Bus Times and Fares Three towns near Gjakova make easy outings, and all of them have regular buses. Fares vary by operator. Destination Distance Bus time Fare Deçan 21 km about 30 min about 2 EUR Prizren 36 km about 55 min 2.50 to 3 EUR Peja 36 km about 55 min about 3 EUR Prizren buses run roughly 06:30 to 18:30, and Peja buses from about 06:15 to 18:00 or 18:30.

Why Walk Gjakova is best seen on foot. The historic core is compact, the main street is closed to traffic, and every stop below lies within a short stroll of the next. Start at the north entrance of the bazaar, and allow a relaxed half day with a lunch stop. The Route Kulla of Abdullah Pashë Dreni. The stone tower of 1790 at the bazaar entrance houses the Tourist Information Centre, where maps and guide contacts are available on weekdays.

The Old Bazaar Core Most of Gjakova’s landmarks stand within a few minutes’ walk of each other around the Old Bazaar. The bazaar burned in 1999 and was rebuilt, so what you see today is largely a reconstruction on the old street plan. Hadum Mosque. Built in 1594 to 1595 by Sylejman Hadum Aga, this was the first mosque in Gjakova and is still a working mosque. The interior and dome are painted in secco.

A Quiet Stay for Two Gjakova is a small, calm town, so a romantic stay here means one or two unhurried days of good dinners, evening walks and a wine tasting rather than a long list of sights. The old bazaar is the setting for most of it, and it is easy to cover on foot. The euro is the currency. Dinner at Hani i Haraçisë Hani i Haraçisë is a caravanserai from the 16th century, with a newer wing dated 1901, and it has been a restaurant since 1984.

A Three-Day Dukagjini Loop This plan links Gjakova with Prizren and Peja using public buses. Day 1, Gjakova. Walk the Old Bazaar, visit the tekkes and have dinner at Hani i Haraçisë. Sleep in the bazaar. Day 2, bridges and Prizren. Visit Terzi Bridge, about 10 km east, then Fshajt Bridge at 11 km on the Prizren road. Carry on to Prizren, 36 km from Gjakova, and stay the night there.

What to Expect Gjakova is a small town with a short list of child-focused attractions, so it suits a relaxed day or two of strolling, cycling and easy outings rather than a packed itinerary. Children tend to enjoy the traffic-free bazaar, the woods on the edge of town and a cave a short drive away. The euro is the currency. Shkugëza Park Shkugëza is a pine forest 3 km from the centre.

A Guided Walk of the Town The best starting point is the Tourist Information Centre, housed in the Kulla of Abdullah Pashë Dreni at the entrance to the Old Bazaar. This three-storey stone tower dates from 1790 and is linked to the killing of the Ottoman marshal Mehmed Ali Pasha in 1878. The office is open Monday to Friday from about 08:00 to 16:00, and a guided city tour is arranged there at a price agreed on the spot.

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.