Kosovo is the easiest second country to add to a trip to Macedonia. The motorway north from Skopje reaches the border in about 30 minutes, and Pristina is an hour beyond it. Some travellers fly into Skopje Airport and continue to Kosovo by road; others simply want to add one more country to their trip in a single day.
Pristina: the young capital
Pristina is not a postcard city, and that is part of its charm. It is energetic, young and full of cafés. Walk the pedestrian Mother Teresa Boulevard, see the Newborn monument unveiled when Kosovo declared independence in 2008, and the unmistakable National Library, covered in domes and a metal lattice. The Ottoman-era Imperial Mosque and the small Ethnological Museum in a traditional house show the older city. Ten kilometres away, the 14th-century Gračanica Monastery is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and well worth the short detour.
Prizren: the Ottoman old town
Prizren is the one people fall for. The old town spreads along the Bistrica river below a hilltop fortress, with the 17th-century Sinan Pasha Mosque, the old Stone Bridge and a square lined with cafés. Climb up to the Prizren Fortress (about 20–30 minutes on foot) for the best view over the red roofs, and look for the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš, another UNESCO-listed medieval church. In August the town fills up for DokuFest, its international documentary film festival.
A realistic one-day plan
- 07:30 — pickup in Skopje (or at the airport)
- 09:30 — Pristina: centre walk, Newborn, National Library, coffee
- 12:30 — drive to Prizren (about 1 hour on the motorway)
- 13:30 — lunch in the old town, Stone Bridge, Sinan Pasha Mosque, fortress
- 17:00 — drive back to Skopje, arriving around 19:00–19:30
Short on time? Pristina alone makes a comfortable half day; Prizren alone is an easy full day at a slower pace.
Local tips from our drivers
- Bring your passport. Even on a day trip you cross an international border in both directions. Check visa rules for your nationality before you go.
- Carry euros. Kosovo uses the euro — denars won't help you there. Cards work in most cafés and restaurants in the centres, but small places prefer cash.
- Start early in summer. In July and August, and around holidays, the Blace / Hani i Elezit crossing gets long queues of diaspora traffic. An early start avoids most of it.
- Don't continue straight to Serbia. If you enter Kosovo from Macedonia, Serbia may refuse you at a Kosovo–Serbia crossing. Come back via Skopje instead.
- Renting a car? Ask first. Many rental companies don't allow their cars into Kosovo, and those that do usually require extra border insurance at the crossing.
- Order a macchiato. Coffee culture is serious in Kosovo, and the macchiato is the local favourite — cheap, strong and everywhere.
Getting to Kosovo from Skopje
| Option | Time to Pristina | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Private tour with us | ~1.5 h + border | Hotel or airport pickup, both cities in one day, driver handles the crossing; you set the pace. |
| Bus | ~2 h | Several departures a day from Skopje bus station to Pristina; Prizren needs a change or a separate bus. |
| Group tour | Fixed schedule | Cheaper per person, set itinerary and group size — see options below. |
| Rental car | ~1.5 h + border | Check your rental contract allows Kosovo; border insurance is usually extra. |
Last updated October 2026 · Written by the Skopje Airport Transfers team
