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Money & currency

Money in Kosovo

Updated 2026-10-09

Money & Currency
€

Euro (EUR)

Currency code: EUR

Practical Money Tips

The euro, and the dinar in the north

Kosovo has used the euro as its only official currency since 2002, without being a member of the European Union or of the eurozone. Travellers bring euros or draw them from a cash machine on arrival. In the Serb-majority north, in North Mitrovica and the municipalities around it, the Serbian dinar is used as well, and the cash machines there dispense dinars.

Cash machines in the towns, few beyond them

Cash machines are plentiful in Pristina and found in Prizren, Peja, Gjakova and Gjilan, and they take international Visa and Mastercard cards; card skimming is rare, and a machine inside a bank branch is the safest choice. Villages, the Rugova valley and the Šar mountains have few machines or none, so euros are drawn in the last town before the countryside. Some home banks flag a payment from Kosovo as unusual, and a note to the bank before the trip avoids a blocked card.

Cards in the capital, cash for daily life

Visa and Mastercard are taken in larger hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and some shops in Pristina, but Kosovo still pays mostly in cash: cafés, bakeries and street food, guesthouses, taxis and markets expect euros, and many places with a card terminal prefer cash. In the smaller towns and the countryside, cash is the only way to pay, so euros in mixed notes go everywhere.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated but not required. In a café the bill is rounded up, and in a restaurant where the service was good about 5 to 10 per cent is usual.

Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.

Common Money Questions

Why does Kosovo use the euro if it is not in the EU?

Kosovo took up the German mark in 1999 and moved to the euro in 2002, when Germany changed currency, to give its economy a stable money. It uses the euro without belonging to the eurozone, so it issues no notes or coins of its own, and the euro works here exactly as it does in the eurozone.

Can I pay by phone in Kosovo?

Rarely. A few modern places in Pristina take contactless payment from a phone, but it cannot be relied on, while a physical Visa or Mastercard card works in more places. Euros in cash remain the way to pay for most of daily life throughout the country.

Can I use the Serbian dinar in Kosovo?

Only in the Serb-majority north, in North Mitrovica and the municipalities around it, where the cash machines dispense dinars. Everywhere else the dinar is not accepted, so a traveller coming from Serbia changes dinars into euros before the crossing.

Are taxis metered in Pristina?

They have meters, but drivers do not always switch them on for visitors. Asking for the meter or agreeing the fare before setting off avoids a dispute at the end of the ride.

What currency is used at the Brezovica ski area?

The euro, and many places at Brezovica, near the border with North Macedonia, take cash only. The nearest reliable cash machines are in Prizren and Ferizaj, so euros are drawn before the trip up.

Can I change other Balkan currencies in Kosovo?

Exchange offices in Pristina handle euros, US dollars and pounds sterling, and sometimes the Albanian lek and the Serbian dinar. The North Macedonian denar and the Bosnian convertible mark are harder to change, so they are best changed into euros before crossing into Kosovo.

Entry rules, visa types and practical notes live on the Kosovo overview.

This overview comes from Visaja's worldwide missions database (visaja.com), checked against official government sources; for binding answers, the mission itself always has the final word.