Telephones

Calling Kosovo
To phone to a Pristina landline, dial +381 (still the same as Serbia's code), 38 (for Pristina) and the six-digit subscriber number.  To call a mobile phone, dial the operator's country code (+377 or +386) and the phone number without the initial zero.

Public telephones
Bright yellow public telephones are scattered around town and are card-operated. Phone cards come in values from €3,50 upwards and can be bought from post offices and kiosks. Instructions are written in English. Phoning to a landline in Western Europe costs about €0,25 per minute, to a mobile number about €0,50 per minute.

Mobile phones
PTK operates the UN-initiated local mobile phone network Vala, whose international code is that of Monaco - misdial a digit and you may get Princess Stephanie on the blower. IPKO and D3 numbers start with Slovenia's code +386.
As you drive around Kosovo you may get 'Welcome to Germany' text messages as some foreign operators have local mobile networks around military bases - effectively offering the cheapest roaming rates in Kosovo. Serbia's Telenor network illegally covers parts of Kosovo, including areas of Pristina, with authorities regularly pulling down their masts. To avoid high roaming costs on your home network, buy a local prepaid SIM card at an IPKO or D3 Mobile shop, or at a post office for Vala. New SIM cards cost €5 and can be used immediately. Top-up cards are widely available.

Kosovo city codes
When calling from abroad or roaming, prefix with +381 and drop the first zero.
Gjakova 0390
Gjilan 0280
Ferizaj 0290
Mitrovica 028
Peja 039
Pristina 038
Prizren 029