Prizren, which has been a part of the Ottoman Empire for 500 years and carries traces of it, is a beautiful city in Kosovo and the Balkans that is most welcoming to our country.. In addition, since it is the city where my wife was born, it has a special place in our hearts.. How to get to Prizren in our Prizren Travel Guide for this beautiful city worth exploring with its historical texture, tastes and natural beauties. Where to stay in Prizren? We talked about food in Prizren and Places to visit in Prizren.

About Kosovo

The territory of present Kosovo remained as Ottoman territory for 5 centuries as we mentioned above.. In the last period of the Ottoman Empire 1. After the World Wars, it became a part of Yugoslavia.. However, Yugoslavia, a multinational state, disintegrated after the death of its last leader, Tito..
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and later Kosovo were part of Yugoslavia. Especially the civil war that started in 1994 left deep scars in the middle of Europe.. The scars of the war can still be seen in the lands above Yugoslavia..

With the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Kosovo became a part of Serbia together with Montenegro, which was within the borders of Serbia.. The country, known as Serbia and Montenegro for many years, was divided by the separation of Kosovo and Montenegro.. Serbia’s nationalist and oppressive policies are known as the most important result of these separations.. As a matter of fact, the war that started between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs in 1998 resulted in NATO’s intervention.. Remaining under the administration of the United Nations for 10 years, Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February 2008 with the decision taken by the Assembly of Kosovo.. Along with Costa Rica, Turkey became the first country to recognize Kosovo..

Prizren, the most beautiful city of Kosovo;

+ It is a city with a population of approximately 200,000 and is the second largest city in the country.. is the largest city.

+ Kosovo is a safe country. He got over most of his old troubles..

+It is a suitable route not only for cultural trips but also for exploring natural beauties. Gora villages, especially in the Gora region, offer unique nature views.. You can also visit for economical ski tours in winter.

+You can choose spring and summer months for your visit.. An average of 2 nights accommodation will be sufficient.

+Uses the Euro, the European Union Currency, as its currency. Kosovo cannot join the EU like other Yugoslav countries due to the war with Serbia and border problems..

+Provides visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

+ Creates a route where you can travel economically in Europe. Your meals, accommodation and other expenses are incomparably affordable with other European cities. So you can eat unlimited

+ It is often seen with the Albanian flag with the double-headed eagle symbol. In Prizren and in many parts of Kosovo, you will see more of the Albanian Flag in red-black with a double-headed eagle symbol than the Kosovo flag.. Since the country gained its independence with the struggle of the Albanians, it symbolizes the bond of lineage.

+ It has schools that provide education in Turkish.. Turkish, Bosnian and Gorani families generally receive education in these schools..

How to Get to Prizren?

There is no airport in Prizren, the nearest airport is in Pristina. Prizren is close to many Balkan cities due to its location.. Along with Tirana, Skopje, Pristina, Pech and Podgorica, Belgrade is among the nearby cities.. Mostly travelers and excursion routes make a comprehensive tour that includes these cities.. You can think of a similar route and determine your departure or return route through Kosovo, and you can plan for different countries within 3-5 days..

Our route started with Pristina and was in the form of Prizren, Peç, Sarajevo, Mostar, Kotor and Tirana.. Unfortunately, it is not possible to pass from Kosovo to Serbia because Serbia does not recognize Kosovo and sees its own land.. In other words, if your return ticket is from Serbia, you cannot cross from Kosovo territory to Serbia.. There is no problem in the opposite case, it is possible to pass from Serbia to Kosovo..

The most convenient option to reach Prizren is to use Pristina Airport, the capital of Kosovo.. The most practical solution for transportation from the airport is to rent a car.. As a solution, you can rent from Sixt with options starting from 25 Euros per day.. For public transportation to Prizren, you should take a taxi (15 km) to Pristina, which is close to the airport, and use the Prizren buses that depart from the bus station there (see: Pristina bus station).. (ticket prices vary between 3-5 Euros) .

Also, if your travel time is August, it is possible to coincide with Prizren’s film festival.. Check out the page for the program.. https://dokufest.com/

Where to Stay in Prizren?

The most suitable option for accommodation in Prizren is the old city area. Since many places to visit will be within the walking area, we can say that a city tour with a lot of pleasure and less fatigue awaits you..

We can share a few hotel suggestions that stand out: Classic Hotel Prizren, Kacinari, Tiffany, Monarch some of them. If you wish, you can query the search engine Agoda, which we also use frequently, for price inquiries and reservations..

Food in Prizren

Prizren comes to the forefront as a city that truly cheers the palate, both visually and in terms of taste. It is remembered with its ice creams, cakes and desserts, especially meatballs and börek.. We also recommend you to drink boza in Prizren, the homeland of Boza.. Because the boza here has a liquid consistency, not a thick consistency like ours.. It tastes sour and cannot be consumed with chickpeas.. Those who call the boza called Vefa in Turkey know that the boza came to our country from Prizren..

We can suggest a few places where you can taste these flavors as a recommendation below. Obviously, Prizren will be one of the rare European cities that will not upset you in terms of price..

Te Syla: The place with a view of the Bistriça (Akdere) River, where you can eat the most delicious meatballs of Prizren, is located in the old city center.. Meatballs with Cheese, pleskavitsa, became our favourite.. But you can eat whatever they bring here.

Besimi-Beska: Another meat restaurant is Besimi, located at the central fountain point.. You can choose it for mixed grill, meatballs and desserts..

Banana Split: Bananasplit Plus is another place where you will find many flavors from ice cream to dessert. We also recommend you to try Borovnitza, a drink made from blueberries..

Marashi : The restaurant with a view of Bistriça, the river that divides Prizren’s old town, can be an alternative for those who want a fine dining experience.. It gets full marks from its customers with its salads, meat presentations and flavors..

Unfortunately, there is no breakfast culture in Prizren, as in typical European cities. If you are looking for a place with cheese omelet similar to a classic Turkish breakfast, Ponte Coffee, located right in the fountain square, may be an alternative place for you.. Another suggestion for breakfast would be muffins and pastries that you can buy from the bakeries called Furra (Jone is one of the leading bakeries).. We are assertive. Go to Prizren hungry because your body weight will increase on your return..

We would also like to point out that you can walk around the market in Kosovo without any difficulties.. Because the Turkish population constitutes the majority in Prizren and Turkish is the language used in the streets.. However, coffee is mostly consumed in Kosovo.. Let’s say here is a place where you can drink tea as a bonus.. There are souvenir shops and tea gardens at the back of the Sinan Pasha mosque.. Konaku is one of these places.

If you want to spend time in Prizren in the evening, the Corner Bar with its colorful view in the old town area stands out with. Qarshia and Morea located in the same region are other alternatives. In the same area, there are dozens of cafes and restaurants where you can sit and have a drink..

Places to Visit in Prizren

Prizren stands out as one of the must-see destinations for travelers planning Kosovo. Along with Prizren, Pristina and Pech (Silk) cities are other prominent cities of Kosovo.. Here are Places to Visit in Prizren

1- Prizren Castle (Kaljaja)

If you are a tourist only in Prizren Climbing to the highest points of the city is one of the indispensable activities in all cities.. Prizren Castle appears as a point where you can perform this activity..

The castle, which is estimated to have been built during the Ancient Roman Period, was used by Byzantium, Serbia and the Ottoman Empire.. Prizren Castle was used for observation and protection because it is a city on trade routes.. There is a beautiful view above to welcome you. Speaking of castle, don’t get the feeling of a castle with bastions and towers above, rather than a castle, a few walls have survived to the present day.. There’s also an old ball.

2- Sinan Pasha Mosque

Building 16, which is a kind of symbol of the city. It has the distinction of being an Ottoman mosque dating back to the 19th century.. The building, which was opened for worship again in 1993, has the feature of preaching in Turkish in the city..

3- Church of the Savior (Church of the Divine Savior)

13. This church, known to have been built in the 16th century, is the first building of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo.. During the war in 1998, Christians in the city gathered here, after which they were asked to leave Prizren.. The closed church has one of the most beautiful views in Prizren.. Located on the castle road.

4- Prizren Stone Bridge

The stone bridge that stands like a necklace over the Bistriça River, which divides Prizren in the middle, is one of the most beautiful ornaments of the city.. 15. The bridge, which is estimated to have been built in the 19th century, has fulfilled its duty for centuries, but was destroyed due to the flood in 1979.. However, this was not ignored, this bridge was rebuilt after 3 years..

5- Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hamam

Turkish baths appear as a service of the state in many cities where the Ottoman Empire ruled. We see baths, mosques and madrasas as complexes not only in Prizren but also in other Balkan cities.. These structures both lead to the revival of the region where they are located and come to the fore as structures that enrich the region..

Here is one of the baths with this feature, Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, built in 1574. The bath, which has undergone restoration, is used as a museum.. Unfortunately it was not open on the dates we visited. Gazi Mehmet Pasha Hamam Google Location

6- Şadırvan Square

Sadirvan Square, which stands out as the most lively area of ​​Prizren, is located in Sinan Pasha Mosque. located in the immediate vicinity. There are dozens of cafes and restaurants around.. You will be passing through this square dozens of times during your visit..

7- Friday Mosque (Our Lady of Ljeviš)

Do you like cosmopolitan cities? Beirut, Sarajevo, Jerusalem, Thessaloniki or Istanbul. Buildings belonging to different religions side by side form the basis of a very different culture.. Prizren sets an exemplary culture for these cities.

Here at Friday Mosque 13. It is an orthodox church built during the Kingdom of Serbia in the 19th century and is an example of cosmopolitan city life.. When Muslims dominated the city, it was first converted to a mosque, and when Christians became dominant, it was converted to a church.. The building is currently unusable, but you can see it as far as it can be seen from the outside..

8- Halveti Tekke

As it is known, lodges are the places where Islamic sects gather in their region.. One of them is Halveti Tekke, which was founded by Osman Baba in the 16th century.. The building, which was built in the 18th century, has a tomb courtyard and waiting rooms.. Location of Halveti Lodge

9- Bayraklı Mosque (Gazi Mehmet Paşa Mosque)

Our visit to Prizren was a structure that impressed us with its courtyard, fountain and aesthetics. Flag Mosque. 16. The mosque, which was built in the 19th century, is among the historical places in good condition.. Its architecture and harmony will give you the same impression.

If we list other places to visit in Prizren;

• Opened in 1975 and built on a clock tower, 15. Archaeology Museum
• located in a 17th-century bathhouse, Namazgah, known as Kırık Mosque, built in 1455 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the Otogar area, (open top) Don’t have high expectations for the prayer room)
• The Ottoman period structure built in 1543 Muderris Ali Efendi Mosque,
• The Gazi Mehmet Pasha Bath, built in the 18th century’ Emin Pasha Mosque,
• Also built in the 15th century but only the minaret survived, Arasta Mosque,
• Lumbardhi Cinema, opened in 1952, where many stage arts and events were held,
• The NATO Monument, located on Adam Jashari street,
• 20 km. Mamusa,

which is a completely Turkish village in the north as far north as other important places to visit.. We would like to mention other places below..

10- Brezovica

The ski resort located approximately 50 km east of Prizren, known as Brezovicë, is one of the natural riches of the country.. Kosovo as a country is mountainous and has a high altitude. The Shar Mountains, located on the border with North Macedonia, are suitable for winter tourism.. Brezovica, where you can see different types of white in winter and green in summer, will add a different harmony to your trip..

11- Gora Villages (Prizren Turkish Villages)

Gora literally means “mountainous”. Gora Villages, located in the south of Kosovo, offer a thousand and one colors of unique nature, forest and green.. Gora Region is the region of Kosovo between Macedonia and Albania.. The village of Prizren, known entirely as Turkish, is Mamusa.. 20 km north of Prizren. Gora villages are 35 km south of Prizren.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph of my article, we stayed in Rapça, the village of Gora, the birthplace of my wife.. It has left beautiful memories in our minds with its oxygen-rich air, lush nature, ice-cold waters and clean streets.. Let’s talk about the region with short notes:

+ Bosnian/Serbian language called “Goranski” is spoken in 30 villages in Gora region.. This language is close to Macedonian.

+ 2 of the villages are in Macedonian territory and 10 of them are in Albanian territory.

+ The total population of the villages is estimated at 18,000. However, the region gave a lot of immigration after the war.. There are large numbers of immigrated populations, mostly in neighboring countries Austria, Italy and Turkey..

+ The best times to visit the region are July and August. Since the region is a mountainous region, the temperatures drop very low at night..

+ The main livelihood of the villages of Gora region is animal husbandry.. Those who settle in the cities are engaged in meatballs, cookery and pastry business.. In some of the villages, animal husbandry is completely over due to migration..

+After Kosovo became an independent country, they became multi-identity. A citizen can also have Serbian, Macedonian and Bulgarian passports.. The aim here must be to be the dominant power in the region and to claim rights.

+The origin of the citizens living in the region has been widely discussed.. Although the Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian and Albanian researchers who conducted the research claim that they are from their own people, the Ottoman archives state that the people of the region are Turkish.. As a matter of fact, it is known that Cuman and Pecheneg Turks were the first Turkish tribes to settle in the region.. There is also evidence that there was Islam in this region before the Ottoman Empire.. 12. A mosque built in the village of Mlike in the 19th century is proof of this.. The Turks living in the region were influential in the easy settlement of the Ottomans in the Balkans.. In addition, the number of Gorani cognates among those who participated in the Battle of Pleven and Çanakkale and became martyrs is more than 500..

+ Without diverting the topic, let’s convey the connection of the sandwich, known as Gorali , with the region. Sir, a family whose surname is Gora and who migrated from this region make a sandwich of their own invention in Ankara.. Later, after they moved to Istanbul Fındıkzade and expanded their business, they created a species that became more and more famous.. So this sandwich was not made here and is not here..

12- Rapça Village

Rapça Village stands out with its cute houses and clean air surrounded by forests. In Rapça and other villages, you can easily say hello to a place and sit.. When you say that you came from Turkey, you can interpret how you were treated later on..

We wish you to discover the streets of the village. Because you will see pictures decorated with graffiti, balconies decorated with flowers, cafes famous for their desserts..

The mother tongue of many people living in the village is Bosnian. Surprisingly, most of my wife’s relatives and villagers spoke Turkish.. When we asked how they learned, they replied by watching TV.. Is it only Turkish? I even met people who learned Spanish and English this way..

The most active times of the region are the end of July and the first week of August. Kosovars living in neighboring countries prefer this date range for their holidays.. Weddings that lasted for days one after the other in each of the Gora villages on these dates appear as a good example of solidarity.. Meals are cooked and halvah is served to guests in cauldrons set up before weddings.

If you are in Kosovo on these dates, make sure to visit the villages. Wedding meals await you. In addition, during the wedding ceremonies that started in the evening, the halays reaching tens of meters in the streets are pulled regardless of the rain..

There is generally no breakfast culture in Gora villages as in Kosovo. Breakfasts are usually served with snacks alongside coffee.. In addition, beautiful and special pastries made at home are dipped in honey and eaten, creating a good breakfast example..

Dessert is an indispensable food in Gora and Kosovo. So a meal of soup and food might not be one, but it wouldn’t be without dessert or cake.. Even if a Gorani gives up on food, he does not give up on dessert..

There are different customs in Rapça and Gora Villages. When a woman marries a man, she takes an adjective derived from her husband’s name and is referred to by him.. For example, if İbrahim is the name of the man, the woman is called İbrahimica (İbrahimitsa) after marriage.. That’s the woman’s name now, and everyone calls her by that name.. After a certain time, the real name can also be forgotten..

Another custom, called korza, is an afternoon chat activity for individuals who are of marriageable age to choose their spouses and meet them.. Young people wait in front of a cafe and wait for their suitors. After a short conversation, if they wish, they continue to talk and take the first steps of the institution of marriage.. This custom has also been adopted by the surrounding villages.. In this way, families are informed about the families and lifestyles of the interviewees and this gives confidence to everyone..

13- Dragaş

Dragaş is defined as the center of Gora region. Administrative activities and transportation with surrounding villages are made from this town.. Dragash region is different from other villages and is more crowded.. It contains multiple mosques, restaurants and cafes..

The Turkish contingent within the scope of NATO, which we also visited, is located in Dragaş.. If you have plans for Prizren and decide to visit the Gora region after this article, we would like to state that the only hotel in the region is in Dragash.. Meka Hotel is located in Dragaş. You can inquire the price.

14- Brod

The last village of the R114 highway of the Gora region is the village named Brod. The village stands out with its natural beauty like other Gora villages.. Brod was known as one of the richest villages in the past.. There are many families who migrated from the village of Brod in Turkey..

There is also a stream flowing enthusiastically through the middle of the village.. There is also a cafe and restaurant-style establishment in the village where you can take a breather.. Another beautiful canyon close to Brod is a ski resort with a 6 km track located nearby.. Don’t just think of it as a ski center, the business in the region provides service in the summer.. With the cable car, you can explore the natural beauties from the top, see various shades of green and suffocate with fresh air.. (cable car fee 3 Euro)

It is also possible to stay in Arxhena, a business operating in this region.. Click to review .

15- Restelicë & Windows Hills

The next thing I want to talk about is the village of Gora, Restelicë. When you head towards the Macedonian border along the R113 highway, you will enter this village through the high plateaus.. You can take a short break in the small village of Restelicë. When you continue on the road towards the Macedonian border, you will see the lush green plains extending to the left and right..

The hills, known to many as the hills of windows, are remarkably similar to the photograph taken by photographer Charles O’Rear in America. Free to roll on the grass. You will also discover the course of tiny rivulets opening onto wide plains in this high plateau..

If you’re hungry around here, let’s suggest a restaurant preferred by the locals. Located on the R113 road, close to the village of Krusheve, Teferic offers trout and local delicacies on the gazebo tables in its garden surrounded by wide greenery.. Teferic Google Location

We haven’t tried it, but as an alternative, beautiful fish restaurants with a view of Dirin river in Wermice village on the Prizren road Univers, Mfabeli We can recommend /strong>and Liqeni.