Great Synagogue

admin March 21, 2023March 23, 2023

The Great Synagogue in Budapest is not called that way by chance. It’s the biggest synagogue in Europe and the second biggest one in the world, right after Emanu-El Temple in New York. The Great Synagogue can actually gather around 5000 people! Built back in 1859th year, it’s one of the most curious attractions in the Hungarian capital. The Great Synagogue is located and Dohany Street and it’s from where all the guide tours in the Jewish district start. The style of this building is Orient-Byzantium and it’s very affected by the traditional Muslim architecture. This combo of styles is obviously symbolized by the two tower-twins. They represent the idea behind the two columns from Solomon’s temple. It’s an interesting fact that in this synagogue there’s an organ, although this musical instrument is generally used in Christian temples. The great acoustic of The Great Synagogue, meanwhile, turns the building into a very popular place for concerts.

In 1944th year 20 000 Jews look for sanctuary in the complex of the synagogue trying to get rid of the occupation Nazi forces, but 7000 of them don’t make it to survive during the winter of 1944-1945 year and they are all buried in The Great Synagogue.

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What should I know before a visit of The Great Synagogue?

It’s located at a close, pedestrian distance from the popular pedestrian street of Vaci utca.
The synagogue is closed in Saturdays as it’s an active temple and it’s a regular place for religious rituals performances, as well as for ceremonies.
Buy a ticket online in advance, if you want to join any of the guide tours in English language.
To enter the temple, you should be on mandatory dressed up appropriately – no naked shoulders or knees, no short pants, skirts or shirts.
It’s not allowed to enter The Great Synagogue with a big bag, camera or to use your mobile phone, while you are in.

Tickets

To visit the entire complex of The Great Synagogue, you can get a ticket for:

Individual visitors
Groups
Private tours

Tickets for the complex of The Great Synagogue + a tour of the Jewish district are also available for:

Individual visitors
Groups
Private tours

There are discounts for:

Students
Kids between 6 and 12 years old
Families (2 adults and at least 2 kids)
Kids under 6 years old enter for free

Tours

The complex of The Great Synagogue – includes priority entrance a visit of: the synagogue, the Memorial Park of Raul Valenberg, Holocaust Memorial, the monument of the Tree of life, the Memorial of the pious pegans, the Holocaustic cemetery, the Memorial of the Holocaustic forced labor, The Hungarian Jewish Museum (with an audio guide). The entire tour lasts 45-60 minutes. It’s available in English language.
Private tour – lasts about an hour. You can have it in English, German, Italian, Spanish, French and other languages
Group tours – requires a group to be formed of at least 10 people. There are discounts for students.
The complex of The Great Synagogue + The Jewish District – includes a visit to: the street of the Orthodox synagogue Kazinczy, the Memorial of Karl Louis and Gozsdu Courtyard. The duration of this tour is nearly 2 hours. It’s available in English language. The tour is suitable for individual visitors, groups, as well as an alternative for a private tour.