Things to Do in Gjakova

The Old Bazaar

Gjakova is a compact south-west Kosovo town, and most of what visitors do happens in and around its Old Bazaar. The bazaar runs about 1 km and holds roughly 500 shops. About 430 buildings burned in 1999 and the bazaar was rebuilt from the 2000s, shop by shop. Traditional trades still found here include the qeleshe (the white felt cap), silversmithing and filigree, cradle-making, tailoring, currying and gunsmithing. Walk the lanes, look through open workshop doors and ask before photographing anyone at work.

Cafés and Meals

The pedestrian spine is Sylejman Hadum Aga Street. Ku Zine at no. 51 serves samun, a bread roll filled with suxhuk sausage, from about 1 EUR. Ambient at no. 40 and Old Barrel are two other places for coffee or a drink along the same street.

For a sit-down meal, head for Hani i Haraçisë, a caravanserai from the 16th century with a newer wing dated 1901. It has been a museum and restaurant since 1984, with a courtyard and an upstairs room. Tavë Gjakovare is on the menu, and mains cost about 5 to 10 EUR.

Hiking and Cycling

Pashtrik, at about 1,987 m on the Albanian border, is the local mountain. SHBA Pashtriku, the local hiking club, has an office at Sylejman Hadum Aga Street no. 101 and runs open Sunday hikes for about 2 to 7 EUR. A mountain-bike tour to Pashtrik and Kunora Peak takes about 6 hours and meets at the Superbike shop on Ismail Qemali Street, so check the meeting point before you go.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a risk in remoter parts of Kosovo. On Pashtrik and other border ridges, stay on marked trails, go with a local guide and never cross into Albania away from an official crossing.

Wine

Risons Wine & Distillery is in Qerim village on the Pristina road, and tastings are by reservation. Stone Castle in Rahovec is the largest winery in Kosovo, and its tasting room is open to visitors. See the Stone Castle website before you travel.

Through the Year

  • March: the Gjakova Film Festival screens short films. Sultan Nevruz is marked on 22 March at the Sufi tekkes, and it is a religious occasion, so do not count on watching a ceremony.
  • July and August: the Days of the Albanian Festival fills weekends and is free.
  • Early to mid August: the Fshajt Bridge diving competition, held on a Sunday. Divers jump 22 m from the bridge over the White Drin, 11 km east of town. The event began in 1954, paused in 1998 and 1999, and resumed in 2014. Watch from the banks, and do not jump yourself.
  • September: Komedia Fest takes over the Old Bazaar, and the Gjakova Trail Run, from about 15 to 25 EUR, is held in the second half of the month.

Getting Here

Gjakova is in south-west Kosovo, far from the north, where governments advise extra caution; check your government’s advice before you travel. Gjakova Airport is a military airfield with no civilian flights, so fly into Pristina and take a bus of 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 for about 5 EUR. The euro is the currency. Taxis in town cost about 2 to 5 EUR.

Read more: Gjakova sights, from mosques to bridges covers the landmarks in more detail.

For current official advice see the UK government page on Kosovo , and the Wikivoyage entry for Gjakova lists more cafés and venues. Guided outings are listed on GetYourGuide .