Jewish Quarter: Tours and Guided Visits

The Jewish Quarter of Prague is one of the most significant areas in the city. It is emblematic of the turmoil and hardship the community has endured for hundreds of years, from exclusions and massacres to an eventual renaissance.

The Josefov neighborhood is one of the city’s most visited locations and tours of the Jewish Quarter in Prague take you back to the 10th century when its history began.

Centuries of adversity followed, culminating in the tragedies of World War II, but today the ghetto is a space for commemoration, education, and admiration.

You will find below all you need to know about the Jewish quarter, one of the most popular sightseeing tours in Prague.

Where is the Jewish Quarter located?

The Jewish quarter in Prague is located only a couple of blocks north of Old Town square. It is nestled between the square and the Vltava river, and all the major points of interest are within convenient walking distance from each other.

Getting to the Jewish Quarter from other parts of the city is very easy, and you simply need to look for the Staromestska stop on the bus, train, and tram lines.

The best way to experience all the nuances of the Jewish Quarter is to book an immersive tour with an expert local guide that knows all the ins and outs of this Prague highlight.

What are the best things to do in the Jewish Quarter?

Tours in Prague's Jewish Quarter take you on a journey through the ghetto’s tumultuous past. The area is steeped in historical significance, brought to life by stories from expert local guides.

These are some of the highlights you don’t want to miss:

Explore the synagogues

Prague’s Jewish Quarter has six synagogues that remain standing, the oldest of which was built in the 1200s. Every synagogue dates from a different century giving you a true sense of how the community struggled and grew through the ages.

The Spanish Synagogue is one of the most beautiful and is decorated in a grand Moorish style. In contrast, the Old-New Synagogue is the oldest in the country and has an understated gothic appearance. Find out about the fabled Golem that lives in its attic that has wreaked havoc in the city for centuries.

Pay Your Respects

The Jewish community has overcome centuries of adversity and oppression, and there are a few places in Josefov dedicated to those who suffered so greatly.

Pay a visit to the Old Jewish Cemetery, where more than 12,000 Jews have been laid to rest. The remarkably small space speaks volumes of the horrors people had to face here. The Pinkas Synagogue has the names of 77,297 Jews carved on the walls who were from Czechoslovakia and died during the Holocaust.

Learn about the Jewish faith

No excursion to the Jewish Quarter is complete without a stop at the Jewish Museum. The museum offers its visitors a look into the complexities of the Jewish religion through its galleries and exhibitions.

There is also a library and educational center, and the museum has one of the largest Jewish artifact collections in the world.

The Ceremonial Hall is run by the Jewish Museum and is known for its Romanesque Revival Style facade. The building now serves as an educational space to teach visitors about the Jewish faith's holy practices associated with burials.

What are the best tours to visit in the Jewish Quarter?

Tours in the Jewish Quarter are a dream for history buffs as they explore hundreds of years of Prague’s past. Here are some of the best tours to consider on your next visit:

Jewish Quarter Walking Tour

Take a walking tour in the Jewish Quarter of Prague and take a deep dive into the complex past of the neighborhood. The guides are experts on Jewish history and offer intriguing insights into the triumphs and tribulations of the last 1,000 years.

Visit the Maisel, Pinkas, Spanish, and Klausen synagogues and stroll through the Jewish Cemetery for a sobering look at the atrocities the community faced.

Jewish Quarter and Old Town Tour

Prague’s Old Town and Jewish Quarter are mere blocks from each other, and a tour of both neighborhoods gives you excellent value for money.

Visit the Old Town Square to marvel at the Church of Our Lady before Týn and the curious Astronomical Clock Tower. Other Old Town highlights include the Estates Theater and Charles University.

Move to the Jewish Quarter to learn more about the history of Jews in Czechoslovakia. You will visit the most prominent synagogues and the Jewish cemetery and hear anecdotes from your expert guide.

These tours circle back past the Old Town and finish at Charles Bridge, the city's most famous landmark.

Prague Jewish Quarter Private Tour

Book a private tour of the Jewish Quarter for a personalized experience. This tour includes a guide schooled in Jewish studies that can offer a new understanding of Prague’s history and the community’s faith.

The tour passes through the Jewish Museum, Stary zidovsky Hrbitov (the Old Jewish Cemetery), the Old-New Synagogue, Jewish Town Hall, Pinkas Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue and Maisel Synagogue.

What are the prices of Jewish Quarter tours?

The cheapest tours of the Prague Jewish Quarter start from as little as €3, but the average cost is between €10 and €15. These include a tour of the old town but do not include entrance tickets to any of the city’s museums and monuments.

An inclusive tour of the Prague Jewish Quarter costs around €40 and includes entrance tickets to the synagogues and the cemetery.

A private tour of the Jewish Quarter in Prague is for a minimum of two people. For small groups, it is €75 per person, but prices vary for private groups larger than six people.

Where do Jewish Quarter tours start?

The Jewish Quarter tours in Prague all depart from around the Old Town. Most groups meet in the Old Town Square while others depart from Maisel Synagogue.

When is the best time to visit the Jewish Quarter?

The best time to visit the Jewish Quarter in Prague is on weekday mornings so visitors can get the most out of their experience. Many synagogues and Jewish religious places are closed on Saturday.

Travel tips

• These tours all involve a lot of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
• Prague tends to be cool and there can be rain in the summer, so pack weather-appropriate clothes.
• Excursions to the Jewish Quarter include visits to religious places, so wear appropriate clothing to enter the synagogues.