Pristina (also written Prishtina) is not often regarded as a very photogenic city. It certainly doesn’t have the glamor of Paris or Prague, but it has a funky, gritty spirit of its own.
Pristina is all about funky cafés and bars, offbeat bazaars, street art, and tiny details. Its streets may not instantly scream “Instagrammable,” but look beyond and you’ll be surprised at how charming the city can truly be.
My Favorite Instagram Spots in Pristina
Dit’ e Nat’
The best brunch place in Pristina, if not all of Kosovo, you have to visit Dit’ e Nat’ at one point during your trip to Pristina. It’s a great place to get a gorgeous breakfast photo (get your flat lay skills on point!), or just to get a good selfie on the funky DIY-vibe terrace. It also has a bookstore section that is very photogenic!
Location: 5 Fazli Grajqevci, Prishtinë
Soma Book Station
At night, this is one of the best nightlife spots in the city, but by day Soma Book Station is one of the most gorgeous Instagram places in Pristina! This hybrid library/restaurant/café/bar is one of my favorite photography spots in Pristina, and you definitely shouldn’t miss it when in the city.
Location: 4/A Fazli Grajqevci, Prishtinë
National Library of Kosovo (Exterior)
Is it weird to include a building that’s often shortlisted as one of the ‘ugliest buildings in the world’ on a list of Instagram-worthy places in Pristina? I can’t help it – Brutalist architecture makes my heart skip a beat! If you like to feature the offbeat side of the cities you visit, especially in a place that’s not as traditionally “Instagrammable” as Pristina, you can’t miss the National Library.
Location: National Library of Kosovo, Prishtinë
National Library of Kosovo (Interior)
As funky and weird as the exterior of the National Library is, the inside is equally photogenic and worth a visit! It’s a huge difference from the outside and it could be interesting to show the contrast between exterior and interior on your Instagram feed.
Location: National Library of Kosovo, Prishtinë
Half & Half Café
With exposed brick, hanging plants, and mismatched furniture, Half&Half on Nënë Tereza Boulevard looks almost straight out of Brooklyn (luckily their prices are not!). It’s located right on the main pedestrian walking street of Pristina so it’s a great place to people-watch as well as snap some photos.
Location: Bulevardi Nënë Tereza, Prishtinë
Newborn Monument
One of the most quintessential photos you can take in Pristina, you can’t miss snapping the “Newborn” monument. Erected in 2008 on the day that Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, this monument (which changes its colors and theme every year) is an in-your-face assertion of Kosovar independence and identity.
Location: Luan Haradinaj, Prishtinë
Rooftop Views
We love the view of Pristina at night with those red-tiled rooftops against the sunset! This was taken at Stephanie’s hotel room at the Hotel Sara during her stay in Pristina, but if your hotel doesn’t have a nice view, head to the Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa and take the elevator up to the top for 1 euro, which will give you some stunning views!
Location: Katedralja Nënë Tereza, Prishtinë
Where to Stay in Kosovo
Accommodations in Pristina offer great value compared to other cities in Europe. Here is a general range of what we mean by each budget category:
- Budget: A room in a hostel, usually $5-12 USD per night for a dorm bed or under $40 for a double.
- Mid-range: Around $40-80
- Luxury: Around $100 per night or more
Budget: If you want a hostel with an awesome location, book a bunk at Hostel Han. The center of Pristina is fairly walkable, and here you’ll be able to take advantage and get out an explore the city center. Rooms are bright and clean, and the bunks have individual privacy curtains to give you some space when you get back to the dorm. Check rates and availability here. If you are traveling in peak season, be sure to book online, as Hostel Han is popular and tends to get booked up.
If you’re looking for a budget hotel room in Pristina (read: not a hostel), I stayed at the Hotel Sara for almost a week. My room was clean and comfortable, and the staff was very friendly. Located a bit away from the center (about half a kilometer), I was still able to walk easily to and from the city center to get wherever I wanted to go (even in the middle of a blistering heat wave). Check rates and availability here
Mid-range: Located near the beautiful Gërmia Park, Hotel La Familia Residence is a four-star hotel that has a swimming pool, fitness center, and massage chairs onsite. While it’s outside of the city center (about twenty-five minutes on foot), it’s got awesome views of the city to enjoy. It’s a great bargain, too – check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here.
Luxury: For a luxurious Pristina stay, check into the Hotel International Pristina & Spa. You can enjoy the hotel’s wide array of amenities, including the sun terrace, hot tub, sauna, pool, hotel bar, and onsite restaurant. Rooms are up-to-date, with modern furnishings and relaxing ensuites. You’ll absolutely love the skyline Pristina views. Check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here.
More Kosovo Travel Resources
Headed to Pristina? We have some great travel resources to help you with your trip. You can check out our list of the best things to do in Pristina. We also have a Balkan currency guide which explains how money works in Kosovo and local tipping customs.
If you’re still putting together your itinerary, here’s a great list of places to visit in Kosovo to help you choose.
If this will be one of your first trips in the Balkans, check out our massive list of things to know before traveling the Balkans as well as our Balkan bus, road trip, and itinerary guides.
We publish new articles and trip advice nearly daily! For more information about traveling to Kosovo and the Balkans, bookmark our Kosovo and Balkan travel pages, where you’ll find our entire archive plus anything new we publish before you leave for your trip.
Get Travel Insurance Before You Come to Kosovo!
Make sure you have travel insurance before you come to Kosovo. This part of the world is safe, and we absolutely love traveling here! But things happen on the road, and having travel insurance keeps incidents from ruining your trip. Recently my aunt fell on a train in France and needed surgery, but luckily her travel insurance covered the costs in full. Thank goodness!
For travel insurance, I use World Nomads. I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.4
Originally from California, Allison has been living in Bulgaria for the last two years and is obsessed with traveling around the Balkans. She has been published in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, Matador Network, and the Huffington Post. She loves befriending dogs, drinking coffee, geeking out about wine, and cooking food from around the world.
