'''Mitrovicë''' is a city in the north of Kosovo an autonomous province of Serbia.

Understand

The city of Mitrovica is divided into a North and South by the Ibar river.

Although geographically located on the same flat plain you might as well be in two separate cities. The Northern section is entirely populated by Serbs. The southern section is entirely populated by Albanians, with the southern Serbian section having been entirely 'ethnically cleansed.'

There are several bridges that connect the two sections. Much has been made of the main bridge running from the Albanian side to the Serbian side. It has been the scene of violence in the past and may very well be so again the future, but for the most part, if the French troops stationed on it have it open then it is safe to cross.

There is a second bridge to the east of town that has not been the scene of so much conflict and in many cases is the better to use (although a bit more difficult to find).

Get in

Taking a bus from Belgrade (or Southern Serbia you will arrive at the North Mitrovica improvised bus station.

Coming from Pri?tina you will arrive at the actual bus station in the south.

Get around

The usual combi system applies in the south, in the North you can walk anywhere you need to get to.

If you are coming from Belgrade to North Mitrovica and planning on going on to Pri?tina you have two options.

#You can walk across the main bridge (about 400 meters to the south of where the bus dropped you off) and then find a combi to Pri?tina for 1.50 EUR #Get off the bus in Zvecan (before arriving in Mitrovica) where you can transfer onto UNMIK Railways. The trains run about every three hours. The train will take you to Kosovo Polje where you can then take a combi to Pri?tina

See

Mitrovica is an old industrial mining town (some creative theorists say NATO bombed Kosovo to capture the 'rich' mines of Mitrovice).

For those with an interest in ruined communist industrial architecture, there is a wealth of it on display in and around Mitrovica.

At the center of the south (Albanian) side, there are a number of cafes, pizzerias, restuarnts, and shops, as well as a mall. There is also outdoor, public market just south of the mall. Internet cafe's abound in Mitrovica. If you take a walk around various parts of town, you can still see a part of town marked by destruction (toward the west on the Albanian side - the gypsy quarter), craftsmen and artists, rolling hills, etc. Bread, pizza, and doners are available all over town for a good, inexpensive meal.

Do

Walking around the town on foot is the best way to explore it. Evenings are full of young people going up and down the main thoroughfares. So expect to meet the same faces many times around.

Buy

In North Mitrovica near the main bridge you can purchase post cards with a picture of an F-117 Stealth fighter with a target on it and the text 'Sorry, we didn't know it was invisible.' A wealth of such such memorabilia is available for purchase.

In South Mitrovica you will primarily only find American and Albanian flags for sale.

Eat

Ibri: This outdoor (and indoor) restaurant is located in South Mitrovica on the road to Zubin Potok. It serves fresh fish from a fish pond located in the restaurant complex itself and their speciality is open grilled or fried trout fish. Very pleasant in summer evenings. If you are with your family, it has lot of open space for kids to play around. Ample parking space as long as there are not too many cars!

Drink

Dolce Vita: It is a smoke filled cafetaria right at the North end of the Blue Bridge over river Ibar. Good for different types of coffee and loud music sometimes of Serbian nationalist variety. A favourite haunt of the famous bridgewatchers.

Sleep

It will be extremely difficult to find accommodation in Mitrovica you have a huge number of motels and hotels in and around Mitrovica where to have accommodation where you can rest and sleep.
  • '''Hotel Palace''': Popular with international organizations for holding their conferences.
  • '''Hotel Mitrovica'''
  • '''Hotel Adriatik'''
  • '''Motel Seadi-Petrol'''
  • Get out