What is the Prague Jewish Quarter?
Josefov, the old Jewish Town, sits between the Old Town Square and the Vltava. Most of its houses were rebuilt around 1900, but six synagogues, the Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery survive. Ironically, the Nazis preserved many objects here as a planned museum of an "extinct race". Today the Jewish Museum in Prague runs most of the sites, while the Old-New Synagogue remains an active synagogue run by the Jewish Community.
Tickets: what's included
Ticket names and prices change. The museum's own website has the current price list, and some third-party sources describe the coverage differently, so read the inclusions before you buy. Reduced prices apply for children and students.
Saturdays
The Jewish Museum and the Old-New Synagogue are closed on Saturdays (Shabbat) and on Jewish holidays such as Pesach, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Check the closure calendar before planning.
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How busy is the Jewish Quarter?
- Fridays and Sundays are busier, because the sites close on Saturday.
- April-October is peak season. January-March is quietest, with shorter hours.
- The Old Jewish Cemetery is the bottleneck: its narrow path is one-way.
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How to beat the crowds
- Start at 9 am with the Pinkas Synagogue and the cemetery, before the walking tours.
- Visit Sunday to Thursday rather than Friday.
- Buy tickets online or at a quieter ticket office (the Spanish Synagogue's is often less busy than Pinkas's).
- Leave the Spanish Synagogue for the afternoon: it's slightly away from the main tour route.
Practical tips
- Head coverings: men are asked to cover their heads in the synagogues and cemetery. Kippahs are provided.
- Security: bag checks at entrances.
- Photography: restricted in some synagogues. Follow the signs.
- Accessibility: some synagogues have steps, and the cemetery path is narrow and uneven.
Insider tips
- The Pinkas Synagogue is the emotional centre. Allow time for the names and the children's drawings upstairs.
- Rabbi Loew's tomb is covered with pebbles and notes. He's linked to the legend of the Golem.
- The Spanish Synagogue sometimes hosts concerts in the evening.
- Pair with the Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock, 5 minutes away.
Mistakes to avoid
- Planning a Saturday visit.
- Assuming the Old-New Synagogue is in every ticket.
- Starting at 11 am with every walking tour.
A suggested route
The sites are within a few hundred metres of each other. This order puts the busiest sites first, before the walking tours arrive.
- Pinkas Synagogue (9 am): the memorial walls listing the names of Bohemian and Moravian Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and upstairs, drawings by children from the Terezín ghetto.
- Old Jewish Cemetery: the exit from Pinkas leads straight in. Used from the 15th century to 1787, with graves layered on top of each other because space ran out. Around 12,000 tombstones are visible, including Rabbi Judah Loew's.
- Klausen Synagogue and Ceremonial Hall: at the cemetery exit, covering Jewish festivals, traditions and the burial society.
- Old-New Synagogue: built around 1270, still in use, with its tall Gothic brick gable. Legend says the Golem's remains lie in its attic.
- Maisel Synagogue: the history of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from the 10th to the 18th century.
- Spanish Synagogue (last): a 19th-century Moorish Revival interior covered in gilded patterns, a short walk from the others and often quieter.
Plans by visitor type
Short on time (1 hour)
Pinkas Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery, then the Spanish Synagogue's interior.
Families
Older children can engage with the Terezín drawings and the Golem legend. The content is emotionally heavy, so prepare younger children.
Guided visits
A specialist guide adds a lot of context, especially in the cemetery and the Old-New Synagogue. Book through a licensed guide or a reputable tour.
Is it worth it?
Yes. It's one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Europe, and the Pinkas Synagogue and Old Jewish Cemetery are deeply moving. Go early, on a weekday, and give it the time it deserves.
🎟️ Included in the Prague Go City All-Inclusive Pass and the Prague Go City Explorer Pass. Could a pass save you money? Compare Prague tourist passes →
FAQs
How much does the Prague Jewish Museum cost?
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Roughly 550 CZK for the circuit of synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery, and around 750 CZK with the Old-New Synagogue. Check the official price list.
Is the Jewish Quarter open on Saturdays?
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No. The Jewish Museum and the Old-New Synagogue close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
What are the opening hours?
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From 9 am, closing at 4:30 pm in winter, 6 pm in spring and autumn, and 7 pm from May to August.
Is the Old-New Synagogue included?
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Only in combined tickets. It's run separately by the Jewish Community.
How long do you need?
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2-3 hours.
Heading to Prague Jewish Quarter?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
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How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 29 October 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
