Vushtrri
Understand
The city of Vushtrri is an old settlement with a history that starts from classical antiquity and continues to the present day. In antiquity Vushtrri was a small settlement populated by the Illyrians of the Dardanian tribe and was known as Viciana (Latin. Vicianum).
Vushtrri lies on the banks of the river Sitnica and is located on the highway which connects Prishtina and Mitrovica. The surrounding town has an overwhelming Albanian population with a small Serb minority in the villages of Prilluzhe and Gojbule.
The city is characterized by several cultural heritage monuments, among which should be mentioned the City Castle, the City Hammam, the City Museum (House of Mahmut Gjinolli), the House of Shaban Ages, the Tower of Azem and Shote Galices, the City Tekke, the Stone Bridge , Iron Bridge, Concrete Bridge (Silnice Bridge), Wooden Bridge (Pestova Bridge), etc.
Get in
By bus
The inter-city bus station is at the entrance of the town when coming from Pristina, with easy access to the town.
If you are in Pristina, a bus heads to Vushtrri (€1, 30 minutes away) every 15 minutes, Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on Sundays.
By plane
Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN IATA) is 35.8 km away from Vushtrri (via R220). There you can get a taxi or the bus that heads to Pristina. Then take the bus to Vushtrri
By car
From Pristina, Vushtrri is 25 km away on a partly highway road. Coming from Serbia, through Zubin Potok and Leposavic, than Mitrovica, Vushtrri is the second town. If you come from Albania, the easiest way is through the highway Durrës - Kukës - Prizren - Prishtina. From Skenderaj, you can use the regional road through Duboc.
Get around
Since the town is not that big, the best way to get to see it is by walking. Taxis are quite inexpensive: you can get around the city for €2-3 at most.
See
- 🌍 Stone Bridge (Ura e Gurit), Rruga Avni Saraci. 24/7. free.
- 🌍 Old Hamam (Hamami i Vushtrrisë - Hamami i Gazi Ali Beut), Rruga Isa Boletini. free.
- 🌍 Vushtrri Castle (Kalaja e Vicianës - Kalaja e Vushtrrisë), Center of the City. free.
- 🌍 Mahmut Gjinolli House (Shtëpia e Mahmut Gjinollit - Muzeu i Vushtrrisë), Rruga Enver Musa.
- 🌍 Iron Bridge (Ura e Hekurit), Rruga Shefki Dallku. 24/7. free.
- 🌍 Sitnica Bridge (Ura e Silnicës), Rruga Viciana. 24/7. free.
Do
- Hiking (Kosovo Tourist Guides Association), ☏ +38349372639, guidesinkosovo@gmail.com. umbrella organization of tourist guides in Kosovo. They will put you in touch with a local guide suitable for your activity.
Buy
- 🌍 Emona Center (Emona Market), M2 Motorway.
- Interex.
- Viva Fresh.
Eat
There are a variety of restaurants with something for everyone's taste. Radio taxi drivers will know the location of most major restaurants. Try a traditional qebabtore, byrektore or gjelltore (you can find one anywhere) for a real taste of the local food and great value.
Drink
Vushtrri, is no exception to having amazing macchiatos. However, the town is better known for its tea, known in Albanian as Çaj Rusi, served in homes and ubiquitous “Kafeçajtore” or “café/tea shops” (fun fact, Çaj Rusi, aka “Russian Tea” is actually Turkish tea. There’s an old saying that Vushtrri has a kafeçajtore for every home. These teashops are clustered together and mostly serve the same Turkish tea. They have a great atmosphere, if you enjoy second-hand smoke and the company of retirees.
Sleep
- 🌍 Motel Miami (Pestova), Highway Mitrovica-Prishtina, Village Pestova, ☏ +383 48 272 327. 24/7.
- 🌍 Motel Vicianum (Ylberi), Highway Mitrovica-Prishtina, ☏ +38344196700.
- 🌍 Hotel Ura e Gurit, Highway Prishtina -Mitrovica, Village Maxhunaj, ☏ +383 44 606 044.
- 🌍 Motel Safari, Smrekonica Village (M2 Motorway), ☏ +38345333200.
Connect
Wireless Internet is widely available in cafés and restaurants throughout the city, although it's a good idea to ask if one is available before you sit down. Free public WiFi is also available around the city through PTK (username: ptk, password: telekomi).
Several private phone calling shops with long-distance calling are available. You may also use the state telco company PTK main Vushtrri branch or several of its kiosks around the town to buy calling credit and use phone cabins.
Mobile telephony providers Vala and Ipko provide 3G and 4G internet telephony.
Go next
- Prekaz - site of the Kosovo liberation war resistance
- Mitrovica - Kosovo's northern city, site of modern Kosovo culture, is 10 km, 20 minutes and €1 by taxi or €0.70 by bus.
- A day trip to Mitrovica Lake can be interesting. Hire a taxi.
- Pristina - Kosovo capital, is 25 km, 30 minutes and €1 away by bus.