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Kosovo Grand Bazaars: Full Day Tour of Peja, Gjakova & Prizren from Pristina

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8161
12 hours
Availability : Every day
Pristina
Pristina
Tour Overview

This full day private tour will enable you to spend time with a local expert and understand Kosovo’s history in depth while wandering the colourful and vibrant bazaars reflecting the years of experience shown in handmade souvenirs and items for everyday use.

Spend one full day on a private tour exploring and learning about 500 years of Ottoman legacy in Kosovo and admire the remarkable crossroad between east and west, Christianity and Islam. 

Visit Prizren, Gjakova and Peja, feel like a local and delve deep into life and work, two inseparable categories being the main generators of the old bazaars (carsias) which, even nowadays, represent the economic, social and political fundamentals of Kosovo. 

Highlights

What's Included

INCLUDED
  • Private Tour. Tour itinerary offers maximum flexibility.
  • English speaking local-expert guide.
  • No hidden costs. All government taxes & entrance fees included in the price.
  • Cancellation Flexibility. Cancel 24hrs before departure or change dates.
  • Pay safely online with a credit card. We accept payments for all types of credit cards.
NOT INCLUDED
  • Personal travel insurance is not included. Please buy it at home country.
  • Tips are not included in the tour costs. If you receive excellent service, please consider tipping.
  • Meals are not included

Getting There

Pickup Time Due to complexity of the trip it is recommended to start at 7 AM. 
Pickup Locations We shall pick you up in whole area of Pristina.

Itinerary

Activity Note: The following itinerary is created to start and end in Pristina. All of our private tours itineraries are fully customisable so please do not hesitate to contact our team with any of your requests.  

Meet & Greet

Your team of professionals and, more importantly, locals and enthusiasts, will meet you at your address. Due to the distance and all of the locations we are about to visit, we prefer to start this tour early (7 AM).

>Our team will meet you at your address in and will make sure to provide the best possible travel experience you had so far.

Prizren

>Nestled on the slopes of the Sharr mountain and banks of the Prizren Bistrica,  Prizren is known as “Museum City ” and carries the epithet of the most beautiful town in Kosovo. 

As soon as we arrive, we will take a stroll in the narrow streets boasting the numerous captivating religious buildings, enchanting mosques and old Orthodox and Catholic churches. Besides for its multiculturality, Prizren is also known as a political capital of Kosovar Albanians so, along the way, we will make sure to also enter the world of history puzzles and comprehend the civilisations alternating fears and hopes at the Kosovo ground.

During the walk we will visit the Town Museum, explore the striking Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, cross the Old Stone bridge highly resembling the Emperor’s bridge in Sarajevo, see the amazing Hamam Of Gazi Mehmet Pasha and explore its amazingly preserved bazaar with souvenir shops where, for extremely low cost prices, you can purchase some really good hand-made clothes, shoes or jewellery. 

Besides its captivating bazaar where you can enjoy amazing shopping opportunities or simply observe the mesmerising work of the old craftsmen, Prizren is  a home to the open-air mosque very often called the Broken Mosque among the locals. This is the oldest oldest Ottoman artefact in Prizren and the first Muslim house of prayer in the city.

> Built in 1306 by king Stefan Milutin, the church is now declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance and on the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger as part of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo.

After the old town, during the 15 minutes of nice hike to Kalaja Fortress (Kaljaja) looming over the city and surrounding valleys we will make sure to pay attention to the ruins of the Orthodox Church “Our Lady of Ljevis.

Few minutes from the ruins we will notice the amazing Kalaja Fortress, symbol of Prizren. Built in the 11th century, the impressive Prizren Fortress provides the city’s best view so grab your cameras as, from here, you will be able not just seeing Prizren as if in the palm of your hand, but also the surrounding Mt. of Prokletije and Peja.

Due to its numerous chambers, underground halls and impressive net of walls that once served for a Prizren defence, we will let you have some playful walk and discover your favourite spot in this old stone labyrinth.

Gjakova

> Narrow streets of Gjakova

After Prizren, we will visit Gjakova, and trust us, the cuteness of this small old town is overload. Our first stop will be a charming local restaurant nested on Çabrati hill overlooking the town. We will have warm and tasty bread, juicy lamb meat and fresh Shepherd’s salad with some home made juice.

Gjakova carries the title of the most charming town of Kosovo. Although nowadays a bit slow-paced, during the Ottoman Empire, Gjakova used to be a major trading hub on the coveted route between Shkodra and Constantinople. Walking this captivating town it will be hard to face the fact that almost 85% of the town was left in the ruins during the latest war. 

> Gjakova Bazaar is today completely reconstructed, after it was completely burnt and destroyed in the last Kosovo war. 

We will take a walk through the captivating Gjakova Grand Bazaar which is one of the longest and oldest in the Balkans. It is stretching over a kilometer and is a perfect way to meet the locals, learn about life in Kosovo and enjoy delightful shops observing artisans practicing woodwork  or hawking stunningly beautiful wedding costumes. Gjakova has a long tradition of craftsmanship which you can still witness in its woodworking studios and bazaar shops.

In the premises of one of the oldest woodcraft studios of Gjakova bazaar we will meet with a local artist over coffee and learn about the tradition and how it manages to find its safe shelter and coexist within the modern life of the 21st century. 

Besides the bazaar, we will make sure to visit the beautiful 16th century Hadum Mosque, the catholic church. and a captivating Ethnographic Museum.

Peja
 

> Peja is a home to the Patriarchy of Peja, one of the most important late Byzantine era monuments dating back from 13th century.

Our last stop of the day will be the town which is believed to be built on the ruins of the Siparantum, an ancient Roman town. As soon as we enter Peja you will have a chance to witness the history from its ancient beginnings all the way through the challenges of the recent Kosovo war and struggles to cope with the modern times. 

Besides being a cultural and historical treasure trove, Peje boasts some of the country’s biggest mountains and is a paradise for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. 

Peja is a town where you will have a chance to get an insight into the real local life and the best way to do so is by visiting the vibrant Peja bazaar. 

> You can purchase astounding hand made everyday items and souvenirs at the bargain prices. 

We will take a stroll in the streets of the bazaar, talk to the local vendors and try some of the famous Kosovo sudjuk and cheese. Moreover, we will delve deep into the history of Kosovars and meet with the local craftsmen who will introduce us to the story of the Albanian cap traditionally worn by Albanians -qeleshe or plis. It is believed that this woollen headpiece is directly related to a similar headgear worn by the Illyrians. Plis must be kept white at all times, and when this is no longer possible, one has to get a new one.

While older generations still wear it, modernisation has led to Plis caps devolving from an everyday headgear into traditional clothing for special occasions. We will learn how the plis was made from scratch and, afterwards, make a visit to the amazing Peje Ethnological Museum where we will have a chance to witness  the history of the regions from the prehistoric times all the way to the late 20th century.

We will return to Pristina in the evening hours and drop you off at your hotel.

What to Bring

What Do I Need to Bring?

  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sun block)

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Is this tour for me?
    This tour requires normal level of fitness and is doable for anyone of normal level of fitness.
  2. Is this a private tour?
    Yes, this is a private tour.
  3. Can I pay this tour online with credit card?
    Yes of course. We accept all credit cards.
  4. Can this tour start from elsewhere besides Pristina?
    Yes, all of our private tours itineraries are fully customisable so don’t hesitate to contact our team with any of your requests.

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