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Having declared its independence on February 17, 2008, Kosovo is the newest state in the world. Kosovo, the neighbor of Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Albania; came under the interim administration of the United Nations in 1999. The country, having been under the protection of the United Nations until its declaration of independence, took the first steps toward a brand new future. Turkey is one of first countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence. 

Slavic and Albanian people have lived side by side in Kosovo since the 8th century. The region was the center of the Serbian Empire until it fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire as a result of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. It was not until 1913 that the Serbs regained control of Kosovo. The region then became a part of the Democratic Federal Yugoslavia. The issue of independence began gaining importance in Kosovo after the Cold War. As a result of  the Serbs’ ethnic cleansing campaign, the region went under the interim administration of the United Nations until February 18, 2008.

The land-locked state of Kosovo is one of the poorest regions of Europe with more than half of its population living below the poverty line. Despite its rich mineral resources, the main source of income is agriculture. In the region, there is an Albanian population of two million. Due to Serbs leaving the region after 1999, there are only 100 thousand Serbs left. The Serbian minority lives in closed regions under the administration of the NATO Peacekeeping forces.
 
No matter where you go in or around Kosovo, you will see an untouched nature. However, most of the cultural heritage of the region, especially in the urban areas, vanished due to the destruction of war. Choose big cities for touristic visits, for the infrastructure in big cities is more suitable for vacations.

Prizren is the most famous historical city of Kosovo. Even so that, it is one of the three cities in which you can observe the most intensive reflection of the Ottoman influence on the Balkans. Even though many buildings were destroyed during the war, this atmosphere is not gone. The most important examples of Ottoman architecture are located here. The city was built next to the Bistrica River. You can see the historical Bistrica Bridge during your visit to Prizren. Sinan Pasha Mosque located next to the bridge, which has the highest minaret in the Balkans, is the center of the city. The public square surrounding the mosque is called Sadirvan. All the restaurants and cafes are gathered here. Given a nice weather, the young population spends time all night out in the square. Ruins of the Old Castle, above the square, are still standing. The Turkish Bath and Lzeviska Cathedral are important places to see. Many examples of civilian Ottoman architecture are also lined alongside the Bistrica River. 

Pristina is not only the largest city of Kosovo, but also the capital city. Following the destruction of the city during the war, Pristina was rebuilt and transformed into a bureaucratic center. Still, some important buildings are intact. The mosque built in 1460 in the name of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror , Lap Mosque dating back to 1470, Yashar Pasha Mosque built in 1834, and the Great Hamam are the most important examples of Ottoman architecture. Gracanica Monastery is the most important Christian building in the city. One of the most important meeting places is Germia Park. Especially in summer months, the pools in the park are very crowded.

The Gora villages, which are built near Pristina, are the settlements that reflect the Balkan atmosphere the best. The local people have a unique culture. There are claims that the people of these villages are either the early Hun arrivals to Europe or Turkish-Bulgarians.
 
UNESCO has published a report on the cultural assets of Kosovo in 2003. In this report, the fact that especially the architectural and archaelogical heritage of the country was under great danger was emphasized. Many of these buildings reflecting the history and culture of Kosovo are damaged.

Pristina is the center of entertainment and night life in Kosovo. Especially in the Sadirvan region, there are bars and night clubs. In summers, parties flow out of bars and clubs into the square and last all night. Aside from that, in special days folklore shows are presented to the public in the Pristina main square.

The cuisine of Kosovo is a typical example of the cuisine of the Balkans. You are welcome to enjoy delicious variations of meatballs and pies with local names. In addition, you can find many meat dishes unique to the Ottoman Cuisine. Be sure to try Fli, which is a type of pie with an Albanian origin. Ayran, though a bit thicker, is themost important drink with meals. Sut Pite is one of the unique desserts of the country made of a type of batter in sherbet. Do not forget to have a cup of coffee after meals. Coffee culture is very developed in Kosovo, as it is in the Balkans as a whole. Every conversation ends with coffee.
 
Kosovo is not very rich in terms of shopping opportunities. You cannot find any large shopping malls. You can find local items in the bazaars that serve the needs of the local people. Those items are most likely to be coffee or foods. Handcrafts unique to the Balkans are available in Kosovo as well. You can find CDs and DVDs for very low prices on the streets.