Prague Jewish Quarter Tour 2026

LEARN ABOUT PRAGUE'S JEWISH COMMUNITY

Expand your knowledge of Prague's history and culture with a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter! Your tour includes tickets to the synagogues and the Jewish cemetery, and an expert guide will tell you about the area's significance and Prague's Jewish community. The Jewish Quarter is known as Josefov and was the Jewish ghetto of Prague. Jewish people came to Prague in the 10th century and later lived in the walled Ghetto. The name Josefov comes from Joseph II, who emancipated the Jewish people. Around 18,000 people lived there. What's interesting is that most of the Jewish Quarter was destroyed at the end of the 19th and at the beginnning of the 20th century in efforts to make Prague look more like Paris. There are many buildings from the beginning of the 20th century, and this tour will take you to the surviving synagogues and the old cemetery.

VISIT THE SYNAGOGUES

You will visit the Maisel, Spanish, Pinkas, and Old-New synagogues. The Old-New Synagogue is the oldest in the Jewish Town, as well as Europe's oldest extant synagogue. It has actually been the main synagogue in Prague for over 700 years! There is a legend that says that the foundation stones of the synagogue were brought by angels from the Temple of Jerusalem and should be brought back for its restoration. The Maisel Synagogue was built in the 16th century, but it was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt multiple times after that. It was built in a Renaissance style but currently has a Neo-Gothic look. Use one of the touch screens to browse Hebrew manuscripts, explore historical maps of settlements, and learn about prominent members of the community. The Pinkas Synagogue is also from the 16th century and is in Gothic style. There is a Memorial to the Victims of the Shoah from the Czech Lands. The exhibition includes drawings of children from the Terezín ghetto from World War II, most of whom died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Spanish Synagogue is from the 19th century and got its name because of its Moorish design influenced by the Alhambra. The exhibition at the synagogue covers Jewish history from the 18th century to World War II.

SEE THE OLD JEWISH CEMETERY

Afterward, you will visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, one of the world's oldest Jewish burial grounds. There are about 12,000 tombstones, and the earliest is from 1439.