Travelling to Kosovo, Covid-19 rules and entry protocol
Travelling to Kosovo, Covid-19 rules and entry protocol!
The best thing about travelling in Kosovo is meeting the people, whose warmth – forged in fire as it may be – is completely overwhelming at times. This is a country where you’re often greeted with a comforting hand on the shoulder, where strangers approach you on the street with a genuine curiosity, and bakers beckon you to join them in front of their ovens and taste the fruits of their labour. Kosovar hospitality is just one of the many things that makes this country so special.
Kosovo welcomes everyone who visits it, but of course since Covid hit the world, Kosovo has some requirements if you want to travel there.
Travelling in Kosovo
All arrivals to Kosovo, except people under the age of 12 or foreign nationals transiting through Kosovo, are required to demonstrate proof of having received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccination, or proof of both doses and a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of arrival.
Those with residence permits or Kosovan citizenship who do not fulfil the entry requirements will be offered a vaccine at the border.
Foreign nationals transiting through Kosovo who leave within 3 hours of arrival are exempt, as are foreign nationals passing through Kosovo by organised transport (i.e. regular bus line), provided they leave within 5 hours.
You should not use the NHS testing service to get a test in order to facilitate your travel to another country. You should arrange to take a private test.
There are medical staff at border crossings and the airport and you may be subject to a health check, particularly if you are displaying coronavirus symptoms. You should follow the instructions of the medical staff on the border.
What to visit in Kosovo
In Kosovo all shops, coffee bars, farmacys, etc are open and you can visit every part of Kosovo you like, but with a 10pm to 5am curfew, with exceptions for emergencies only. Kosovo is tiny, but there is no shortage of tourist attractions. The untamed splendour of Rugova Canyon and the Accursed Mountains are worth a mention, but it’s the cities that really make an impression. Pristina, the capital, is a cacophony of cafes, street art, restaurants and creative spaces. Take a selfie at the Newborn Monument, a sculpture that evolves its appearance every year to keep pace with Kosovo’s ongoing metamorphosis.
The capital is not the only place you should visit, Prizren is also one of the gems of Kosovo. Prizren, the cultural capital, is a perfect juxtaposition, with its stone bridge, elegant mosque and cobbled old town.
There’s also Peja, the gateway to nature, and my favourite place in Kosovo, Gjakova, with its sprawling undercover bazaar and artisan workshops.
If you want more information about the entry protocol, or want help with planning your trip to Kosovo our agent at TeStela Travel will answer every question you have and keep you updated! Click here to get in touch!
The sources of the information stated above:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kosovo/entry-requirements
