public transport in Pristina

This post shall serve as a guide to using public transport in Pristina, Kosovo. I know how important, frustrating, and yet necessary it is to know how to get around in a new city or country. I was once misled into using private transport by an officer at a tourist information desk at an airport which should never happen to anyone anywhere. This is why this post saves you money when traveling to, in, and outside Pristina.

Pristina is not known for perfect public transport, but it’s not that bad either. Many tourists end up spending money on taxi services (which of course are faster and more comfortable) while they can take a bus and reach their destination for much cheaper.

Public transport to Pristina (from the airport)

Starting on May 1, 2019, there is a regular bus line of public transport connection between Pristina International Airport with the city of Pristina for only 3 Euros. The first bus from Pristina leaves at 7 am and from the airport to the city at 8 am. The bus departs from the Main Bus Station in Pristina and picks up passengers in a few other spots. Check this map below and follow this link for updated official information.

Taxi services from/to the Airport

Passengers can also take a taxi to move between Pristina and the airport. It should cost between 15-20 Euros the main taxi companies have a free toll number starting with 0800. I mainly use Taxi Roberti (0800 111 99) even within Pristina but you can also use ETAXI – an eco-friendly company as they use electric vehicles (it costs more obviously).

Public transport in Pristina

Inter-city public transport in Pristina is not very well developed yet; however, it covers most of the city areas and for sure the touristy ones. Tourists coming to Pristina bus station can reach the city via local bus no. 7C which they can hop on at the entry of the bus station. This bus line comes from the bus station towards the city center (or Mother Teresa Boulevard). The ticket costs 0.50 EURO one-way and you pay it to the bus conductor. Currently, there is also a 24hrs ticket which costs 0.80 Euro and it can be used across the public transportation lines (minus the 1A to the Airport). Unfortunately, there are no day, three-day, or five-day tickets as most of the public transport lines are privately owned; however, the Municipality of Pristina is working towards having integrated public transport (I’ll keep updating you on this).

More information is provided in the Trafiku Urban. Just click on the bus line on your left side and it will show you schedule and stops.

public transport in Pristina
Schedule of bus line no 4

The mobile app Trafiku Urban (Android and iOS) is also helpful while in Pristina as you can see the bus’s location in real-time (currently only bus lines 1, 1A, 3, 3B, 3C, 4, and 7C).

Public transportation outside Pristina

The bus station website shows the international lines. There are buses that connect Kosovo with Austria, Belgium, Serbia, Germany, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Sweden, Croatia, and Switzerland. Nevertheless, there’s more information needed (and in English) to make tourist planning easier.

That’s why I propose you check Gjirafa. This website is a great help for transport in Kosovo and also between Kosovo and the neighboring countries. In addition, once in the country, you can just ask locals for help (we’re friendly) and we will search for all you need to know.

In Gjirafa, you can write your destination, and after you click “search” you can pick the date for your travel. It will give you a number of options (depending on the line). For instance, if I want to go to Peja on June 21st, this is the information I’d get. From this list, you can see the time it takes to go from point A to point B and also how much it will cost and the operator.public transport in Pristina

Gjirafa is also handy if you have to go to other cities or the neighboring countries by using public transport. The same process goes for finding out the schedule of buses. However, always check with the company.

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31 thoughts on “A guide to public transport in Pristina, Kosovo

  1. Thanks for your informations!
    Is it possible to change money at the main busstation? Is the office open from 7 am?

  2. Thanks for the guide! Perhaps I missed that, but is there someone on the bus to pay for the ticket, or do I have to pay to the driver? I am in Tirana, Albania, now, traveling to Pristina in 2 days. In Tirana, there’s always a person walking around the bus, collecting money and giving tickets. Is it same in Pristina? I always use public transport (hate taxis!) 🙂

  3. Thanks for this informative post. I am just wondering if you know if the 1A goes from the airport until midnight as it says on the app, or until 9pm as it says on most websites? I am arriving in Pristina tomorrow around 9pm and trying to figure out what the best way to arrive will be.

    1. hi Sandra,
      sorry for responding late (just seeing the comment now). I always recommend travellers to follow the official info (in this regard the one from Limak) which should be the most updated one.

      Enjoy Kosovo.

  4. Informative and useful article for travelers who are planning to visit Pristina.
    Pristina seems friendly to me from this post.

  5. Hi!
    Do you know the timetable of the bus 7 or where i can find it. I am arriving to bus station at 5AM and want to check is i can travel to city centro by bus at that time or need to wait.

    Many thanks!!!

    1. Hi Santiago,

      I believe the bus number 7 starts operating at 6 30am only so you can’t catch it. However, depending on which part of the city you have to go you can either walk or take a taxi (metered ones start at 1.50 EUR).

      I hope this helps.

  6. Thanks for the website. I have looked on gjirafa but I dont know if I am reading it correctly. I want to travel from Pristina to Skopje in October 2019. Can I book a journey in advance or buy a ticket when I am there. Any help would be good. Thank you.

    1. Hi Iris,

      You don’t need to buy the ticket in advance (not sure if you can even do that yet). You just go to the bus station 20-30 minutes prior to the departure time, get your ticket there, and hop on a bus. There are no seats assigned so you can get a better seat if you are there early. Enjoy the Balkans 🙂

  7. Thank you for this very useful overview. I regularly travel to Kosovo and I was never happy with the fact that I have to take a taxi to the city instead of having the possibility to take a bus. Finally they install a bus service 🙂

    1. Thanks, Chris. Yes, it’s unfortunate there wasn’t public transport until now. There’s the culture of dropping off/picking up family members to/from the airport which probably will still go on despite the bus and Kosovo only lately has become more touristy. I can’t wait to use the bus myself when I go back home (of course, if my family lets me do it LOL)

      1. welcome. didn’t get a follow up email after u replied even if ticked the box

        i might put in a link to this post on my blog if its ok with u… as its a pure logisitics post… just need a nice pic from Pristina.. with a tram in the foreground

        1. I’d love to send you a picture with a tram, but there are no trams in Pristina 😛 I’ll send one with a bus instead 🙂

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