Pinkas Synagogue, Prague

Monument in Prague

CC BY-SA 4.0 / VitVit

The Pinkas Synagogue is a place that most visitors remember more vividly than any viewpoint or palace, because it asks you to slow down and bear witness. In Josefov, it is one of the must-see places in Prague for understanding the human scale of Czech Jewish history, with walls covered in names that turn the synagogue itself into a living memorial.

It also fits naturally into a Jewish Quarter route, and it's often visited on walking tours of Prague, but it doesn't feel like a standard sightseeing stop. The experience is quiet and deeply personal: you move through simple rooms, read names and dates, and realize how quickly history becomes individual lives.

History and Significance of the Pinkas Synagogue
Things to See and Do in the Pinkas Synagogue
How to Get to the Pinkas Synagogue
Practical Tips on Visiting the Pinkas Synagogue
Where to Stay close to the Pinkas Synagogue
Is the Pinkas Synagogue Worth Visiting?
FAQs for Visiting Pinkas Synagogue
For Different Travelers
Nearby Attractions to the Pinkas Synagogue

History and Significance of the Pinkas Synagogue

Built in the 16th century by a prominent Jewish family, the Pinkas Synagogue is one of Prague's oldest surviving synagogues and a long-standing part of Josefov's religious landscape. Over centuries it witnessed the changing fortunes of the community around it, but its modern significance is defined by what it became after the Holocaust: a memorial space for Czech and Moravian Jews murdered during Nazi persecution.

The synagogue’s walls bear thousands of names, carefully recorded with personal details that make the scale of loss both comprehensible and unbearable. Instead of presenting the Holocaust as an abstract number, the memorial insists on individuality-names, dates, places-rendered in a format that feels both archival and sacred.

This transformation also reshaped how the building functions emotionally. The architecture is restrained, the interiors are plain, and that simplicity becomes part of the memorial’s power: it keeps your attention where it belongs, on the names and the silence between them.

Things to See and Do in the Pinkas Synagogue

The central experience is the memorial itself. Take your time and let your eyes follow the dense flow of surnames and hometowns; the repetition is the point, because it creates a rhythm that mirrors the scale of the catastrophe while still keeping every line personal.

Move slowly, and notice how the space changes your behavior. People naturally lower their voices here, not because they are told to, but because the environment encourages it. This is a place where the smallest detail-one unfamiliar name, one date, one town-can unexpectedly land with enormous weight.

The exhibition of children’s drawings connected to Terezín is another essential part of the visit. These works are not “illustrations of history” in a distant sense; they are direct traces of young lives trying to make sense of fear, displacement, and longing. Seen after the names, the drawings often feel like an echo-proof of imagination and humanity in a setting designed to erase both.

How to Get to the Pinkas Synagogue

The Pinkas Synagogue is in Josefov near Old Town, and it is easy to reach on foot once you are in central Prague. It is well positioned for a Jewish Quarter route that includes nearby synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery.

If you are arriving by air, Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is the nearest airport, with straightforward connections into the center by public transport and taxi/rideshare. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Prague on Booking.com.

If you are coming by rail, Praha hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Station) connects efficiently to the center via metro and tram, followed by a short walk into Josefov. Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.

Long-distance buses typically arrive at Florenc, which has metro links toward Old Town for an easy transfer.

Driving into Josefov is generally not practical due to limited parking and pedestrian-heavy streets; park outside the core and finish by public transport or walking.

Practical Tips on Visiting the Pinkas Synagogue

Suggested tips: Plan a quieter hour afterward; many people find they need a break before returning to “normal” sightseeing.
Best time to visit: Weekday mornings for the calmest atmosphere and more space to move slowly through the memorial rooms.
Entrance fee: Adults: CZK 600
Opening hours: Summer: 9:00 - 18:00; Winter: 9:00 - 16:30; (open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays) Old Jewish Cemetery / Old-New Synagogue / Spanish Synagogue / Maisel Synagogue / Pinkas Synagogue.
Official website: https://www.jewishmuseum.cz/en
How long to spend: 45-90 minutes, depending on how long you spend with the names and the children’s drawings.
Accessibility: Expect uneven paving in Josefov and potential steps within historic interiors; spaces may feel narrow or crowded at peak times.
Facilities: Facilities are limited; plan restrooms and longer breaks before arriving or afterward in nearby cafés.
Photography tip: Treat this as a low-photo or no-photo visit even if permitted, and prioritize respect over documentation.
Guided tours: A guide can provide valuable context, but some travelers prefer to visit self-guided here to maintain a quieter, more personal pace.
Nearby food options: Choose a calm café a few streets away from the busiest Josefov corridor to decompress without jumping straight back into crowds.

Where to Stay close to the Pinkas Synagogue

For a central base within easy walking distance of Josefov, The Emblem Prague Hotel is a comfortable, well located option that makes it easy to start early and visit before the streets fill up. If you prefer a boutique stay with a quieter feel near the center, Maximilian Hotel is well placed for Josefov and riverside walks afterward. For a classic upscale Old Town base with strong transport links and walkability, Hotel Kings Court works well if you are balancing cultural sites with wider city exploring.

Is the Pinkas Synagogue Worth Visiting?

Yes, and it is worth prioritizing if you want to understand Prague’s Jewish Quarter in a way that is honest and personal. The memorial doesn’t rely on spectacle or heavy-handed explanation; it simply presents names and forces you to confront what those names represent.

It can be emotionally difficult, but that difficulty is part of its importance. The Pinkas Synagogue transforms history into presence, and it often becomes the moment when visitors stop treating Josefov as a collection of “attractions” and begin to experience it as a community story marked by loss and resilience.

FAQs for Visiting Pinkas Synagogue

It functions as a Holocaust memorial site and museum space within Prague’s Jewish Quarter.

The names commemorate Czech and Moravian Jewish victims of the Holocaust, recorded to preserve individual identity rather than anonymous numbers.

It is typically included with Jewish Museum ticket options, though inclusions can vary by ticket type.

Most visitors spend 45-90 minutes, especially if they also view the children’s drawings exhibition.

Older children and teens may find it meaningful; for younger children it can be emotionally heavy, so it depends on temperament and preparation.

Photography policies can vary and restrictions are common; even if allowed, a respectful, minimal approach is recommended.

It can get busy in peak season and midday, so earlier visits tend to feel more spacious and quieter.

Not required; some visitors prefer a self-guided visit for reflection, while others value a guide for historical context.

It pairs naturally with the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Ceremonial Hall, and exhibition-focused synagogues in Josefov.

Allow time, keep expectations gentle, and plan a quiet break afterward rather than scheduling something loud or rushed.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.3 (893)

Pinkas Synagogue, at 3 Široká in Josefov, is a Gothic-style synagogue turned Holocaust memorial where the ground-floor walls are inscribed with the names of nearly 80,000 Jewish victims; visitors note a moving collection of children's drawings from Terezín on the upper floor and additional outdoor panels about persecution, and male visitors should be prepared to wear a headcovering when inside and in the adjacent cemetery.

Alyssa Becker

8 years ago

"Of all the sites included under the Jewish Museum ticket, Pinkas Synagogue was my favourite. Located right next to the Cemetery, the rooms and wallswith names of those who have died in the Holocaust is substantial, and incredibly moving. One of my favourite parts was the exhibit upstairs with art from children depicting experiences in the ghetto and WWII. Just haunting. Very glad we visited...."

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Kate Ozel

7 years ago

"#Josefov, the former Jewish ghetto, is dotted with somber reminders of its past. These include the weathered tombstones of the Old Jewish Cemetery,and the Pinkas Synagogue, now a Holocaust memorial with exhibits focusing on Jewish children. The Jewish Museum houses a huge collection of cultural artifacts...."

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monica pronzini

6 years ago

"Very interesting to visit with the names of the Bohemian victims of the Shoah painted on the walls on the ground floor and an exhibit of children'sdrawings from Terezin on the first floor; in the yard there are additional panels about the war and persecution...."

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For Different Travelers

Families with Kids

For families, the key is choosing the right depth for your children. With older kids, you can focus on the idea of remembrance-why names matter, why a place like this exists-without overwhelming them with too many details at once. A shorter visit can still be meaningful if you let a few moments land rather than trying to absorb everything.

For younger children, it may be better to skip or keep it extremely brief, then focus your Josefov day on less emotionally intense sites. If you do visit, plan a comforting reset afterward, like a quiet walk or a familiar snack stop.

Couples & Romantic Getaways

For couples, this can be one of the most significant shared experiences in Prague, because it slows you down and changes how you move through the city afterward. The memorial invites quiet companionship-being present together in a place that asks for attention rather than entertainment.

Plan a gentle follow-up: a riverside walk, a calm café, or a quieter neighborhood stroll. The Pinkas Synagogue often lingers emotionally, and giving yourselves time afterward can make the day feel respectful rather than abruptly returning to ordinary sightseeing.

Budget Travelers

Budget travelers often find strong value in Josefov tickets because one purchase can include multiple sites, and the Pinkas Synagogue is usually one of the most meaningful of them. Start early to avoid queues and to experience the memorial rooms with more space and calm.

Because the visit can be heavy, plan free outdoor time afterward rather than spending money to “escape” the mood. A slow walk along the Vltava is a good no-cost way to decompress.

History Buffs

History-focused travelers should treat the Pinkas Synagogue as essential. It provides a direct, human-scale memorial that complements the more object-based museum exhibits elsewhere in Josefov, and it anchors the narrative of 20th-century rupture in the most personal way possible.

Pair it with one exhibition-focused synagogue for broader context and the cemetery for historical continuity across centuries. This combination gives a fuller picture: community life, cultural practice, loss, and remembrance-all within a walkable area.

Nearby Attractions to the Pinkas Synagogue

Old Jewish Cemetery: A haunting, densely layered burial ground that deepens the sense of continuity and loss in Josefov.
Ceremonial Hall: A reflective exhibition space explaining burial customs and the work of the Jewish Burial Society.
Klausen Synagogue: A nearby site focused on Jewish traditions and festivals, helpful for broader cultural context.
Old-New Synagogue: A medieval Gothic synagogue with a powerful atmosphere and enduring legends tied to Rabbi Löw.
Spanish Synagogue: A visually spectacular Moorish Revival interior that offers a striking artistic contrast within the Jewish Quarter route.

The Pinkas Synagogue appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Prague!

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: 9:00 – 18:00; Winter: 9:00 – 16:30; (open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays)

Old Jewish Cemetery / Old-New Synagogue / Spanish Synagogue / Maisel Synagogue / Pinkas Synagogue.

Price:

Adults: CZK 600

Address: Pinkas Synagogue, Široká, Prague 1-Josefov, Czechia

Prague: 2 km

Official Website