Museum of Jewish History, Girona

Museum in Girona

Museum of Jewish History, Girona
Museum of Jewish History, Girona
CC BY-SA 3.0 / Kippelboy

The Museum of Jewish History (Girona) is the city's essential stop for understanding the medieval Jewish quarter, known locally as the Call. Set within the same maze-like streets you will explore on foot, the museum helps turn Girona's atmosphere-narrow lanes, tight urban plots, and shadowed passages-into a clear story of community life, belief, work, and daily rhythms.

It is an easy add-on to a self-guided walking tour of Girona's Old Town because it sharpens what you notice outside. After you visit, the Call stops feeling like “pretty medieval streets” and starts reading as a place shaped by centuries of social boundaries, local governance, and the traces of a once-vital Jewish community in Catalonia.

History and Significance of the Museum of Jewish History

Girona's Call is among the best-preserved historic Jewish quarters in Spain, and the Museum of Jewish History (Girona) exists to explain why this matters beyond the photogenic setting. The museum focuses on Jewish communities in Catalonia, grounding broad medieval themes-identity, learning, trade, law, worship, and coexistence-in Girona-specific evidence.

What makes the museum especially significant is its ability to connect objects and interpretation to the street plan outside your door. Instead of treating the Jewish quarter as an abstract chapter of history, it shows how minority communities lived within a wider city: close enough to contribute to Girona's economy and culture, yet often separated by custom, regulation, and shifting political pressures.

Things to See and Do in the Museum of Jewish History

Start with the displays that link directly to Girona and the Call itself, because those are what will change how you experience the neighbourhood outside. Look for interpretation that explains how homes, lanes, and communal spaces worked in practice-how people moved through the quarter, where daily life happened, and what “community” meant in a dense medieval city.

Spend time with the museum’s object-based storytelling rather than rushing to “finish the rooms.” The most rewarding approach is to read a few key panels carefully, then connect them to what you see outdoors: doorways, alleys, and the logic of the street network that still preserves an older urban pattern. If you are building a short Old Town route, pairing the museum with a slow walk through the Call and a viewpoint stop afterward makes the history feel immediate rather than academic.

How to Get to the Museum of Jewish History

If you are arriving by air, the most convenient options are Girona-Costa Brava Airport for a quick transfer or Barcelona-El Prat Airport for the widest flight choice, then continue onward to Girona. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Girona on Booking.com.

From Girona railway station, it is straightforward to reach the Old Town: take a short taxi ride, a local bus, or walk in stages toward the historic centre, then continue on foot into the Call where the lanes are pedestrian-friendly. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.

Local buses are useful for getting you close to the Old Town approaches, but the final stretch is best done on foot because the Call’s streets are narrow and not designed for vehicles.

Driving is practical for reaching Girona, but once you arrive it is usually better to park outside the tight Old Town lanes and walk in, especially during busy periods when access and parking are limited. If you are looking to rent a car in Spain I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Museum of Jewish History

  • Entrance fee: €4 standard; €2 reduced; free entry for under 14s and selected passes/groups.
  • Opening hours: (Summer) July – August: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00–19:00; Monday, Sunday & public holidays: 10:00–14:00. (Winter) September – June: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00–18:00; Monday, Sunday & public holidays: 10:00–14:00. Open on 24 December & 31 December: 10:00–14:00. Closed on 01 January, 06 January, 25 December & 26 December.
  • Official website: www.girona.cat/call
  • Best time to visit: Aim for earlier in the day if you want a quieter, more reflective visit, then follow it with a slow walk through the Call while the streets are still calm.
  • How long to spend: Plan enough time to read selectively and connect the interpretation to the streets outside; it is most rewarding when you do not treat it as a quick “tick-box” museum.
  • Accessibility: Expect uneven surfaces and steps in parts of the Old Town approach; if mobility is a concern, plan your route in and out carefully and take the gentlest access streets.
  • Facilities: Keep expectations modest-this is a focused historic museum in the Old Town, so plan café breaks before or after in the surrounding Barri Vell area.

Where to Stay Close to the Museum of Jewish History

For a culture-heavy itinerary where you want to walk everywhere, base yourself in or right beside Girona’s Old Town; if your priority is transport links (early trains, day trips, or a car-based route), the Eixample area near the station is often the most convenient compromise.

Staying central makes the Call and the main Old Town sights feel effortless at the start and end of the day. Consider Hotel Nord 1901 for a polished, walkable base just outside the historic core, or Hotel Històric if you want to sleep inside the Barri Vell and step straight into medieval lanes each morning. If you prefer a comfortable, practical option closer to the station for easy arrivals and departures, Hotel Carlemany Girona is a strong fit while still being within reach of the Old Town on foot.

Is the Museum of Jewish History (Girona) Worth Visiting?

Yes-especially if you are walking the Call anyway. The museum turns a visually striking neighbourhood into something you actually understand, and that context tends to linger long after you leave Girona.

The honest pivot: if you are not interested in history, do not enjoy reading exhibits, or you are rushing through Girona for viewpoints and photos only, you may prefer to skip the interior visit and simply walk the Call with a short self-guided route instead.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.5 (2,151)

Reviewers describe a small but exceptionally well-presented museum that offers an engaging, informative look at local Jewish history, with highlights including a film and strong interpretive materials (often available in multiple languages) plus helpful staff. Many recommend allowing about 45–90 minutes and note the location is excellent, with the surrounding old streets and a pleasant souvenir shop adding to the visit. A minor drawback mentioned is that some temporary exhibition content may have limited English information.

Vincent Oliver
2 years ago
"Not a large museum but very professionally displayed. The film is particularly interesting. The surround area with the narrow streets & stairs isamazing to walk around. The souvenir shop is also lovely to browse - so many things to buy!..."
Jerri Grunewald
8 months ago
"This museum is fantastic! For a visitor from the US, it was enlightening, comprehensive and so interesting! Thank you for making my visit somemorable!..."
CorinaDig Corina
a month ago
"Amzing place, filled with history. Enjoyed it"

For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

This can work well for families if you keep it focused and purposeful rather than trying to read everything. Pick a few standout objects, use them to tell a short story, and then “hunt” for details outside in the Call that connect to what you just learned.

If your kids have limited patience for museums, treat it as a brief context stop inside a wider Old Town loop. A good strategy is to visit earlier, then reward the effort with a relaxed snack break in the nearby squares and streets where there is more movement and energy.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, the museum adds depth to one of Girona’s most atmospheric parts of town and can make an Old Town walk feel more meaningful. It pairs particularly well with a slow, unhurried stroll through the Call afterward, when the lanes are quieter and the light is softer.

If you are planning a romantic day, place this visit before a longer wander to viewpoints and scenic streets. The museum gives you shared “story anchors” you will keep referencing as you explore the surrounding lanes.

Budget Travelers

This is a high-value stop for travelers who want substance without expensive tours, because it provides context you can reuse all day as you walk. You will get more out of the Call, nearby historic streets, and other medieval corners once you understand what shaped them.

If you are optimizing time and money, combine the museum with a compact Old Town route rather than bouncing across town. You will avoid transport costs and get a more coherent experience from a single neighbourhood.

History Buffs

If you care about medieval urban history, minority communities, or Catalonia’s layered past, this is one of Girona’s most rewarding indoor visits. It provides a structured narrative that helps you interpret architecture, street form, and place memory rather than relying on vibes alone.

To deepen the experience, visit with a note-taking mindset: identify the key themes the museum highlights, then walk back into the Call and actively look for how those themes appear in the physical city. This “museum first, streets second” sequencing is where the visit becomes exceptional.

FAQs for Visiting Museum of Jewish History (Girona)

Getting There

It sits in Girona’s Old Town within the Call, the historic Jewish quarter. The final approach is best done on foot because the lanes are narrow and designed for walking.
If you are already in the Barri Vell, aim for the Call and follow the flow of lanes toward the core of the Jewish quarter. The easiest approach is to navigate by major Old Town landmarks first, then let the smaller streets pull you inward.
Start by reaching the Old Town edge via a short taxi ride, a local bus, or a staged walk across the river toward Barri Vell. From there, continue on foot into the Call.
Driving is useful for reaching Girona, but the Old Town streets are not ideal for cars. It is typically easier to park outside the tight historic core and walk in.

Tickets & Entry

It can be either, depending on how you visit. A focused stop is doable, but it becomes far more valuable if you slow down and connect the exhibits to the streets outside.
Most travelers visit without advance booking, especially outside peak periods. If you are visiting during busy summer days or as part of a group schedule, planning ahead can help your timing.
Expect an interpretive museum experience built around objects, panels, and Girona-specific context. The main “extra” is how well it primes you for a deeper walk through the Call immediately afterward.

Visiting Experience

Give yourself enough time to read a few core sections carefully rather than rushing every room. The payoff comes from leaving with a clear narrative you can carry into your walk outside.
Yes, if you are already exploring the Old Town and want more than surface-level sightseeing. It is one of the quickest ways to add meaning to the Call without committing to a full guided tour.
Pair it with a slow wander through the Call and one or two major Old Town landmarks nearby. The best mini-route is the one that keeps you in the same historic fabric so the context stays “alive.”

Tours, Context & Itineraries

Many Jewish-heritage and Old Town-focused itineraries include it because it anchors the Call with interpretation. Even without a formal tour, it functions like a self-guided “context upgrade” for the neighbourhood.
Independent visits work well if you read selectively and then explore outside with intention. A guided experience can be worthwhile if you want deeper narrative detail and do not want to self-navigate the Call.

Photography

The surrounding Call is excellent for atmospheric street photos, especially when the lanes are quiet. Inside, focus more on learning than shooting, then take your best photos outdoors with the added context.
Late afternoon often gives the Old Town a softer mood, but early morning can be quieter and less crowded. The best moment is when the lanes feel calm enough to notice details.

Accessibility & Facilities

The Old Town setting can be challenging due to steps and uneven surfaces on approaches. If accessibility matters, plan your route carefully and avoid the steepest lanes.
Yes-nearby squares, cafés, and small seating spots around the Old Town make it easy to pause. Build a short break into your route so the visit stays enjoyable rather than rushed.

Food & Breaks Nearby

Look just outside the Call where the Old Town opens into busier streets with more café density. It is a good way to reset after a reflective museum visit before continuing your walking route.
A simple plan is to do the museum and Call walk first, then choose a spot near a livelier Old Town square for atmosphere. It balances the quiet lanes with a more social Girona experience.

Safety & Timing

The Old Town is generally pleasant in the evening when it is active, but the lanes can feel very quiet late at night. If you prefer a livelier atmosphere, visit earlier and save dinner for busier streets and squares.
Early visits often feel calmer and more reflective, while later visits can flow nicely into a golden-hour wander through the Call. Choose based on whether you want quiet focus or a day-to-evening walking rhythm.

Nearby Attractions to the Museum of Jewish History

  • Girona Cathedral: A dramatic hilltop cathedral whose stairway and views make it one of the Old Town's defining stops.
  • Arab Baths: A compact Romanesque bathhouse-style site that adds another layer to Girona's medieval heritage.
  • Sant Feliu Church: A landmark basilica with a striking profile and a key role in Girona’s religious history.
  • Onyar River Houses & Bridges: The classic postcard perspective of Girona, best enjoyed as part of a short river-to-Old-Town loop.
  • Passeig de la Muralla (City Walls): A scenic walk along Girona's walls that rewards you with viewpoints over rooftops and the surrounding landscape.

The Museum of Jewish History appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Girona!

Moira & Andy
Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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Planning Your Visit

Hours:

(Summer) July - August: Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00-19:00; Monday, Sunday & public holidays: 10:00-14:00.

(Winter) September - June: Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00-18:00; Monday, Sunday & public holidays: 10:00-14:00.

Open on 24 December & 31 December: 10:00-14:00. Closed on 01 January, 06 January, 25 December & 26 December.

Price:

€4 standard; €2 reduced; free entry for under 14s and selected passes/groups.

Address: Museu d'Història dels Jueus Carrer de la Força, 8 17004 Girona Spain
Girona: 1 km
Official Website

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