Understand
[edit]Rahovec has a mixed population and historical context, signs may appear in both Albanian and Serbian.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]Roads are generally in good condition, though rural routes may have potholes.
By bus
[edit]Rahovec is well-connected by bus to major Kosovar cities. From Pristina, buses run hourly via the R 110 , taking about 1.5 hours € 4. Departures are from Pristina’s main bus station. From Prizren, via R 204 Frequent buses take 30–40 minutes (€2), with departures every 30 minutes. From Gjakova, less frequent buses (2 daily) take 1.5–2 hours (€ 2). Buses arrive at Rahovec central bus station, a short walk from the city center. Tickets are purchased on board or at the station. Check schedules at the station, as online information may be unreliable.
By plane
[edit]The nearest airport is Pristina International Airport (PRN), about 60 km northeast (50 minutes by car). From the airport, you can hire a taxi (around €40–45) or rent a car to reach Rahovec/Orahovac. There are no direct public transport options from the airport to Rahovec, so you’ll need to transfer in Pristina.
By train
[edit]Kosovo’s rail network is limited, and there is no train station in Rahovec. The nearest station is in Fushë Kosovë (near Pristina), requiring a bus or taxi transfer.
Get around
[edit]
The town is walkable though built on hillsides. Hitchhiking or biking to destinations nearby is possible and agricultural tractors are common place in the region. Also White Drin Canyon & Fshajt Bridge: Located near the village of Xërxë, The only canyon in Kosovo. This natural monument features a 900-meter-long canyon with a depth of 45 meters. The historic Ottoman-era Fshajt Bridge is a popular spot for diving competitions and offers picturesque views.
See
[edit]
The town is home to a large Tarikat Muslim Community with dervish lodges or tekkes found across the town. The nearby Christina Orthodox sites in Hoça e Madhe (Velika Hoča) 8 km away and Zoqishtë (Zociste) include monasteries and churches and are well worth the visit. The Serb populated region is home to the winery of the Decani Monastery. Make sure to ask for raki and wine.
- 1 Sahat Kulla (Clock Tower), Kongresi i Manastirit (Near Tekke Shejh Ilijaz Shehu). 8:00- 16:00 M- F. A significant historical and cultural landmark in southwestern Kosovo. Constructed in 1791 by Mahmud Pasha, the tower is 25 m tall, the tallest and oldest monument in the city. Free.
- 2 Great Tekke of Baba Shejh Sylejmani, Sheh Myhedini (old center of the town). 24/7.
- 3 Tekke of Shejh Hilmi Maliqi (Tekke of Mulla Mala), Rruga Hilmi Maliqi. Built in the end of 19th century. Free.
- 4 Velika Hoca Village and Monastery (Hoça e Madhe) (head in the direction of Suhareka). Protected village and Serb Orthodox Church offering several cultural monuments and local wines.
- 5 Zociste Monastery (Manstiri i Zoçishtes) (in the direction of Suhareka, past Hoça e Madhe). Serb Orthodox Church Monastery offering local wine.
- 6 Maja e Shkodranit (Shkodran Peak), Shkodrani (4 km northeast in way to Pristina). A site of historical significance, named in honor of Arian Brahimi, a volunteer who fell during the 1999 conflict. The area is accessible by bike, with dedicated cycling paths leading to the memorial complex. Free.
- 7 Zatriq Fortress. Zatriq consists of the upper town at the very top, around which down town was spread, with a shape that resembles a sharp tooth or beak, with southern and eastern sides protected by isolated and sharp rocks that, in some places, reach up to 50 m. On its north side, there is a natural plateau, on which research discovered ceramics and brick remains were discovered, contours of four-squared and polygonal facilities, and the basis of towers and ramps, which were connected the lower town to upper town. Free.
- 8 Massacre Museum (Krushe e Madhe), Krushe e Madhe (near the Primary School), ☏ +383 45540076, [email protected]. T-S 9:00- 17:00. The Krusha e Madhe Memorial Complex includes the graves of those who were massacred sings for the 64 individuals who were forcibly disappeared, memorial plaques, and the museum that exhibits the memory of Krusha e Madhe massacre. Every year, on March 26, a commemorative ceremony is held to remember the massacre. Built on 2024. Free.
- 9 Museum of Ukshin Hoti, Krushe e Madhe. T-S 9:00- 17:00. More Information you became by the Massacre Museum Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Bodrumi i Vjetër (Old Wine Cellar), Gëzim Hamza st, ☏ +383 29 277 345. Vineyards and wine.
- 2 Sefa Wine, Vllezërit Frashëri st., ☏ +383 49 512 663, [email protected]. vineyards and wine.
- Hiking (Kosovo Tourist Guides Association), ☏ +383 49372639, [email protected]. Hiking can be done on your own. If you however wish to engage a local guide, GuideKS is the umbrella organization of tourist guides in Kosovo. They will put you in touch with a local guide suitable for your activity.
- 3 Daka Wine, Elmaze Kadiri 1 (in the old part of the town), ☏ +383 49 316 923, [email protected]. Wine tasting with mezze.
- 4 Rahvera, ☏ +383 44 796 933, [email protected]. wineyards and winetastinɡ
- 5 Kosova Wine, Vellezerit Haradinaj, ☏ +383 49 999 901, [email protected]. Winery and Winetasting
Events
[edit]- 6 Festivali "Hardh Fest", Rruga Bodrumi (near Stone Castle). The Hardh Fest stands as a cornerstone event in Rahovec, celebrating the region’s rich grape-growing heritage and its products. Held the first weekend of September, its positioning itself as a key tourist attraction on Kosovo’s harvest map and beyond. Originating in 2001 and gaining national recognition over time, the festival provides a platform for local farmers, vineyard owners, wine producers, artists, youth, and the community to actively engage in social and cultural life. The festival marks the beginning of the grape harvest season, celebrating the culmination of the hard work of seasoned vineyard workers. The festivities, including shows, exhibitions, and cultural events, create a vibrant atmosphere, attracting numerous tourists each year. The Hardh Fest offers visitors a memorable experience, from the warm hospitality to the picturesque Hardh Camp with its stunning vineyard views, promoting grape products, environmental awareness, and local culture and arts. Additionally, the festival’s opening, highlighted by the symbolic cutting of the first grape bunch, officially inaugurates the harvest season, setting the tone for a weekend filled with joyous celebrations and cultural showcases in Rahovec. Free.
Buy
[edit]On Saturdays, a daily market is held with seasonal and local products are sold.
Eat
[edit]Traditional food is similar to all of Kosovo. Locally grown produce is outstanding.
- 1 Restaurant Bjeshka, Rahovec, ☏ +383 49 440 488.
- 2 Agroturizem Bella, Pikapesqind p.n (8 km south), ☏ +383 45 505 544. 11:00- 23:30 T- Su.
- 3 Restaurant Te Baca Bija, Rruga Gezim Hamza Piktori (near the Bodrumi i Vjeter), ☏ +383 44 764 418. 10:00- 23:30 M- Su. Local Traditional Food like Qebapa, Pite, Flija.
- 4 Restaurant "Ura e Shenjte", Egzodi 99 (12 km west, in road to Gjakova, near White Drin Canyon), ☏ +383 44 807 777. Fish and local food Restaurant.
Drink
[edit]Rahovec has a lot of small coffee bars, especially near the sports hall and the Old Cellar Winery.
- 1 Caffe Bar N´Qosh, Gezim Hamza Piktori (close to Bodrumi i Vjeter), ☏ +383 49 244 939. A small nice bar, where you can drink different drinks.
- 2 Anes vneshtit, Hamovc (in the middle of the vineyards of Rahovec), ☏ +383 45 601 200. Anës Vneshtit is a tavern-type space.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Unum Events, Rruga UCK, ☏ +383 43 777 004.
- 2 Hotel & Restaurant Jaha, Rruga UCK, ☏ +383 44 888 304. 20 EUR.
Go next
[edit]- Prizren - There are buses every 30 minutes until 18:30. The price is €2 and it is paid on the bus, leaving from the main road out of town.
- Gjakova - The closest city in Kosovo 26 km western from Rahovec with the largest Ottoman-era bazaar in the Balkans.
- Peja - Buses connect in Gjakova. 1 hour drive.
- Prishtina- There are buses every 40 minutes until 17:30. The price is € 3,5 and it is paid on the bus, leaving from the main road out of town.
- Suhareka- 16 km east of Rahovec. It is worth visiting during the period when the "Festari" festival is held.