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Things to Do in Budapest
Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)
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Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)

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See all things to do
Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)
4
7,581
#76 of 741 things to do in Budapest
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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About
The world's second-largest synagogue, featuring a room that holds three thousand people, is a center for the large Jewish community of Budapest.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: District VII / Jewish Quarter
District VII is the very heart of Budapest and houses the city’s Jewish Quarter. Its streets are lively and colorful, its buildings narrate different histories in an assortment of architectural styles, and its cafes and bars are frequented and loved by the enthusiastic crowds. Grand and magnificent, the striking star of the district is the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe and one of the biggest in the world. Distinctly Moorish in style, crowned by the twin onion shaped domes, the Synagogue is the very emblem of District VII and one of the main attractions in the capital.
How to get there
  • Astoria • 3 min walk
  • Ferenciek tere • 6 min walk
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See what other travelers are saying
  • WorldTravellerSoon
    Canada332 contributions
    Beautiful but expensive
    The synagogue exterior is stunning. However, there was a very long line-up and 20 Euro per person to go inside. We have decided to skip. Consider you don't have to pay to enter a church/cathedral / synagogue in a lot of country, 20 Euro is expensive in my book.
    Written November 22, 2022
  • kph
    Amsterdam, The Netherlands68 contributions
    Free guided tour is very poor
    Beautiful building, lots to take in. However it’s very expensive, we waited for the free tour which starts inside the synagogue where you wait sitting down. The guide was talking to some of the people sitting close to him and we assumed it was just a chat before the tour giving his tone of voice which was very low. Then he directed the group outside where he talked for 5 min and that was it. Very poor. You can then visit a space with lots of interesting information but since it’s indoors and small, you can’t read it all.
    Traveled with family
    Written August 11, 2022
  • Paulmizzimalta
    Island of Malta, Malta8 contributions
    Beautiful place - definitely worth visiting
    The building, English speaking tour and exhibits are beautiful and highly recommended however our ticket purchase experience was very disappointing. I went to a ticket window and the girl was speaking to her colleague in Hungarian (presumably) and she completely ignored us for a long time until I couldn't take it any longer and moved to the next window after a short queue. This did not augur well for the visit but as stated before the guide was very nice.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 1, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
7,581 reviews
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2,286
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Liltrave
1,360 contributions
A Must see in Budapest
Oct 2022 • Couples
A must see, one of the most ornate & beautiful Synagogues that I have ever seen. The largest in Europe & 2nd largest in the world. Cost to enter is $18 which is well worth it as the money also goes to supporting its upkeep. Make sure to do the free guided tour it is well worth hearing & only takes 15-20 minutes, then you are able to walk around on your own. They explain the history & bring you to the back garden & show you where to see everything. Being Jewish I was very moved but regardless if you are jewish or not it is worth seeing.
This is part of the Budapest history.
There are also beautiful items in 2 locations to purchase while there. Cash is the preferred payment but they do take charge cards. Make sure to wear clothes that cover your shoulders & not too short.
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
William P
Glendale, AZ1,329 contributions
Very expensive
Apr 2022 • Couples
We were here about ten years ago and paid to go through, even though the price was quite high (about $10-12 if I remember correctly. Now the prices of entry are upwards of $20, depending on which tour you take. We decided that we had seen the synagogue previously and didn't care to spend that much money to revisit it. But it is a glorious synagogue, quite unlike any we had seen before. Maybe next time, again.
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jay B
Fairhope, AL862 contributions
So Much Here to Take In
May 2022
Our guided tour here was one of the most touching experiences we had during our Viking river cruise on the Danube. The synagogue is an architectural wonder, inside and out. The sobering area commemorating the mass graves is worth the entire visit. The Jewish museum is loaded with artifacts that you will see nowhere else. The "Tree of Life" in the garden is simply amazing. I highly suggest you visit here. The entrance fee is well worth the things you will see and experience.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jane E
Edinburgh, UK2 contributions
Shocking way to treat visitors
Jan 2020 • Couples
After paying the 5,000 HUFs to get in, barely 30 mins later we were told we had to leave. Apparently it closes at 2pm on a Friday but at no time were we told this, we would not have gone in knowing we only had half an hour! My husband particularly wanted to see the holocaust museum and we thought we could look round at our leisure.
We were not even given a warning it was "leave now", he explained why but that did not help us. When we tried to speak to someone at the gate about using the ticket to return tomorrow they were not interested in fact they were extremely rude.
Personally I will not return here but I know how much my husband wanted to visit so he might.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mr_Meldrew
London, UK116 contributions
Total Rip Off
Jan 2020
5,000 HUF each x 2 = £25.59 inclusive of tour guide. One is ushered into the synagogue, for us, after a "tour" had started and we were pointed to a row of 'pews' where there was showing a board with British Flag. The guide, who was quietly spoken, was already talking and as we were some five or six rows back we could hardly hear a word he said. In fact, had we known the german language we would probably been more able to hear the German behind us more clearly. When the talk and questions were finished we were led outside to the gardens where we were shown briefly around. Surprisingly. the tablet in memory to Sir Nicholas Winton wasn't even mentioned. We were then left to our own devices. We could return to inside but there seemed little point without a guide and we were limited to the ground floor so we visited the museum (included in the price) in order to feel that we had our monies worth. Quite frankly there is more information in our Budapest guidebook than we ever learned for an expensive entrance fee. In fact, when we did venture back into the synagogue, and now confirmed by our initial photographs, they had turned the lights out! To add insult to injury there are collection boxes dotted around expecting even more to be spent. There was no guided tour as such, we could have seen it all on our own with our guidebook. A bitter disappointment as it is a magnificent building but not at the price.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Boston1989
174 contributions
Definitely prioritise
Nov 2022
Wow this really was an experience. Upon arrival the ticket office is on the left front side of the synagogue. Slightly to the right you will also see a sign for free guided tours in different languages which appeared to be roughly every 1 hour, although some were every 30 minutes. (If you want this tour then you go inside to the main synagogue, find your flag and sit until your guide comes. The guided tour lasts for around 20-25 minutes.

Men will be given a paper hat (kippah) free of charge to place on their heads for the entire time. You can also just wear your own hat if you have one. Women are not required to wear one.

The synagogue itself is beautiful, but the holocaust memorial gardens and statues were really a harrowing reminder of what happened there. Would recommend the guided tour for more info on this. There is a smaller synagogue also within the grounds and they will give you 10% off a nearby kosher restaurant if you are interested. There are toilets in the far right corner outside.
Written November 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mmcgeever
Vienna, Austria72 contributions
Don’t miss the Great Synagogue with guided tour!
Aug 2021 • Solo
I cannot rate this beautiful landmark enough. The synagogue/temple is stunning inside in both beauty and size, but the guided tour (included in the entrance price) was most memorable. We learnt about the horrors of the Jewish Hungarians trapped inside this ghetto by the Nazis during the Holocaust, the number who died and how they were buried in mass graves once the Russians arrived to ‘liberate’ them. There is an excellent display inside the grounds with photos and descriptions of what went on, plus a beautiful memorial garden recognising those who tried to save the Jewish people. An extremely moving and horrific time.
Written August 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Maggi713
Baltimore, MD11,932 contributions
Worth A Visit!
Nov 2022
The Great Synagogue and the National Jewish Museum are both housed in the same building. Initially it was just the Synagogue here but in1931 the museum was added. It was built in 1850.This is the second-largest synagogue in the world, running up in size only to the Temple Emanu-El in New York City. Just like its counterpart in Rumbach Street, the Dohány Street synagogue was also designed by Viennese architect, Ludwig Forster, in a similar Moorish Revival style. Set in the old Jewish quarter, the synagogue forms part of a larger complex that includes the Heroes' Temple, the graveyard, the Memorial, and the Jewish Museum.

In the courtyard is the poignant Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial, designed by sculptor Imre Varga. It is said to be the hidden gem of Dohany Street. The memorial was built to honor the over 400,000 Jews who were killed by Nazis. As you observe the memorial minutely, you will notice that it is constructed in the form of weeping willow and bears the names of many of the Jewish victims. In 1990, the synagogue underwent extensive renovations to repair the neglect and damage done during World War II. The octagonal twin towers of the building, guarding the main entrance topped with a beautiful stained-glass rosette, are crowned by onion domes that make it visible all over the city. Inside, the enormous nave rises almost 40 feet high revealing influence of the Gothic, Romantic, and Byzantine styles. Dominating the interior is a new mechanical organ replacing the original one created in the 19th century. Just as in many other synagogues, the seats on the ground level are reserved for men, while the upper gallery is for women. In all, the place can seat up to 3,000 people.
Written November 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
taemed
Nuremberg, Germany453 contributions
Fascinating place
Mar 2020 • Couples
An impressive place with a tragic history. A great building tells the story of the Jewish population in Budapest. The guided tour is included to the entry fee (5.000 HUF) and gives an overview about the past.
Unfortunately after the tour the visitors are left alone without any information desks.
Also included is the entry fee for the museum, dealing with jewish traditions.

Nice visit. It'll take approximately 1-2 hours (depending if you're interested in the museum).

A better balance between the jewish historical atmosphere and the amount of information would be desirable.
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
nikmay19
Dorset, UK42 contributions
Worthwhile but a little expensive for what it is
Mar 2020 • Couples
My partner and I visited here because it is high up on there on the list of top things to do in Budapest.

As you enter go right to enter the Synagogue, straight on for the memorial garden and exhibition and left to go upstairs to the museum.

The Synagogue is very impressive from the outside and beautiful inside. Make sure that you are dressed appropriately for a place of worship (obviously) and men are required to wear a Kippah (which is handed to you as you enter the Synagogue).

The memorial garden is quite emotional, especially once you read about it's significance. The exhibition downstairs is a lot of reading, but also interesting and emotional once you start to understand and comprehend what has happened to so many people in Budapest and more widely, Hungary, in the past.

We weren't able to spend as much time in the museum as we would have liked, but that was due to us booking a tour in advance and not leaving enough time. I would suggest allowing at least 2 hours to see everything properly.

Our only negative feelings were that the visit was quite expensive at 5000 HUF each - not a huge cost, but more expensive than similar attractions in the city. That said, it was certainly worth visiting and I am glad that we did to get more of an insight as to the history of Budapest and the people who have lived there.

Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga), Budapest

Frequently Asked Questions about Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)
Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) is open:
  • Sun - Thu 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Fri - Fri 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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We recommend booking Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 58 Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) tours on Tripadvisor