A warm wind whipped around our feet as we strolled along the sun-soaked stone ramparts. To our left, a young couple posed for photos, thick sunglasses shielding their faces against the glare of the bright October day. To our right, a shaggy stray dog stretched out lazily in the shade, raising his head occasionally to survey the scene.
Beneath us, the city of Prizren stretched far into the distance along the flat valley floor. The maze of winding streets and wide boulevards didn’t quite reach the horizon, where snow-capped mountains rose up into the milky blue sky.
An occasional concrete block of flats rose up above the rooftops, but otherwise Prizren’s skyline was dominated by the rooftops of low-rise buildings, punctuated at regular intervals by tall, thin minarets poking above the streets. The faint sound of car engines, squealing tyres and intermittent horn blaring carried on the wind. Soft, wispy smoke floated over the busy old town, rising from metal chimneys attached to the side of grill houses.
We were stood on the walls of Prizren Fortress, a 6th-century castle that offers unbeatable views over a city often described as Kosovo’s cultural capital. Also known as Каlаја e Prizrenit in Albanian, a visit to the fortress is one of the best things to do in Prizren.
From how to get there to what to look out for at the top, here is our guide to visiting the beautiful Prizren Fortress.
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Visiting Prizren Fortress: a summary
Height: Prizren Fortress stands just over 500 metres (1,640 feet) on a hill above the city.
Entry fee: Prizren Fortress is free to enter.
Best time of the day to visit: Sunrise or sunset is the best time to enjoy Prizren Fortress.
Distance from Prizren’s old town: The walk from the old town – starting at the Stone Bridge – is around 650 metres, albeit most of this is up hill.
Length of walk: You should allow 20-30 minutes for the walk from the old town to Prizren Fortress. You may be faster or slower depending on your fitness and the weather – Prizren can get very hot in the summer.
Time needed to visit: We recommend allowing at least one hour for your visit to Prizren Fortress. This should give you ample time to walk around the ramparts and enjoy the viewpoint. However, you may want to spend longer – particularly if visiting at sunrise or sunset, when the light should be at its best.
The long, storied history of Prizren Fortress
Occupying a prime position on a small hill overlooking the Prizren River, there is evidence of human activity at the site of the fortress since the Bronze Age, over 3,000 years ago. The current fortress dates back to the 6th century, when Justinian I – the Byzantine Emperor – ordered the fortress’s reconstruction.
After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the fortress changed hands over the centuries, with control passing between several Serbian rulers before the Ottomans conquered Kosovo. Much of what remains of the current fortress dates back to the Ottoman period.
Today, the fortress stands in a state of relative disrepair, with crumbling walls abounding throughout. However, there is plenty of evidence of restoration work taking place. We first visited the fortress in 2015 before returning in 2023. In the intervening eight years, much had changed, with many sections of the walls rebuilt and a brand-new museum building springing up in the centre of the grounds.
Walking to Prizren Fortress from the Old Town
To get to Prizren Fortress, you will need to walk up the hill from the old town. The way from central Prizren to the fortress is relatively simple, but be warned – it is pretty steep. Here is a step-by-step guide to the route:
- From the old Stone Bridge, make your way to the town square. Once you reach the town square, head south past the striking Shinan Pasha Mosque.
- Before long, you will begin seeing signs for the fortress, which will point you in the right direction. Generally, these signs will lead you to the main entrance to the fortress.
- The route takes you past the Prizren’s old cinema and music school. Eventually, you will turn sharply left at the Hotel Castello Prizren and climb up the hill along Marin Barleti Street.
- On this stretch of the route, you will inevitably see plenty of building work. The views across Prizren are marvellous, and the real estate on this hillside near the fortress is enjoying a hefty amount of investment.
- After passing the ruins of the Sveti Spas church, you will leave the houses behind. At this stage, the city of Prizren stretches out beneath you. The path winds its way through the woodland before revealing the outer walls of Prizren Fortress straight ahead.
- Once you reach the walls of Prizren Fortress, follow the path left to reach the main entrance gate, which marks your arrival.
Route map: Click here for a Google Maps route of the walk from the old town to Prizren Fortress.
Entering Prizren Fortress
Once you arrive at Prizren Fortress, it is free to get in, with no ticket office or official entrance. There are a couple of ways to enter the complex:
The main entrance to Prizren Fortress is the grand gateway built into the ramparts that overlooks the city. Walk under the impressive stone arch and up a short ramp, and you have arrived at the heart of the complex. This is our preferred route, since it’s the most straightforward from the old town.
Alternatively, you can enter Prizren Fortress on the southern side. This entrance leads you directly into the central courtyard, although there is a ‘secret tunnel’ that provides a compelling alternative. You can also head left along the outer perimeter to enter through a small stone arch in the wall. Once you walk through the arch, you enjoy a magnificent view of the fortress complex.
Exploring the ruined ramparts
Behind the fortress, the gorge of the Prizren River provided a dramatic backdrop. We could just about make out the faint shape of the hilltop ruins of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels, perched atop a rocky cliff beneath steep forested slopes.
As we strolled through the complex, we wandered over uneven stone walkways, through damp and dark tunnels and past a small stage. A handful of recently-constructed buildings stood in the middle amidst stretches of parched grass. These buildings are home to a small museum housing artefacts discovered during archaeological works in the fortress grounds. However, the museum was very much closed and locked during our visit.
Eventually, we followed a wooden pathway, dodging broken planks and the occasional scurrying lizard. The walkway led us to the main ramparts, where sublime views over Prizren awaited.
Enjoying the views from Prizren Fortress (including our favourite photos)
Unsurprisingly, the best place to head for views of Prizren is the tall rampart walls of the fortress. For the most part, this is a large stretch of featureless stone wall. On the far left-hand side, an old cannon stands on the edge of a round turret, pointing out towards Prizren and the distant mountains.
We spent 20 minutes admiring the views – and taking plenty of photos – before making our way back down towards Prizren, where lunch awaited.
Six things to look out for from the fortress walls
From mountain summits to riverside restaurants, here are six things you should watch out for when enjoying the views from Prizren Fortress.
1) The Sveti Spas church on the side of the hill
The old Serbian Orthodox church of Sveti Spas, which dates back to the 14th century, clings to the side of the hill. You’ll pass it on your way up to the fortress, but we think the church is best viewed once you reach the fortress walls.
2) The Old Stone Bridge
An icon of Prizren, the Ottoman-era Old Stone Bridge is one of the city’s must-see attractions. It’s impressive up close, but viewing it from afar offers a splendid perspective on this historic thoroughfare.
3) The Sinan Pasha Mosque
Prizren’s most impressive mosque dates back to 1615 and will instantly catch your eye as you gaze over Prizren from the fortress walls. The tall, slender minaret provides a particularly interesting contrast to the modern buildings in the distance.
4) The Our Lady of Ljeviš Church
Another of Prizren’s Serbian Orthodox churches, the Our Lady of Ljeviš church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site umbrella that incorporates several Serbian Orthodox sites around the country, including the Patriarchate of Peć Monastery in nearby Peja.
Whilst you may be able to visit the church (ask at the security booth outside the main entrance), it is often closed to visitors. The view from the fortress may be your best bet.
5) The Prizren River
Flowing from the gorge behind the fortress through the city centre, Prizren River makes for a striking sight from the ramparts. You will be close enough to spot the hundreds of tables lining the banks of the river along the old town – you may even hear the distant clink of glasses as friends and families enjoy the social scene.
Read next: How to hike to Mala Osojnica – the best viewpoint above Lake Bled.
6) The distant mountains
Prizren exists in a bowl, surrounded by tall, forested mountains to the south, west and north. Depending on the time of year, some of the higher peaks may still be covered in snow at the summits, providing a dramatic backdrop to your fortress visit.
Visiting Prizren Fortress: our final thoughts
No matter how long you are staying in Prizren, you simply cannot leave without enjoying the views of the fortress. Sure, it’s a steep walk and it can be sweaty on a sweltering summer’s day. However, we think the effort is certainly worth the reward. When we return to Prizren, the fortress will be our first stop once again.