Prague Jewish Quarter Tours

The old Jewish quarter of Prague, also known as Josefov, is located in the old city north of the capital and is one of the main tourist attractions of Prague. It is not really a neighborhood anymore, but it preserves its essence and its history that dates back from the 10th century to the 20th century when this neighborhood was affected by the sanitation works of the city and lost most of its houses.

Today the most important vestiges of the history of the Jewish community, which became one of the largest in Europe, are preserved. What remains is the Jewish cemetery and the six synagogues that are still standing, many of them are still active. To know this piece of history of the city of Prague it is best to take a guided tour and for this I leave you all the information below.

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Prague Jewish Quarter Tour

Prague Tour: Jewish Quarter

Discover the second most visited place in Prague and the history of the Jewish people in this city with a guided tour.

From $67 at Hellotickets

A specialized guide leads this tour of the Jewish quarter of Prague for two and a half hours during which you will visit different synagogues as well as the Jewish cemetery of Prague. The advantage of doing this tour in an organized tour instead of deciding to visit these places on your own is clear: you will put into context everything you see.

This tour is offered in English and includes the visit to several synagogues in the city and the Jewish cemetery

Recommended if you like history and in particular you are interested in learning more about the Jewish people and their historical trajectory.

If you want to get to know the Josefov in depth but with a more artistic and cultural approach, you can opt for a tour of Prague's Jewish quarter that includes the Robert Guttmann Gallery In addition to visiting the synagogues, the cemetery and other key points of the neighborhood, this tour allows you to access the permanent exhibition of the Jewish Museum, where works of great symbolic value are preserved. It is an ideal option if you are looking for a more complete experience without being private.

On the other hand, if you prefer a more personalized visit, you have the possibility of taking a private tour of the Jewish Quarter. Accompanied by a guide exclusively for you or your group, you will have the flexibility to adapt the tour to your interests and stop more calmly at the places that catch your attention. This is an excellent option for those who value exclusivity or travel with family or small groups.

Guided tours of the Jewish Quarter start from 44 euros if you book online and include a professional, accredited guide who will accompany you on a tour of the most important sights of the Jewish Quarter.

The itinerary includes entrance to the historic Jewish cemetery and the 6 remaining synagogues of the Jewish quarter that form the Jewish museum. They can all be visited on the same tour except for the Old-New Synagogue, which has a separate entrance fee.

Of course. The Jewish quarter has a lot of history and it is essential to know it if you want to discover Prague, since the city and the quarter are intimately linked. Several historical events took place in this place and there are also many legends and curiosities of the Jewish Quarter that we will surely overlook if we visit it on our own.

The guides are professionally accredited and have specialized studies in Jewish culture and history. Their explanations will give you a totally different and more interesting perspective than you would get if you visit on your own.

The old Jewish quarter is located in the old city, specifically in the northern part. Getting to it is quite easy as we have several transportation alternatives. As a reference, the Jewish cemetery is only 5 minutes walk from the central square of the old city. The other options to get there by public transportation are:

• By metro: You have to take line A and get off at the Staromestska stop which is the closest one.
• By streetcar: Lines 17 and 18 stop nearby at Staromestska.
• By Bus: Bus 207 and 194 also stop at Staromestska near the Jewish quarter.
• By car: You can go by car putting Široká, 110 00 Josefov in the Gps but parking in the area is complicated. Another alternative is by Taxi or Uber.

Although it is not the best itinerary for children, since the history of the Jewish Quarter is related to the Holocaust and other dark events, they can do the tour perfectly well. Whenever there are little ones doing the sightseeing the guides adapt their explanations to them to make them more enjoyable and understandable. In fact, the separate entrance to the synagogues of the Jewish quarter are free for children under 6 years old and up to 15 years old they have a discount.

All the basics of the Jewish Quarter are included in this 2 hours and a half tour. But for you to know more in depth what you are going to see, here is a review of the most important points of the Jewish Quarter:

• Jewish Cemetery: This is the centerpiece of the tour. The Jewish cemetery is one of the most unique cemeteries in the world for its shape with hundreds of stacked tombstones and, above all, for its history and legends. In this link you can discover all the secrets of the famous Prague Jewish cemetery
• Pinkas Synagogue: This is the synagogue that gives access to the cemetery and inside is the longest epitaph in the world. Its stops are covered with the names of some 80,000 Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
• Spanish Synagogue: So called because of its Moorish decoration similar to that found in the Alhambra in Granada, it is considered the most impressive of all the synagogues in the Jewish quarter.
• Klausen Synagogue: This synagogue adjoins the cemetery and its main attraction is its library which preserves several copies of Hebrew books of great value. It also houses exhibitions on Jewish customs and traditions.
• Maisel Synagogue: On the outside it is a simple building but inside it houses a collection of objects of Jewish tradition and of great historical value. It was originally built as a private synagogue for Mordecai Maisel, mayor of the autonomous part of the Jewish quarter at the end of the 16th century.
• High Synagogue: This name is due to its Renaissance style, which tends towards the top and is therefore the only one with two floors. It was for a time part of the town hall of the Jewish quarter.

Apart from these synagogues included in the tour, the one known as the old-new synagogue can also be visited. This is the oldest active synagogue in Europe and, according to legend, the home of the Golem of Prague.

The origin of the Jewish quarter of Prague dates back to the 10th century when the first Jews arrived. Shortly after their settlement, the first crusade of the Catholic Church took place, which resulted in the marginalization of non-believing peoples. The Jewish population was forced to settle in what was known as the old quarter, which became the Jewish quarter. They were forbidden to travel and move outside this quarter so the Jews were forced to establish their own rules within that part of Prague.

It was already in 1270 when they built the first synagogue, now known as the Old-New Synagogue, and in 1292 they were officially granted administrative independence. Over the years the neighborhood prospered and increased its population substantially until it became one of the most important Jewish neighborhoods in Europe. However, even with the repression and limitations imposed on them. It was not until 1850 that the city of Prague began to open up to this neighborhood. It changed its name to Josefov neighborhood as a tribute to the figure of Joseph II who, under his rule, began to integrate the Jewish people in the city.

It was the beginning of a more open era in which Jews began to be allowed to move to other neighborhoods and worked for a more tolerant environment with religious beliefs. Only the most orthodox and those with the least resources remained in the neighborhood, which marked the beginning of the end of the Jewish quarter as it was known. It was not the end of the repression since in the Second World War were victims of the Holocaust and many Prague Jews were taken to concentration camps such as Terezín, which can be visited from the Czech capital.

What is known today as the Jewish quarter are the synagogues that remain and are part of the Jewish museum as well as the famous Jewish cemetery.

The duration of these tours is 2 and a half to 3 hours. This is more than enough time to see all the interesting points of the quarter in detail. You will spend about 20 minutes at each of the synagogues on the itinerary and an extra half hour to visit the Jewish cemetery.

Guided tours usually start in the morning a little later than the opening hours of the monuments. The synagogues and cemetery open their doors to visitors at 9:00 and tours start around 10:00. If there is anything you want to revisit after taking the tour you should know that in the winter schedule (October to March) they close their doors at 16:30 and in the summer months both the cemetery and the synagogues remain open until 18:00.

As the tour lasts about 3 hours, you will have plenty of time in the afternoon to continue exploring Prague. Please note that on Saturdays, or Sabbath, they are closed as it is the holy day of Judaism. On Jewish holidays they are also closed.

• There is no specific dress code for visiting the synagogues but as they are religious places it is recommended to dress more or less correctly. This means not wearing sports or very short clothes as a sign of respect for Jewish traditions.
• During the tour you will not have to walk much as all the synagogues and the cemetery are very close to each other, but you will spend several hours on your feet so it is important to wear comfortable shoes.
• The cemetery and the Jewish quarter is one of the most visited places in Prague so it is advisable to book your tour or tickets in advance so you don't run out of them.
• If you have to choose the best time to visit the Jewish quarter is at the beginning of the week, as Saturdays are closed and at the end of the week there are more visitors, and in the spring months as temperatures are pleasant and there is not as much affluence as in summer.
• If you choose to take a tour it is recommended to be at least 15 minutes in advance at the meeting point.