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

See all things to do
See all things to do
Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)
4
7,596 reviews
#78 of 748 things to do in Budapest
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
7,596 reviews
Excellent
3,733
Very good
2,286
Average
875
Poor
421
Terrible
284
WorldTravellerSoon
Canada351 contributions
Beautiful but expensive
Oct 2022
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
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kph
Amsterdam, The Netherlands70 contributions
Free guided tour is very poor
Aug 2022 • Family
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.
Written August 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
783emerc
11 contributions
Incredibly expensive
Feb 2023 • Solo
Here’s a picture of the inside of the synagogue so you don’t have to pay an eye watering 9000 HUF per person. It’s a pretty building, not very big but it’s well decorated. There’s a very small memorial garden and a tiny museum with some interesting things about Jewish culture but it is only really worth half of this amount.
Written February 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Paulmizzimalta
Island of Malta, Malta8 contributions
Beautiful place - definitely worth visiting
Oct 2021 • Couples
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.
Written October 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Liltrave
1,361 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, AZ1,333 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, AL885 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.
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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
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
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 56 Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) tours on Tripadvisor