Tourism
Tourism
As the region is the most affordable part of Europe with amazing beaches and mountains, we highly encourage participants to visit and do some tourism before or following the conference. Kosovo is surrounded by steep mountains and is easily accessible in many ways while being one of the most affordable European holiday locations. Hiking routes like the Via Dinarica and Peaks of the Balkans bring a lot of visitors to Kosovo who spend their time exploring these previously untapped possibilities.
More than 50% of Kosovo’s territory is covered by forests and mountains, thus offering amazing hiking trails. Since Kosovo is quite a small country, one might easily have access to these spots. Visitors can enjoy hiking in Kosovo over the jagged Sharri, Pashtrik, and the Accursed Mountains, appreciate the well-preserved Ottoman architecture of Prizren, sample raki or homemade wine around Rahovec, visit a traditional stone kulla in Junik or Drenoc, dive into the coffee-drinking culture in one of Prishtina’s many wonderful cafés, or explore Islam, Catholic, and Orthodox Christianity at beautiful monasteries and mosques (sometimes found side by side) around Kosovo.
As a place full of lively cafés and wide-ranging restaurants, a thriving outdoor adventure scene, the warmest locals you can imagine, and some of the cheapest prices across a vast region, Kosovo and its neighboring countries deserve the attention not only of the intrepid but of anyone looking to avoid the regular tourist traps.
Across the border from Prizren, one of Albania’s best, Valbona National Park is available. From there, you may choose to take the ferry on the Drini river canyon or hike to Theth National Park, which is another Albanian treasure. From the Koman ferry landing or Theth, you can reach the city of Shkodra on the Shkodra Lake and the beaches of Northern Albania and southern Montenegro on the Adriatic coastline.
Venue
Innovation and Training Park
The Innovation and Training Park is a former military camp, in the outskirts of the beautiful city of Prizren. The ITP is far more than a classic business park. The ITP ensures close linkages among tenants as well as between park management and tenants, offering an environment that fosters synergies between the private sector, vocational education and training institutions, and innovation activities.
Getting to Prizren
Getting to Prizren
All international flights to Kosovo arrive at the Prishtina International Airport. From Prishtina International Airport there is a Public transport bus line from Prishtina International Airport to the Bus Station in Prishtina. Bus lines from Prishtina Bus Station to Prizren travel every 20 minutes (5 EUR).
Kosovo has border points with Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia which may be used to enter the country.
Other than Prishtina International Airport, for cost considerations, participants can also use 3 other airports in the region which offer better priced airline tickets from some destinacions and especially if you are doing some tourism before or after arriving in Kosovo:
From Tirana International Airport
2:10 hrs by bus (163 km) away. Tirana - Prishtina bus stops by Tirana International Airport with a stopover in the periphery of Prizren, from which you may call a taxi.
From Skopje International Airport
Might also have better deals through Wizz Air and alternative destinations from those in Prishtina. It will take 3-4 hrs all if best connected.
From Kukës International Airport
Newly opened airport, in northern Albania, across the border from Prizren, with a handful of lines, currently only serving Switzerland, mostly through charter lines. Get to the town of Kukës, from there vans (furgon) are regular to Prizren.
Visa info
Kosovo requires visas for citizens of certain countries. You can find more information on which participants will need a visa to come to Kosovo here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Kosovo.
FLOSSK will issue a visa letter should you need one and will facilitate the visa process so you don’t need to visit a Kosovo Consulate.
Travel Safety
Kosovo is a safe country to travel and foreigners are much appreciated and helped. Crimes against tourists common in popular tourist destinations are not common in Kosovo.
The risk of terrorist attacks in the Kosovo over the past years can be classified as almost insignificant. Violent crime exists but is mostly related to organized crime, and most dangers are of petty nature and between persons familiar to each other.
Kosovo’s medical system is lacking. However, even foreigners can get care, including emergency care, for a handful of euros. Private clinics are also numerous but at a higher cost.
COVID-19 safety plans
COVID-19 situation in Kosovo is stable as of now. We will update this section if the situation changes in the meanwhile starting with ticket sale launch, especially considering the current global Covid-19 situation. It is likely vaccine currency will be required.
Political situation
Some of you might remember that Kosovo went through a war in 1999. That was 22 years ago, although some political tensions still linger with Serbia. That said, what you see on the news is largely for internal political consumption. Kosovo is protected by a NATO peacekeeping force. Ethnic tensions might be present, limited in the northern corner of the country.
LGBTIQ+ Safety
Summer festivals and international events in Kosovo are usually very safe and inclusive towards many groups, such as the LGBTIQ+ community. Women can travel alone and there aren’t any specific laws against the LGBTIQ+ community. Nevertheless, there is a level of sexism and homophobia among some, accompanied by verbal harassment.