According to travelationary, Kosovo (Albanian: Kosovë, Kosova, Serbian: Косово) is an independent state in Europe that declared its independence in 2008. This independence is not recognized by all countries of the world. Kosovo is seen by many countries as an autonomous province of Serbia. Kosovo borders Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. The capital of Kosovo is Pristina. A number of major cities in Kosovo are: Prizren, Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Gjakova and Peja.

Kosovo is an area that has always been dominated by war. At the moment it is relatively quiet, but the traces of the many wars can still be found everywhere. In Kosovo you will find various mountain areas where you can do winter sports in the winter. In recent years, the country has become increasingly popular as a tourist destination.

Where is Kosovo located?

Travel information of Kosovo

Official name: Republic of Kosovo or Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija
Continent: Europe
Area: 10,908 km²
Capital: Pristina
Country code: XK, XKX (unofficial)
Population: 1,932,774 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Republic
Highest point: 2,656 m (Gjeravica)
Distance (Amsterdam – Pristina): 1,623 km
Flight time: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes

Travel advice
Current status: Attention, safety risks.
Current color code: Yellow.

Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete trips and holidays to Kosovo. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.

Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, hiking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Kosovo?

Weather and climate
Kosovo has a continental climate. In the winter months, temperatures can drop to -15 degrees with lots of snow and prolonged frost. In the summer months the temperatures are around 20 to 30 degrees.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Kosovo can be found on our extensive weather page.
Extensive information about the climate of Kosovo can be found at Climate info.

Best time
May, June, July, August, September and October are the best months to travel to Kosovo. In these months you have the best chance of good weather.

Language
Albanian is the official language in Kosovo. Serbian, Bosnian and Turkish are also spoken.
Would you like to translate from or into Albanian for free? Use the Google translator for this.

Travel documents
You must have a valid passport.
A visa is required. You will receive this on arrival and it is valid for a maximum of 90 days.

Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Kosovo: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Embassy of Kosovo in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.

Vaccination (inoculation)
It is advisable to get one or more vaccinations before visiting Kosovo.
For extensive vaccination advice and to make a vaccination appointment at home, please visit Thuisvaccinatie.nl. You can also see here whether your health insurance reimburses the vaccination(s).

Money and Currency
In Kosovo, payments are made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in Kosovo can be found on our ATMs page.

Price level
Prices in Kosovo are much lower than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is -62% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (76% cheaper), food (57% cheaper), imported beer in catering (57% cheaper), cigarettes (61% cheaper) and public transport (85% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.

Tipping
In Kosovo it is not customary to tip.

Time difference
There is no time difference with the Netherlands.
Summer time in Kosovo is the same as in the Netherlands.
Find the local time, date and time zone for Kosovo on our time difference page.

Traffic and route
In Kosovo you have to drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Kosovo.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Kosovo.

Electricity
In Kosovo the same plugs and sockets are used as in the Netherlands.
More information about electricity in Kosovo can be found on our electricity page.

Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 911
– Fire: 911
– Ambulance: 911

Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap.
If you are unable to buy bottled water, use a water purifier to purify the water or boil the water for 5 minutes. After this you can safely use it as drinking water and for things like brushing teeth, cleaning lenses and washing vegetables and / or fruit. More information about drinking water and/or the purchase of water purification products can be found on our drinking water page.

News and newspapers
The latest news related to Kosovo can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Kosovo can be found on Abyznewslinks.

Internet
Websites from Kosovo end in.rs.
Kosovo official website: gzk.rks-gov.net.

Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Kosovo is 00381 or +381.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Kosovo? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Company details can be found in the Kosovo Yellow Pages.

Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Kosovo.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Kosovo.

Reviews and travel experiences
On TripAdvisor you can find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in Kosovo, supplemented with photos, videos and points of interest.

Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Kosovo?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Kosovo. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.

Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Kosovo can be found on Protected Planet.
Kosovo is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Kosovo? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol, money and perfume, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. In addition, on this website you will find the laws and regulations regarding the importation of pets and a list of everything that may not be imported and/or exported from Kosovo.

Entrepreneurship and doing business
If you intend to do business in or do business with Kosovo, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about Kosovo, including: opportunities, import and export regulations, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, business partners and subsidies.

Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Kosovo.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.3.
– Tobacco: Buy from the age of 18, smoking at all ages.
– Smoking ban: No
– Homosexuality: Allowed

Did you know that…
…Only 108 of the 193 members of the United Nations recognize Kosovo as a state?
…Kosovo has the highest birth rate in Europe?
…Kosovo forms an important connection between Central and Southern Europe?
…Kosovo has been an important wine producer for many years?
…Kosovo does not border any sea?
…The main street is named after Bill Clinton because of his contribution to peace?