Sits on top of the ruins of an ancient Roman town, Siparantum, right on the foothills of the famous Accursed Mountains (Albanian Alps), Peja is known as one of the oldest towns and one of the best hiking spots in the country.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to help plan the perfect trip to Peja. From hiking part of the Accursed Mountains to visiting the UNESCO heritage site, Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, here are the 8 best things to do in Peja for solo travelers:
Peja Itinerary Map
8 Best Things to Do in Peja
1. Explore Peja Bazaar
One of the best things to do in Peja is to explore the Peja Bazaar, a long pedestrian street lined with all kinds of local shops selling all sorts of things from clothes to spices.
It is one of the oldest commercial areas in the region, dating back to the Ottoman period and you can still find original artisan shops here, such as the Albanian cap-makers, gown-makers, tapestry-makers, shoemakers, watch-makers, and even goldsmiths. Some of these shops have been operating for decades!
You will also find a ton of beautiful traditional houses with white exteriors and wooden frames and windows, the signature houses you will also find in Albania. There are also many narrow streets and pathways you can stroll around and explore. It is one of the best things to do in Peja, and if you just arrive in the city and are not sure where to begin exploring, this is a great place to start.
- Sky Hostel (Budget)
- Benelux Hotel (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Hotel Dukagjini (High-End)
- From Skopje: Full-Day Kosovo Tour to Pristina and Prizren (10 hours)
- Kosovo from Albania: Day tour of Prizren & Prishtina(option) (10 hours)
- From Skopje: Pristina and Prizren Private Sightseeing Tour (10 hours)
Where to Stay in Peja?
2. Visit Bajrakli (Carshi) Mosque
As you walk along the street of Peja Bazaar, you will stumble upon Bajrakli (Carshi) Mosque, one of the most important architectonic and sacral buildings of the city that dated all the way back to the 15th Century during the Ottoman period.
The mosque features a unique blend of Ottoman and Albanian architectural styles and is recognized for its beautiful frescoes and impressive calligraphy. Its walls are decorated with intricate floral and geometric patterns, and the ceiling is adorned with an ornate chandelier.
It is one of the most important landmarks in the city, and it would be a shame if you came all the way to Peja without checking out Bajrakli (Carshi) Mosque.
3. Hang Out in Peja Town Square
Located on the other side of the street from Peja Bazaar, you will find Peja Town Square, a more modern side of town where you will find yourself surrounded by Brutalist and modern buildings set against the beautiful Accursed Mountains.
It is another lively area of Peja with a bit younger crowds who often come here and hang out around the last spacious square, chilling out at one of the cafes and restaurants in the area.
There is a nice Prince Coffee House, a local coffee store that rivals Starbucks in terms of coffee varieties and homely atmosphere but at a much MUCH cheaper pricepoint.
If you are looking for a nice place to hang out as you watch the people go by in Peja, Peja Town Square is the place to be.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour from Peja? Here are some activities you might be interested in:
4. Stroll Along the Lumbardhi Peja River
The city of Peja runs along the Lumbardhi Peja River all the way to Rugova Gorge in the west and they are currently building a very nice riverside walking path that you can walk from Peja city center all the way to the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć.
The boardwalk begins at this part of town and it goes westward along the river for about 1 km. Right out of the gate, you will see the beautiful mountains of Rugova Canyon hovering along the horizon, and the closer you walk toward it, the more it reveals itself.
It is a nice walk to do when you are in Peja and if you are planning to do some hiking around parts of the Accursed Mountain, explore Rugova Canyon, and the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć, this boardwalk will take you there in no time.
5. Hike the Livadhi Sakes Trail
One of the best short easy hikes you can do in Peja is Livadhi Sakes Trail, a small 3 hours hike that will take you along the foothill of the Accursed Mountains, up to a beautiful opening where you will be able to enjoy a nice view of Peja from above as well as a great vantage point to see some of the beautiful peaks of the surrounding mountains here.
The trail begins from this trailhead on the western side of town. You should be able to reach the trailhead on foot from Peja city center in about 20 - 30 minutes. You can stroll along the riverside boardwalk I recommended earlier so that you can get a glimpse of the view you will be seeing during the hike.
Once, you arrive at the trailhead, you can continue the trail that goes up the mountain towards Livadhi Sakes. There will be a sign and the beginning of the trail and you should be able to find Livadhi Sakes on the sign.
Along the way, you will be surrounded by a beautiful lush green forest set against the backdrop of Peja and the surrounding mountains. There will be rest stops along the way that will provide a nice vantage point over Peja, so be sure to keep an eye out for one.
There will also be natural springs scattered along the trail you can use to refill water as you hike along the trail. The water is sourced from a spring way up in the mountains so they are safe to drink.
Once you reach the first intersection, you should find a sign that will direct you toward Livadhi Sakes. The trail should be heading south from there, and if you think you might get lost, simply follow the red-white paint that is often painted along the hiking trails around the Accursed Mountains.
If you find the paint, you are on the right track. You can also use Maps.me, which should show you exactly where the trail is, and you can download the map offline, which is going to be very convenient in case you are not sure where to go.
From the trailhead, it should take about 1 hour before you arrive at Livadhi Sakes, which is a nice a spacious opening on the foothills of the Accursed Mountains with an incredible view of the surrounding mountains.
At the viewpoint, you will find several park benches where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the view as you are surrounded by a spacious grassy area, lush green forests, and the beautiful mountain peaks that make the Accursed Mountains so popular among hikers.
Once you are done at the viewpoint, you can make your way down to the first intersection but instead of going back the same way, you turn left to another intersection and turn right to head down the mountain towards the river again.
Once you arrive at the river, you can then cross to the other side and make your way east towards the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć which is where we will be visiting next.
6. Admire the Beauty of the Patriarchal Monastery of Peć
Patriarchal Monastery of Peć is a medieval Serbian Orthodox monastery located outside of Peja, along the road connecting the city to Rugova Canyon. It is considered one of the most important cultural and religious sites in the region and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it one of the best places to visit in Peja.
The monastery was founded in the 13th century and served as the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church during the medieval period. It consists of several churches, including the Church of the Holy Apostles, the Church of St. Demetrius, and the Church of the Virgin Hodegetria.
These churches are adorned with beautiful and incredibly detailed frescoes that are considered some of the finest examples of medieval Serbian art out there. The amount of details of these frescoes in the monastery is mind-blowing, to say the least.
From left to right, from top to bottom, the entire interior of some of these churches is covered entirely by these intricately designed frescoes in all the colors the human eyes can register.
The monastery courtyard is also filled with floras and faunas, making it the perfect place for a nice, peaceful, and quiet stroll away from the bustling city of Peja.
Since the monastery is located along the way between the city, the hiking trails, and the Rugova Canyon, it is a great place to drop by as you explore the natural wonders of Peja.
7. Explore Rugova Canyon on a Bike
One of the highlights of visiting Peja is exploring the beautiful Rugova Canyon, a deep and narrow canyon formed by the Rugova River, which has carved its way through the surrounding mountains over thousands of years.
To explore the canyon, you can rent a bike from the Rugova Canyon tourist information center located outside of Peja, on your way to the canyon and from there, you can ask for free maps, suggestions for hiking, and get a suggested bike route to follow before you embark on the journey.
With the bike, you can visit some of the most popular viewpoints along the canyon or you can zipline across the canyon for 10 EUR instead if you have never done it before.
Rugova Canyon is considered to be the natural wonder of Peja and one of the most popular places to visit here so if you have time to spare, be sure to rent a bike and explore this wonderful canyon.
8. Try Delicious Local Food
After all the awesome outdoor activities you did in Peja, it is time to end your trip with delicious local cuisine at some of the awesome restaurants you can find around Peja Town Square.
There are plenty of restaurants in the area ranging from places (mostly unmarked on Google Maps) that serve local meat dishes like Cevapi and kebabs to more upscale places like Restaurant 22 located inside the 5-star Hotel Dukagjini.
The place I tried is a nice local restaurant located somewhere around here that serves a great selection of grilled meats where you can select a bunch of them and try. For the dish above, it only costs me 4 EUR which is a deal you won't find anywhere else but in Kosovo. If you are in Peja, be sure to stroll around the town square and try some of their delicious cuisines!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Kosovo
I hope you found this Kosovo travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Kosovo, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- For a complete backpacking itinerary to Kosovo, check out: 7 Days Backpacking Kosovo Itinerary.
- You can't visit Kosovo without visiting Pristina, where it all began. If you are planning to visit the capital city of Kosovo, here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Pristina.
- Prizren is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kosovo, and a place you should not miss! If you are planning to visit Prizren, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Prizren.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Kosovo, visit the Kosovo Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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