Housed within the Dohány Street Synagogue complex—Europe’s largest functioning synagogue—this museum spotlights Jewish traditions and the plight of the Jewish people in Hungary. Among the items on show are menorah, centuries-old Jewish gravestones, hand-engraved Torah scrolls, and rare manuscripts.
The Basics
There is a single admission ticket for both the Dohány Street Synagogue and the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives (Magyar Zsidó Múzeum és Levéltár), which are housed within the synagogue complex. With this ticket, visitors can explore the synagogue and museum at their leisure, and see the Holocaust Tree of Life Memorial, which is inscribed with the names of hundreds of thousands of Holocaust victims.
Visitors can also see the synagogue and museum on guided walking tours around Budapest’s Jewish Quarter. Guides on these tours typically recount the history of Budapest’s Jewish community and the role Jewish culture plays in contemporary Hungarian society.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in Hungarian history and Jewish culture.
- The museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the museum.
- Wear conservative clothing (avoid sleeveless tops, short skirts, or shorts) to ensure access to the synagogue. Scarves and hats (mandatory for men) are available at the entrance.
How to Get There
The museum is situated within Dohány Street Synagogue. To get there, take the M2 Metro Line to Astoria station. The Great Synagogue is less than five minutes from the station on foot.
When to Get There
The museum can be visited throughout the year. To experience it at its quietest, come for opening (10am). Alternatively, come later in the afternoon and then stick around the Jewish Quarter to see its buzzy bohemian bars and pubs fill up as night falls. Note that the Hungarian Jewish Museum is closed on Saturdays.
Exploring the Jewish Quarter
The Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives, and the Great Synagogue are just two among many landmarks in Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, which makes up part of Erzsébetváros, or the seventh district. Within walking distance of the Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives, you’ll find the Islamic-style Rumbach Street Synagogue and the art nouveau-style Kazinczy Street Synagogue, as well as a range of Jewish cafés, restaurants, and kosher bakeries.
