Mosques and churches across Albania's towns

Two mosques anchor a walk through Berat: the King Mosque in Mangalem and the Lead Mosque in the centre. Here is where each one sits, what you see inside and how to behave when you step in.

St Mary's monastery sits on the hill above Dhërmi's old stone village, a short climb from the lanes with wide views over the coast. Here is what the site is, how the walk fits with the rest of the old town, and what to plan around.

The Fatih Mosque is the historic mosque to seek out in central Durrës, built in 1502–1503 and still in use today. This guide covers what makes its tiled roof and square plan unusual, how it sits beside the amphitheatre and castle walls, how it differs from the newer Great Mosque, and how to dress and behave inside.

The King Mosque in Elbasan sits inside the castle walls, a domed Ottoman prayer hall built under Sultan Bayezid II in the 1480s. Here is what you see, the three names on the signs, how to behave in a working mosque, and how to fit it into an hour in Elbasan castle.

Ardenica Monastery (Manastiri i Ardenicës) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the hills south of Lushnjë, best visited as one half of a half-day trip with the Apollonia ruins. Here is what the church holds, how to reach it and how much time to budget.

Gjirokastër's Bazaar Mosque is a working place of worship in the old bazaar, a few minutes' walk from the castle gate. This guide covers its three names, how to find it from the bazaar lanes, what to wear, how to behave around prayer, and what to pair with it in the old town.

The Resurrection of Christ Cathedral is Korçë's main Orthodox church, built in 1994 and set on the city's central square. Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the building and its setting, and come back after dark when the frontage is lit.

Sari Salltik is a cave shrine on the mountain above Krujë, at the end of a steep seven-kilometre road. Here is the layout inside, the view back over the town, the trail option and how to pair it with Krujë's castle and bazaar.

Shkodër has two mosques that matter to a short visit: the Ottoman Lead Mosque below Rozafa Castle and the working Ebu Bekr Mosque in the centre. This guide explains what makes each one distinct, how they fit into a walk through the old town, and how to behave inside a working place of worship.

St Stephen's Catholic Cathedral, known locally as Kisha e Madhe, is a short, worthwhile stop in central Shkodër. Here is where it stands, what to look for inside, how long to allow, and how to pair it with the old town, Rozafa Castle or the lake.

The Great Mosque of Tirana, or Namazgah Mosque, sits five minutes on foot from Skanderbeg Square. This guide covers the building, the complex around the prayer hall, dress and shoes, photography, and the prayer times when you should stay away.

Tirana's answer to "the cathedral" is two buildings: the Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ and the Catholic St. Paul's. This guide separates them, points out the statues and glass windows at St. Paul's, adds the older Church of the Sacred Heart of Christ, and explains how to walk between them and behave inside.

Zvërnec Monastery is a Byzantine monastery and Church of St Mary on a pine-covered islet in the Narta Lagoon near Vlorë, reached on foot by a wooden footbridge. Here is what you see, how the visit works and how to fit it into a day around the lagoon.

Albania's churches belong to two main families: the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Catholic Church, each with its own buildings and organisation. This guide explains how the Orthodox Church is structured, what to look at inside a church, what state atheism did to these buildings and how to visit with care.