Day Trip from Skopje to Prizren, Kosovo

Visiting Prizren, Kosovo from Skopje: Our Complete Guide

We came to North Macedonia for a long weekend, and while most of our trip focused on Skopje and a little more of North Macedonia, we still had one full day free. With Kosovo sitting so close to Skopje, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to cross the border and explore somewhere new.

The Kosovo border is only around 20 km from Skopje, making a day trip surprisingly easy. We eventually chose Prizren over Peć, booked our trip, and set off for a Monday in Kosovo. Here is everything you should know about why we picked Prizren, which provider we used, how the journey went, and what we managed to see in one day.

Why We Chose a Private Day Trip from Skopje to Prizren

The day before our Kosovo trip, we took an organized tour to Matka Canyon, and let’s say it wasn’t the best experience. So, for Prizren, we wanted to try something different and see how a private day trip compared with an organized group tour. The idea actually came together quite naturally. When we arrived in Skopje, we had a really nice conversation with the taxi driver who picked us up from the airport, and we learned that he also offered private trips to Kosovo. We liked him, enjoyed chatting with him, and decided to book the trip directly. It also gave us a chance to experience both styles during the same weekend and decide for ourselves whether private or organized tours are better.

Matka Canyon and Ethno Macedonian Village Tour from Skopje

Our Honest Experience With the Private Day Trip from Skopje to Prizren

Spoiler alert: Going private changed the feel of this day trip, especially after our organized tour the day before. From the moment we left Skopje, everything felt more relaxed, flexible, and much more personal. We could chat with our driver, take the day at our own pace, and enjoy the journey without constantly watching the clock. Did it convince us that private tours are always better than organized ones? Well, not quite that simple, but this particular trip certainly gave us plenty to think about.

The Early Morning Pickup in Skopje

Our day started with a 7:30 AM pickup in Skopje. We arranged to meet our driver at the same spot where he had dropped us off after picking us up from the airport, just a short walk from our hotel. When we arrived, he was already there waiting, so everything started smoothly and on time. At first, 7:30 might sound a little early for a day trip, but our driver recommended getting an early start, and we were completely fine with that. A few minutes later, we were in the car and off toward the North Macedonia–Kosovo border.

Border Crossing „Blace” (ΝMK)

We already had quite a few Balkan border crossings behind us from our previous trips through Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, so we came prepared for this one to take a while too. This time, however, things went surprisingly smoothly. We crossed from North Macedonia into Kosovo at the Blace–Hani i Elezit border crossing, the main crossing on the road between Skopje and Prizren.

When we reached the border, we handed our passports to our driver, and he took care of the rest, which made the whole process very easy for us. There was hardly any traffic that morning, and our driver told us we were a little lucky because the crossing can get much busier at other times. From arriving at the border to completing the formalities and continuing into Kosovo, the whole crossing took just over half an hour.

And just like that, we were in Kosovo! Our first stop came almost immediately. Just beyond the border, we pulled into a gas station for a quick coffee and refreshment break, stretched our legs for a few minutes, and then got back into the car ready to continue toward Prizren.

The Scenic Drive Through the Šar Mountains

After our coffee break, we continued toward Prizren, and the drive itself became part of the experience. Our driver was really nice and spent much of the journey sharing interesting facts about Kosovo, everyday life in the country, and the places we passed along the way. He was particularly proud of Kosovo’s newer roads and highways, telling us how much the infrastructure had improved in recent years. And from what we could see, he had a point. The stretches of highway we drove on were smooth, modern, and surprisingly good.

But the best part came when he told us we would be taking the mountain road towards Prizren. We were immediately excited, and it turned out to be one of our favorite parts of the journey. With the Šar Mountains rising ahead of us, the road twisted through a landscape of green slopes, valleys, small settlements, and increasingly dramatic mountain views. It was incredibly picturesque, and because we were on a private trip, we could actually enjoy the scenery rather than feeling like we were being transported from one attraction to another. Even before reaching Prizren, Kosovo was already making quite an impression on us.

Prevalac: A Quick Stop in the Šar Mountains

Our next stop was Prevalac (Prevallë), a small mountain village and resort area in the Šar Mountains in Kosovo, not Serbia. The drive had been very pleasant and didn’t feel long at all, but it was still nice to get out of the car, stretch our legs, and properly take in the views instead of watching them through the window. Up here, the mountains are not somewhere far in the distance. They are right in front of you, surrounding the road and the little cluster of buildings.

Prevalac is a popular mountain stop year-round, with hiking in the warmer months and snow bringing visitors in winter. What we enjoyed, though, was wandering around for a few minutes and checking out the small roadside stalls. You can buy homemade and local products, including jars of pickled vegetables and other preserved foods. If we had been traveling with bigger luggage, a few jars would probably have come home with us. Unfortunately, we had only our carry-ons, so we could only look. Even without buying anything, Prevalac was well worth the stop, especially for the chance to stand there for a moment with the Šar Mountains all around us before continuing down towards Prizren.

Another thing we really appreciated about having a private driver was that there was no set countdown at each stop. He gave us as much time as we wanted, so we could walk around, take pictures, and move on whenever we were ready. I wanted to take quite a few photos of the Šar Mountains, and at no point did we feel rushed or like someone was waiting for us to hurry up. It really felt like he was there for us rather than us having to follow a fixed tour schedule. And one little warning: even though we visited in May and it was already warm at lower elevations, it was quite cold up in the mountains, so having an extra layer definitely comes in handy. Once we had taken enough pictures, we jumped back into the car and continued down the mountain. A little further along, our driver made another quick stop at a natural mountain spring, where fresh water flows straight from the mountain, and you can fill up your bottle. The water was incredibly cold and refreshing, and while it was only a short stop, it was one of those simple little moments that made the drive to Prizren even more enjoyable.

Arriving in Prizren: Coffee Before Exploring

Finally, just before 10:00 AM, we arrived in Prizren, which meant we still had most of the day ahead of us. But before our driver parked the car and left us to explore on our own, we decided to grab one more coffee together at Mulliri the Coffee Company. It was actually a really nice way to start our time in Prizren. We sat down, chatted a little more about the city, and our driver gave us a few tips on what to see, where to go, and how to make the most of our time there. We also really liked the coffee shop itself, so if you are looking for somewhere to grab a coffee before exploring Prizren, we can definitely recommend it. Once caffeinated and armed with a few local tips, we said goodbye to our driver for a while and headed out to see what Prizren had to offer.

Exploring Prizren: Our Day in Kosovo

We finished our coffee, and we headed straight for Prizren Fortress, deciding to get the biggest uphill waddle of the day out of the way first. The fortress sits above the city, so there is no avoiding the climb, but the good news is that the views start opening up long before you reach the top. We took our time, stopped a few times to catch our breath and take pictures, and slowly watched more and more of Prizren appear below us. We had quite a few places on our list for the day, but starting with the fortress made sense: get the hill behind us first, then spend the rest of the day waddling mostly downhill and through the city.

Prizren Fortress

Prizren Fortress, also known as Kalaja e Prizrenit, has watched over the city from its hilltop for centuries. The site dates back to Late Antiquity, though much of the fortress we see today developed during the medieval period and was later expanded under Ottoman rule. Its position above Prizren was no accident. From here, it could control the surrounding valley, key roads, and approaches to the city, while the fortress itself served both defensive and military purposes. It remained in use during the Ottoman period before gradually losing its military importance. Today, you can wander through the surviving walls, gates, and archaeological remains, but the location is just as much a reason to waddle up as the history. From the top, Prizren spreads out below you with the Šar Mountains rising behind it, giving you one of the best views of the city. We really enjoyed our waddle through the fortress, especially the views, before heading back.

From the fortress, we waddled straight back down into Prizren to properly explore the city and get a feel for it from street level. The difference was noticeable almost immediately. Up at the fortress, we had enjoyed a much quieter side of Prizren, with only a handful of other people around, but once we reached the center, things became much busier. Prizren is a popular stop for visitors to Kosovo, and you could definitely feel that around the main streets and squares, with cafés filling up and plenty of people wandering around. We slowed down, looked around, and spent some time taking in the atmosphere before continuing to the next places on our list.

The Stone Bridge: Prizren’s Most Famous Landmark

Our next stop was the Stone Bridge, right in the heart of Prizren and probably one of the city’s most recognizable sights. The bridge crosses the Lumbardhi River and dates back to the Ottoman period, though flooding in 1979 largely destroyed the original structure, which was later rebuilt. For centuries, it connected different parts of the old city, and today it is pedestrian-only, so you can waddle across, stop for a picture, and take in the views along the river. With the old streets on either side and Prizren Fortress visible on the hill above, it is also one of those spots where many of the city’s landmarks come together in a single view.

Lunch at Restaurant Familjar Pashtriku

By this point, it was already getting close to lunchtime, so we decided to take a break from exploring and headed to Restaurant Familjar Pashtriku. And this might have been one of the best decisions we made all day. It is a proper family-run restaurant, and the food was simply amazing. If I had known we would end up eating somewhere like this, I would have happily skipped breakfast and arrived much hungrier. It was exactly the kind of place we love finding while traveling: local, relaxed, generous, and the sort of meal you keep talking about long after you leave.

After such a heavy lunch, the only sensible thing to do was waddle around Prizren for a little longer and attempt to walk some of it off. If we had known just how much we were going to eat, we probably would have saved that waddle up to the fortress for after lunch! We wandered through the center without much of a plan, stopped by a few more sights, including some of Prizren’s churches and mosques, and enjoyed the streets for a while. Eventually, though, we felt like we had seen enough of Prizren for the day. We had covered the places we wanted to see, eaten very well, and had a good feel for the city, so we were ready to meet our driver again and see where the rest of the day would take us.

In the end, we spent almost four hours in Prizren, which felt like a good amount of time for us. We saw the main sights, waddled through the historic center, stopped for coffee, enjoyed a generous lunch, and still explored without feeling rushed. By the time we met our driver again, we felt like we had gotten a good taste of the city and were ready to continue our day trip.

Once we met up with our driver again, it was time to head back towards North Macedonia. The drive back was just as pleasant, and we again noticed how well-maintained the roads in Kosovo were, especially along the main stretches. When we reached the border, things went smoothly again, with another quick and easy crossing and no long waiting around. We thought that meant our little Kosovo adventure was pretty much over, but once we were back in North Macedonia, our driver had one more surprise waiting for us.

One Last Surprise: Skopje Aqueduct

Before our trip officially ended, our driver had one final surprise: the Skopje Aqueduct. Located a little outside the city center, this long row of stone arches is one of Skopje’s more unusual historical sights. Its exact origins are still debated, with theories linking it to the Roman, Byzantine, or Ottoman periods, but it carried water into the city. Around 50 arches remain standing today, making it the only preserved aqueduct of its kind in North Macedonia. And to be fair, if our driver had not taken us there, we probably would not have made the trip on our own, simply because it sits away from most of the sights you naturally visit while exploring central Skopje. That made the spontaneous stop even better, and it was a nice little bonus before heading back into the city and wrapping up our day.

The Skopje Aqueduct was a really nice final stop before our day trip officially came to an end. From there, we drove back into central Skopje, and our driver dropped us off at the same spot where he had picked us up that morning. It was an easy end to a full day of mountain views, border crossings, plenty of food, and our first little taste of Kosovo.

What We Loved About Our Private Day Trip to Prizren

• No rushing: We could explore everything at our own pace.
• Private experience: It was just our driver and us.
• Flexible timing: We decided how long to spend at each stop.
• Great driver: Friendly, helpful, and full of local tips and stories.
• Extra stops: Including Prevalac, a mountain spring, and Skopje Aqueduct.
• Comfortable transport: The private car made the journey easy and relaxing.
• Easy border crossings: Our driver handled everything for us.
• Plenty of time in Prizren: Almost four hours to explore.
• Scenic drive: The route through the Šar Mountains was a highlight.
• Stress-free day: No parking, navigation, or strict schedule to worry about.

What We Didn’t Love About Our Private Day Trip

There really wasn’t much we didn’t like about this trip, which is always a good sign. If we had to pick a few small things:

• It is more expensive: A private trip naturally costs more than a group tour.
• Quite a lot of driving: It is still a cross-border day trip, so you spend a fair amount of time in the car.
• Border times can vary: We were lucky both ways, but you could potentially wait longer.

Overall, though, none of these were deal-breakers for us, and we struggled to find anything we

Why We Recommend Booking with Skopje Airport Rides

Would We Do the Day Trip Again

Yes, absolutely. We really enjoyed our private day trip from Skopje to Prizren, and we would happily do it again. Having our own driver, choosing our own pace, making spontaneous stops, driving through the Šar Mountains, and having almost four hours to explore Prizren made the day feel relaxed rather than rushed. More importantly, it gave us a first taste of Kosovo, and now we’d love to return and explore much more of the country.

Is a Private Day Trip from Skopje to Prizren Worth It

Yes, if…

• You want an easy introduction to Kosovo
• You are staying in Skopje and have one extra day
• You do not want to worry about driving, parking, or border crossings
• You prefer exploring at your own pace
• You want a private experience without a large tour group
• You enjoy having the flexibility to make extra stops along the way
• You want plenty of free time in Prizren
• You want to experience the Šar Mountains as part of the journey
• You like chatting with a local driver and learning more about the region
• You have limited time but still want a little taste of Kosovo

No, if…

• You are traveling on a very tight budget
• You prefer using public transport and organizing everything yourself
• You want to explore more of Kosovo than just Prizren
• You dislike spending a few hours in the car
• You want to stay overnight and experience Prizren in the evening
• You prefer a traditional guided tour with a fixed itinerary and a guide at every attraction

Buy Us a Ko-fi

Our private day trip from Skopje to Prizren became one of the highlights of our long weekend in North Macedonia. What started as a way to use our last free day became our first little taste of Kosovo, complete with mountain roads, coffee stops, a fortress walk, far too much food, and plenty of conversations along the way.

Choosing a private trip with Skopje Airport Rides was definitely the right decision for us. Having Boban as our driver made the day feel personal and relaxed, and we loved being able to stop when we wanted, spend almost four hours in Prizren, and never watch the clock. If you are staying in Skopje with a spare day, Kosovo is much closer than you might think, and Prizren makes for a very easy first introduction. We came back to Skopje full, tired, and already thinking that next time, Kosovo deserves more than just one day.

Travel Bold. Eat Well. Waddle Wild.

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