Kosovo
Kosovo is a small landlocked country in the Balkan Peninsula offering a unique blend of cultures, traditions, and natural beauty. Explore the vibrant capital city, historic Prizren, medieval Gračanica, Roman Ulpiana, and Rugova Canyon for outdoor activities.
Kosovo, the place to be THE HIDDEN GEM Located in the heart of the Balkan peninsula, this landlocked country is one of the region’s hidden gems. If the image of Kosovo has been directly associated with the last war and its devastation for the past few years, it is changing. Visitors have indeed a lot to discover: varied landscapes combining rolling hills, lush forests, meadows and high snow-capped peaks make it an extraordinary land of adventure. Added to this is the charm of its old towns and the unrivaled hospitality of its inhabitants!
For its natural landscapes Despite its small size, Kosovo is home to some of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the Balkans. Most of them are located in the western part of the country, near the Montenegrin border, and in particular in the Rugova Valley, an extraordinary natural region with magnificent forests, high peaks and breathtaking panoramas
For its mountains Did you know that Kosovo is home to one of the most amazing ski areas on the Balkan Peninsula? Brezovica, a mountainous region close to the Macedonian border, is mainly frequented by the expatriate community living in the country, but in recent years, more and more tourists have visited during the winter season in this region enjoy its resorts. ski.
For its historic cities Kosovo is not just about Pristina. The country is home to two of the most picturesque cities on the peninsula: Prizren and Gjakova. While Prizren is famous for its Ottoman-era buildings and ancient mosques, such as the spectacular Sinan Pasha Mosque, Gjakova is home to the country’s largest bazaar, renowned for its cafes and artisan shops.
For its inhabitants The kindness of the local population is in itself a good reason to go to Kosovo. This country shelters indeed a population of friendliest and most hospitable in Europe. Ready to help visitors, very open, Kosovars are always inclined to exchange on their beautiful country with tourists.
For its gastronomy Albanians and Serbs share a passion for raki, a brandy, produced from plums, pears, grapes, quinces, and even honey. Local cuisine, too, brings communities together, with the preparation of Ottoman-inspired dishes but with the local touch. Country recipes are often made using local products. If the Gorani and the Bosnians are best known for their burek, these delicious “puff pastry” are prepared in all the cities of Kosovo. In the divided city of Mitrovica, the delicious meatballs, called qebapa in Albanian or ćevapčićien in Serbian, are appreciated by all locals. A wide variety of quiches or Pites are prepared in the region, including spinach, cheese, minced meat, and potatoes. There are a number of varieties of tava, stew simmered for several hours in the oven in an earthenware dish. Most of these traditional dishes are found throughout Kosovo, with certain nuances. Some products are more specific, like the tasty cheese from the Sharr Mountains.
Cultural life
The cultural lives of Kosovo’s Albanians and Serbs, although distinctive, bear many resemblances to those of the peoples of Albania and Serbia, respectively. For further information on the cultures of those countries, see Albania: Cultural life and Serbia: Cultural life.
Traditional Kosovar society, for both Albanians and Serbs, has an important patriarchal tradition, with extended family members often living together in large groups. Family support networks remain very strong, even when some members live outside the country. Most business connections are made through these networks.
Reflecting Albanian customary law, blood feuds between families were a fairly common occurrence—especially in western Kosovo—until the 1990s, when University of Pristina professor Anton Çetta and other activists led an antivendetta campaign. The practice resurfaced, however, amid the political instability following the 1998–99 conflict.
Climate
Kosovo[a] is a relatively small territory. Because of the climatic position and complicated structure of the relief it has a variety of climate systems.
Kosovo lies in the south part of the middle geographical latitude of the northern hemisphere and it is affected by the Mediterranean Mild Climate and European Continental Climate. Important factors that affect Kosovo’s climate are: its position towards Eurasia and Africa, hydrographic masses (Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea), atmospheric masses (tropic, arctic and continental) and others. Minor factors are: relief, hydrography, plain and vegetation.
Time & Date: GMT +1
Currency:
The Euro is the official currency in Kosovo. The Serbian Dinar is sometimes accepted in Serb-majority areas. Most transactions are in cash. Credit cards are more widely accepted and there are some ATMs in Pristina and other major cities.
Languages:
Albanian (official)
Serbian (official)
Bosnian
Turkish
Roman
English – widely spoken especially by youth
German – widely spoken in general society
With approximately more than 90% of the population of Kosovo being ethnic Albanians, the Albanian language is recognized as an official language along with Serbian. Other languages including Turkish, Romani, and Bosnian are also spoken.
English is widely spoken, especially by youth. English is also taught at schools starting from primary education.
Albanian is an Indo-European language that is spoken by numerous inhabitants of the Albanian culture especially those bordering the Albanian and Kosovo countries. The language is divided into two-main dialects used depending on the geographical area of the inhabitants. The first dialect, Tosk, which derives from southern Albania, is mostly used in Albania, Italy, Greece and Turkey, whereas Gheg, the second, is spoken by the majority of the Kosovar people and in places such as Macedonia and Montenegro and northern Albania.
Food & Drinks:
The cuisine of Kosovo (Albanian: Kuzhina kosovare) is a representative of the cuisine of the Balkans and consists of traditional dishes by ethnic groups native to Kosovo.[a] Due to ethnic connections with Albania, it has been significantly influenced by Albanian cuisine and has adopted elements of other Balkan countries.
Bread, dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables are important staples in Kosovan cuisine. With diversity of recipes, the Kosovan daily cuisine adjusts well to the country’s occasional hot summers and the frequent long winters. As a result of its continental climate, fresh vegetables are consumed in summer while pickles throughout autumn and winter.[1]
Breakfast in Kosovo is usually light, consisting primarily of a croissant with coffee, sandwiches, scrambled eggs, omelettes, petulla or toast with salami, processed cheese, lettuce and tea. Cereals with milk, waffles, pretzels and homemade pancakes with honey or marmalade are also frequently consumed especially by children.
Travel Insurance:
The cuisine of Kosovo (Albanian: Kuzhina kosovare) is a representative of the cuisine of the Balkans and consists of traditional dishes by ethnic groups native to Kosovo.[a] Due to ethnic connections with Albania, it has been significantly influenced by Albanian cuisine and has adopted elements of other Balkan countries.
Bread, dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables are important staples in Kosovan cuisine. With diversity of recipes, the Kosovan daily cuisine adjusts well to the country’s occasional hot summers and the frequent long winters. As a result of its continental climate, fresh vegetables are consumed in summer while pickles throughout autumn and winter.[1]
Breakfast in Kosovo is usually light, consisting primarily of a croissant with coffee, sandwiches, scrambled eggs, omelettes, petulla or toast with salami, processed cheese, lettuce and tea. Cereals with milk, waffles, pretzels and homemade pancakes with honey or marmalade are also frequently consumed especially by children.
Visa:
A valid passport and visa are required for travel to India. The Indian government now offers two options for tourists, a traditional tourist visaor an e-Tourist Visa (eTV) issued electronically. A traditional Indiantourist visa is stamped inside the traveler’s passport.
International Airports:
Prishtina International Airport Adem Jashari
Capital: Pristina
Currency: Euro
Population: 1,873 Million
Official languages: Albania & Serbia
The Map Location
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