Prague Castle and the Jewish Museum are two of the biggest, best and most popular attractions in the Golden City, with each deserving of *at least* half a day of your sightseeing time. The very first thing you need to know about these bucket list must-sees are that the terms ‘Prague Castle’ and ‘Jewish Museum’ are actually catch-alls for expansive historic complexes – located at the top of the hill overlooking Malá Strana, and in the former Jewish ghetto across the Vltava respectively. We’re talking Gothic cathedrals and royal palaces up at the castle and spectacular synagogues galore in the Jewish Quarter. But which is better: the Jewish Museum or Prague Castle? We took a deep dive into these two essential Prague attractions to find out.
Jewish Museum: The Lowdown
The Jewish Museum is composed of six historical locations around the tiny Josefov district, the former Jewish ghetto that has been located at the heart of Prague’s Old Town for nearly a thousand years. Once a flourishing part of the city, said to have been home to around 18,000 inhabitants, the district was largely demolished in the early 20th Century as part of an initiative to remodel the city on Paris. It’s fortunate then that a number of its most impressive buildings and monuments were preserved, including the 15th-century cemetery, old town hall, and several impressive synagogues. The museum was established in 1906 and has itself had a very turbulent history, only regaining its independence in 1994, following many years of Nazi and Communist interference.
Its magnificent buildings now play host to permanent exhibitions about Jewish life, culture and tradition through the ages, and boast a collection of some 40,000 Jewish artifacts, including prints, paintings, textiles and jewelry. There’s also an extensive library of books from Bohemia and Moravia, some of which date as far back as the 15th Century. No wonder then that the museum is one of Prague’s most-visited attractions, welcoming around one million visitors every year.
Jewish Museum: Key Highlights
- The Old Jewish Cemetery. One of the largest (and oldest) preserved Jewish burial sites in Europe, this 15th-century cemetery is deeply moving and atmospheric. Wander its leafy lanes, where thousands of crumbling memorial stones lean against one another, including those of important Jewish figures including Mordecai Maisel, Rabbi Loew, and Avigdor Karo, a chief rabbi and court poet to King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia.
- The Spanish Synagogue. The domed exterior of this 19th-century gem hints at the Moorish Revival style within, but little can prepare visitors for the eye-popping grandeur, all intricate stucco arabesques, floral motifs, and colorful geometric tiling.
- The Pinkas Synagogue. This grand Gothic confection is the second-oldest preserved synagogue in the city, dating way back to 1535. Inside, memorial walls are inscribed with the names and personal information of nearly 80,000 Bohemian and Moravian Jews murdered during the Nazi occupation, and there’s a very moving exhibition of drawings by children held in the notorious Terezín Ghetto.
- The Klausen Synagogue. Prague’s largest synagogue is a monumental building in the early Baroque style, big enough to comfortably house an extraordinary three-tiered Torah Ark.
Prague Castle: The Lowdown
The fairytale spires and turrets of Prague Castle are one of the most distinctive features of the city skyline. This vast complex, perched high on a hill overlooking Malá Strana, the Vltava river, and the Old Town beyond, is home to several important buildings, gardens and lanes across its 17-or-so acres. These include the mighty St Vitus Cathedral, a stunning royal palace, and the rows of colorful shops and houses huddled along Golden Lane.
The castle complex began life as a hilltop fortress way back in the 9th Century and has served as the Czech seat of power for many centuries. Its mixture of early Romanesque ruins and picture-perfect Gothic edifices have made it one of Prague’s most enduring attractions, pulling in something in the order of two million punters every year. Its huge size means you can easily make a whole day of it. Indeed, so large is the complex that it has even earned itself the accolade of biggest preserved ancient castle in the Guinness Book of Records!
Prague Castle: Key Highlights
- St Vitus Cathedral. The crowning glory of Prague Castle, this huge 14th-century Gothic confection is one of Prague’s greatest treasures, with its photogenic flying buttresses, Art Nouveau stained glass windows, mosaiced Golden Gate and, of course, those trademark twin spires. Pop inside to ogle the massive pipe organ, hushed gothic chapels, and the sacred tomb of St Wenceslas himself.
- St George’s Basilica. It must be hell playing second fiddle to St Vitus Cathedral, especially when you’re the older brother by far, but 12th-century St George’s puts up a pretty good fight. That’s largely thanks to its picturesque Romanesque towers (nicknamed Adam and Eve) and decorative features that include a bas-relief of St George giving the dragon what-for and, um, a nightmarish statue of a rotting corpse with a coiled snake hanging out in its decaying gut.
- Golden Lane. The colorful rows of painted houses along Golden Lane will have Insta addicts jumping for joy. These pretty historic houses, once home to the goldsmiths who gave it its name, are now largely occupied by souvenir shops. So don’t forget to snag your St Vitus Cathedral keyring or rotting-corpse-statue postcard while you’re there.
- Garden on the Ramparts. Here’s where to get some of the best views in towne, whether looking out over the rust-red Malá Strana rooftops to the Vltava beyond, or gazing back up at the grand Old Royal Palace behind.
Jewish Museum vs Prague Castle: Which is Better?
It’s near-impossible to choose between these old-school Prague attractions. Both have huge appeal for history buffs and incurable Instagrammers alike, and both provide a real insight into the storied past of this great city. So here’s the good news: both the Jewish Museum and Prague Castle are included with a Prague pass from Go City. And that’s just for starters. The pass also includes access to Old Town tours and breweries, plus Museum Kampa, the Žižkov TV Tower Observatory and much more. In short, It’s a great way to save up to 50% on entry fees if you plan to visit a number of attractions during your Prague vacation. Find out more and get your pass here.
Save on Prague’s Most Popular Attractions
Save money on Prague attractions, tours and activities with a pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
