Quick answer: Albania is a country of several faiths living side by side. In the 2023 census by INSTAT, about 45.9% of residents identified as Muslim, 4.8% as Bektashi, 8.4% as Catholic and 7.2% as Orthodox, while about 13.8% described themselves as believers without a denomination, 3.6% as atheists, and many chose not to answer. Religion was banned under the communist regime from 1967 until 1990, and today Albanians are known for religious tolerance: mixed families are common, and Muslim and Christian holidays are both official public holidays.

Ask an Albanian about religion and you will often hear a line from the 19th-century poet Pashko Vasa: "the religion of Albanians is Albanianism" (feja e shqiptarit është shqiptaria). It does not mean that faith is unimportant. It means that, for most of us, being Albanian comes first, and our neighbors' faith is something to respect, not to fear. Over the years I have met quite a few travelers who were surprised to see a Christian family wishing friends "Bajram i bekuar" or a Muslim family exchanging Christmas gifts. The best way to understand this harmony is not through statistics but through the places and legends where it lives. So let me take you to five of them.

Which religions are practiced in Albania?

The four traditional communities are Sunni Muslims, Bektashi Muslims (a Sufi order), Catholics and Orthodox Christians, with smaller Evangelical and other groups. Broadly speaking, Catholics are concentrated in the north around Shkodër and Lezhë, Orthodox Christians in the south and east around Korçë, Gjirokastër and Berat, and Muslims and Bektashis across the whole country. The 2023 census figures, reported by CNA, are not accepted by everyone: the Orthodox Church of Albania, for example, said the results do not reflect reality, according to Orthodox Times. What nobody disputes is that a large share of Albanians are believers in their own quiet, personal way, rather than strict practitioners.

Why was Albania once an atheist state?

In 1967, the communist regime declared Albania an atheist state and banned all religious practice. Mosques, churches and tekkes were closed, destroyed or turned into warehouses, sports halls and cinemas, and clergy of every faith were imprisoned or killed. Many families kept their faith in secret: a candle lit behind closed curtains at Easter, a whispered prayer during Ramadan. When religious freedom returned in 1990, it came back to a society that had learned to keep belief private, and that is part of why faith here is personal and rarely loud.

Place 1: The Et'hem Bey Mosque in Tirana

On Skanderbeg Square in Tirana stands the small, elegant Et'hem Bey Mosque, begun in the late 18th century by Molla Bey and completed in the early 1820s by his son Haxhi Et'hem Bey. Look closely at its frescoes: trees, waterfalls and bridges, rare in Islamic art. In January 1991, before the regime officially allowed worship again, thousands of people walked into this mosque to pray, a moment many Tirana families still remember as the day fear began to end.

Within a short walk you can also see the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection, the Catholic Cathedral of St. Paul and the Great Mosque of Tirana (Namazgah), opened on 10 October 2024 and one of the largest mosques in the Balkans. A little farther out is the World Headquarters of the Bektashi, who moved their center to Tirana in 1925. My Tirana guide covers them all. (If you visit while the protests of October 2026 continue in central Tirana, go in the morning and keep away from crowds.)

Place 2: Krujë and the legend of Sari Saltik

Above Krujë, Skanderbeg's fortress town, a path climbs to a cave and tekke dedicated to Sari Saltik, a dervish honored by the Bektashi. According to the legend, a dragon (kulshedra) lived in the mountain and demanded a young girl from the town every year. Sari Saltik fought the dragon and killed it, and when enemies later chased him, he leaped from the mountain, leaving footprints in the rock that pilgrims still point out. It is a legend, of course, but it shows how old Albanian dragon stories and Sufi saints became part of the same tradition. Combine it with the castle and the Old Bazaar; see my Krujë guide.

Place 3: Mount Tomorr, the sacred mountain

Mount Tomorr, rising above Berat and Skrapar, has been sacred to people of this land for a very long time, long before the arrival of Christianity and Islam, and many Albanians still swear "për Baba Tomorr" (by Father Tomorr). According to a legend told in the region, the giant Tomorr fought the giant Shpirag over a beautiful girl; they killed each other and turned into the two mountains facing each other, while the girl's tears became the Osum River.

Today, the summit (about 2,416 meters) holds the tomb of Abaz Ali, a holy Bektashi site. The great pilgrimage runs every year from 20 to 25 August, according to the National Tourism Agency, and draws people of every faith, not only Bektashis. Pilgrims camp, pray, share food and, yes, sacrifice lambs. Rent a 4x4 or hire a driver from Berat or Çorovodë; the last stretch is a rough mountain road. See my Çorovodë and Skrapar guide.

Place 4: Shkodër and the Madonna who flew away

Shkodër is the heart of Albanian Catholicism, and it is also a city of mosques, where church bells and the call to prayer have shared the air for centuries. Its most beloved legend is that of the Madonna of Shkodër (Zoja e Shkodrës). As the story goes, in 1467, as the Ottomans approached, a painted image of the Virgin Mary rose from its church and flew across the sea to Genazzano near Rome, where it is still venerated as Our Lady of Good Counsel. Two Albanians who followed it, according to the legend, settled there forever.

Shkodër also remembers 4 November 1990, when Don Simon Jubani celebrated the first public Mass in decades at the cemetery chapel in Rrmaj, as thousands of Catholics and Muslims stood together outside.

Place 5: Berat, Korçë and the painters of icons

In Berat's castle quarter, the Onufri Museum, inside the Cathedral of the Dormition of St. Mary, holds icons by Onufri, the 16th-century master famous for a red color nobody has been able to copy exactly. Down in the lower town, the Helveti tekke and the King Mosque show the Islamic side of the same UNESCO city. In the east, the Orthodox churches of Voskopojë near Korçë, built in the 18th century when the town was a wealthy center of trade and learning, still have their painted walls. See my Berat guide for the route.

Is the harmony real?

Mostly, yes, and Albanians are proud of it. During the Second World War, many Albanian families, Muslim and Christian, sheltered Jewish refugees under besa, the code of honor that makes a promise to a guest sacred, and Yad Vashem has recognized dozens of Albanians as Righteous Among the Nations. When Pope Francis visited Tirana in 2014, he praised this coexistence as an example. It is not perfect: there are debates about property, census figures and the place of new religious buildings. But in daily life, interfaith marriages, shared feasts and coffee among neighbors of different faiths are completely normal.

What should visitors know when visiting religious sites?

Which religious holidays are public holidays in Albania?

In 2026, official holidays included Bajrami i Madh (Eid al-Fitr, 20 March), Nevruz (22 March, especially important for the Bektashi), Catholic Easter (5 April), Orthodox Easter (12 April), Kurban Bajram (Eid al-Adha, 27 May), the Day of Saint Teresa's Canonization (5 September) and Christmas (25 December), according to the Bank of Albania's official calendar. Islamic holiday dates move each year with the lunar calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main religion in Albania?

Islam is the largest faith: in the 2023 census about 45.9% identified as Muslim and 4.8% as Bektashi. Catholics (8.4%) and Orthodox Christians (7.2%) are the main Christian communities.

Is Albania a religious country?

Albania is secular, with no state religion. Many people are believers, but practice is often personal and moderate, partly because religion was banned from 1967 to 1990.

What is the Bektashi Order?

The Bektashi are a Sufi order of Islam known for tolerance, mysticism and a relaxed approach to rules. Their World Headquarters has been in Tirana since 1925, and their main pilgrimage is on Mount Tomorr from 20 to 25 August.

Do I need to dress conservatively in Albania?

Not in daily life; Albanians dress much like other Europeans. Modest clothing is only expected when visiting churches, mosques and tekkes.

Discover the Stories Behind the Sacred Places

Every church, mosque and tekke in Albania has a story, and many have a legend too. Hear them on site with our Albania audio tours, discover more traditions on the blog, and if you would like to plan a visit to a pilgrimage, a feast or a sacred site, ask me anything. I will gladly help.