Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari sits 15 kilometers southwest of the capital. The airport opened in 1965 and serves as Kosovo's only commercial airport. Direct flights connect Pristina with Basel, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Istanbul, London, Munich, Stuttgart, Vienna, and Zurich. No flights operate between Pristina and Belgrade due to the political situation between Kosovo and Serbia. The airport processed approximately 2.8 million passengers in 2019 before the pandemic reduced traffic.
Taxi fares from the airport to central Pristina range between 15 and 25 euros depending on the company. Airport taxis charge higher rates than regular city taxis. Private transfer companies offer pre-booked rides at fixed rates starting around 12 euros. Public buses do not serve the airport directly. Some hotels in Pristina provide shuttle services for guests.
Kosovo has no functioning passenger rail service. The rail network sustained damage during the 1998-1999 conflict and has not been restored for regular passenger use. A single line operates between Pristina and Skopje in North Macedonia on an irregular schedule with infrequent departures. Most travelers do not use this service.
Bus connections link Kosovo with neighboring countries. Buses depart daily from Pristina to Tirana in Albania, Skopje in North Macedonia, and Istanbul in Turkey. Multiple companies operate these routes with varying comfort levels and prices. The journey to Tirana takes approximately four hours. Pristina to Skopje requires about two hours. Istanbul sits roughly 14 hours away by bus.
Entering Kosovo by road from Serbia proper remains complicated. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence and considers border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo as internal administrative boundaries. Travelers entering Kosovo from Serbia at Merdare or Dheu i Bardhë may encounter stamps or entry documents that Serbia does not recognize as valid for exiting Serbia later. This creates problems for travelers planning to return to Serbia through official border crossings. The reverse situation applies when entering Serbia from Kosovo. Many travelers route through North Macedonia or Albania to avoid these complications.
The land border between Kosovo and Albania at Vermicë-Morinë operates normally. The border with North Macedonia at Hani i Elezit functions without special restrictions. The border with Montenegro at Kulla-Božaj operates regularly. None of these crossings present the documentation complications that exist at the Kosovo-Serbia boundary.
Kosovo uses the euro as its currency despite not being part of the European Union or eurozone. The country unilaterally adopted the euro in 2002 after using the German mark following the 1999 conflict. This adoption occurred without formal agreement with the European Central Bank. Kosovo cannot print euros or influence European monetary policy but benefits from currency stability.
ATMs dispense euros and appear frequently in Pristina, Prizren, Peja, Gjakova, and other cities. Most ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard. Withdrawal limits typically range from 200 to 500 euros per transaction. Banks charge foreign transaction fees that vary by institution and card issuer. Raiffeisen Bank, ProCredit Bank, and TEB Bank operate extensive ATM networks across Kosovo.
Credit cards see limited acceptance outside major hotels and some restaurants in Pristina and Prizren. Smaller establishments, local restaurants, shops, and transportation services require cash. Visa and Mastercard work more reliably than American Express or other cards when acceptance exists.
Currency exchange offices operate in cities and at the airport. These offices exchange US dollars, British pounds, Swiss francs, and some other major currencies for euros. Exchange rates at the airport typically run two to four percent worse than rates in city center locations. Banks also exchange currency during business hours Monday through Friday.
Carrying euros from elsewhere eliminates exchange needs. ATM withdrawals provide reasonable rates but include foreign transaction fees and potential ATM operator charges. The total cost of an ATM withdrawal often reaches four to six percent of the transaction amount when combining all fees.
Prices in Kosovo sit below Western European levels. A mid-range restaurant meal costs between five and twelve euros per person. Local restaurants serve meals for three to six euros. Coffee in a café runs 0.80 to 1.50 euros. A half-liter of local beer costs one to two euros. Budget hotels charge 20 to 40 euros per night for a double room. Mid-range hotels cost 40 to 80 euros.
Bargaining occurs in outdoor markets when purchasing produce or goods from individual vendors. Fixed prices apply in supermarkets, established shops, restaurants, and hotels. Taxi fares should be negotiated before departure or confirmed on a meter.
Kosovo issues its own entry stamps and considers itself an independent country. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's independence and treats Kosovo as part of its territory. This creates documentation complications for travelers.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and European Union member states can enter Kosovo without a visa for stays up to 90 days within a six-month period. United Kingdom citizens receive the same treatment. This applies to ordinary passport holders. The complete list of visa-exempt nationalities appears on the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.