Prizren is a small city in Kosovo situated at the foothills of the Sar mountain range in the Balkans. It is considered to be the historical and cultural capital of the country, having been at the crossroads of the Byzantine Roman, Serbian, and Ottoman empires at various points in history. Ethnically the majority of the population is of Albanian origin, and Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. In fact, I saw more Albanian flags in Kosovo that the actual national flag. I made a short pit stop during my Balkans trip in Prizren, while en-route to Tirana in Albania after my visit to Skopje in Macedonia.

The rich and complex history of the town is evident in todays Prizren – with mosque minarets, church bell towers, and remnants of a Turkish Hammam (bathhouse) jostling for space along the cobblestoned alleys. Prizren is an extremely picturesque town – with the Bistrica River running through the middle, the 15th century Sinan Pasha mosque’s minaret piercing the skyline, and countless Ottoman era houses set against the mountain. The stone bridge spanning the river adds even more historical charm to the setting, and I found it reminiscent of the Stari Most bridge we had visited in Bosnia on a prior Balkan trip.

1. Walk across the old stone bridge

The stone bridge spanning the Prizren Bistrica river adds even more historical charm to the town’s setting, and I found it reminiscent of the Stari Most bridge we had visited in Bosnia on a prior Balkan trip. This pedestrian bridge is built in the Ottoman style, with a spherical arch shape and slanted paved walkway for higher structural integrity.

2. Visit the Sinan Pasha mosque

I started my Prizren tour in the old town area, and my first stop was the Sinan Pasha mosque, where I admired the intricate arabic calligraphy and interior mosaics. The mosque was built in the early 17th century and its minaret is one of the iconic images of Prizren.

3. Learn about the medieval Turkish hammam (bathhouse)

Mehmet Pasha Hammam is a Turkish bath dating from the 16th century, and I was curious to learn more about it’s distinctive pock-marked lead roofing. While it has long ceased to being a bathhouse, today parts of the building are used as a venue for cultural exhibitions and also as an art gallery.

4. Admire a UNESCO world heritage church

My next stop was at the Church of Our Lady of Ljeviš which is a Serbian Orthodox Church dating from the 14th century, and also one of Kosovo’s 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites. During the Ottoman occupation the church was converted into a mosque, and it was only in the 20th century that it was restored back to a church.

5. Hike up to Prizren Fortress

After lunch it was time to burn off some calories, so I set off on a steep hike up to the 6th century castle which looms over the town, for even better birds eye views of the surrounding areas. The short yet arduous climb in the midday heat was well worth it – once at the top I was rewarded with sweeping views of Prizren’s old town, the river, and the surrounding green hills.