Prague · Josefov

Pinkas Synagogue

Pinkas Synagogue transforms a 16th-century place of worship into Prague's most powerful Holocaust memorial.

About Pinkas Synagogue

Pinkas Synagogue transforms a 16th-century place of worship into Prague's most powerful Holocaust memorial. Every wall bears the hand-painted names of 77,297 Czech and Moravian Jews who perished in the Holocaust, creating an overwhelming visual reminder of individual lives lost. Upstairs, you'll find drawings and poems created by children at Terezín concentration camp, many depicting memories of home alongside their harsh reality.

The experience hits you immediately when you enter the main hall and see names covering every surface from floor to ceiling. The atmosphere is profoundly quiet, with visitors speaking in hushed tones as they scan the walls for family names or simply absorb the scale of loss. The children's artwork upstairs provides a different kind of impact: colorful butterflies and house drawings that make the tragedy feel deeply personal rather than abstract.

Most guides don't mention that the memorial was closed for decades under communist rule and only reopened in 1991. The entry ticket costs 400 CZK for the full Jewish Quarter circuit, but you can't buy single-site tickets. Don't rush this one, many people spend only 15 minutes when the children's drawings alone deserve half an hour. Skip the crowded afternoon hours when tour groups make the narrow spaces feel cramped.

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The place

Getting there

Address

3, Široká 23, Josefov, 110 00 Praha-Praha 1, Czechia

Neighborhood

Josefov →

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Good to know

Tips, answered

Enter through the main courtyard entrance and start downstairs with the memorial walls before going upstairs, as the children's drawings provide emotional context after seeing the names

Most visitors rush past the small plaques explaining how the names were researched and painted, but these details make the memorial's creation story surprisingly moving

The best light for reading the wall inscriptions comes through the windows around 10am, and morning visits avoid the afternoon tour group crowds that make the space feel rushed

Plan for about 1 hour. Morning visits are typically less crowded.

Pinkas Synagogue is in the Josefov neighborhood of Prague. The address is 3, Široká 23, Josefov, 110 00 Praha-Praha 1, Czechia. The area is well-served by metro.

Morning visits, especially early, mean fewer crowds and better light for photos. Weekdays are significantly quieter than weekends.

Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parts are outdoors, so bring a light layer.

Closed on Saturday. Check the official website for holiday closures and special hours.

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Park & Garden

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Cultural Site

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Cultural Site

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Landmark

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Tour

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Tour

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