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

Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga), Budapest

See all things to do

Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)

See all things to do
See all things to do
Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)
4
7,434
#58 of 655 things to do in Budapest
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
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
Visit website
Call
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
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
See all
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
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,034 within 3 miles
Byblos - Fine Lebanese and Levantine Cuisine
656
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Lebanese • Healthy • Middle Eastern
Early Bird Coffee
226
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Bors GasztroBar
3,236
0.2 mi$ • Fast Food • International • European
Gulyas Tunkolo Bufe
179
0.2 mi$ • European • Soups • Eastern European
Local Korner
1,444
0.1 mi$ • Pizza • European • Vegan Options
VINYL & WOOD - Get Lost in Wonderland
594
0.3 mi$ • Cafe • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Cirkusz
1,854
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Cafe • European • Grill
Lisboa Pastry & Bakery
296
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Bakeries • French • Cafe
Jardín Cocktail Bar
316
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Daniel's Soups and Sandwiches
312
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Bar • Cafe
See all
Attractions
511 within 3 miles
The Tree of Life
19
33 ftMonuments & Statues
Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives
268
137 ftSpeciality Museums • Religious Sites
Raoul Wallenberg Holocaust Memorial Park
51
0.1 miParks • Monuments & Statues
Amazing Metal Art Gallery
120
0.2 miArt Galleries • Speciality Museums
Szimpla Sunday Farmers' Market
363
0.2 miFlea & Street Markets • Farmers Markets
Carl Lutz Memorial
40
0.1 miMonuments & Statues
Kazinczy Street Synagogue
169
0.2 miReligious Sites
Gozsdu Weekend Market
40
0.1 miFlea & Street Markets
Rumbach Street Synagogue
60
0.2 miArchitectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals
Gozsdu Udvar
1,269
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Walking Areas
See all
Popular mentions
4.0
7,434 reviews
Excellent
3,678
Very good
2,253
Average
841
Poor
398
Terrible
264
sulu205
Ralph, AL102 contributions
Girls trip
Jun 2021
This is the largest Synagogue we visited. The beautiful and artistic ceilings and walls are a must see. I was in Awe at the beauty inside. From the walls, the ceilings the stained windows and the furniture inside this place. Our Hotel was right around the corner. All the sights are in walking distance
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Israel R
Ra'anana, Israel16,126 contributions
The largest synagogue in Europe, a most amazing structure outside and especially inside. Not 2 B MISSED.
Feb 2020
The Great Synagogue in Budapest is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world outside the State of Israel and serves mainly the neology current - a current in Judaism found in the territories of the historic Hungarian Kingdom attributed to the more conservative end of the Reform movement. The appearance of the synagogue is characterized by a Moorish style while the interior of the building includes Christian elements, such as an organ and a stage located in front of the synagogue and not in the center, elements inspired by the Viennese architect Ludwig Forster who designed and built the amazing structure between 1854 - 1859.
In the synagogue, which has stood for more than 160 years, there is room for 3,000 worshipers, and Benjamin Ze'ev Herzl (Contract of the State of Israel) ascended to the “Torah”. The interior space is richly decorated and especially the “Holy ark”.
Memorial and memorial sites, including the "Weeping Willow" monument, the Jewish Museum, the Temple of the Heroes, and a cemetery are located in and near the synagogue.
Dohany utca where the synagogue is located at the time, it marked the boarder of the Jewish Ghetto, in which about 70,000 people crowded in a limited area bounded by the wall.
Written January 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laurylau-p
Eindhoven, The Netherlands761 contributions
Beautiful synagogue
Jan 2020
I highly recommend visiting the synagogue and the area around it. Really large, beautiful and in some respects very modern.
Written December 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel29,425 contributions
Impressive as always.
Feb 2020
Visiting this great synagogue for the God-knows-which-time, and it is still as impressive as the first visit, with its Moorish exterior and gorgeous classic interiors, it's an absolute must for every visitor of Budapest.
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alessandra F
Arisdorf, Switzerland268 contributions
Closed till further notice due to COVID
Jul 2020 • Family
You can still walk around it as the construction and it’s facade are very beautiful. But unfortunately for the time being no visitors are allowed.
Hopefully next time. Safety first.
Written July 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sue S
Kingston, Canada265 contributions
Don't miss it!
Mar 2020
Pros- 1 )beautiful interior; 2) excellent tour guide provided historical context for the building and excellent review of religious and cultural traditions; 3) tree of life (at the back of the synagogue) was a poignant reminder of the people who died during the war (each leaf had an engraved name )
Cons- quite expensive
Tip- you have to go through security check
Overall- definitely worth a visit
Written May 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EmArJay
Regina, Canada32 contributions
Not recommended -- A very bad experience -- Poor customer service
Jun 2019
We arrived mid afternoon and paid our entry without being told the facility closed in less than one hour--not nearly enough time to tour it. We were directed to a tour and couldn't hear the guide because the group was too large. Then when we tried to enter the museum 10 minutes before closing time, we were turned away. We provided feedback to the management and were treated rudely. Even in followup communication, management did not apologize or show any interest in our situation. If you choose to visit, check the hours carefully and don't expect respectful treatment. NOT good value for the price and unfortunately, a memorable experience in a bad way!
Written May 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia10,245 contributions
Beautiful structure
Feb 2020
Located on dohany streets stands this beautiful structure, (the largest synagogue in Europe), built in The mid 1800’s, in the Moorish revival style, it is very reminiscent of the Alhambra in Spain, (which is also beautiful). The structured suffered greatLy during the turbulent times of WWII, however, you now see a fully restored building.
Written April 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gabby92399
Yucaipa, CA544 contributions
Beautiful Synagogue & Museum
Apr 2019 • Couples
The Great/Central Synagogue is a must see stop while in Budapest. We visited on our second day in Budapest. The beautiful, wooden architecture inside is unlike any other that we’ve seen in a synagogue. Volunteers provided an informative tour and narrative. Perhaps the most moving part of our visit was the Holocaust museum located below the building. The cruelty experienced by Hungarian Jewish citizens was sad and eye opening. The stories we learned of in the museum are unlike the torture that took place in concentration camps, yet horrific in their own way. There is a nominal admission fee that includes the synagogue, Holocaust museum, a second multi story museum with Jewish artifacts and the grounds. Be sure to stop by to see the tree of life (located on the grounds, behind the synagogue).
Written March 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 3,044
Anything missing or inaccurate?
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
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 67 Great / Central Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga) tours on Tripadvisor