• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Social Life in Albania

Behavior

Most of the behavioral rules and restrictions in Albania are based on Islam, but more recent cultural history has altered many of these cultural aspects so today how the people of Albania behave is a combination of European and Islamic in origin.

As a visitor to Albania just try to follow the lead of the locals by dressing in alike manner (see below for details), dining in the local etiquette (see our Albania Dining & Food Page), and avoid sensitive conversation topics, such as politics, finances, and business unless initiated by your local counterpart. Also try to avoid being loud, rude, or showing off wealth.

Dress

The traditional clothing in Albania is no longer worn on a regular basis. For men the most traditional clothing was the fustanella, which is a white skirt, a shirt with loose-fitting sleeves, and a vest, which can be in a number of different colors. For women the most traditional piece of clothing was the xhubleta, which is a long-sleeved, loose-fitting, layered dress that goes just past the knees. These dresses were traditionally black, but often included decorations in numerous colors, including reds and white. They also often included a vest, a hair covering, and an apron or a sash that went around the waist.

Today most Albanians wear modern western-styled clothing, but as a Muslim country the dress tends to be fairly conservative. Most people, both men and women, cover their knees and shoulders at a minimum, but not everyone does this. It is not common for Albanian women to cover their hair like many Muslim women do. As a visitor to Albania dress on the more conservative side, but there is little expectation that you don't wear shorts or short-sleeved shirts. Just try to dress more conservatively in mosques and more formal settings and don't wear anything too revealing. Lastly, sunbathing naked or women sunbathing topless is only permitted in certain places so always be sure to know where this is allowed before doing so.

This page was last updated: November, 2013