Kosovo welcomed 306,447 foreign visitors during the first five months of the year, with the largest number of tourists coming from Albania, Germany, Switzerland, and Türkiye.
According to Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the country’s most visited destinations are Prizren, Prishtina, Peja, and Gjakova.
The ministry stated that Prizren remains Kosovo’s top tourist destination, attracting visitors with its historic center, fortress, mosques, churches, DokuFest, and rich cultural heritage. Prishtina serves as the country’s main gateway for international tourists, with attractions including the NEWBORN Monument, the National Library of Kosovo, and the Saint Teresa Cathedral. Peja continues to draw adventure and nature enthusiasts thanks to the Rugova Gorge, the White Drin Waterfall, and the Patriarchate of Peć, while Gjakova is renowned for its Grand Bazaar and traditional architecture.
The ministry added that the Prishtina and Peja regions recorded the highest number of foreign visitors and overnight stays, while Prizren remains the country’s leading cultural tourism destination.
Tour guide Muhamer Hasani said many visitors initially arrive with concerns about safety because they have been misinformed while visiting neighboring countries. However, he said those concerns quickly disappear once they experience Kosovo for themselves.
“One of the first questions tourists ask is about safety, followed by Kosovo’s relations with neighboring countries. Within minutes, they realize that reality is completely different from what they had heard. Unfortunately, visitors who have previously traveled to some neighboring countries are often given false information about security in Kosovo. Fortunately, this misconception is easy to dispel, as credible international organizations have consistently ranked Kosovo among the safest places to visit,” Hasani said.
He added that visitors from almost every nationality now travel to Kosovo, highlighting a growing number of tourists from Greece and Romania, who had previously been less represented.
Meanwhile, Baki Hoti, Chairman of the Kosovo Tourism Union, described the increase in visitor numbers as a very positive trend.
According to Hoti, an average tourist spends around €150 per day in Kosovo, making tourism an important contributor to the country’s economy. He also stressed that while Kosovo has significant tourism potential, greater government investment is needed to further develop the sector.
The ministry noted that visitors from Albania primarily travel to Kosovo due to geographical proximity and strong family and cultural ties, while many visitors from Germany are members of the Kosovo diaspora or travel for business purposes.
