Jewish Museum (Zidovské Muzeum)
The basics
The different buildings under the umbrella of Prague’s Jewish Museum are located close to one another in the Josefov area of the city. The museum is made up of the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Spanish Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Klausen Synagogue and Ceremonial Hall, the Robert Guttmann Gallery, and the Old-New Synagogue, where religious services are still held. The different sites can be visited on a walking tour with an English-speaking guide to provide additional historical context and information.
The museum has one of the biggest collections of Jewish memorabilia in the world, a fact that reveals a dark history—the Nazis gathered together artifacts from destroyed communities across the Czech Republic with the intention of creating a ""museum of an extinct race"" in Prague. Today, the museum collection is a moving tribute to the terrible struggles the Jews faced in many European countries and includes a memorial to the almost 80,000 Czech citizens killed in the Holocaust.
Things to know before you go
- Discounted tickets are available for children under 15 and students.
- Children under 6 visit free.
- An additional ticket or combined site ticket is required to access the 13th-century Old-New Synagogue.
- The museum sites can be very busy, but guided tours have skip-the-line access.
- Many of the sites have steps and are not suitable for visitors with limited mobility.
How to get there
The Jewish Museum sites are clustered together in the Josefov area of Prague, bordering the river and north of Stare Mesto (Old Town). The metro station Staromestska (Line A) is a short distance away, and the area is walkable from sites in the Old Town. Many people visit the museum as part of a guided tour of the Jewish Quarter.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The museum is open daily from Sunday to Friday, with reduced hours during the winter months. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays year-round. Midmornings are usually the busiest time to visit, so plan to come later in the day for a more peaceful experience.
Climb to the Highest Point in Prague
Shaped like a miniature Eiffel Tower (inspired by Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece) Petrin Tower is the highest point in Prague and offers panoramic views of the city. Visitors can take a cable car up to Petrin Hill before climbing the 299 steps to the top viewing platform. There’s also an elevator for those less inclined to brave the stairs.
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- Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova Synagoga)
- Old New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga)
- Prague Old Town (Staré Mesto)
- Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Zidovský Hrbitov)
- Pinkas Synagogue (Pinkasova Synagoga) and Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Zidovský Hrbitov)
- Paris Street (Parízská)
- Prague Jewish Quarter (Josefov)
- Franz Kafka’s Birthplace (Expozice Franze Kafky)
- Rudolfinum
- Spanish Synagogue (Spanelská Synagoga)
- Prague Old Town Square (Staromestské Námestí)
- Prague Astronomical Clock (Prague Orloj)
- Prague City Gallery (GHMP)
- The Prague Illusion
- Clementinum (Klementinum)