Peja
Peja is very different from Pristina and Prizren. It has both the tumult of Pristina and the old Prizren. Unlike both, Peja has a very impressive mountain backdrop to boost. The nature surrounding Patriarchate of Pec and Decani Visoki monasteries is fantastic.
Trip brainstorm
- A visit to Patriarchate of Pec and Decani Visoki monasteries is a must if you’re here. They are the two most important Serbian churches in Kosovo.
- Visit the Turkish bazaar and check out some of local crafts made in Kosovo.
- For the women, there are a few shops selling very nice clothes made in Turkey or by Turkish in Italy.
- Have lunch at one of many small restaurants located right in middle of the bazaar and listen or endure the blasting Albanian turbo-folk music.
- Find Tony Blair street. This street isn’t as wide and obvious as Bill Clinton in Pristina.
Food
Kosovo is probably one the few remaining countries you can eat well and pay less. Everything cost a fraction of the prices typically seen in Western or even other Eastern European countries. During my time here in Kosovo, I eat pretty much 3 things: burek, cevapi and home-made salad. I was told that Albanians made the best burek. These delicious Balkan pies have different variations: meat, cheese, spinach or potatoes though in Kosovo you will find mostly meat or cheese. They are cheap too, cost only €0.6 and can make the best choice for breakfast, light lunch and light dinner. If you prefer met, definitely try cevapi/Balkan kebab sold everywhere. When I became too full with burek and cevapi, I bought fresh vegetables from the market and prepare mixed salad for dinner.
You probably won’t find anywhere in Europe where a lunch menu of cevapcici, a small plate of mixed salad, Peja beer at a restaurant in the Turkish bazaar cost only €3.
Sample cost
Below are sample prices for Kosovo, not only for a particular city. Prices don’t vary too much here. There isn’t much difference, if not at all, between the capital and other cities in Kosovo. It’s already dirt cheap in the capital, thus can’t be any cheaper elsewhere.
| Accommodation
- Hotel from €25 (double occupancy), €20 (single), €40 (triple occupancy) I stayed at Alvida hotel, recommended by a barber whom I asked for direction. This hotel is very clean, beautiful, and for the price that I paid, it was a steal. |
Transportation - Bus to Prizren: €3, Pristina: €4 - Taxi to Patriarchate of Pec: €8 (for 4 peole) - Taxi to Decani Visoki Monastery and back to the bus station with 2 hours of waiting: €20 (4 people) |
| Food - Burek: €0.8 - Cevapi + a bottle of beer: €3 - Expresso for 4: €3 |
Misc. - Hair cut : €3 |
Transportation
The main attractions in Peja is outside of Peja. There is no bus connection to the Patriarchate of Pec monastery, two km away from the center. You either have to take a taxi or make a long walk. However, there is a bus to Vecani Visoki Monastery which is 10 km away. Bear in mind, the bus doesn’t take you directly to the monastery, you have to make another 2 km uphill walk from the main road. If you travel in group, definitely take a taxi.
