PristinaCapital
Kosovo · Country profile
Pristina is the young, energetic capital of Kosovo, the vibrant city of the young Balkan state that spreads its mix of the Ottoman old town, the socialist blocks, the new business towers and the vast café culture across the plain of the east of the country, beneath the mountains of the surrounding horizon. The capital of the newest country of Europe, that declared its independence in 2008 after the wars of the 1990s, it is one of the youngest cities of the continent, its boulevards filled with the university students, the cafes, the new shops and the international missions of the young state. The mosque and the buildings of the Ottoman era, the cathedral and the museums of the town, the university and the famous statue of the hero anchor the essential visits, while the monasteries, the mountains and the wineries of the surrounding region frame the land beyond the capital. Fresh, restless and optimistically rebuilding, Pristina is the vivid, ambitious heart of the newest country of Europe.
About Pristina
Pristina is the capital of Kosovo. The city's documented population is around 145,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Euro (EUR) and Albanian and Serbian are spoken; the dialling code is +383.
The Mosque of the Sultan and the Quarter of the Ottoman
Pristina is a compact, youthful capital where the essential circuit moves between the Ottoman old town, the boulevards of the centre and the many cafes of the city, with the university, the museums and the monuments running the visits of the day. The mosque of the old town with its Ottoman quarter, the enormous new cathedral of the city and the independence monuments and the statue of the hero of the centre anchor the essential stops, while the museum of the country, with its displays of the archaeology and the recent history, frames the story of the state. The monastery and the Ottoman villages of the region, the mountains of the border and the wine valleys of the country fill the day trips beyond the capital, and the whole city buzzes with the young, hopeful energy of the newest state of Europe.
The Cathedral of the Teresa and the Statue of the Hero
The climate of the city is the continental of the Balkan interior, with the warm summer days, the cold, snowy winters and the mild, green springs and the golden autumns of the plain, each season bringing the outdoor life of the town to its outdoor cafes. The euro is the currency, with the Albanian the everyday language of the city and the Serbian and some English also spoken, and the young population of the capital often fluent in several tongues. The old town, the boulevards and the museums make the core visits, and the sites of the region lie within an easy drive of the capital. Layered clothing for the seasons and comfortable walking shoes complete the simple preparation for the new Balkan capital.
The Boulevards of the Cafes and the University of the Town
The mosque of the sultan, the great mosque of the Ottoman city with its portico and its pencil minaret, anchors the old quarter of the capital, where the stone buildings of the old town, the hamams and the Ottoman houses of the cobbled streets preserve the historic layer of Pristina, while the enormous new cathedral of the city, the great mother Teresa cathedral with its white towers, represents the modern heart of the young state. The national university of the capital, with its socialist-era central building and its gigantic student population, fills the streets of the town with the young life that defines the city, and the museum of the country, with its ethnographic collections of the backpacked costumes of the nation, tells the story of the mountains and the villages. The statue of the hero of the independence with his raised fist, the boulevards of the cafes and the new towers of the centre, and the monasteries and the mountains of the region, complete the essential circuit of the young, hopeful capital of the newest country of Europe.
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- Country
- Kosovo
- Population
- 145,000
- Capital
- Pristina
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Albanian, Serbian
- Calling code
- +383
- Country code
- XK
Entry requirements for Kosovo
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Kosovo for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pristina the capital of Kosovo?
Yes — Pristina is the capital of Kosovo.
What currency do I need in Pristina?
The local currency is the Euro (EUR). Languages spoken in Kosovo include Albanian and Serbian.
What is the dialling code for Kosovo?
The international dialling code for Kosovo is +383.
Do I need a visa to visit Kosovo?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Pristina? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.