Prague Jewish Quarter (Josefov): A Complete Guide for Visitor

Prague's Jewish Quarter — known locally as Josefov — is one of the most powerful places in the city. Tucked between Old Town Square and the Vltava River, it tells a story that stretches back over a thousand years: of resilience, culture, persecution, and survival. Six historic synagogues, Europe's oldest Jewish cemetery, and the legend of the Golem all live within a few short streets.

We've been guiding visitors through Prague for 17 years, and Josefov is one of the places that affects people most deeply. It's not always an easy visit — but it's one you won't forget. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

A Brief History

Jews first settled in Prague in the 10th century. By the 13th century, they were ordered to move into a walled ghetto — the area that is now Josefov. For centuries, the community lived in this confined space, enduring waves of persecution. The Easter pogrom of 1389 killed an estimated 1,500 to 3,000 people, including many who had taken refuge inside the Old-New Synagogue.

Yet the community survived — and at times thrived. In the 16th century, under Emperor Rudolf II, Prague's Jewish Quarter entered a golden age. Mordecai Maisel, the wealthy mayor of the ghetto, paved the streets, built synagogues, and turned Josefov into a centre of Jewish culture and scholarship. Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel — known as Rabbi Löw — became one of the most famous Jewish scholars in European history, and the legend of the Golem was born in these streets.

In 1850, the quarter was renamed Josefov after Emperor Joseph II, whose reforms had granted Jews civil rights and allowed them to live outside the ghetto. By the late 1800s, most of the medieval buildings were demolished in a massive urban renewal. What survives today — six synagogues, the cemetery, the town hall — is a fraction of what once existed.

During the Second World War, the Nazis destroyed Prague's Jewish community. Approximately 80,000 Jews from Bohemia and Moravia — out of a pre-war population of around 118,000 — perished in the Holocaust. The synagogues and cemetery survived because the Nazis planned to turn them into a "museum of an extinct race." After the war, these buildings became a memorial instead — one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Europe.

What to See in Josefov

Old-New Synagogue (Staronová Synagoga)

Built around 1270, this is the oldest active synagogue in Europe. Its Gothic interior has remained virtually unchanged for over 750 years. According to legend, the remains of the Golem — the clay creature created by Rabbi Löw to protect Prague's Jews — still lie in the attic. The attic has been sealed for centuries, and few have ever been allowed inside.

The Old-New Synagogue requires a separate ticket from the Jewish Museum.

Old Jewish Cemetery

One of the most striking sights in all of Prague. Used from the early 15th century until 1787, the cemetery holds approximately 12,000 visible tombstones — but an estimated 100,000 people are buried here, in up to 12 layers, because there was never enough space. The gravestones lean at all angles, crowded together in a way that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling.

Among those buried here: Rabbi Löw (died 1609) and Mordecai Maisel (died 1601).

Pinkas Synagogue

This 16th-century synagogue was transformed after the war into a memorial for the 77,297 Jews from Bohemia and Moravia who died in the Holocaust. Their names are inscribed on every wall — row after row, floor to ceiling. On the upper floor, an exhibition displays drawings by children who were held in the Terezín concentration camp. Most of them did not survive.

If you're visiting Terezín Memorial on a day trip from Prague, the Pinkas Synagogue provides essential context. Read more: Terezín Memorial: A Complete Guide.

Spanish Synagogue

The youngest of Josefov's synagogues, built in 1868 on the site of Prague's oldest Jewish house of worship. Its Moorish-style interior — gold arabesques, geometric patterns, ornate arches — is breathtaking and completely unlike anything else in Prague. The synagogue also hosts classical music concerts.

The permanent exhibition here covers the history of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from the 19th century to the present, including the lives of famous Czech Jews: Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, and Gustav Mahler.

Maisel Synagogue

Built in the 16th century by Mordecai Maisel, who financed much of the Jewish Quarter's development. Today it houses an exhibition on the history of Jews in Bohemia from the 10th to the 18th century — the golden age of Prague's Jewish community.

Klausen Synagogue

The largest synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, built in 1694 next to the Old Jewish Cemetery. Its permanent exhibition focuses on Jewish traditions and customs — birth, education, marriage, death — and offers a window into daily life in the ghetto.

The Legend of the Golem

No visit to Josefov is complete without knowing the most famous Prague legend. In the late 16th century, Rabbi Löw is said to have created a figure from clay — the Golem — and brought it to life by placing a shem (a tablet inscribed with the name of God) in its mouth. The Golem protected the Jewish community from pogroms and attacks. But one day it went out of control, and Rabbi Löw was forced to remove the shem, turning the Golem back to lifeless clay. According to legend, the remains were placed in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue — and have never been removed.

Franz Kafka and Josefov

Franz Kafka was born in 1883 into a German-speaking Jewish family just steps from Old Town Square. He spent most of his life in and around Josefov. A bronze statue of Kafka, unveiled in 2003, stands next to the Spanish Synagogue — an unusual sculpture inspired by his writing, showing a small figure riding on the shoulders of a headless empty suit.

Practical Information

Tickets: The Jewish Museum ticket (approximately 600 CZK) includes the Old Jewish Cemetery, Pinkas, Klausen, Maisel, and Spanish Synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, and the Robert Guttmann Gallery. The Old-New Synagogue requires a separate ticket (approximately 250 CZK). Combined tickets are available.

Opening hours: Daily except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Hours vary by season — typically 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM in winter, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM in summer. Check the Jewish Museum website before your visit.

How long to allow: 2–3 hours to see everything comfortably.

Dress code: Respectful clothing. Men are required to wear a head covering in the Old-New Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Paper kippot are usually available at the entrance.

Getting there: Metro line A to Staroměstská station, then a 3-minute walk. Josefov sits between Old Town Square and the river — you can easily combine it with a walk through Old Town. Our Charles Bridge & Old Town Walking Tour passes through the edge of the Jewish Quarter. Our Best of Prague: Car and Walking Tour also covers the Old Town area near Josefov.

Where to stay: Josefov is in the heart of Old Town — one of the best areas to base yourself in Prague. Read: Where to Stay in Prague.

With a guide or without? You can visit independently — but Josefov is one of those places where a guide makes the biggest difference. The buildings are modest from outside; it's the stories inside that give them their power. Without context, you're looking at old stones. With context, you're standing in a thousand years of history.

Tips from a Local Guide

Visit early in the morning. Josefov gets crowded, especially in summer. The first hour after opening is the quietest.

Don't rush the Pinkas Synagogue. Reading the names on the walls takes time — and it should. This is not a place to hurry through.

Combine with Old Town. Josefov is a 2-minute walk from Old Town Square and the Astronomical Clock. Plan your visit together — see our One Day in Prague or Prague in 2–3 Days itineraries.

Pařížská Street. The main boulevard running through Josefov is one of Prague's most elegant streets — lined with Art Nouveau buildings, designer boutiques, and cafés. A striking contrast to the history just around the corner.

For families. Josefov can be intense for younger children, particularly the Pinkas Synagogue and the Holocaust exhibitions. Older children and teenagers usually find the Golem legend and the cemetery fascinating. Read more: Prague with Kids.

Josefov is one of Prague's most essential experiences. See our complete guide: Best Things to Do in Prague.

Exploring More of Prague

Josefov is just one piece of Prague's extraordinary history. If you'd like to explore more of the city with a private guide — at your pace, with your interests, for your group alone — browse all our private tours in Prague.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Jewish Quarter in Prague? Josefov is Prague's historic Jewish neighbourhood, located between Old Town Square and the Vltava River. It contains six synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the Jewish Museum — one of the most important Jewish heritage sites in Europe. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.

Is the Prague Jewish Quarter worth visiting? Absolutely. Whether you're interested in history, architecture, or simply want to understand a deeper side of Prague beyond the tourist highlights, Josefov is essential. It's one of the most moving places in the city.

How much does it cost to visit? The Jewish Museum ticket is approximately 600 CZK (around €24) and includes most sites. The Old-New Synagogue requires a separate ticket of approximately 250 CZK. Children under 6 enter free.

Is the Jewish Quarter open on Saturdays? No. All sites in Josefov are closed on Saturdays (Shabbat) and on Jewish holidays. Plan your visit for another day.

Can I visit the Jewish Quarter on my own? Yes, you can visit independently with a ticket. However, a guided tour provides essential historical context that makes the experience far richer — especially at the Pinkas Synagogue and the cemetery.

How is the Jewish Quarter connected to Terezín? Many of the 77,297 names inscribed on the walls of the Pinkas Synagogue belong to people who were deported to Terezín and from there to extermination camps. Visiting both Josefov and Terezín gives you the fullest picture of the Holocaust in Bohemia.