Ski Kosovo
Ski Kosovo for its adventurous cat ski operations, wild mountains, wonderful cuisine & crumbling ski resorts. Kosovo has some of the best value skiing & snowboarding in Europe; remaining uncrowded, untouched & unknown. It is also rapidly the cat -skiing epicentre of Europe, with four operations running from Brezovica, across at the impressive Accursed Mountains on the Albanian border, and also more recently on the colder north-aspect of the Shar Mountains on the border with North Macedonia.
Anyone looking for a place as far removed from the crowded, 'antiseptic' ski resorts of the Alps, but still in Europe, will love travelling to Kosovo. Any visit contributes not only to one's lifetime ski experiences, but also to the future prosperity of this fledgling nation. When are you going to visit?
Kosovo Ski Resorts
Kosovo's few ski resorts have suffered badly since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. What lifts do turn are generally old & unreliable. One of Kosovo's major ski resorts is Brezovica. Whilst still popular, it is now a shadow of its former self, although the snow & terrain is as good as ever! The resort has been trying to get 'back in the game' in the last few years - grooming more slopes, running a few more of the ancient chairlifts & even cranking up the most questionable funicular we have ever seen (albeit on a wholly unreliable schedule). The demise of the lift's at Brezovica led to one local to start up a cat ski operation, Dane Freeride - a boon for Powderhounds. Despite the unreliable nature of the ski lifts at places like Brezovica, the snow & terrain is still world class & worth visiting when conditions are good.
Cat Skiing Kosovo
At least four cat ski operations are now plying their trade in Kosovo. The well-established Dane Freeride has been operating for years out of the Brezovica ski resort in the south, near the border with North Macedonia. A now well-established cat-skiing operator is Lynx Freeride. They prowl the remote and delightfully named Accursed Mountains on the Albanian border below Kosovo's highest peak. The terrain and abundant snow should (& does) excite the most hardened campaigner. A newcomer to the same region, but a few valleys to the north is Kosovo Freeride. Similar to Lynx Freeride, they are coupled with a nice boutique hotel for a base lodge. To the south, Nord Freeride is establishing itself with two base lodges on the north side of the Shar Mountains across the border from the North Macedonian cat-ski operators based in Popova Shapka (Shar Outdoors & Eskimo Freeride).
Travel To & Around Kosovo
The Republic of Kosovo is a landlocked nation located in the Balkans, surrounded by Serbia to the north & east, Macedonia to the south with Albania & Montenegro to the west. The capital of Kosovo, Prìština (in English - either Pristina or Prishtina), is the main gateway to the country via its international airport. Another useful point of access to Kosovo can be Skopje in North Macedonia.
Pristina is 570km north of Athens & around 700km south of Vienna. The Adem Jashari International Airport Pristina (PRN) is 20km to the southwest of the capital. The main Kosovo ski areas are in the mountains to the south & west of Pristina toward North Macedonia & Albania.
Note though that crossing borders by land into Kosovo can be 'interesting' to say the least, so we recommend travelling with a local guide, host, or transport company, rather than driving yourself. If looking to travel independently within Kosovo, a rental car can be a handy way of getting around, with the airport being the best place to rent, however the roads in the mountains can be treacherous during storms & a car is useless if spending a week cat skiing somewhere.
Powderhounds recommends using a pre-arranged taxi or private shuttle organised by your tour provider or hotel for transfers to your destination from the airport.
Flights into Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari
The recommended airport to access skiing in Kosovo is Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari (PRN). The airport is located 20km west of the Kosovo capital of Pristina & taxis can make the 90km journey to the Lynx Freeride pick up point at Junike in around 1½hr.
Flights to Pristina are available from most major European airports including Munich (MUC), Frankfurt (FRA), Paris (CDG), Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH) & Vienna (VIE), Istanbul (IST), & London-Luton (LTN) in the UK and all major Scandinavian airports. A host of minor European airports also provide direct links.
Search & book flights to Pristina.
Pristina & Prizren Accommodation
The capital of Kosovo, Prìština, may hold some interest for first-time visitors to this fledgling nation. The city is quite walkable. Sites of interest include the many cathedrals & mosques, the Kosovo National Library (apparently oft described as one of the 'ugliest' buildings in the world - you be the judge), museums and the open-air bazaar. Then of course there is wonderful food, rakia (strong local spirit) and perfect 'Turkish' coffee (seriously yum for any coffee drinker worth their salt). There is even a statue to past US President Bill Clinton. You will have to visit to find out why!
Places to stay in Prishtina include a wide range of superb 2 to 3-star hotels & apartments. Prices vary widely at the higher end of the market, however midweek in winter, most 4 & 5-star hotels are incredibly good value. Near the centre of the city, try either the Emery Hotel, Hotel LaCorte Prishtina, the new Hotel MANAMI, the elegant Hotel Prishtina, or the exceptional Derand Hotel .
Search & book here for all Prishtina accommodation.
Arguably, if looking for a more interesting city experience in Kosovo, historic Prizren is a better bet than Pristina. Located just 85km to the southwest of the capital, Prizren’s riverside location in the foothills of the mountains, a relatively intact old town centre, and hilltop fortress are some of the highlights. Unbelievably well-priced hotels & local food, make it easy to explore the town for a day or two before heading back to whatever your real world is! For hotels near the centre of town, check out the Hotel Fjorr (has the best value room rates in the city), Monarch Hotel, Prior Hotel or Hotel Kacinari.
Search & book here for all Prizren Accommodation.
Reasons to Ski & Snowboard Kosovo
There are a host of reasons to go skiing & snowboarding in Kosovo. Here a few of the better ones:
- Powder & very few people competing for it.
- Adventure - rediscover forgotten ski areas & remote mountains with awesome cat-skiing.
- Value - Kosovo provides a great value holiday destination.
- Social - visiting Kosovo will help the local economy & assure skiing continues into the future.
- Fun - enjoy the local hospitality, copious food & quality drinks.
Go next season because you'll only be one year older if you don't (thanks Warren). See your there :-)
