Practical information Kosovo

French, Belgian, Swiss, Luxembourg and Canadian nationals do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your planned return date. The entry stamp is affixed upon arrival, generally at Adem Jashari Airport in Pristina (PRN) or at land border crossings. An important point we systematically highlight: if your itinerary includes Serbia, the order of entries and exits is sensitive. Entering Serbia from Kosovo may cause problems if you have not previously entered from Serbia. Our team will prepare a border crossing itinerary memo for you before departure.

No vaccinations are mandatory to enter Kosovo. Standard health recommendations apply: ensure universal vaccinations are up to date (DTP, MMR, pertussis), and consider hepatitis A and hepatitis B depending on your health profile and length of stay. The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine can be discussed for hikers planning extensive forest walks between April and October. There is no malaria, dengue fever, or yellow fever in Kosovo. Tap water is safe to drink in Pristina, Prizren, and most cities. In mountain villages, we recommend bottled water. A consultation at an international vaccination centre is advisable 4 to 6 weeks before departure.

Budget around €60 to €110 per day and per person excluding international flights for a comfortable trip, in a double room with breakfast. Kosovo remains one of Europe's most affordable destinations. A night in a 3-star hotel in Pristina costs €50 to €80, a mountain guesthouse €25 to €40 per person on half-board. For dining, a full meal at a good restaurant runs €12 to €18 with a glass of local wine, coffee €1.20, beer €2. Compact car rental is around €30 to €45 per day. Site entrance fees are minimal (€1 to €3). Budget for guides and transfers if you book through an agency.

The best months to discover Kosovo are May, June, September and early October. Pleasant temperatures (18 to 25°C in the plains), long days, green landscapes in spring then golden in autumn. July and August are hot in Pristina and Prizren (30 to 35°C) but excellent for hiking at altitude in the Dinaric Alps where temperatures range from 18 to 22°C during the day. This is also the season of the DokuFest festival in Prizren in mid-August. Winter (December to March) appeals to skiers with the Brezovica ski resort (1,700 to 2,500 m) but limits access to mountain villages. April and November are unpredictable shoulder seasons, best avoided for a first trip.

Kosovo is a small country (10,900 km²) where distances remain short: Pristina-Prizren in 1h30, Pristina-Peja in 1h15, north-south crossing in less than 3 hours. We recommend car rental for the freedom it offers in villages and mountain ranges, expect 30 to 45 € per day. Highways A1 and A2 are recent and well-maintained, secondary roads are decent except in mountain villages. Intercity buses are frequent and affordable (Pristina-Prizren 4 €), comfortable on main routes. City taxis are inexpensive (3 to 5 € per ride in Pristina). For isolated sites and monasteries with necessary permits, we provide an English-speaking driver-guide.

Kosovo ranks among the safest countries in the Balkans for travellers. The rate of crime against tourists is very low, hospitality is strong, including at night in the streets of Pristina, Prizren or Peja. Standard precautions apply against pickpockets in markets. A few specific points: the Mitrovica North region has a particular atmosphere that deserves to be visited with an English-speaking local guide to fully understand the context. Some rural areas retain a residual risk of unexploded ammunition dating from 1999, which is why we mark out hiking itineraries away from official trails. Kosovar authorities are responsive and the presence of KFOR is reassuring. Our team keeps you informed in real time.