

For most visitors, Kosovo remains a safe country. Petty street crime is the most common safety concern for U.S. citizens. The Kosovo Police, assisted by the EU Rule of Law mission (EULEX) and the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), are responsible for safety and security in Kosovo. The U.S. Embassy has no law enforcement authority.

Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Europe. European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations.  Exercise caution at festivals and other public events. If you are in a crowd and the security situation begins to deteriorate, leave the area immediately. Remain aware of your surroundings and have a plan for escape should an emergency arise. Monitor instructions from the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

• Travel by U.S. Embassy personnel to North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan is restricted due to incidents of violence and high tensions in these areas. The U.S. government strongly advises private U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to these regions as well. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens who encounter difficulties in these areas.
• Organized crime is present in Kosovo, occasionally resulting in violent confrontations between rival organizations. Most incidents are politically motivated and are not directed at tourists or foreigners.
• Sporting events may also trigger violence or protests.
• Celebratory gunfire and the use of low-quality fireworks are common during holidays and celebrations. Serious injuries and death have occurred as a result of stray bullets and accidents evolving fireworks. It is strongly advised to remain indoors when viewing fireworks displays.

U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations , events involving political/ethnic/religious/social causes, or any other large groups. Demonstrations occur frequently, particularly in Pristina, often with little or no notice. Demonstrations can cause serious traffic disruptions or violent incidents. For more information, visit U.S. Embassy Kosovo’s alert and messages page .

Crime : Although violent crime against U.S. citizens is rare, remain cognizant of your profile in public and avoid drawing attention to yourself as a U.S. citizen. Theft and other petty street crimes do occur, particularly in areas where tourists and foreigners congregate.

• Do not leave anything of value in plain view in unattended vehicles. Park your vehicles in a secure, off-street location.
• Street crime and home invasion occur with some frequency. Criminals target those appearing vulnerable and/or wealthy and use periods of reduced police availability (e.g., holidays, unrest, and major events such as elections) to commit crimes of opportunity. Securely lock the windows and doors of your residence when not home and set your home alarm, if you have one.
• Robberies , thefts , and burglaries often increase dramatically around the year-end holidays as criminals tend to target shoppers carrying cash and gifts and storing these items in their vehicles. If possible, avoid carrying and/or displaying large amounts of cash or packages.
• To avoid the risk of sexual assault , anyone traveling alone in taxis or mini-buses should exercise caution, especially after dark. Avoid being alone in isolated areas with unfamiliar people. Do not leave drinks unattended in bars and nightclubs.

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:

Victims of crime and sexual assault should go to a safe location, call the local police to report the incident, and then contact the U.S. Embassy.

Report crimes to the local police by dialing 192 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +383 (38) 5959-3000 (available 24/7 for emergencies). Police responsiveness to criminal reports varies greatly. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

Kosovo’s Victims’ Advocacy and Assistance Office (VAO) has a 24-hour, toll-free, operational help line available at 0800 11 112. The VAO provides information and guidance, can help refer cases to appropriate institutions, and allows the general public/victims to report crimes. The VAO may also assist with medical exams, obtaining protection orders, or case status updates.

Additional in-depth information regarding safety and security in Kosovo can be found at: Kosovo 2019 Crime and Safety Report - OSAC .

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas . See Embassy Pristina’s Victims of Crime page .

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide information on  victim compensation programs in the U.S. and in Kosovo
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen or lost U.S. passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur.  Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field.  In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities.  First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment.  U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.  See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

The Kosovo criminal justice system does not function at a level consistent with Western standards. Lengthy detentions are common before and during judicial proceedings. The U.S. Embassy cannot expedite legal/court proceedings, secure releases, nor facilitate preferential conditions for detained U.S. citizens.

Special Circumstances:

• Power outages, which can occur throughout Kosovo, may also disrupt other public utilities, including water service, and interfere with traffic lights, normal business activity, and public services.
• Kosovo is a cash economy based on the euro, although credit card use is increasingly prevalent. ATMs are readily available throughout Kosovo, and users should take normal precautions when using ATMs to safeguard their PIN.
• Be aware when using public Internet cafes and open WiFi connections, as your sensitive personal information, account passwords, etc. can be stolen.
• Travelers must complete a customs declaration at their port of entry when bringing in or taking out cash in amount of 10,000 euros or more. Failure to comply may result in the confiscation of a percentage of the funds.

Potential for Natural Disasters: Kosovo is located in a seismically active area of the world making it susceptible to earthquakes. The best way to cope with an earthquake is to make preparations in advance. For information on what to do before and during a natural disaster, see:

• U.S. Embassy Kosovo website .
• U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides general information about natural disaster preparedness.
• U.S. Geological Survey provides updates on recent seismic and volcanic activity. 

Explosive devices: While de-mining programs have proven effective, unexploded ordnance and mines remain in some areas. Seek additional information for marked and unmarked contaminated areas with leftover mines and unexploded ordnances. Further, improvised explosive devices (IED) and Molotov cocktails have been used in Kosovo. Any suspicious item should be reported to the local authorities.

Climbing and Hiking: For outdoor activities, you should seek a local guide’s informed advice, maintain communication with your family and friends, and provide route and contact details to someone not travelling with you.

• The weather in Kosovo can change quickly, even in the summer months.
• Temperatures can drop overnight and snow can fall unexpectedly.
• If in trouble, call the local emergency number at 112. Local authorities will help to the best of their ability.

Athletes: We have received reports that some Kosovo sports clubs have allegedly not honored contracts for foreigners. Before signing a contract or relocating, ensure you are able to financially support your trip and return home to the United States, should problems arise.

Property and Other Private or Commercial Disputes: The Government of the United States does not have jurisdiction over property or private disputes in Kosovo.

• The U.S. Embassy cannot protect personal property and cannot take sides in legal disputes.
• Information about the legal system in Kosovo is available on the Government of Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) website.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country report 
• Human Rights Report – see country report
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Kosovo. LGBTI individuals are protected by anti-discrimination laws, and there are no legal impediments to organizing LGBTI events. In practice, however, LGBTI persons face discrimination.

• LGBTI travelers should exercise caution when visiting Kosovo, especially with regard to expressing affection in public.
• Despite existing legal protections, LGBTI travelers may find that individual police officers are unfamiliar, or have limited experience, with the needs or concerns of the LGTBI community.

See our  LGBTI Travel Information  page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance . Individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. The Kosovo Constitution and legislation prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and in the provision of other state services.

• Only limited measures exist to support disabled persons.
• Law mandates access for disabled persons to official buildings; however, it is not enforced, and such access is rarely available.
• Most public buildings and many residential or commercial facilities remain inaccessible.
• Public transportation for persons with disabilities is very limited.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers .

Medical facilities in Kosovo consist of the government-sponsored University Clinical Center and private medical clinics. Medical facilities outside Pristina have limited capabilities . Quality controls are lacking, services are very basic, hygiene may be insufficient, and medical care is below U.S. or Western European standards.

• United States or Western European-licensed physicians and specialists are not available in Kosovo. If you encounter corruption while obtaining medical care, please report it to the local authorities.
• Kosovo has few ambulances. Ambulances will take you to the public hospital. Injured or seriously ill U.S. citizens may be required to take taxis or other immediately available vehicles to the nearest major hospital rather than waiting for ambulances to arrive.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Kosovo to ensure the medication is legal in Kosovo. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

• Some prescription medication may not be available locally.
• Tap water is not potable or safe to drink. Take care that food is cooked thoroughly to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.
• Air pollution is a severe problem in the greater Pristina area, particularly during the winter. Travelers with upper respiratory ailments or asthma-like symptoms should consult their doctor prior to travel.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The following CDC-recommended vaccines for children are not available in Kosovo : Hib, Rotavirus, Inactivated Polio, Pneumococcal, and Varicella.

If you are planning on traveling from Kosovo to  Mecca  please be aware of the  MERS Corona Virus Advisory . For more information please see our  Hajj Fact Sheet and the Saudi Ministry of Health website .

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: Road conditions in Kosovo are hazardous. Although some modern highways exist, most roads remain narrow and crowded and are used by a variety of vehicles, from NATO-KFOR armored personnel carriers to horse-drawn carts. Mountain roads can be narrow and poorly marked, lack guardrails, and quickly become dangerous in inclement weather. Dense fog can obscure visibility while driving.

• Driving in Kosovo is difficult for many reasons: unfamiliar traffic patterns, largely unobserved traffic laws (e.g., illegal left turns from the far right lane, passing on blind curves, driving into oncoming lanes of traffic without yielding), oddly-shaped road signs in a foreign language, stray livestock, horse-drawn carts, infrastructure problems and the construction projects implemented to fix them.
• Roads frequently flood and are impassible during rainy months. Mud and road slides occasionally shut down main throughways.
• Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution, whether on the sidewalk or crossing the street, even when using crosswalks. Drivers generally do not slow down or stop for pedestrians. For situational awareness, pedestrians are strongly advised not to use headphones.
• Local residents often walk in the roadway and wear dark clothing, making it difficult to see them at night. Additionally, stray dogs often lay or run in the roadway and are often difficult to see when driving.
• The U.S. Embassy recommends that you travel during daylight hours. Leave a travel itinerary and contact telephone numbers with someone before you go.

Traffic Laws: Drivers with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.05 percent are considered intoxicated and will be arrested and prosecuted.

• The use of seat belts and headlights is mandatory at all times.
• It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless it is hands-free.
• It is the law that all accidents, including minor fender-benders, be reported to police. If you are involved in any type of accident, it is recommended that you not move your vehicle until police arrive to take a full report.
• When police impose a fine or penalty, they may legally confiscate your driver’s license and vehicle documents until the penalty is paid. The U.S. Embassy is not able to retrieve these documents.
• Review Kosovo traffic safety laws for complete information on driver’s licenses and imported or foreign-tagged vehicle registration requirements.
• Drivers of motor vehicles registered outside of Kosovo may need to purchase liability insurance at the border. Kosovo is not a member of the European motor vehicle third party liability (“green card”) system.

Public Transportation: Taxis are generally an inexpensive, safe, and reliable means of transportation. It is recommended to use established taxi companies instead of a personally-owned vehicle converted to a taxi. Make sure the taxi has a meter and that the driver activates it upon departure.

• Rail transportation is very limited and unreliable, and safety equipment is often lacking or outdated.
• There has been some improvement with new buses introduced in Pristina, but generally buses can often become overcrowded 

See our  Road Safety  page for more information.

Aviation Safety and Oversight: Pristina has a modern airport terminal and control tower. International airlines fly to Pristina on a regular basis. Flights can experience significant delays and/or cancellations due to weather conditions, especially during the winter. When heavy fog or smog is present, flights may be diverted to Skopje, North Macedonia or Tirana, Albania. Airlines typically bus passengers to the Pristina airport, which takes approximately 2 hours.

As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Kosovo, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the Government of Kosovo’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Kosovo is not a member of ICAO.  Flights are frequently delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility as a result of heavy fog. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

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How to travel to Kosovo in 2024

By Joan Torres 7 Comments Last updated on January 4, 2024

This travel guide to Kosovo contains everything you need to know to visit one of the youngest countries in the world , including safety, moving around, top experiences, best time to visit, historical context, and more.

Only independent since 2008, Kosovo is a partially recognized country that split from Serbia, putting an end to many years of an unfortunate conflict.

This landlocked country was part of our 2-month road trip across the Balkans, and it was one of our favorite parts.

Along with Transnistria , and perhaps Belarus , Kosovo might be the least visited country in Europe, home to a pretty authentic and untouched culture that chaotically combines their love for rakija (local liquor) with the large presence of mosques, a gorgeous Ottoman architecture and a strong coffee culture, not forgetting occasional Serbian villages filled with Orthodox churches.

Intrepid travelers wishing to get off the beaten track – outside of Pristina and Prizren – will be able to have local experiences rarely seen in Europe, like when we went to the remote, barely visited southern corner that belongs to the Dragash region, composed of green, rolling hills dotted with tiny villages, where we were blessed with unprecedented European hospitality, like if we were traveling in the Middle East .

We enjoyed this tiny country like nowhere else in the continent, and this guide will tell you everything about traveling to Kosovo.

Check more guides to unrecognized countries .

In this Kosovo travel guide you find:

Table of Contents

• COVID-19 travel restrictions
• Current situation
• Historical context
•   Who recognizes Kosovo?
• Travel insurance
• Recommended books
• Best time to visit
• Top experiences
• Budget & money
• The culture
• Kosovo cuisine
• Where to stay
• Getting around
• More Information

Get travel insurance for traveling in Kosovo I recommend IATI Insurance , budget plans and good for multi-country backpacking. Get an exclusive 5% discount if purchasing via this link

😷 COVID-19 restrictions for traveling to Kosovo

As of today, no Coronavirus-related restrictions apply for entering Kosovo.

However, remember that your airline might require it, so have either a vaccine certificate or a PCR.

We didn’t fly to Kosovo, but we overlanded from Albania, and no proof of anything was asked.

🪪 How to get a visa for Kosovo

A visa is not needed for traveling to Kosovo.

Upon arrival, you’ll just get a friendly stamp which is valid for 3 months.

If you like collecting stamps, note that they don’t always stamp it, but you need to specifically ask for it.

📰 Need to know before traveling to Kosovo: the current situation

Note that this is a brief summary that only aims at giving you a minimum perspective.

Why does Kosovo want to become independent?

Kosovo is a country, or region, mainly composed of Serbs – who are Christian Orthodox – and Albanians – who are Muslims.

The first thing you need to know, however, is that the nation of Kosovo doesn’t exist.

Kosovar has been a nationality since 2008, but it’s not really a nation. It’s a region where Albanians and Serbs co-exist, both being Kosovars.

To make it extremely simple, the reason why the Kosovo became an independent state was because the Muslim Albanians didn’t want to be part of Serbia.

Why does Serbia claim Kosovo?

Until the 15th century and, for the last 250 years, Kosovo had been part of Serbia.

Not only that, but it was their spiritual homeland, home to the holiest churches and monasteries for the Serbian Orthodox.

In 1455, however, the Ottoman Empire took over today’s region of Kosovo, where they ruled for nearly 500 years.

The Ottoman Empire officially collapsed in 1912, when Serbia claimed both the moral and ethnic right to Kosovo.

After WWI, Kosovo was annexed to Serbia and Yugoslavia was founded.

The wake of Kosovar nationalism and independence

However, five centuries of Ottoman rule had shifted Kosovo’s demographics, the vast majority now being Muslim Albanians, so a period of Serbian colonization began under the recently formed Yugoslavia.

The following decades were characterized by several different episodes of repression against the Albanian population.

Albanian nationalism kept growing until the 1990s, when things escalated into an armed conflict that eventually turned into the Kosovo war of 1998-99 , a war that came with a death toll of 12,000 people. 

The war, however, didn’t solve Kosovo’s status and in fact, tensions and occasional clashes between Serbs and Albanians kept increasing. For example, the Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) took advantage of the Serbian military withdrawal by burning Serbian churches and even arbitrarily killing Serbs.

Given all those tensions, the resolution of Kosovo couldn’t wait any longer and that’s why eventually, the UN came up with a plan and an agreement that would eventually allow Kosovo to become an independent state in 2008.

Who recognizes Kosovo?

Kosovo is one of the 9 unrecognized countries today found across the world, along with Western Sahara, South Ossetia, Abkhazia , Nagorno Karabakh, Transnistria , Northern Cyprus, Somaliland and Taiwan.

As of today, Kosovo is recognized by 97 out of 193 UN countries .

The USA, Australia, Canada, and most countries in the EU do recognize Kosovo, except for Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia.

Russia doesn’t recognize Kosovo either due to their strong ties with Serbia.

🚑 Travel insurance for Kosovo

Remember that for travel insurance that covers travel in Kosovo, you must select Serbia .

For this, I strongly recommend IATI Insurance :

• Full COVID-19 Coverage
• Multi-country coverage and up to 1-year trips
• Covers senior citizens too.
• 5% discount for being a readers of this blog

📚 Recommended books for traveling in Kosovo

Kosovo travel guide by bradt.

Super complete and updated, this is the most comprehensive travel guide to Kosovo available for sale, packed with practical information, tips and itineraries.

Kosovo: What Everyone Needs to Know

An easy-to-read history book, in which Tim Judah tries to answer all the conflict-related questions any traveler visiting Kosovo should ask. However, the book is written from a pro-Albanian stand point, and it often omits the atrocities committed by Albanians in the 90s.

⛅ Best time to visit Kosovo

Like most countries in Europe, Kosovo is a year-round destination but obviously, some seasons are better than others.

Read: Useful tips and how to travel to Ukraine

Traveling to Kosovo during spring and autumn

The best time to travel to Kosovo is during these seasons, when the weather is pleasant, but the main attractions aren’t overrun by crowds of tourists.

Traveling to Kosovo in summer

While this might seem the ideal season to visit the country, the truth is that it’s the high season for the Kosovo diaspora – Kosovar nationals living abroad – who like to spend the holidays in their homeland.

Note that the Kosovo diaspora is nearly 50% of the total population.

Traveling to Kosovo in winter

Winters are cold in Kosovo, with many areas covered in snow but if you don’t mind the freezing weather, it could also be a great time to visit the country.

🛫 How to travel to Kosovo

Traveling to kosovo by air.

Pristina (PRN) has an international airport with connections to many European cities, especially those in countries with a large diaspora population, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Norway.

Common stopovers to Pristina are Vienna, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Munich, or Istanbul.

Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, EasyJet, Wizzair, Pegasus or Turkish Airlines, among many others, are the most common airlines.

Traveling to Kosovo by land border

Your trip to Kosovo might also include neighboring Balkan countries, so you will be likely to either enter or exit through one of its many borders.

We actually traveled to Kosovo via Albania and left via North Macedonia.

Currently, Kosovo shares a border with Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia.

All of them are easy, and pretty straightforward to cross, except for Serbia.

Traveling to Kosovo from Serbia

The border is open, anyone can cross, but be aware that tensions between both countries still exist.

Occasionally, if crossing by bus, you’ll be escorted by a car from the Serbian Army for the first few kilometers of no man’s land but, other than that, you should be fine.

Serbia doesn’t recognize the international borders of Kosovo so, in the eyes of Serbia, if you enter Kosovo from either Montenegro, Albania or North Macedonia, you’d be entering Serbia illegally.

If that was the case, your entry to Serbia will be denied.

However, if you travel to Kosovo from Serbia and then decide to come back, you’ll be allowed to enter.

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Kosovo?

Despite a relatively recent conflict, Kosovo is a safe country to travel.

There’s little petty crime compared to other European countries and, while tensions between Serbs and Albanians keep occurring – as happened in 2022 – it shouldn’t really affect your travels.

NATO Presence

Kosovo isn’t a member of NATO, but there’s a large NATO presence across Kosovo.

You are likely to see their tanks and armored vehicles, especially when you visit Serbian Heritage sites, like Dečani Monastery.

🛖 Top experiences in Kosovo

Anyone traveling to Kosovo shouldn’t miss:

Visiting the most low-key capital in Europe, Pristina

Years of war and conflict left an impoverished country with little money to invest in monuments and make things pretty.

Something that really surprised me about Pristina is that the buildings from the city’s downtown, like the ones located in the main square, could easily be the buildings from the suburbs of a secondary city near Madrid, very low key.

However, among all that decadence, there are little oases composed of chic cafés serving the best coffee I had outside of Italy.

Understanding the Serbian population by visiting a Serbian village

Anyone visiting Kosovo should add one or two Serbian-majority places in the itinerary, since Serbs have been living here for tens of generations, and they are also part of the unfortunate recent history.

Checking out some pretty gorgeous Ottoman architecture, like in Prizren and Djakova

The Turks ruled over Kosovo for 500 years, leaving behind a very tangible cultural heritage, including some epic architecture.

Exploring the rolling hills and villages of the barely visited region of Dragash

We really liked this area, and not only because it was pretty, but also because we had the best local experience in the entire Balkan Peninsula, people who would randomly invite us to their house to have tea, like in Pakistan.

Discovering a traditional Albanian city in Peja

Peja is a big city by Kosovar standards and we liked it because it was a really authentic Albanian city with little foreign influence, unlike Pristina, where one can already feel some cosmopolitanism.

💰 Budget and money

Surprisingly, the official currency in Kosovo is the euro (€).

They adopted it unilaterally without permission from the EU back in 2012.

Everything is quoted in €, you can’t use other currencies. Banks give € too.

In a majority-Serbian village, however, I saw that prices were quoted in Serbian Dinars, but € were accepted too.

ATMs and credit cards

In Pristina, you can pay by debit card in many restaurants and hotels but it’s always convenient to have some extra cash just in case.

Outside of the capital, you might be able to pay by card in certain fancier hotels but do bring cash for the rest.

How much does it cost to travel in Kosovo?

Kosovo is by far, the cheapest country in the world that uses the €.

Outside of the capital, sometimes we paid 40 cents for a magnificent espresso. In a fancy coffee house in the capital, you’ll pay up to 1€.

Eating out is surprisingly cheap too. In the most touristic street of Prizren, we paid 14€ (2 people) for a 2-meal course and 3 beers.

In local eateries, expect to pay no more than 3€ or 4€ for a meal.

Regarding accommodation, you can easily find a budget dorm for less than 10€, while a double room in a simple guest house will cost 20€ or 25€.

Buses are cheap too; the bus from Pristina to Prizren costs around 5€.

🕌 Kosovo: the country, culture, and people

As mentioned in the beginning, Kosovo is a region composed of Albanians and Serbians.

Serbs are Christian Orthodox and speak Serbian, while Albanians are Muslims and speak Albanian.

Both languages are official and road signs tend to be bilingual.

There are other minorities too. For example, in Restelica, we had the chance to meet Gorani people, a Muslim Slavic group. While this might not sound very exciting to you, you should know that being Slavic and Muslim at the same time isn’t very common.

As mentioned in the beginning, the Kosovar nation doesn’t really exist so instead, most Kosovar Albanians have a strong Albanian identity, visible in the large number of Albanian flags that abound across the country.

Do Serbians and Albanians still hate each other? From a military standpoint, the tension is pretty obvious but, what about the people?Is there ethnic segregation? Well, first of all, you need to know that today, only 10% of the Kosovar population are Serbs, and they tend to live in separate areas, like in Serbian villages. The only place where there’s actual tension is in the city of Mitrovica, a big city half Serbian, half Albanian. Due to the increasing tension, the city is being guarded by the carabinieri (the Italian police). Like in all worldwide ethnic conflicts, hate will always exist, it will never go away – think about Israel and Palestine – but today, most of the current hate is concentrated among extremists and people with a lower level of education. If you talk to any well-educated person in either Pristina or Prizren, you’ll realize that most people wish to put an end to such pointless disputes.

🍲 Cuisine in Kosovo

The food in Kosovo is similar to that in Albania but you don’t find as many Greek and Mediterranean flavors, so no olive oil, for example.

Instead, I found Kosovar food to have a higher Turkish influence, and more meat-based than neighboring Albanian.

The staple food in Kosovo are grilled kebabs, generally eaten in local eateries named qebaptore , and something you must try for a local experience.

Do go to a qebaptore for breakfast, and you are likely to find many locals.

Other typical Kosovar dishes include:

Suxhuk: a spicy sausage, usually eaten cold. It’s sold everywhere.

Tavë Kosi: baked lamb with yogurt. If you eat this in the right place, it’s incredibly delicious

Sarma: rolled cabbage leaves, typically eaten in all former Ottoman countries, but each country has its own local twist

Byrek: pastry layers filled with minced meat, spinach or cheese. This is also a staple, and sold in all bakeries, usually washed down with ayran (drinkable yogurt with salt)

Alcohol in Kosovo

Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Kosovo is mostly secular, where you can buy beer anywhere, and it’s always cheap, never more than 2€ for a bottle.

In fact, something that really surprised me about Kosovo is the large quantity of beer ads popping up everywhere.

Peja is by far, the most available ordinary lager.

There’s a tiny craft beer scene as well, the most popular brewery being Pivdzan Craft Brewery .

Moreover, like in all the Balkans, rakija is popular too, a local liquor usually homemade containing typically between 40% and 50% of alcohol.

Coffee in Kosovo

Similar to neighboring Albania and, as part of the short Italian colonization, the coffee culture in Kosovo is a strong one. Kosovars make excellent coffee, and slurping an espresso, while talking to their friends, is their way to socialize.

Even in the smallest village, you are likely to find a café serving a really good espresso, or macchiato, and all for no more than 40 50 cents.

🏨 Accommodation: Where to stay in Kosovo

From budget hostels to guest houses and premium hotels, Kosovo is well sorted for accommodation, you won’t have any problem trying to find a hotel.

We spent at least one night in Pristina, Prizren, Djakova, Peja and Restileca.

We did have problems finding accommodation in Restileca (Dragash region) but that’s because there’s no tourist infrastructure, and in the end, someone rented us a room in his house, for like 20€.

Find the best accommodation in Pristina

Find the best accommodation in Prizren

Find the best accommodation in Djakova

Find the best accommodation in Peja

🛺 Transportation: How to get around Kosovo

We hired a car, so we didn’t take any public transportation, but we met several backpackers who were traveling by bus.

There are no trains, but all cities are well-connected by buses, and they are really cheap.

Expect to pay no more than 5€ for the bus journey between Pristina and Prizren.

❗ More Travel Guides to Other Unrecognized Countries

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

• Travel Guide to Abkhazia
• Transnistria Travel Guide
• Somaliland Travel Guide
• Somaliland Itinerary
• Fear and Loathing in Somaliland

I entered Kosova by bus from Albania and they didn’tstampmy passport. My whole purpose was to be in Kosova for only 3 months in order to be allowed to return to Albania . Now what can I do? I’m in pistren

no worries, you are in their system, the stamp is not proof of anything

Very useful article, Kosovo seems like a very interesting place despite it being a small country. What entices me most about this place is the nature and the coffee.

It is an intersting and informative article. You have some parts that are not correct though like “They adopted it unilaterally without permission from the EU back in 2012.” That is not true because a country cannot use another currency without permission. Also the number of serbs in Kosovo is barely 5% and in the article it says it is 10%. “However, the book is written from a pro-Albanian stand point, and it often omits the atrocities committed by Albanians in the 90s.” – This part is also nonsense because 90% of the victims were albanian and the book talks about all the atrocities that happened during the conflict.

Thank you for giving your opinions

So from what I read here you can either choose to enter Kosovo from either Serbia, or from one of the other borders. But you cant enter via the other country and then enter Serbia, due to the border recognition issues.

I have a potential itinerary where I would enter from Serbia and exit via Macedonia. Would that reverse be possible? I presume so, right? Because only entering Serbia from Kosovo is the issue? Just want to make sure though.

Hi Mohit, I think it should be all right!

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Kosovo travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: March 13, 2024 13:50 ET

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Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, kosovo - take normal security precautions.

Take normal security precautions in Kosovo

Northern Kosovo - Avoid non-essential travel

• North Mitrovica
• Zubin Potok

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Northern Kosovo

NATO forces and Kosovo Police have blocked access to municipal buildings in certain municipalities in northern Kosovo following disputes over boycotted elections in majority ethnic Serb communities. The increased NATO and Kosovo Police presence is in the following municipalities:

If you are in northern Kosovo despite this advisory, avoid areas with an increased NATO and Kosovo Police presence as tensions may escalate rapidly and violent outbursts could occur.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia doesn’t recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Ethnic tensions between Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians are ongoing.

There is a risk of inter-ethnic violence and civil unrest, particularly in the municipalities of:

Occasional security incidents may include:

• arson and grenade attacks
• violent and spontaneous protests
• attacks on government buildings and police forces

Tensions may escalate rapidly, and local authorities' capacity to enforce the law may be limited.

Avoid non-essential travel to these areas. If you travel to northern Kosovo despite this advisory:

• remain vigilant at all times
• monitor local media for information on the security situation
• avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• follow the instructions of local authorities

Petty crime

Crimes of opportunity and petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occur. Thieves could target foreigners, particularly in Pristina and in crowded public areas such as:

• public transportation hubs and facilities
• hotel lobbies
• restaurants, patios and outdoor cafés
• tourist sites and attractions

While you’re in Kosovo:

• ensure that your belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times
• don’t keep your passport and other types of ID in the same place and carry a photocopy rather than the original
• avoid showing signs of affluence or wearing expensive jewellery
• avoid carrying large sums of cash or unnecessary valuables
• avoid deserted streets at night
• pay attention to your surroundings, particularly in crowded and tourist areas
• be extra cautious when withdrawing cash from ATMs

Residential break-ins

Residential break-ins occur, especially in main cities. Burglars sometimes target houses or apartments owned or rented by foreigners.

• Choose well-secured accommodation
• Make sure you lock doors and windows at night and when you’re away

Car theft, break-ins and carjacking occur. Rental and luxury vehicles are a target of choice.

• Familiarize yourself with your route before starting the trip
• Keep your windows and doors locked at all times
• Keep your belongings out of reach
• Use secure parking facilities, especially overnight
• Never leave belongings unattended in a vehicle, even in the trunk

Violent crime

Organized crime-related violence occurs. Criminals often use firearms. In some instances, they have used hand grenades or improvised explosive devices.

While violent incidents don’t typically target foreigners or tourists, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

Credit card and ATM fraud

Credit card and ATM fraud occurs. When using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention when others are handling your cards use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Cybercrime also occurs. Perpetrators may compromise public Wi-Fi networks to steal credit card or personal information.

• Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks
• Avoid making purchases on unencrypted websites
• Be cautious when posting information on social media
• Be particularly vigilant when contacting or meeting individuals known over the internet
• Never click a suspicious link in an email or text message asking for your credit card details

Overseas fraud

Demonstrations

Demonstrations occur occasionally due to ongoing political tension, particularly in Pristina and in the northern areas of Kosovo. They usually take place around governmental or international organizations' buildings.

Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Soccer matches and sports events

Sports events sometimes lead to rowdy behaviour and violent incidents.

Be vigilant if you attend soccer matches and sports rallies.

There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places. Be particularly vigilant during:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists may use such occasions to mount attacks.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance

While most of the territory has been cleared, landmines and unexploded ordnance may still pose a serious risk in forested and isolated areas, particularly in:

• the mountainous regions bordering Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia
• the Dulje Pass in central Kosovo
• the areas bordering Serbia's Preševo Valley

If you plan on visiting or hiking in these areas:

• pay attention to signs indicating the possible presence of landmines
• remain on paved roads
• avoid open fields, road shoulders and unmarked trails
• report anything suspicious to local authorities

Mountain activities

Mountain activities, such as hiking, can be dangerous, especially if they are not well-organized. Trails are not always marked and weather conditions can change rapidly, even in summer.

If you intend to go hiking or climbing:

• never do so alone
• consider hiring an experienced guide from a reputable company
• buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation
• ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity
• ensure that you’re properly equipped
• stay informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard
• inform a family member or friend of your itinerary
• obtain detailed information on trekking routes before setting out
• do not venture off marked trails

Feral and stray dogs

Feral and stray dogs are common throughout the country.

Don’t approach or feed them as they could be aggressive.

Power outages

Power and utility outages are frequent in Kosovo, including in Pristina. They may affect the provision of essential services.

• Make sure your phone is and remains charged at all times
• Keep supplies of food, water and fuel on hand in case of lengthy disruptions

Celebratory gunfire

Firing weapons to celebrate is common in Kosovo. It sometimes coincides with fireworks displays and may take place:

• at weddings
• on certain holidays and days of national observance
• following elections
• after soccer matches and sporting events

Injuries and deaths due to stray bullets have occurred.

Avoid areas where celebratory gunfire is taking place.

Road safety

Road conditions and road safety vary throughout the country.

Secondary roads are often narrow, poorly lit and poorly maintained. Mountain roads sometimes lack guardrails. Low-speed farm equipment, horse-drawn carts and wandering livestock are common hazards.

Roads may also become impassable due to heavy snowfall, mudslides or seasonal flooding.

Drivers don’t always respect traffic laws. They don’t always yield to pedestrians.

Avoid driving at night.

Public transportation

Safety standards vary on public transportation. Buses and trains are often overcrowded. Periodic disruptions of bus services may occur.

Taxis are widely available and reliable.

• Use only officially marked taxis
• Negotiate fares in advance, or insist that the driver use the meter, as you may be overcharged

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Kosovar authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for the expected duration of your stay in Kosovo.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period Business visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period Student visa: not required for stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period

Declaration of presence

If you plan to spend fewer than 90 days in Kosovo, you don’t need to apply for a residence permit. However, you must report your presence in the country. Commercial accommodations will generally file the declaration on your behalf.

If you’re staying in a non-commercial accommodation, you must file a declaration of presence with the nearest police station upon arrival.

If you intend to stay more than 90 days, you must apply for a temporary residence permit at the Foreigner Registration Office in Pristina.

Temporary residence permit for foreigners – Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo

Other entry requirements

Customs officials may ask you to show them a return or onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

Travel to Serbia

Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent state nor its border crossing points as legal international entry points.

If travelling by land to Serbia from Kosovo, you should transit first via a third country such as Albania, North Macedonia or Montenegro.

Don’t attempt to enter Serbia directly from Kosovo, unless you have a valid entry stamp from the Serbian immigration authorities showing that you initially travelled into Kosovo from Serbia.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• This territory has not stated its yellow fever vaccination certificate requirements.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies is carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. Rabies treatment is often available in this destination. 

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

Health care is inadequate. Facilities often lack specialists, essential equipment, and medications.

Techniques and services are usually not up to international standards. Upfront payment may be required.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Some prescription medication may not be available in Kosovo.

If you take prescription medication, you’re responsible for determining their legality in the country.

• Bring sufficient quantities of your medication with you
• Always keep your medication in the original container
• Pack your medication in your carry-on luggage
• Carry a copy of your prescriptions

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect prison sentences or heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Identification

Authorities may request to see your ID at any time.

• Carry valid identification or a photocopy of it at all times
• Keep a photocopy of your passport in case it’s lost or seized
• Keep a digital copy of your ID and travel documents

Photography

There are restrictions on photographing military or police installations, vehicles, and personnel.

Signs advising of the restrictions are generally posted in sensitive areas.

• Refrain from photographing military installations or personnel even if no signs are posted
• Comply with all requests from local authorities

In 2024, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around March 10.

In public, between sunrise and sunset, be discreet when:

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Kosovo.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Kosovo, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Kosovo.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Kosovo by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Kosovo to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Kosovar law does not criminalize sexual acts or relationships between persons of the same sex.

However, 2SLGBTQI+ travellers could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

You should carry an international driving permit.

Third-party automobile insurance is mandatory and can be purchased upon entry into Kosovo.

You must carry tire chains in winter if you plan to drive in mountain areas. From November to March, it is mandatory to use winter tires or tires with more than 4 mm tread.

International Driving Permit

The currency in Kosovo is the euro (EUR).

The economy is largely cash-based; however, credit cards are accepted in some larger establishments. Automated banking machines are available in urban centres.

If you are carrying €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, you must make a declaration to customs when you enter or leave the European Union. It includes sums in:

• banknotes and coins
• bearer negotiable instruments such as cheques, travellers’ cheques, promissory notes and money orders
• bonds, shares
• gold coins with a gold content of at least 90 %
• gold bars, nuggets or clumps with a gold content of at least 99.5 %
• any other convertible asset

This does not apply if you are travelling within the European Union or in transit to a non-EU country.

EU cash controls - European Commission

Seismic activity

Kosovo is located in an active seismic zone. Even minor earthquakes can cause significant damage.

Earthquakes - What to Do?

Forest fires are common between June and September, particularly in northern Kosovo. The air quality in areas near active fires may deteriorate due to heavy smoke.

In case of a significant fire:

• stay away from affected areas, particularly if you suffer from respiratory ailments
• monitor local media for up-to-date information on the situation
• follow the advice of local authorities

Flooding and landslides

Heavy rains, particularly during spring and summer, can cause flooding and landslides. Roads may become impassable and infrastructure damaged. The road between Pristina and Skopje, North Macedonia, is particularly affected by these incidents.

• Exercise caution, particularly in areas around major rivers
• Stay informed of the latest regional weather forecasts
• Follow the advice of local authorities, including evacuation orders

Air pollution

Smoke haze and other types of air pollution can be extremely hazardous in Kosovo. Winter is especially problematic due the heavy smoke from coal and wood burning heaters. Air pollution levels can change quickly.

During periods of high pollution:

• limit your outdoor activities, especially if you suffer from respiratory ailments or have pre-existing medical conditions
• monitor local media

Air pollution in Pristina - World Air Quality Index

Local services

Dial 112 for emergency assistance.

Consular assistance

There is no Canadian government office in Kosovo. If you require consular assistance, contact the Embassy of Canada to Croatia, in Zagreb.

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Croatia, in Zagreb, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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Kosovo Traveler View

Travel health notices, vaccines and medicines, non-vaccine-preventable diseases, stay healthy and safe.

• Packing List

After Your Trip

There are no notices currently in effect for Kosovo.

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Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least a month before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need. If you or your doctor need help finding a location that provides certain vaccines or medicines, visit the Find a Clinic page.

Routine vaccines

Recommendations.

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Immunization schedules

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

COVID-19 vaccine

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Kosovo.

Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series.

Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given.

Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis A - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep A

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Kosovo. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Kosovo.

Hepatitis B - CDC Yellow Book

Dosing info - Hep B

Cases of measles are on the rise worldwide. Travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, or have not had measles in the past, and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6–11 months, according to  CDC’s measles vaccination recommendations for international travel .

Measles (Rubeola) - CDC Yellow Book

Kosovo is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Rabies - CDC Yellow Book

Avoid contaminated water

Leptospirosis

How most people get sick (most common modes of transmission)

• Touching urine or other body fluids from an animal infected with leptospirosis
• Swimming or wading in urine-contaminated fresh water, or contact with urine-contaminated mud
• Drinking water or eating food contaminated with animal urine
• Avoid contaminated water and soil

Clinical Guidance

Airborne & droplet.

• Breathing in air or accidentally eating food contaminated with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents
• Bite from an infected rodent
• Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus (only occurs with Andes virus)
• Avoid rodents and areas where they live
• Avoid sick people

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Breathe in TB bacteria that is in the air from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Kosovo, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards around the world vary based on the destination. Standards may also differ within a country and risk may change depending on activity type (e.g., hiking versus business trip). You can learn more about safe food and drink choices when traveling by accessing the resources below.

• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• Water Treatment Options When Hiking, Camping or Traveling
• Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water
• Avoid Contaminated Water During Travel

You can also visit the Department of State Country Information Pages for additional information about food and water safety.

Prevent bug bites

Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in Kosovo. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What can I do to prevent bug bites?

• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Use an appropriate insect repellent (see below).
• Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents). Do not use permethrin directly on skin.
• Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.

What type of insect repellent should I use?

• FOR PROTECTION AGAINST TICKS AND MOSQUITOES: Use a repellent that contains 20% or more DEET for protection that lasts up to several hours.
• Picaridin (also known as KBR 3023, Bayrepel, and icaridin)
• Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthane-diol (PMD)
• 2-undecanone
• Always use insect repellent as directed.

What should I do if I am bitten by bugs?

• Avoid scratching bug bites, and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce the itching.
• Check your entire body for ticks after outdoor activity. Be sure to remove ticks properly.

What can I do to avoid bed bugs?

Although bed bugs do not carry disease, they are an annoyance. See our information page about avoiding bug bites for some easy tips to avoid them. For more information on bed bugs, see Bed Bugs .

For more detailed information on avoiding bug bites, see Avoid Bug Bites .

Stay safe outdoors

If your travel plans in Kosovo include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation : use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

• Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.
• Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.
• Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.
• Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.
• If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and clean water.
• Go to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Consider buying medical evacuation insurance. Rabies is a deadly disease that must be treated quickly, and treatment may not be available in some countries.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

• Wash your hands often, especially before eating.
• If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
• If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

• Use latex condoms correctly.
• Do not inject drugs.
• Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.
• Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.
• If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

• Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals at your destination.
• Review your health insurance plan to determine what medical services it would cover during your trip. Consider purchasing travel health and medical evacuation insurance.
• Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medications you take.
• Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Kosovo’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.
• Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website ( www.jointcommissioninternational.org ).

In some countries, medicine (prescription and over-the-counter) may be substandard or counterfeit. Bring the medicines you will need from the United States to avoid having to buy them at your destination.

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

In many places cars, buses, large trucks, rickshaws, bikes, people on foot, and even animals share the same lanes of traffic, increasing the risk for crashes.

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

• Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.
• Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.
• Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

• Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.
• Ride only in cars that have seatbelts.
• Avoid overcrowded, overloaded, top-heavy buses and minivans.
• Avoid riding on motorcycles or motorbikes, especially motorbike taxis. (Many crashes are caused by inexperienced motorbike drivers.)
• Choose newer vehicles—they may have more safety features, such as airbags, and be more reliable.
• Choose larger vehicles, which may provide more protection in crashes.

Think about the driver.

• Do not drive after drinking alcohol or ride with someone who has been drinking.
• Consider hiring a licensed, trained driver familiar with the area.
• Arrange payment before departing.

Follow basic safety tips.

• Wear a seatbelt at all times.
• Sit in the back seat of cars and taxis.
• When on motorbikes or bicycles, always wear a helmet. (Bring a helmet from home, if needed.)
• Avoid driving at night; street lighting in certain parts of Kosovo may be poor.
• Do not use a cell phone or text while driving (illegal in many countries).
• Travel during daylight hours only, especially in rural areas.
• If you choose to drive a vehicle in Kosovo, learn the local traffic laws and have the proper paperwork.
• Get any driving permits and insurance you may need. Get an International Driving Permit (IDP). Carry the IDP and a US-issued driver's license at all times.
• Check with your auto insurance policy's international coverage, and get more coverage if needed. Make sure you have liability insurance.
• Avoid using local, unscheduled aircraft.
• If possible, fly on larger planes (more than 30 seats); larger airplanes are more likely to have regular safety inspections.
• Try to schedule flights during daylight hours and in good weather.

Medical Evacuation Insurance

If you are seriously injured, emergency care may not be available or may not meet US standards. Trauma care centers are uncommon outside urban areas. Having medical evacuation insurance can be helpful for these reasons.

Helpful Resources

Road Safety Overseas (Information from the US Department of State): Includes tips on driving in other countries, International Driving Permits, auto insurance, and other resources.

The Association for International Road Travel has country-specific Road Travel Reports available for most countries for a minimal fee.

Maintain personal security

Use the same common sense traveling overseas that you would at home, and always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.

Before you leave

• Research your destination(s), including local laws, customs, and culture.
• Monitor travel advisories and alerts and read travel tips from the US Department of State.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) .
• Leave a copy of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home.
• Pack as light as possible, and leave at home any item you could not replace.

While at your destination(s)

• Carry contact information for the nearest US embassy or consulate .
• Carry a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp; leave the actual passport securely in your hotel.
• Follow all local laws and social customs.
• Do not wear expensive clothing or jewelry.
• Always keep hotel doors locked, and store valuables in secure areas.
• If possible, choose hotel rooms between the 2nd and 6th floors.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Use the Healthy Travel Packing List for Kosovo for a list of health-related items to consider packing for your trip. Talk to your doctor about which items are most important for you.

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

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Latest update

Exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo overall due to the potential for politically motivated violence, especially in the northern municipalities.

Kosovo (PDF 201.04 KB)

Europe (PDF 2.62 MB)

Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies, advice levels.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo overall.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Kosovo overall due to the potential for politically motivated violence.

Reconsider your need to travel to Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan municipalities and North Mitrovica.

Reconsider your need to travel to:

• Zubin Potok 
• North Mitrovica

due to the high threat of violence.

• There have been violent clashes in the north of Kosovo. Sudden incidents, including the use of firearms, can occur in Mitrovica and other places in the north of Kosovo.
• Two authorities work to maintain security — the Kosovo Police Force and the Kosovo Force (KFOR), led by NATO.
• Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Kosovo.
• Locals discharge firearms on holidays and other occasions. Be careful of celebratory gunfire, especially during major holidays and sporting victories.

Full travel advice: Safety

• Air pollution is a problem, particularly in winter. If you have breathing difficulties, get medical advice before you travel.
• Outbreaks of hepatitis A, trichinellosis, brucellosis and rabies can occur. Drink bottled water. Avoid raw and undercooked food.
• Medical facilities are generally of a lower standard than in Australia. You may need to be evacuated if you become seriously ill or injured. Make sure your travel insurance covers this.

Full travel advice: Health

• It's illegal to take photos of military or police facilities and buildings.
• Always carry a photo ID.
• Same-sex sexual activity is legal but not widely accepted. Avoid public displays of affection.

Full travel advice: Local laws

• Tourists don't need a visa for stays of less than 90 days. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Kosovo for the latest details.
• You no longer require a vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 test to enter Kosovo.
• Security along the Kosovo-Serbia border is unpredictable. Serbia doesn't recognise entry points direct from Kosovo. Don't try to enter Serbia from Kosovo unless you initially travelled to Kosovo from Serbia.

Full travel advice: Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what we can and can't do to help you overseas.
• Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Kosovo. For consular help, contact the  Australian Embassy  in Zagreb.
• The British Embassy in Prishtina can provide limited emergency consular help.
• Follow the embassy's social media accounts to stay up-to-date with local information.

Full travel advice: Local contacts

Full advice

Police forces in kosovo.

The Kosovo Police Force works with the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to maintain security. KFOR is an international peacekeeping force led by NATO.

Check local developments before and during your journey.

More information:

• United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
• Kosovo Force
• Radio KFOR (Albanian)

Civil unrest and political tension

Anti-government protests happen frequently and can turn violent.

Protests can occur in any region. They mostly happen in Prishtina and Mitrovica.

Demonstrations can begin without warning or notice.

To protect yourself, avoid the following:

• public gatherings
• political rallies
• demonstrations

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

• Demonstrations and civil unrest

Tensions and conflict

Tensions and ethnic conflict between the Serbian and Albanian populations can occur, particularly in the north.

Towns in northern Kosovo, including North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zubin Potok and Zvečan, have experienced sudden violent, armed, inter-ethnic conflict.

Reconsider your need to travel to these areas due to the high risk of violence and security incidents.

Violence can happen along Kosovo's southern border with North Macedonia.

Unofficial roadblocks can be set up at short notice.

If you travel to these areas despite the risks, hire a local guide, especially if you travel alone.

To protect yourself during periods of unrest:

• make alternative plans in case the security situation deteriorates
• check that your travel documents are valid for longer than you expect to travel

Public events

The discharge of firearms into the air and the release of fireworks could occur during the following:

• sporting events
• major elections
• other occasions

This can result in accidental injury.

Be careful of celebratory gunfire, especially around major holidays, celebrations and after sporting victories.

Petty crime can occur, including:

• pickpocketing
• bag snatching

This mainly happens in crowded places, such as:

• on public transport

Carjacking and car theft can also happen.

Assassinations and murders are often linked to organised crime. Violent criminal acts aren't usually directed at travellers.

Privately owned illegal small firearms are common.

To protect yourself from crime:

• take care of your belongings, particularly in crowds
• hold bags and backpacks in front of you or in other ways that make them harder to snatch
• always lock your car doors
• check local media for news on crime
• avoid trouble spots
• use ATMs inside banks, shops and shopping centres

Cyber security 

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:  

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Several bomb threats have previously been made in Kosovo, including against transport hubs. Monitor the media for developments and follow the advice of local authorities.

Terrorists are likely to try out attacks in Kosovo and may attack with little or no warning.

Possible targets include airports, public transport, places of worship, sporting venues and areas that attract large groups of people.

To protect yourself from terrorist attacks:

• be alert in public places
• check the security of sites you visit and whether they could be terrorist targets
• check the media for new threats
• take official warnings seriously
• follow the advice of local authorities

Report any suspicious activity or items to the police.

If there's an attack, leave the area as soon as it's safe. Avoid the affected area in case of secondary attacks.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

•      Terrorism

Climate and natural disasters

Bush and forest fires  can happen from June to September, especially in northern Kosovo.

Extreme hot and dry periods may lead to water shortages.

Large  earthquakes  are rare, but earth tremors are common.

To protect yourself if there's a  natural disaster  or  severe weather :

• secure your passport in a safe, waterproof location
• keep in contact with family and friends
• monitor the media and other sources

Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive alerts on major disasters.

Travel Insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.  Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips  (Healthdirect Australia)
• COVID-19  (Department of Health and Aged Care)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Kosovo. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medicine is
• Your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Medica tion

Health risks

Air pollution.

Air pollution levels can be high in Kosovo.

During winter, heavy smoke from coal and wood-burning heaters can linger for days or weeks.

Accidental emissions of toxic substances from factories can happen.

Public health warnings aren't always issued.

If you have asthma or other breathing difficulties, seek medical advice before travelling.

Tick-borne diseases

Ticks are active from spring to autumn.

If you travel to forest areas, you may be exposed to tick-borne diseases such as:

• tick-borne encephalitis
• Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

To protect yourself from disease:

• check your body for ticks during and after a forest visit

if you have a tick, be careful to remove the whole tick

Get medical help if you develop a fever.

Insect-borne diseases

Cases of  West Nile virus (WNV)  have been reported. There's no vaccine to prevent it.

• ensure your accommodation is insect-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

Other health risks

Outbreaks of foodborne and other infectious diseases can occur, including:

• hepatitis A
• trichinosis
• brucellosis
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid ice cubes
• avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
• avoid unpasteurised dairy products

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

• Infectious disease

Medical care

Medical facilities.

Medical facilities in Kosovo are severely under-equipped.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuations can be very expensive.

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Carrying or using drugs

In Kosovo, it's illegal to take photos of military or police:

Always carry photo ID.

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

Dual nationals

Local customs

Lgbti information.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal, but not widely accepted.

Avoid public displays of affection.

Advice for LGBTI travellers

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

Visa-free travel for short stays

As a tourist, you won't need a visa for stays of less than 90 days.

You may need to provide documents showing the reason for your visit when entering.

Border authorities issue a 90-day entry stamp. You can renew your stamp for longer stays.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. For details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules, contact:

• Kosovo Foreign Ministry (Albanian)
• Embassy or consulate of Kosovo

Kosovo-Serbia border

The security situation along the Kosovo-Serbia border is unpredictable.

Political violence often happens at the border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak, also called Gates 1 and 31.

To protect yourself from possible violence:

• avoid these border crossings
• take an alternative route

Don't attempt to enter Serbia from Kosovo unless you initially travelled to Kosovo from Serbia.

Entering Kosovo from Serbia at Merdare and Dheu i Bardhë, also known as Gates 3 and 5, can mean:

• long waiting times
• long vehicle queues

You need a valid, recent Serbian entry stamp in your passport to travel from Kosovo to Serbia. If not, you'll need to transit via a third country.

Montenegro and North Macedonia are transit options for travel by road. See  Safety

• Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Serbian)
• Travel advice for Serbia

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid long enough, consider getting  a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you're overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

Passport with 'X' gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing an 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

• LGBTI travellers  

The official currency of Kosovo is the euro. In some places in northern Kosovo, the Serbian Dinar (RSD) is accepted.

You need to declare amounts over 10,000 euro or equivalent when you arrive. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash. If you don't, you may be fined.

Kosovo's economy is largely cash-based. Expect to make payments in cash, especially in small establishments.

Some hotels, shops and restaurants accept credit cards.

ATMs are generally available in major urban centres. It's a good idea to carry some cash, including for minor purchases.

Local travel

Landmines and unexploded weapons

Landmines and unexploded remnants of war are present in Kosovo. The main areas of risk include:

• mountainous regions in the west between Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro and east near Serbia's Presevo Valley
• regions bordering North Macedonia and Albania
• the Dulje Pass area (central Kosovo)

To protect yourself in these areas:

• keep to the main roads
• look out for hazardous areas marked by red 'MINES' signs
• ask locals about ways to stay safe
• don't travel off-road
• don't hike in woodland areas

Driving permit

To drive in Kosovo, you need to carry your valid Australian licence.

Getting an International Driver's Permit (IDP) is recommended. Get your IDP before leaving Australia.

If you break traffic laws, authorities may take your driver's licence.

• Driving or riding

Road travel

Driving can be dangerous.

Hazards include:

• poorly maintained roads and vehicles
• poor local driving skills
• pedestrians and farm animals in rural areas
• heavy snowfalls
• landslides, particularly on the main route between Prishtina and Skopje in North Macedonia

Roadworks are common, and traffic conditions change frequently.

Heavy snowfalls can severely disrupt road travel.

You must have third-party vehicle insurance to drive. You can buy insurance when you enter.

You must pay any road tolls and fines in cash in the local currency.

Speed limits are strictly enforced.

If you hire a car, the hire company may not let you cross the border to and from Kosovo.

To reduce your risks when travelling by road:

• check your travel insurance will cover you before driving
• understand local road rules
• avoid travelling at night
• always carry identification and vehicle registration papers

Motorcycles

Check whether your travel insurance policy covers you for riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

Use only authorised taxi and limousine services. Arrange these through your hotel.

Unofficial taxis may overcharge.

Public transport

Buses connecting Prishtina with other major cities are frequent.

Standards aren't the same as Australian buses.

• Transport and getting around safely

Rail travel

Trains operate regular services:

• from Skopje to Prishtina via Hani i Elezit
• from Prishtina to Peja/Pec

Trains are slow but generally reliable.

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.

Check  Kosovo's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia doesn't have a resident embassy or consulate in Kosovo. The Australian Embassy in Zagreb, Croatia provides consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo.

Australian Embassy, Zagreb

Grand Centar 5th Floor, Hektoroviceva 2 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Phone: (+385) 1 489 1200 Fax: (+385) 1 489 1216 Email: [email protected] , [email protected] Website: croatia.embassy.gov.au Facebook: Australia in Croatia

Twitter: AusAmbCroatia

The British Embassy in Pristina can provide limited emergency consular assistance to Australians in Kosovo. This doesn't include passport or visa services.

British Embassy, Pristina

Lidhja e Pejes 177

Prishtina, Kosovo

Telephone: (+381 0) 38 254 700

Fax: (+381 0) 38 606 662

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-pristina

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

Travelling to Kosovo?

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Kosovo Travel Restrictions

Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status

Traveling from the United States to Kosovo

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments.

Documents & Additional resources

Ready to travel, find flights to kosovo, find stays in kosovo, explore more countries on travel restrictions map, destinations you can travel to now, dominican republic, netherlands, philippines, puerto rico, switzerland, united arab emirates, united kingdom, know when to go.

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Can I travel to Kosovo from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Kosovo.

Can I travel to Kosovo if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Kosovo without restrictions.

Can I travel to Kosovo without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Kosovo without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Kosovo?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Kosovo.

Can I travel to Kosovo without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Kosovo?

Mask usage in Kosovo is not required in enclosed environments.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Kosovo?

Restaurants in Kosovo are open. Bars in Kosovo are .

The Balkans and Beyond

Balkan travel inspiration and practical travel tips

Is Kosovo Safe to Visit? All You Need to Know Before you Go

Is Kosovo Safe to Visit?

As two female travellers, we have been visiting the Balkans for several years now. We have explored the rugged, desolate mountains and the dramatic coastlines, the lively cities and towns and the peaceful, quaint countryside. Kosovo was one of the last countries in the area that we visited and we were very surprised by what we found. We are almost always asked by friends, family and fellow travellers, “Is Kosovo safe?”

To be honest, this was our first thought before our initial visit as well. Kosovo gets a tough time in the media. There are many references to organised crimes networks, drugs, poverty and, of course, the recent war.

Kosovo is an up-and-coming tourist destination. More and more people are becoming curious about this landlocked country on the edge of Europe. But is Kosovo safe to visit? We take a look at some of the preconceptions people have about visiting this part of the world and what you might need to avoid when visiting Kosovo.

So, is it Safe to Visit Kosovo?

Yes, absolutely! Kosovans are a kind and welcoming people. They will often go out of their way to help someone, especially a tourist. Many people are curious about where you come from and why you are visiting their country. Tourism is rising in Kosovo, but it is still unlikely you will bump into many foreigners outside the main hotspots.

Of course, with any location, there are a few things to be aware of. But more on that later…

Is Kosovo Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Again, yes. Both of us have travelled around the country alone and have always felt safe in Kosovo. This includes using public transport, exploring the big cities and discovering tiny hamlets in the hills. Speaking with other female travellers, they have also said that they have felt safe in Kosovo.

Is Kosovo Safe for LGBTQ+ Travellers?

This one is trickier for us to answer as neither of us have first-hand experience in this situation. However, from chatting with other people we found out that there is quite a different attitude to what might be expected in the west. Homosexuality has been decriminalised but gay marriage is not recognised.

Society in general is a little more traditional than many western countries. It is illegal to change genders in Kosovo and non binary genders are not recognised. Any LGBTQ+ scene in Kosovo is very much underground.

Reasons to Visit Kosovo

Now that we know that Kosovo is safe to visit, here are just a few reasons why you should explore this beautiful country.

The Spectacular Mountains

The Via Dinarica is an incredible hiking trail that begins in Albania and runs right the way to Slovenia. Some of the most breath-taking parts of the route run through Kosovo and are not to be missed if you love the great outdoors!

There are some unbelievable places in Kosovo that every hiker must visit because of their sheer beauty and accessible trails. These include Sharr Gorge, Istog Gorge and the mountains of Rugova Canyon to name a few.

The Ancient sites

Prizren is one of the oldest cities in Kosovo. Here you will find the ancient fortress, Sinan Pasha Mosque and Our Lady of Ljeviš Serbian Orthodox Church.

Lots of Culture

Kosovo is full of culture and history! The capital city, Pristina, is a vibrant and developing city with great places to eat and some very interesting architecture.

Hardly Any Crowds

Kosovo is still not a busy destination for tourists. However, it is constantly increasing in popularity. For now, you can still visit tourist sites without the usual crowds, costs and scams throughout the year.

Enjoy the Local Food

The local food in Kosovo is not to be missed. It is hearty and delicious and won’t cost you a fortune! If you are vegetarian or vegan, you might find it a little more challenging. However, new places are opening all the time, especially in Pristina!

What to Avoid When Visiting Kosovo

As with almost everywhere you visit around the world, there are precautions to be taken. These events are very unlikely so do not let it put you off, but it’s always a good idea to be well prepared when travelling to an unfamiliar land. Here are some basic guidelines to keep in mind.

Political Rallies

It’s advisable to avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place and follow the instructions of local authorities. It is also wise to monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations.

Caution when Hiking

Always pay attention to signs indicating the possible presence of landmines and stay on paved roads. Make sure you avoid open fields, road shoulders and unmarked trails and report anything suspicious to local authorities.

You can check out our advice for hiking in the Balkans  HERE

We were approached a few times while waiting on a furgon (minibus). The taxi driver asked where we were going and advised that there are no more buses to our destination. But, guess what, he can take us for a small fee! A few minutes later, of course, the bus showed up. If you do decide to take a cab, always negotiate the price before you get in the car.

Driving in Kosovo

The most dangerous thing about Kosovo is the driving. If you are brave enough to hire a car you must take out full insurance and avoid busy areas. The roads in rural areas are sometimes no more than dirt tracks so plan your route carefully.

Organised crime networks

This is the most talked about safety risk in Kosovo. However, as a tourist you are very unlikely to be caught up is this activity and will therefore be perfectly safe.

The Kosovon Language

Just one last thing to consider… Many Kosovans in the cities speak a little English but it is useful to learn a few phrases in Albanian, as it is the most widely spoken language in the country. It is certainly not an easy language for English speakers but any attempt is greatly appreciated by the locals. Here are a few words to try out:

Hello  Tungjatjeta ( toon-jah-TYEH-tah )

Please  Ju lutem ( yoo LOO-tehm )

Thank you  Faleminderit ( fah-lehm-meen-DEH-reet )

Yes  Po ( poh )

No  Jo ( yoh )

Goodbye  Mirupafshim ( meer-oo-PAHF-sheem )

Is Kosovo safe – natural beauty

Yes, Kosovo is a safe country to visit. The people are warm and hospitable, even to foreigners, and will go out of their way to help you. This might seem suspicious to outsiders but don’t be put off, it is how things are done here. We always enjoy visiting and have never felt threatened (if not occasionally mildly irritated – you know who you are taxi drivers!). Keep the usual precautions in mind and you will meet incredible people, see spectacular sights and have a wonderful experience in Kosovo.

For more info, visit the Kosovo Tourist Board HERE

Where to go next

Ready for a trip to Kosovo? Why not start with historic Prizren ?

Final note: Things change in the Balkans all the time and there is not much information online in English. We would definitely advise checking with a local where possible. We found people to be really friendly and super helpful.

Have you visited Kosovo or anywhere else in the Balkans? Are you planning a trip and need more information? Drop a comment in the box, we’d love to hear from you!

Short on time? Why not save “Is Kosovo Safe to Visit in 2023? And What to Avoid” for later, by pinning the image below!

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Things to do in Kosovo – plus Solo Travel & Safety Travel Guide

There are so many wonderful things to do and places to visit in the underrated country of Kosovo! In this post, I’ll take you through my favourite places for sightseeing in Kosovo, alongside discussing if the country is safe to visit for solo travellers.

Please note that this blog post most likely contains affiliate links to products or services I use and love! If you click on the links, it means I get a little extra pocket money at no additional cost to you. This is what keeps my website ticking over – thank you!

If you’re already set on travelling to Kosovo and just want to know the best things to do, feel free to skip ahead to my Kosovo itinerary!

In November 2019, I spent four months solo backpacking The Balkans, including four days in Kosovo. It’s safe to say this small country impacted me significantly. From its rolling green countryside, the beautiful mosques (the majority of Kosovo inhabitants are Muslim) and kind locals, I only wish I had longer there.

Table of Contents

Introducing Kosovo

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, making it Europe’s newest country. Unfortunately, many people in Europe still only associate Kosovo with the Kosovo War, even though this occurred in the late 90s. Sadly, much of the Balkans was embroiled in conflict at some point during that decade following the breakup of Yugoslavia. This period led to a devastating loss of life and huge economic cost, which the Balkans are still coming back from today. However, this does not mean Kosovo is less safe or interesting to visit in 2020 than countries in Western Europe.

IS KOSOVO SAFE TO VISIT?

Personally, I felt incredibly safe in Kosovo as a solo traveller and had no issues travelling here. In particular, I found the locals to be exceptionally friendly. I mean… out of this world friendly – interested in speaking to me about my solo travels and answering my questions about their country. Often I was offered free coffee after my meals. Seriously, that happened like 5 times? Is that a thing haha? It was very friendly, either way.

Bear in mind, it can be impolite to ask about political issues unless the local person brings it up first. Be friendly and patient.

You will feel safe in the major cities, such as Pristina and Prizren. If you want to explore more remote parts of Kosovo, you can always arrange a tour or guide if you feel unsure.

THE WAR ENDED 20 YEARS AGO…

There are no contentious political issues at the time of writing that will affect your safety. American and English visitors will be particularly welcome due to the part Bill Clinton and Tony Blair played in easing the tensions during the Kosovo war.

In fact, if American royalty exists anywhere, it’s Kosovo – check out the Bill Clinton statue and giant posters of his face around the capital city Pristina. ‘Tonibler’ is also now a male given name in Kosovo, thanks to the former British prime minister’s role in ending this conflict.

At the time of writing, 5 EU countries still do not recognise Kosovo as a country, including Spain. This means citizens of Kosovo are considered to have weak passports and cannot move easily across Europe or elsewhere. It helps us appreciate our passport privilege, right?

Despite the downsides of being the world’s newest country, it is a beautiful and thriving place. Put preconceptions aside and show the brilliant locals there that we are interested in discovering more about what beautiful Kosovo is like today.

UK Government Guidelines on if Kosovo is safe to travel to…

‘Most visits to Kosovo are trouble-free.’

The general advice is that tourism to Kosovo is safe. There are no known issues in the popular tourist destinations Pristina, Peja and Prizren.

The Only Parts of Kosovo you might want to avoid:

NORTH KOSOVO: ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to the municipalities of Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica.

Be cautious and avoid public gatherings, particularly around the Austerlitz Bridge area which separates Mitrovica north and south.’

CITIES DURING PROTESTS: ‘Protests have the potential to turn violent, you should take care if you see large crowds gathering during heightened political tensions in the city. (Though this largely still relates to Northern Kosovo)

People still visit these areas and enjoy their time here, including the city of Mitrovica, so don’t let this put you off. If you’re visiting these areas, check the information first with a local and plan your itinerary properly. Be particularly careful as a solo traveller when visiting Northern Kosovo.

Check current safety advice for Kosovo: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kosovo

Ah, deep breaths. Remember, many, many countries have warnings for sections of the country. It’s definitely something to bear in mind, but it’s far from an indication of danger. We hear about safety issues in Thailand, and tourists still visit in droves, so it’s a real shame if people are unfairly negatively biased towards Kosovo. There’s been no news of tourism issues here so far.

I found Kosovo safer to travel around than much of Southeast Asia , though partly as I was left alone due to blending in. Of course, this is the privilege of travelling as a white European backpacker.

As always, keep your wits about you and your belongings safe.

You still cannot enter Serbia from Kosovo

It’s possible to travel from Serbia into Kosovo and back into Serbia again.

However, you cannot enter Serbia from Kosovo if you entered Kosovo from anywhere but Serbia itself. This is because Serbia does not yet recognise Kosovo’s independence.

You’ll have no issues entering Kosovo itself from any country and there are absolutely no issues exiting Kosovo other than into Serbia.

Do you need a visa to enter Kosovo?

Many countries, such as the UK, EU and Australia, are not required to have a visa to enter Kosovo.

It is worth checking your visa requirements in advance.

Do you need travel insurance to travel to Kosovo?

Absolutely. Always travelling with insurance is in your best interest.

Solo Female Travel in Kosovo and The Balkans

I felt very safe as a solo traveller in The Balkans. I didn’t feel any different here than travelling solo in countries in Western Europe, such as Portugal. However, it is worth noting I’m a very experienced solo traveller.

It is trickier to book transport in Kosovo than, for example, the popular Southeast Asia route (Thailand, Vietnam etc) and Western Europe. But… it’s still pretty simple. If you’re only travelling between Pristina, Prizren and Peja (and also Gjokova), you don’t have to worry about it. Despite the small challenges, many people speak English and will help you if you get stuck. It’s unlikely you’ll have any trouble in Kosovo, and should expect a fun and fascinating journey.

If you’re nervous, consider travelling in a high or shoulder season. I travelled in the off-season, which meant it was trickier than usual, and I didn’t meet many other tourists. Often accommodations were eerily quiet—more info about travelling the Balkans in the off-season here.

If you are a first-time solo traveller, consider visiting Croatia or Slovenia as your entry point into The Balkans . They are typically more tourism-friendly and easier to travel around, easing you into solo travel . I was very comfortable throughout the Balkans but found Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro were more suited for tourism than Kosovo.

Check accommodation reviews beforehand for words like ‘helpful host’. Having an English-speaking host who will answer all your questions is seriously the best way to keep your mind at rest as a solo traveller.

Check out my list of safety tips if you’re a newbie solo traveller: 18 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travellers – solo travel series

Friendly hostels for solo travellers:

Peja – Central Hostel

Just 2 euros per night for a dorm room in the off-season and an incredibly friendly host. It also has a cafe downstairs with good coffee and a kettle outside the dorm room to make tea.

Prizren – Hostel Han

A popular and social hostel with twin rooms from only 12.50 euros, dorms from 7.6 euros. It was very chilled here in the off-season.

Prizren Fortress from below (left) and the views from Prizren Fortress

What’s the best way to get around Kosovo?

I took what seemed to be the standard route around Kosovo. This also meant I felt very safe as these buses always had other passengers, albeit locals rather than backpackers. The bus routes were incredibly easy to book tickets for – just head to the bus station beforehand or pay on the bus.

Ask your accommodation to check timetables for you as the main ticket website does not operate in English.

Buses around Kosovo only cost me 3 or 4 euros each time. Journeys took between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

The buses in Kosovo – and around The Balkans in general – are incredibly comfortable with modern designs. You can stow your luggage below.

If you’re travelling by car, of course, you can be much more flexible with your itinerary!

What are the best things to do in Kosovo?

Visit pristina.

Pristina is the exciting new capital of Kosovo. As a university city, it’s full of surprisingly trendy cafes and amazing vegetarian eateries (yas!) alongside quirky sights and activities. It is a fun and friendly city to visit as a solo traveller too, and one of many unique things to do in the Western Balkans .

Things to do in Pristina include:

• Visit the Newborn Monument (left), which was unveiled in February 2008, the day Kosovo claimed independence from Serbia
• See the ‘world’s ugliest building’ (middle) – The National Library of Kosovo
• Visit the Kosovo National Art Gallery or the National Theatre of Kosovo

• spot the cat street art (right, below)
• see the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa
• visit a trendy cafe such as Half&Half Cafe (left) which had the friendliest staff
• See the Bill Clinton statue

VISIT PEJA (and Rugova Mountains)

After visiting Pristina, I took the bus to Peja. I intended to visit the Rugova Mountains from here, but as it was off-season and I was feeling ill, I decided to visit the nearby monastery instead.

Popular hikes near Peja (The Rugova Valley)

• Lake Liqenat (half day)
• Hasani Peak (half day)
• Via Ferrata (the adventure option), zip-lining or rock-climbing
• Hajla Peak (7-8 hour hike)

Getting to the Lake Liqenat hike on public transport:

This is a popular hike from Peja as it’s fairly easy to access.

The only bus to the Lake Liqenat hike was at 7am from Peja Bus Station (get off at Kuqishtë, on the bus is heading towards Boge). The bus back is at 3pm. I doubted it would take me this long to do the hike so, since it was off-season, I didn’t fancy waiting alone. Not out of feeling unsafe as a solo traveller but rather due to potential boredom.

If you are taking this route, pin Kuqishtë to your google maps, so you know where to get off. It is also worth pinning ‘Te Liqini’ to your map, which is a restaurant. The hike starts from behind this restaurant.

If you’re travelling solo, check the details with your accommodation before you go.

You could also arrange a cheap taxi.

Go hiking with a guide (a nice option for solo travellers and groups alike):

You could also contact top-rated tour group bnadventure.com for a guided hike, taking the pressure of using public transport. They have many options available and appear committed to providing a great experience for their guests.

The only downside is that this costs 120-150 euros which feels very expensive when you’re on a budget but isn’t so bad if you’re a couple.

More things to do in Peja:

While in Peja itself, be sure to check out the Old Bazaar.

However, the best thing to do in Peja is to visit the Patriarchate of Peć, which you can walk to from the town centre in under 30 minutes. Alternatively, take a taxi.

This 13th-century monastery is now classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s still in use today, and you will see the nuns going about their work.

TIP: Serbian monasteries in Kosovo are still guarded. You may need to take your passport to enter, as I did when visiting the Patriarchate of Peć. If you forget your passport, you won’t be able to enter. Some travellers have noted they felt uncomfortable speaking to the police forces. Still, I personally had a very positive experience with a welcoming man and a cute dog at the entrance.

VISIT PRIZREN

Often referred to as Kosovo’s ‘cultural capital’, the centre of Prizren was bustling even in the off-season in its old town centre. Complete with cobbled streets and the stunning architecture of its old mosques, Prizren was the most beautiful of the three places I visited. (Though quirky, Pristina remains my favourite!)

Things to do in Prizren:

• Walk up to Prizren Fortress and enjoy the view (on the right)
• Visit Sinan Pasha Mosque
• Walk over the old stone bridge (left) and walk through the old town
• See Our Lady of Ljevis (a beautiful cathedral)
• Albanian League of Prizren Museum

Where else did I travel in The Balkans?

One week Montenegro Itinerary

How to spend one or two days in Sarajevo

5 days in North Macedonia

The Balkans Guide. What to know before you go.

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Hi, I'm Cassie, and I've been solo travelling the globe since May 2018. In this time, I've backpacked around Southeast Asia, Japan and The Balkans, alongside living in New Zealand and Australia. Current location? Mexico

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12 comments.

thanks so much for the tips! I would love to go back and spend more time in Kosovo!

hey great post, Next time in kosovo you have to lass Ferizaj and Kacanik has amazing landscapes towards macedonia border. To the left is Brezovica mountains, im still left speechless after going in 2018 and 2019. Shtima about 10kms west km Ferizaj has an underground tunnel which is 16 degrees all year round (shpella e gadimes). Theres many more to add, but i think you need 2 weeks in kosovo

This is a brilliant story Alan. Thanks so much for sharing it with me! Kosovo really is a wonderful country and I didn’t think I could rate the people there any more than I already did!

I went to Pristina for the weekend at about the same time last November, to watch the England football match against Kosovo, and stayed at a hostel in the centre for two nights. I have been watching England away for some 20 years and can confirm that this was one of the friendliest places I have ever visited. On the Sunday I went to church at the Mother Theresa Cathedral which you show in your picture.

I have a good story about how I left, which was by train to Skopje. Supposedly a train runs once a day from Pristina to Skopje at 7.10 am. The “train” consists of an old Norwegian locomotive pulling an old German coach. Although the timetable says that it goes to Skopje, in fact it only goes to the Macedonian border from where you have to take a taxi to Skopje. The train ticket cost Euros 2.30 and the taxi 10 Euros, so not expensive. The station master was late to open up and apologised for being late. At 6.45 a.m. I was the only passenger waiting, and he told me to wait in the cafe next door. I told him it did not open till 7.00 at which point he got out two bottles of vodka from a fridge in his office, one of Finlandia and one which looked home made and had what looked like wood chippings in it. He poured me half a mugful of Finlandia and himself the same of the wood chippings. I asked him how they were and he poured me half a mugful of that (very rough). So I left Pristina very happy – It’s that kind of place

thanks so much!

Definitely much less developed which I guess goes hand in hand with low cost. It’s amazing to see just how much the tourism industry is changing across the Balkans!

Prizren is very beautiful! The whole region is fascinating 🙂

thanks Em, hope the tips come in handy!

This is great – I’m planning to backpack the Balkans in the summer! Thanks!

Never thought of visiting Kosovo but it definitely looks like an amazing underrated destination! I think I would really love to explore Prizren! It looks like a city with lots of history!

It is nice to know that the travel cost there is so low. According to the pictures, the development of the country is way behind the Croatia. Maybe you are right, it is better to enter the country from Croatia. We will see Bosnia in the coming summer when we will stay in Croatia for two weeks. Balkan has been popular in the recent years in tourist industry.

it certainly is an interesting country to visit. Thanks for sharing it

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Europe's newest country, Kosovo is a fascinating land at the heart of the Balkans rewarding visitors with welcoming smiles, charming mountain towns, incredible hiking opportunities and 13th-century domed Serbian monasteries brushed in medieval art – and that's just for starters.

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Kosovo and beyond

Wander-Lush

Perfect Kosovo Itinerary for 7-10 Days of Travel

This 7-10 day Kosovo itinerary by public transport covers all the best things to do in Kosovo, including Pristina and Prizren, the biggest bazaar in Kosovo, all four UNESCO Medieval Monuments, hiking in Kosovo, and much more.

Whenever someone asks me what my favourite place in the Balkans is, I always include Kosovo among my top three. After travelling the entire region overland for 6 months, Europe’s youngest nation stands out for so many reasons.

Kosovo was the country I knew nothing about and had zero expectations for. I was blown away by the cosmopolitan cities, charming old towns, beautiful nature, delicious cuisine – and above all the generosity and warmth of the people.

Kosovo is – in my experience – affordable, safe, and extremely easy to navigate relying only on public transport (intercity buses).

I spent a total of 2 weeks in Kosovo. The itinerary presented here focuses mostly on the western side of the country and is a condensed version of the exact route my husband and I followed.

Though I recommend lingering for as long as possible and travelling slowly, you can see the best the country has to offer in terms of history, culture, cities and nature in 7-10 days.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Where should you start your Kosovo itinerary?

Figuring out your entry and exit points is an important part of planning your travels in Kosovo . As you probably know, entering from Serbia and exiting through a neighbouring country (or vice versa) can cause issues, either at the border or in the future.

Having already visited Serbia earlier in our trip, we planned our route to purposefully avoid the border zones. We arrived in Prizren from Ulcinj in Montenegro (by way of northern Albania ) and left to Skopje from Pristina. We had absolutely no issues.

Good to know: Kosovo has good relations with neighbouring Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia, thus overland travel between these countries is no problem. Bus connections between the four countries are plentiful, especially in the summer months when domestic tourism is at its peak.

Our route was as follows: Prizren – Gjakova – Peja – Pristina. If you plan to fly into Kosovo’s international airport in Pristina or you prefer to start your overland travels in the capital, then you can easily flip the script and do this itinerary in reverse.

For advice about the borders and entry/exit procedures, I recommend consulting an official source. The UK travel advisory does a good job of breaking things down.

Kosovo itinerary overview

This itinerary for Kosovo is based on the exact route we followed through the country, shortened and refined a little to fit into 10 days.

You could trim it down further to 7 days – but anything less than a week in Kosovo is pushing it in my opinion. Kosovo is small and easy to get around, but there is a lot to do and you almost always wind up spending longer than planned in each place (those outdoor cafes will do that to you).

Days 1-2: Prizren Days 3-4: Gjakova Days 5-7: Dečani, Peja & Rugova Gorge Days 8-10: Pristina & Gračanica

Where we stayed in Kosovo

Here is a quick list of our accommodations in Kosovo. You’ll find more suggestions for a range of budgets under each section in the itinerary that follows.

• Prizren: Hotel Denis , a budget-friendly but extremely comfortable hotel with kind staff and a free breakfast. → Check prices & availability on Agoda .
• Gjakova: Kulla Dula , the best and only place to stay in Gjakova! Hosted by a lovely family in their 200-year-old home. → Check prices & availability on Booking.com .
• Peja: Stone Bridge , clean and tidy rooms in the centre of the city. → Check prices & availability on Booking.com .
• Pristina: We stayed at an Airbnb in Pristina. I highly recommend you stay at Hotel Gračanica , a gorgeous social enterprise (and Kosovo’s first boutique hotel) 20 minutes outside the centre, near the monastery. → Check prices & availability on Booking.com .

Kick things off in Prizren, Kosovo’s cultural heartland

• Recommended time to spend in Prizren: 2-3 nights

Most people start their Kosovo trip in Pristina. Because of transport logistics, we ended up visiting Prizren first – and I think that worked out for the best.

Prizren is compact and completely charming. It’s the ideal place to get a feel for everyday life in Kosovo. By day, wander the cobbled streets and soak up the legendary cafe culture as the call to prayer rings out from the Sinan Pasha Mosque. In the evening, do as the locals do and walk up for a sweeping sunset view from the castle.

This being the traditional cultural and intellectual capital of Kosovo, you can find some of the country’s finest museums and monuments in Prizren. That includes Our Lady of Ljeviš (Bogorodica Ljeviška or Kisha e Shën Premtës), one of the four edifices that make up the UNESCO-protected Medieval Monuments in Kosovo . 

Built in the 14th century, the church was heavily damaged in 2004 during riots. Today it remains fenced off with barbed wire and monitored by a security guard.

To go inside, you’ll need to make an appointment in advance with the priest. Otherwise you can view the church from outside or better still from atop the clock tower inside the nearby Archaeological Museum.

→ For more great things to do in Prizren, see my Prizren city guide and video .

Where to stay in Prizren

• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Denis is located close to the bus station and walking distance to the centre of town. Rooms are simple but tastefully decorated, and most come with a small balcony. Breakfast at the cafe downstairs is included in the room rate. Staff are incredibly hospitable and helpful.
• Luxury hotel: Hotel Tiffany is located in a historic building in the centre of town and features an onsite restaurant.
• Budget hostel: Driza’s House is a family run hostel-style accommodation set in a local home.

Continue to Gjakova, the most beautiful place in Kosovo

• Recommended time to spend in Gjakova: 2 nights

Gjakova is my favourite place in Kosovo. A small city north of Prizren, it centres on an atmospheric Grand Bazaar (Çarshia e Vjetër e Gjakovës) – one of the oldest and largest in the entire region, and the longest in Kosovo today.

A kilometre of delightful little wooden shops accommodates woodworkers, hatters, wedding tailors and antique vendors. Artisans welcome you inside to see how Gjakova’s specialty craft, brightly painted baby cradles called Djepaxhiu , are made.

Gjakova is laid back and gently paced – the ideal spot to slow down for a couple of days. Visit the beautiful 16th century Hadum Mosque and the catholic church, tour the small but excellent Ethnographic Museum, climb the hill for a view, and see how many of the cafes and bars along the vibrant pedestrian street you can fit in.

→ For more things to do, see my detailed guide to Gjakova .

Where to stay in Gjakova

• Guesthouse: Kulla Dula is the best place we stayed in Kosovo. The family are incredibly kind and the heritage house unbelievably beautiful.
• Boutique hotel: Hotel Çarshia e Jupave is a lovely hotel-restaurant complex set in restored Ottoman-style houses.

How to get to Gjakova from Prizren

Buses depart from Prizren every 30 minutes. The journey to Gjakova takes just over an hour and the fare is €2.50.

Top tip: The Gjirafa website is a great resource for checking bus routes and schedules. It’s usually pretty accurate in my experience, but it pays to double-check departures on the ground before you travel. The website also works for Albania.

Make a detour to visit Dečani Monastery

Located roughly halfway between Gjakova and Peja, Dečani Monastery (Visoki Dečani Monastery or Manastiri i Deçanit) is the second UNESCO monument to feature on this Kosovo itinerary.

From a visitor’s perspective, this is definitely the most intense and intimidating of the quartet as it’s the only one still guarded by KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Despite this, we felt completely safe during our visit.

As you approach on foot or by road from the town of Desan, you encounter a traffic barrier and watch tower. The entrance to the monastery is heavily guarded; we had to hand our bags over and register with our passports to enter inside.

Visoki Dečani was founded in the 14th century and is decorated with lavish frescoes. Honestly though it’s the setting that I found most impressive – the monastery is nestled in greenery at the foot of the Accursed Mountains against a backdrop of majestic forest.

Recently Dečani was named as one of the seven most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe .

How to get to Dečani Monastery

It’s possible to visit Visoki Dečani from either Gjakova or Peja. If you’re travelling between the two cities and your luggage is light enough, you can alight the bus early in Desan en route.

We chose to go from Peja as it’s slightly closer. Buses that stop in Desan depart every 15 minutes. The journey time is 20 minutes and the fare is €1.

Head north to Peja, the gateway to Rugova Gorge

• Recommended time to spend in Peja: 2 nights

Located in the north-western corner of Kosovo close to the Montenegrin border, Peja (Pejë or Peć) is a small city in the foothills of the Accursed Mountains. If you want to go hiking in Kosovo, you’ll cross paths with Peja at some point – this is the portal to Rugova Gorge and the country’s best mountain trails.

Peja city has a long and fascinating history, too. In 1346 it became the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church. A century earlier, the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć (the third UNESCO World Heritage Site) was built in the hills behind the city.

Up to 80% of the buildings in downtown Peja were destroyed in the war. The Old Bazaar and pedestrianised streets have since been rehabilitated. Alongside Ottoman-style heritage architecture you’ll see some interesting Brutalist facades and Socialist-style apartment blocks, giving the city a very distinct skyline.

In spring, we happened upon beautiful colours in the city’s parks. The thing I loved most about Peja was the inescapable backdrop of the Prokletije mountains that greets you at every turn. The city is so close to the alps, you really feel totally embraced by the peaks.

Rugova Valley (Gryka e Rugovës) is easily accessible from Peja by foot or taxi. Stretching back 25m into the mountains, it’s one of the longest and deepest canyons in Europe. The whole area behind Peja is a lush landscape of waterfalls, cliffs and caves – even just a short walk here will leave you feeling refreshed.

Inside the park you’ll find hiking routes that follow old mule trails, water sports in spring and summer, and even ziplining . Never in a million years did I think I would go ziplining in Kosovo – but hey, it happened and it was fun!

Where to stay in Peja

• Mid-range hotel: Stone Bridge offers clean and tidy rooms in the centre of the city, walking distance from the Old Bazaar. The owners are friendly and extremely helpful.
• Mid-range hotel: Hotel Camp Karagaq is set inside a beautiful house on the edge of the park, just south from the Old Bazaar.
• Budget hostel: Central Hostel offers both dorms and private doubles and is a popular choice among backpackers.

How to get to Peja from Gjakova

Buses to Peja depart from Gjakova’s bus station every 15 minutes or so. The trip takes 45 minutes and the fare is €2.50. The bus stops in Desan (for Visoki Dečani) along the way.

Visit the Patriarchate of Peć

Located behind Peja, walking distance from the centre, the Patriarchate of Peć (Patrikana e Pejës) is easy to visit on the way into Rugova Canyon. The walk up is extremely pleasant and well worth doing even if you have limited time in Peja.

Built in the 13th century, this monastery became the seat of the Serbian Patriarchs and still enjoys an immensely important status today. The complex is vast and fascinating, with three interconnected churches, a trio of cupolas and a set of larger-than-life murals.

The russet-coloured facade with geometric motifs and the abstract shapes of the interior frescoes set it apart from the other monasteries in Kosovo.

For me, this was the most enjoyable of the four UNESCO monasteries by far. The 18-chapter audio tour (available for €2) is very well done.

Finish your Kosovo travels in Pristina, the cosmopolitan capital

• Recommended time to spend in Prishtina: 2-3 nights

End on a buzz with a few days in Kosovo’s biggest city, Pristina (Prishtina). Here, the cafe culture reaches its pinnacle. Matched with a world-famous nightlife scene, you’ll end up spending all your leftover money on macchiatos and craft beer.

This being Kosovo’s capital, Pristina has its fair share of wonderful museums and monuments too. The most iconic is the Newborn Monument, which changes its face every year and has become a symbol of Kosovo, and the National Library, famously dubbed the ‘world’s ugliest building’.

Other highlights include the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa, half a dozen dazzling historic mosques, and the open-air produce market.

Don’t miss the ride to the top of the cathedral tower to observe Europe’s youngest capital from above.

→ For more ideas, see my guide to the best things to do in Pristina .

Where to stay in Pristina

• Boutique hotel: Hotel Gračanica is an innovative socially-minded property with a gorgeous pool and sublime design. It’s located 20 minutes outside Pristina, close to Gračanica Monastery.
• Mid-range hotel: City Inn is a trendy, comfortable hotel centrally located 300 metres from the Skanderbeg Statue.
• Budget hostel: Prishtina Center Hostel offers a range of dorms, a shared kitchen and a lovely outdoor terrace.

How to get to Pristina from Peja

Buses depart from Peja bus station roughly every 20 minutes. The journey time is 1.5 hours and the fare is €5.

Side trip to Gračanica Monastery

A short bus ride from Pristina, Gračanica Monastery (Manastir Gračanica or Manastiri i Graçanicës) is the final UNESCO Monument in Kosovo. It has the most laid-back feel of all four – perhaps because there were several families visiting while we were there.

Interestingly, you can find a replica of Gračanica in Trebinje in Bosnia and Herzegovina .

Gračanica is a Serb majority community. While you’re there, drop in to visit a unique business that celebrates Kosovo’s diversity: Hotel Gračanica . This is one of the only venues in the country that employs Serbian, Kosovar and Roma people in upper management positions.

As well as having a great story and mission behind it, it must be said that the design and architecture here are really something. Walk-ins are welcome for lunch or dinner at the restaurant – a great option if you’re staying in Pristina and just visiting the area for the day.

How to get to Gračanica

Buses bound for Gjilan depart every 30 minutes from Pristina bus station and stop at Gračanica along the way. The journey is 20 minutes and the fare is €1.

More time? Other great places to visit in Kosovo

This small city in south-eastern Kosovo (roughly an hour from Pristina by road) is famed for its beautiful architecture, local cuisine and bustling Sunday market. Learn more about Gjilan here .

An hour north of Pristina, Mitrovica or Kosovska Mitrovica as it’s sometimes referred to is a ‘divided city’, split in half by a river and shared between Kosovo and Serbia. Aside from the heavily guarded bridge, you’ll likely find it feels a lot like other cities in the region, with vibrant markets, cafes and a plurality of religious monuments.

Ferizaj (Uroshevac)

Known for being a bastion of religious tolerance, Ferizaj is defined by two landmarks: The Saint Uroš Cathedral and the Madhe Mosque, which face each other across a beautiful green square.

The city is under an hour from Pristina by road on the way to the North Macedonian border.

Kosovo travel FAQ

Is kosovo safe for tourists.

As a child of the 90s, my perceptions of Kosovo have been mostly negative for my entire life, shaped by images of the Kosovo War and refugee crisis.

I can only speak to my experience (which was overwhelmingly positive), but hand on heart: Kosovar people are some of the loveliest we met anywhere in the Balkans. There was always someone willing to go out of their way to help us no matter what situation we got ourselves into. We never once felt threatened or unsafe.

Hospitality is a huge part of Kosovo culture, just as it is in Albania . My overall impression was that people were extremely excited and grateful to see foreign tourists enjoying their cities and learning about their history.

Of course you still need to exercise common sense and caution just as you would in any other country. Read up on the latest travel advice before you go, and be mindful of your personal safety when visiting areas where ethnic tensions are still high, such as the UNESCO monasteries (especially Dečani) and Mitrovica.

Find more tips for staying safe in Kosovo – and read the perspectives of other travellers – in this guide by my friend Kami .

Is Kosovo expensive? Our travel costs

The official currency in Kosovo is the Euro. I was concerned this would make travel more expensive, but in the end Kosovo still turned out to be a very affordable destination.

We stayed in mid-range hotels and at one Airbnb. Our total accommodation costs were €332.23 or €25.50/night. On top of that, we spent a total of €444 on food, activities and transport for two people for 13 days.

Our Kosovo expenses:

• Accommodation: €332.23
• Restaurant meals: €186.80
• Snacks & drinks: €49.63
• Groceries: €19.09
• Ground transportation: €37.00
• Tickets & activities: €10.00
• Souvenirs: €35.20
• Miscellaneous: €106.40

Should you hire a car in Kosovo?

Bus travel is reliable and affordable in Kosovo. If you’re on a tighter timeline or you want greater flexibility, you might consider hiring a car and self-driving.

I recommend using Discover Cars to search for a budget-friendly rental in Pristina. Prices start from just €8/day.

If you’re in need of inspiration, check out this round-up of Balkan road trip itineraries , including driving routes in Kosovo.

→  Find a rental on Discover Cars .

Kosovo packing list

• A good quality backpack. If you plan on moving around Kosovo by bus, it’s a good idea to travel light. I recommend using an anti-theft backpack for your day pack.
• A scarf (women). A lightweight cotton scarf is my number one travel essential. In Kosovo, it will come in handy for covering your hair when entering a mosque or monastery. This neutral travel scarf goes with anything and it even has a hidden pocket.
• Good walking shoes. Kosovo’s cities are all pedestrian friendly. Comfy shoes are essential – I love these ones for women, while my partner lives in these waterproof shoes .
• A reusable water bottle. I always travel with a S’Well water bottle .
• Biodegradable wet wipes. Try this convenient travel pack .
• Entertainment for bus journeys. If you don’t suffer from motion sickness, an e-reader is great for passing the time on road journeys. If you have a travel buddy, pick up a headphone splitter – probably my favourite travel gadget of all time – so you can share a screen or a podcast.

Have you travelled to Kosovo? Do you have any extra recommendations to share or places I should visit next time around? If you have any questions about your own Kosovo itinerary, please leave them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help out.

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8 Incidents in 2 Weeks: What’s Going on With United’s Planes?

While no one was injured, most of the mishaps required emergency landings or diversions. One safety expert said the incidents were not the result of “systemic problems.”

By Christine Chung

An engine fire sparked by plastic packaging wrap , a tire lost shortly after takeoff and a plane veering off the runway : These are among the eight incidents that have occurred over the past two weeks on flights operated by United Airlines. While no injuries — or worse — have been reported, the mishaps have generated headlines and stoked rising anxiety about aviation safety among federal officials and passengers alike.

All of the incidents happened on flights that took off from or were headed to airports in the United States, and five involved airplanes made by Boeing, a manufacturer already under intense scrutiny. In January, a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

United, one of the world’s largest airlines, flies aircraft manufactured mainly by Boeing and Airbus. In an email United began sending to customers on Monday, the company’s chief executive, Scott Kirby, wrote that while the recent incidents were unrelated, they were “reminders of the importance of safety.”

“I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” he continued, adding that every case was being reviewed by the airline and would influence its safety training and procedures.

Here’s what travelers should know about the latest in airplane woes.

What exactly happened on or to the planes?

Most of the incidents reported in the last two weeks required emergency landings or diversions.

March 4: A Boeing 737-900 departing from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston returned to the airport to make an emergency landing after one of the plane engines ingested and burned plastic wrap .

March 7: A Boeing 777 leaving San Francisco for Osaka, Japan, made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after the aircraft lost a tire .

March 8: A Boeing 737 Max 8 veered off the runway upon landing at George Bush Airport in Houston and tilted onto the grass .

Later that day, a flight leaving San Francisco for Mexico City was diverted to Los Angeles after the Airbus A320 experienced issues with its hydraulic system.

March 9: An Airbus A320 heading to Salt Lake City turned back to Chicago O’Hare International Airport after it reported maintenance issues .

March 11: A Boeing 777, flying from Sydney, Australia , to San Francisco, turned back after takeoff because the plane had a hydraulic leak.

March 14: An Airbus A320 that departed from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had a hydraulic leak shortly before it landed in its scheduled destination, San Francisco.

Later that day, a Boeing 737-800 that took off from San Francisco landed at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport in Oregon missing an external panel .

Are the recent issues typical, or cause for concern?

The mishaps were not the result of “systemic problems,” said Robert Sumwalt, a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board who now heads a new aviation safety center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“Some of these issues are things that happen occasionally, but often don’t get reported in media,” Mr. Sumwalt said, though he emphasized that none were acceptable.

Kyra Dempsey, who writes about aviation accidents in a blog called Admiral Cloudberg, said that United’s recent issues were being “falsely conflated with Boeing’s troubles.”

“While it’s bad luck that United had so many incidents in such a short period, in general such incidents happen frequently around the world and they aren’t on the rise overall,” Ms. Dempsey said.

How has United responded?

Mr. Kirby’s 270-word message to United customers, including to members of the airline’s frequent flier program, started to be sent on Monday morning, said Josh Freed, a spokesman for United.

Starting in May, United pilots will have an extra day of in-person training, a change that was already planned before the incidents, Mr. Kirby wrote. The airline will also use a “centralized training curriculum for our new hire maintenance technicians” and will dedicate additional resources to the carrier’s supply chain.

What government agencies oversee these issues, and how are they responding?

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates the country’s aviation system and investigates safety incidents on U.S. airlines, while the N.T.S.B. investigates the causes of accidents, collisions and crashes involving planes flown by U.S. carriers, in addition to other accidents involving commercial and mass transit operators. Both agencies have discretion on what they investigate, Mr. Sumwalt said.

Currently, the N.T.S.B. is investigating the incident that occurred on March 8 in Houston, when the plane veered off the runway, an agency spokesperson said. The N.T.S.B. is also looking into a Feb. 10 Los Angeles-to-Newark flight , operated by United, that experienced severe turbulence, leading to injuries among more than a dozen passengers. (The Boeing 777 landed normally, but the flight was met by medical personnel.)

Safety experts said some issues don’t necessarily rise to the level of an investigation by either agency.

For example, partial loss of some of an airplane’s multiple hydraulics systems is common, said Michael McCormick, an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a former F.A.A. control tower operator. The F.A.A. may or may not get involved for this kind of issue, unless there’s a pattern, Mr. Sumwalt said.

The January episode involving the blown door plug aboard the Alaska Airlines jet is under investigation by the N.T.S.B. and the Justice Department.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Christine Chung is a Times reporter covering airlines and consumer travel. More about Christine Chung

Boeing: A Company in Turmoil

Boeing is weathering a particularly difficult period: two fatal crashes, a loose panel that blew out during a flight, quality concerns and production slowdowns..

‘Shortcuts Everywhere’: Quality issues have plagued Boeing  even after two fatal crashes. Many employees blame the company’s focus on increasing production speed .

A Major Reshuffle : Boeing said that it was overhauling its leadership  amid its most significant safety crisis in years, announcing sweeping changes that included the departure of its chief executive, Dave Calhoun , at the end of the year.

United’s Planes : An engine fire sparked by plastic packaging wrap, a tire lost shortly after takeoff and a plane veering off the runway: These are among several recent incidents that have occurred  on Boeing flights operated by United Airlines.

Alaska Airlines Flight 1282: After a section of a plane blew out  10 minutes after it took off , there was increased scrutiny  on the plane’s manufacturer: Boeing . The Justice Department has since launched a criminal investigation .

Quality Control Issues: An audit that was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration after the Alaska Airlines incident found dozens of problems  throughout Boeing’s manufacturing process and one of its key suppliers.

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AAA Newsroom

Automotive, Travel, and Traffic Safety Information

Don’t Get April Fooled by Wobbling Gas Prices

By: andrew gross & devin gladden.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28, 2024)—After an early spring surge, the national average for a gallon of gas spent the past week drifting up and down by a fraction of a cent before settling a penny higher at $3.53. But the break may be temporary, as gas pump prices will likely resume a spring increase.

“Uncertainty of the impact of Ukraine’s targeting of Russia’s oil infrastructure likely spiked oil prices recently,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But those concerns have abated somewhat for now, and gas prices are settling into a pattern similar to last year when the usual seasonal increase was slow and steady.”

For the complete report, including the latest EIA data and oil market dynamics, please visit  https://gasprices.aaa.com/dont-get-april-fooled-by-wobbling-gas-prices/

What will traffic and travel look like in Lower Hudson Valley for the partial eclipse?

Police and emergency services across the state are ready to increase safety measures as hundreds of people prepare to travel throughout the state to catch a glimpse of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8.

The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in 2017, cities and states in the path of totality experienced major traffic gridlock. The path of totality for this eclipse doesn't lie here in the Lower Hudson Valley, but the risk of major traffic problems and other emergencies are still high as many major roadways pass through the area.

Major highways like I-95 and I-87 are heavily traveled interstate routes that could be used for travel to upstate and western New York. Other routes to watch out for include the Palisades Interstate Parkway that runs through Rockland County and the Saw Mill River Parkway that runs through Westchester County.

More: A solar eclipse is coming to New York. Here's what you need to know

Eclipse guidance in New York State

This year, Gov. Kathy Hochul says extra first responders will be mobilized across the state as travelers make their way up to Western New York.

"We saw from the last experience many years ago that there were a lot of traffic jams and people running out of gas. We're not going to let that happen in New York because we're New Yorkers and we'll be prepared," Hochul said.

Kathryn Garcia, Director of State Operations, said at a press conference that an inter-agency taskforce was created to solve all sort of problems from traffic to cell service.

"If you are planning on traveling to one of these locations, we cannot stress enough: leave lots of time. We anticipate that there will be hundreds of thousands of visitors," Garcia said. "Not only are we expecting all of these visitors, but the timing of the eclipse in the late afternoon overlaps with our everyday rush hour. This is a recipe for severe congestion."

A spokesperson for the New York State Thruway Authority said the organization plans to mobilize more staff as it anticipates higher traffic volumes on the Thruway in the days before and after the eclipse.

"We will have increased staffing and patrols for our maintenance and traffic crews for the weekend leading into the eclipse and continuing through the event to April 9. Thruway Authority representatives will be present in regional operational centers monitoring the event," he said. "We've been working closely with our partners at New York State Troop T to ensure a safe event for all."

The Thruway Authority said construction and temporary lane closures throughout the thruway system will be suspended to allow traffic to flow. Tow garages and HELP trucks will be mobilized to clear any disabled vehicles.

What will it be like in the Hudson Valley that day?

Eclipse chaser and science educator Charles Fulco said that while the Lower Hudson Valley probably won't experience the gridlock expected near Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, drivers tend to stop on the road and pull over on shoulders to catch a glimpse of the celestial event.

"That's exactly what happened in every city I've ever been to for an eclipse," Fulco said. "But down in Westchester, I don't think there's any major cause for concern. A darkening is going to happen slowly and gradually. It's not even going to be dark, it's going to be dim."

The Thruway Authority said vehicles are not allowed to park on the shoulder of the highway unless it's an emergency.

Westchester and Rockland County police departments said they will also be partnering with New York State Police to monitor the major highways in the area for road emergencies.

However, for local aspiring astronomers that are eager to see the main event in the path of totality, Fulco suggests staying off the roads entirely and taking public transportation instead.

Also: How to get a pair of solar eclipse glasses from Warby Parker's Westchester eyewear store

What will public transportation look like ahead of the eclipse?

"You definitely want to leave a few days before the eclipse to beat the traffic, but if you want to take a day trip, using Amtrak is your best bet," Fulco said.

Amtrak offers train rides through its Empire Service and Maple Leaf lines out of Penn Station and the Croton-Harmon and Stamford Metro North stations. Service is available to Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, all cities on the path of totality.

Fulco said for those looking for a day trip, the 7:15 a.m. train out of Penn Station in Manhattan or the 8:03 train out of Croton-Harmon station to Syracuse are travelers only options.

"These trains will get you into Syracuse a few hours before totality so you have time to find a good spot," he said. "Although, you can really see an eclipse from anywhere as long as the sun isn't blocked, so you can even try to catch it from the train station. If you miss either of these trains, you'll be on the train while the eclipse is happening and you'll totally miss it," Fulco said.

Tips for driving to an eclipse spot

The Governor's Office and the Thruway Authority are offering some tips to commuters for the safest ride possible:

• Come early, stay late
• Be patient and expect traffic congestion and delays
• Be prepared for delays by traveling with water, food, medications, full tank of gas, etc. 
• Do not pull over on the side of roads or highways
• Visit NY 511 for real time traffic alerts.

The Thruway Authority said parking at service areas, text stops and Park and Ride lots along the Thruway are available for short term parking only. Applegreen convenience stores at service areas will also be fully stocked to accommodate the expected high volume of visitors.

What we know about Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday after being hit by a cargo ship, with large parts of the bridge falling into the Patapsco River.

At least eight people fell into the water, members of a construction crew working on the bridge at the time, officials said. Two were rescued, one uninjured and one in serious condition, and two bodies were recovered on Wednesday. The remaining four are presumed dead. The workers are believed to be the only victims in the disaster.

Here’s what we know so far.

Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship , sending at least eight people from a construction crew into the water. Follow live updates and see photos from the scene .

How it happened: The container ship lost power shortly before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.

Victims: Divers recovered the bodies of two construction workers who died , while finding other vehicles trapped and probably containing the other victims, officials said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers . The entire crew aboard the container ship Dali survived . First responders shut down most traffic on the four-lane bridge after the crew issued an urgent mayday call. It saved lives, Moore said.

Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge, which severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, adds a fresh headache to already struggling global supply chains . See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods .

History: The Key Bridge was built in the 1970s and spanned the Patapsco River. Rebuilding the bridge will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, experts said.

• Six presumed dead in bridge collapse were immigrants, soccer fans, family men March 27, 2024 Six presumed dead in bridge collapse were immigrants, soccer fans, family men March 27, 2024
• Why investigators are looking into ‘dirty fuel’ in Baltimore bridge collapse March 27, 2024 Why investigators are looking into ‘dirty fuel’ in Baltimore bridge collapse March 27, 2024
• Rebuilding Baltimore’s Key Bridge will likely take years, experts say March 27, 2024 Rebuilding Baltimore’s Key Bridge will likely take years, experts say March 27, 2024

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Regional risks

This section has safety advice for regions of Kosovo. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO ’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice .

Northern Kosovo

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the municipalities of Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Zvecan, and northern part of the city of Mitrovica due to violent incidents and heightened tensions in these areas.

Since December 2022 there have been violent clashes and incidents involving grenades and vehicle explosions. Be cautious and avoid public gatherings, particularly around the Austerlitz Bridge area which separates Mitrovica north and south.

Protests have the potential to turn violent. You should:

• avoid public gatherings, political rallies and protests
• check local media
• consult hotel receptions for advice
• sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated

Avoid travelling between Kosovo and Serbia via Gate 1 (Leposavic) or Gate 31 (Zubin Potok). You should find alternative routes for travel between Kosovo and Serbia.

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Total solar eclipse: National Guard to be deployed amid safety concerns

• Published: Mar. 27, 2024, 11:53 a.m.

• Ryan Mancini | [email protected]

One of the states that will get a full view of the total solar eclipse on April 8 has called in help as an influx of visitors is expected to congregate and look up.

The Oklahoma National Guard will have members of the 63rd Civil Support Team, or CST, available to help local governments and first responders during the eclipse, “with additional HAZMAT responses if needed,” according to a statement . This was at the request of McCurtain County Emergency Management.

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible from North America as it makes its path from Texas all the way northeast to Maine. This  path of totality  indicates when and where the 31.6 million people living along that path are expected to see the eclipse happening, weather pending, according to  NBC News.

More solar eclipse

• Solar Eclipse 2024: Where to buy eclipse glasses online to see it safely
• April 8 total solar eclipse: What planets will be visible during eclipse?
• NH issues travel advisory for visitors seeing total solar eclipse
• April 8 total solar eclipse: ‘Devil comet’ will be visible during eclipse
• April 8 total solar eclipse: Police warn of cell service problems

NASA released a map  detailing the trajectory of the 2024 total solar eclipse, with a clear view of the eclipse along the path starting in Mexico and moving across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before exiting over the North Atlantic.

“McCurtain County Emergency Management requested our support because they expect up to 100,000 additional people visiting their communities to watch the eclipse,” Lt. Col. Jabonn Flurry, 63rd CST commander, said in the statement. “This influx of visitors has the potential to overtax local resources and thanks to the training and experience our Guardsmen have working alongside local agencies all across Oklahoma, the CST is uniquely qualified to support our fellow Oklahomans.”

In case there’s an emergency that requires a HAZMAT team, “the 63rd CST’s resources will respond, allowing local emergency responders to continue their assistance to citizens and the expected increase of visitors,” the Oklahoma National Guard said.

States along the path of totality are expected to see major crowds and large numbers of tourists trying to catch a 3- to 4-minute glimpse of the moon blotting out the sun. New Hampshire officials expect around 50,000 people to gather around Coos County, which lands completely along the path of totality, according to Seacoastonline .

The Federal Aviation Administration expects to see above-average traffic volume at airports located along the path of the eclipse, and New York State Police warned that there could be strains on local infrastructure as a result of the massive crowds that could gather to look up at the celestial event.

In Texas, the Hays County Office of Emergency Services warned people to stock up on food and gas, with the office’s director Mike Jones telling KXAN in Austin for people outside during the day of the eclipse to “pack your patience.”

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