Et'hem Bey Mosque Mosque

Address: Skanderbeg Square (Sheshi Skënderbej), Tirana, Albania

Hours: Visits allowed outside prayer times (check locally)

Admission: Free (donations appreciated)

Et’hem Bey Mosque is an early 19th century mosque in central Tirana, Albania, known for its richly painted interior panels and historical significance in the city. The mosque was commissioned by Molla Bey and completed by his son Haxhi Et’hem Bey; its painted scenes include trees, birds and waterfalls uncommon in mosque decoration.

The mosque was an active religious site until state atheism policies during the communist era led to its closure; it reopened in 1991 and became a focal point of Albania’s return to public religious practice. The building combines Ottoman-era architectural features with local decorative traditions.

The mosque stands on Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana, adjacent to civic buildings and pedestrian zones, and is easily reached on foot from other central landmarks.

• Art and decoration: Built in the early 19th century and decorated with frescoes depicting landscapes, waterfalls and trees that are notable examples of Ottoman-influenced Albanian mosque art.
• Location and modern history: Located on Skanderbeg Square in central Tirana; it was closed during the communist era and famously reopened for public worship in 1991.

Et’hem Bey Mosque sits on Skanderbeg Square in the historic centre of Tirana. It is immediately accessible on foot from the pedestrianised area around the square and other central landmarks; most city buses and taxis serving central Tirana stop within a short walk of the mosque. From Tirana International Airport a taxi or transfer into the city centre takes around 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.

• Visit outside Muslim prayer times to be allowed inside - the mosque sits on Skanderbeg Square and is frequently closed to non‑worshippers during services, so check local opening hours before you go.
• Look closely at the interior frescoes depicting trees, waterfalls and bridges - many visitors miss these 18th/19th‑century painted scenes that are a highlight of the mosque's decoration.
• Combine a short stop at the mosque with a walk around Skanderbeg Square and the nearby National History Museum to see the broader Ottoman and Albanian civic context.