Many people in Kosovo can speak English; they are more then willing to help you and tell you their stories. You, as the outsider, will get to hear both sides.
If you are interested in more than just seeing beautiful mountains and ancient ruins on your vacation to 'the region', Kosovo strongly recommends itself.
'''Info''' You can get a superb atlas of Kosovo from the OSCE that has detailed ethnic maps (before and after the war), vital statistics, along with navigational maps. To get the map, ask for the NGO Information office near the OSCE building in Pristina.
You can enter Kosovo through the northern border with Serbia through Kosovska Mitrovica or near Pristina. There are bus connections from Belgrade and Nis to Pristina and Prizren and from all the major towns in Serbia to the northern parts. Most used transport route is through Macedonia and Prishtina airport. Skopje is only one and half hour far from capital city of Kosovo, Prishtina. Travelling from Prishtina to any other city of Kosovo does not take longer than an hour and a half. For instance, from Prishtina to Prizren it takes an hour and a half, if there is no traffic, but the most it can take is two hours. The distance to Pejais also similar.
'''NOTE''': As Serbia does not recognize Kosovo, you will not be given a Serbian exit stamp if you enter Kosovo from Serbia. Likewise, if Serbia finds any Kosovan stamps in your passport, they will be crossed out and replaced with Serbian stamps, although you are unlikely to be denied entry because of them. However, if you are living in or intend to travel frequently to Serbia, you will need to get matching pairs of entry and exit stamps; this means backtracking and leaving Serbia via a recognised border crossing point, such as the Belgrade airport.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines [http://www.flysas.com/ks] offer direct flights from Pristina to Copenhagen on Saturdays.
From Macedonia you can take a bus to Prishtina (approximately 2.5 hours)
There is a border crossing in the Presevo Valley in Serbia.
From Albania you can enter through Prizren, although supposedly the Tirana-Prizren bus ride along the mountain road can cause the faint-hearted to move on to the next life.
To enter Kosovo, your International Motor Insurance Card is not valid for Kosovo. You will need to purchase insurance liaibility at the border for 50? before the border guards will allow you to enter. Ensure also that you have your Vehicle Registration and a Power of Attorney from the owner if the car is not yours. The border guards are very strict about allowing cars through without these documents.
'''Kosovan Railways''' Kosovan Railways (Kosovske Zeleznice - Hekurudhat e Kosoves) are currently (2006) running the following passenger train services: from Fushe Kosove (former Kosovo Polje; a city near Pristina) to Leshak (a town North at the Serb frontier) three trains a day. From Fushe Kosove at 07.35, 11.18 and 14.15 and from Leshak at 09.55, 13.19 and 16.50. The train passes through most of the Serbian enclaves that are strung up through the northern part of Kosovo. The system is seen as a way of helping to make the lives of the Serbs in the enclaves easier but also as a way to help integration. The service is free of charge to local people. Another service runs twice a day from Fushe Kosove at 04.17 and 19.00 to Hani i Elezit (former General Jankovic) on the border to Macedonia, return journeys from Hani i Elezit starts at 05.53 and 20.44. A local suburban services runs from Fushe Kosove to Grazhanica with departures from F. Kosove at 05.40 and 19.17, returning from Grazhanica at 06.30 and 20.05. The railway is about to order some self-propelled diesel railcars to improve services. http://www.kosovorailway.com/home.php?lang=3&mod=home&cat=32
'''TAXI''' Beware, often in Kosovo taxi drivers and other people involved in the grey market transportation system will try to rip you off.
Prishtina is the capital city of Kosovo. Places that should be visited in Prishtina is the quarter near the National Museum of Kosova. In addition to visiting the museum where a lot of archelogical artifacts are presented, in both ways when you exit you see the old mosques, since the Ottoman Empire.
Brezovica Ski Centre - Old infrastructure but great slopes, located in Southern Kosova.
Novo Brdo (in Latin documents written as Novaberd, Novus Mons or Novamonte; and in Saxon miners' documents as Nyeuberghe) was mentioned in the historical documents as early as 1326. Novo Brdo was a metropolis at the time, with a huge medieval fortress built on the top of an extinct volcano cone, the remains of which can be visited today, and residential sections sprawling all around. In the outer wall of the fortress a large cross is visible, built into the stones. The castle, or fortress, was thought at one point to have dated back to the Byzantine Empire.
Ulpiana , one of the most old cities in the Balkan peninsula is just 20-30 minutes away from Prishtina towards Gjilan and that is the city that is know to have been re-constructed by Justinian I emperior.
At the bakery you can buy a fantastic loaf of bread for under one Euro.
The grocery stores have a plentiful supply of Western food.
But in the otherside if you plan not to sleep, go at the bars (i.e. Hard Rock Bar - close to KEK- Energy Enterprise, you have a good prices and of course the best rock music in town, considering the elite people in there, such as musicians, actors, etc. Other places to visit are Strip Depo, close to the ABC Cinema, Kafja e Vogel(Small Cafe) close to OSCE. Kosovo youngsters, as in other Balkan countries, are largely cafe going culture, so you will find these places full any day during week. Reception Room, located opposite to Skenderbeg monument, seems to be a popular night club for 2007.
Skopje in Macedonia has some very cheap accommodation so doing day trips to Kosovo from there is very much a possibility.
Read the news before going. In July 3rd 2005, three bombs exploded near UN headquarters. This could be a signal that one of the groups has had it with UN and international intervention which could lead towards violence against foreigners...but then again maybe not. Point being, stay on top of the news.
Also, with Kosovo's recent declaration of independence, things may heat up again soon. Again, '''stay on top of the news''' before going.
The Serbs are a very hospitable people and very friendly. The most likely encounter starts with them saying your country (if you are American or British) bombed them. Their next action will most likely be inviting you into their home to drink 'rakija' with them and offering you way too much food, end of discussion of politics. That though is the ''most likely encounter'', occasionally you will meet somebody who may not be as hospitable, more than likely in Mitrovice. Be smart, and if the discussion gets a bit intense don't verbally resist and get in an argument about the war, agree with them where you can and downplay your country (as truthfully or untruthfully as you feel you can do).
'''LAND MINES!''' Like much of the Balkans, land mines were heavily used during the Yugoslav civil war. Stay on the pavement, if you go off the pavement stay on well worn paths. Wandering off of trails can pose a significant health risk to your legs (and your life). On the other hand don't let this minor problem make you not visit Kosovo. So long as you don't go wandering around in the bushes it poses no hazard to you. In other words do not be an idiot and say I want to hike through that forest!!!
Speaking with strangers, especially about Balkan politics and NATO policies is discouraged. If you want to make friends, don't talk about politics first.
'''RABIES''' - Don't pet dogs -stay away from them!
The are direct flights from Pri?tina International Airport to London, New York City, Zurich, Geneva, Gothenburg, Copenhagen, Vienna, Zagreb, Hamburg, Hannover, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen, Rome, Milan, Verona, Ljubljana, Budapest, Tirana, Istanbul and Antalya. Soon, there will be direct flights to Sarajevo and other destinations.
There are direct bus links to most cities in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Note that if you plan to go to Russia after Kosovo, you may encounter a bit of trouble entering the country as Russia still considers the declaration of independence of Kosovo to be illegal.