Great Synagogue
Great Synagogue
4
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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How to get there
- Piaţa Unirii 1 / Piaţa Unirii 2 (Union Square) • 5 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
122 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
34
Average
13
Poor
1
Terrible
8
Menq
Newport, UK9,265 contributions
Jul 2012 • Solo
If you want to visit the Great Synagogue you must have a map or to ask somebody because is surrounded by a 10 floor block of flats and it can't be seen if you're on the boulevard. To get there, go down at the Unirii Metro Station and you can ask there for more informations. The Synagogue is located near Udricani Church and if you ask any older person, you'll get the directions. The synagogue was built around 1850 (being the oldest synagogue in Bucharest) and is not very impressive on the outside, but inside is very beautifully decorated and well presented as you can find a museum about The Holocaust in Romania. The entrance costs 5 lei (you must have the exact bill, because you will enter the bill in a box) and if you want to take some pictures, just ask the guide there, cos he is really nice and he will let you. It can be visited Monday-Thursday 08:30-15:00, Friday 08:30-13:00, Saturday is closed, and Sunday 08:30-13:00.
Written July 31, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DCtraveller41
Washington DC, DC188 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
The synagogue is a jewel beautiful preserved. The local manager (Shamash) presents the history and contents with devotion and grace. What spoiled the experience was the aggressive rudeness of the 2 Romanian security. They aggressively and rudely demand from each person to pay the small admission fees and treat the visitors with obvious hate and disdain. I observed how they made some visitors leave without visiting the place. It is time for the synagogue manger to replace them.
Written June 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel39,605 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
Shyly tucked away in a residential area not far from Unirii, this synagogue proved to be absolutely stunning.
We were the only ones there at the time and the caretaker (an elderly Romanian Jewish man), turned on the lights just for us and gave us a guided tour of this magnificent building.
The synagogue also features an exhibition on the immense contribution Jews have had on Romanian history throughout the years (including the horrible years of WWII).
Other than getting quite emotional during this visit, I was also thankful that this synagogue was not demolish by the Ceaușescu regime.
Not to far from this synagogue are two more very nice ones - the Unirea Sfântă synagogue and the Coral synagogue.
Don't miss this gem during your visit to Bucharest - highly recommended!
We were the only ones there at the time and the caretaker (an elderly Romanian Jewish man), turned on the lights just for us and gave us a guided tour of this magnificent building.
The synagogue also features an exhibition on the immense contribution Jews have had on Romanian history throughout the years (including the horrible years of WWII).
Other than getting quite emotional during this visit, I was also thankful that this synagogue was not demolish by the Ceaușescu regime.
Not to far from this synagogue are two more very nice ones - the Unirea Sfântă synagogue and the Coral synagogue.
Don't miss this gem during your visit to Bucharest - highly recommended!
Written March 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Feenixwest
Fort Collins, CO1,477 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We found this Museum which is now almost surrounded by a parking lot. It’s beautiful inside and well taken care of. A staff member gave us some background and then stayed to answer our questions. On the walls are large displays in chronological order of the extermination of the Jews in Romania during WWII. Includes extensive pictures of the death trains, copies of telegraphed orders and official letters of protest of the treatment of the Jews—all partially translated into English. Confronted with this realty, I again shook my head at the cruelty manifested toward the Jews. It’s just not understandable. Thank you for all the efforts to preserve this synagogue of the Polish and to preserve this history so we can all work to prevent this again.
Written May 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe Kemchi
Tel Aviv, Israel258 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
We visited this synagogue as part of a walking tour of the former Jewish neighborhood in Bucharest. This synagogue and its community have a fascinating history and tour guide is a must to learn and understand about it.
Written August 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David T
Caulfield, Australia8 contributions
Oct 2017
The worst experience In Romania. The synagogue representative was a rude person not worth his job, aggressive abusive and arrogant I wish I knew his name. I cannot believe the Jewish community let such a disgraceful person to be representing such a treasure and the Romanian Jewish community. Not worth a visit as he is a fast talking, arrogant person who is only interested in charging the 10 lei per person. We were a group of 6 from Australia and a couple of Romanians. We left within 2 min and he was fighting and shouting like a hooligan. Immediately after us another 2 men came in and they also came out within 2 min as he did not want to give them a receipt (I guess he pockets the money) not the synagogue.
Outside we were told that he is a nut case and it was an absolute shock. I hope the jewish community will do something's about it he is not fit for the Job and that synagogue is such a Beautifull place.
It was beautiful inside and I am sure with some great history which we did not get to enjoy.
Outside we were told that he is a nut case and it was an absolute shock. I hope the jewish community will do something's about it he is not fit for the Job and that synagogue is such a Beautifull place.
It was beautiful inside and I am sure with some great history which we did not get to enjoy.
Written October 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David Z
Jerusalem, Israel175 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
Standing as a monument to the large Jewish community that lived in Romania before WW2 and most of which was massacred by the Nazis, this site is well worth a visit
Written September 16, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John S
Bellevue, WA766 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
The walls are lined with displays explaining the history or pogroms and military orders, including copies of newspaper clippings and correspondance, telling the story of how Romanian Jews were rounded up. The woman accepting donations was more than eager to answer my questions.
Written March 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GURMANDUL
Bucharest, Romania153 contributions
Sep 2016 • Family
This 150 year old Synagogue-one of the oldest in Bucharest, accommodates now also the Jewish Heritage Museum and the Holocaust Museum...Indeed a most interesting sight seeing Trip into the almost 500 years of Judaism in Romania, from the modest 8 Sephardi Jews beginnings in 1536, up to over 900,000 on the eve of WW2, 1/2 of which were wiped out in the Pogroms during the Holocaust, and finally the gradual emigration to Israel and beyond...
Written March 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YacovHerzlia_Israel
Herzlia, Israel97 contributions
Jan 2017 • Friends
Today is not an acting synagogue and we decided to visit this place, mainly because now is housing the Holocaust Museum exhibition.The Synagogue who is known as The Polish Synagogue is well kept by some very dedicated persons and since the Holocaust Museum is still in renovation,now is housing some of the exhibition of this museum.The guide who guided us explained us in details, all the history about the synagogue and about the history of the Romanian Jews especially regarding the Holocaust period in Romania including Transylvania the place that my parents live in that time.During all our visit, he was very friendly to us and even accompanied us to the Coral Synagogue.I consider this place as a must see in Bucharest.
Written February 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LucaChiaraD
Bologna, Italy3,512 contributions
Salve a tutti, orari di apertura?
grazie mille
1964ada
Cagliari, Italy153 contributions
Non ricordo particolari restrizioni orarie. Di certo di mattina , dalle 10 , non si paga ma è buona usanza lasciare un'offerta
medinah k
Jerusalem, Israel2 contributions
Is it possible to visit the museum without a private tour?
bfindysz
Jerusalem District, Israel655 contributions
We stopped in and a docent approached us to explain the place and answer questions. It is a museum of the Holocaust in Romania but the building itself is worth the visit. Her English was nice. It was free. I left a generous donation for the repair and upkeep of what was once an elegant synagogue but today is a bit shabby.
מה הכתובת
איזה תחנה במטרו
sinan ertay
Chennai (Madras), India257 contributions
Hello nearest metro station is in Piata Unirii, but there are tramway stations very close to Synagogue in Piata Sf.Vineri. My proposition is: after metro Piata Unirii, walk about 15 minutes maxi from Bulevardul Corneliu Poposu, turn right (when you see tramway rails) ti Strada Sfanta Vineri. Synagogue is hidden at the back of the big building on the left. After visite synagogue, go back to Piata Unirii and begin your visit of old town with Hanul Manuc on the corner.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Great Synagogue
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Great Synagogue Information
Excellent Reviews | 66 |
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Very Good Reviews | 34 |
Great Synagogue Photos | 177 |