With the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions, summer tourism is beginning – even if in a limited way – and in-person guided tours to Jewish heritage sites, such as synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and Jewish quarters have also begun for small groups.
Most of these guided tours mandate social distancing and other sanitary measures, such as face masks. The number of participants on each tour is generally limited, and reservations are needed. In addition to in-person tours, virtual live tours are also being organized.
Below is a list of some of the past and future in-person and online tours we know of, organized by synagogues, civic associations, and other institutions . We know there are more – please let us know of others.
(NOTE — They tours on this list do not include those offered by individual tour guides.)
On the homepage of our website, in the right bottom side, we have calendar with weekly in-person and virtual events all around Europe. (We try to keep it updated, but so much is going on that sometimes it’s not easy!)
AUSTRIA
Eisenstadt, June 10 – Guided tour of the former Jewish quarter, organized by the Jewish Museum.
Eisentstadt, June 23 – Guided tour at the Jewish cemetery, organized by the Jewish Museum.
Eisenstadt, June 30 – Guided tour at the Samson Wertheimer private synagogue, organized by the Jewish Museum.
CROATIA
Rijeka, June 6 – Guided tour to the Jewish heritage sites of the city, including the only standing synagogue of the city.
FRANCE
Marmoutier, September 13 – Free tour at the Jewish Cemetery, founded in 1789, organized by the Marmoutier Civic Museum.
Struth, July 22 and September 6 – Guided tour at the synagogue, built in 1836, organized by the trans-communal Hanau-Le Petite Pierre Tourist Office.
Pfaffenhofen, July 9 and August 6 – Guided tour of the synagogue, built in 1791. The tour is organized by the Val De Moder municipality, it’s compulsory to wear a mask and keep social distancing. Cost: €3.5.
Bordeaux, July 7, 9, 16, 21 and 23 – Guided tour of the city’s magnificent synagogue. The 50-minute tour is in French and is open to a maximum of 9 people. It’s compulsory to wear a mask (visitors should bring their own masks). Cost: €8.
Belfort, August 7 – Free guided tour at the Jewish cemetery at 3 PM, organized by the local tourist office and the Jewish community. Reservation in advance is compulsory.
Carpentras, July 9, 16, 30 and August 6, 11, 20, 27 – Guided tour at the synagogue and former Jewish quartier. Booking in advance is needed. Cost: €10.
Ingwiller, July 21 – A guided tour of the synagogue and Jewish heritage. Reservation necessary, and people must wear face masks.
Paris, every second Sunday of the month until August 9 – Guided tour of the Museum of Jewish Art and History, organized by the museum itself. On request the tour can be held in English, German, Hebrew and Spanish. Cost 14/8/7 including the admission at the museum.
Paris, every second Sunday until August 16 – The Museum of Jewish Art and History organizes walking tours of the Jewish Marais, the neighborhood considered the heart of Jewish Paris. Cost: 14/8/7 euros.
GERMANY
Frankfurt, July 12 – Jewish heritage walking tour organized by “Frankfurt on Foot”. Reservations in advance are mandatory, maximum 8 people. Cost: €10.
Berlin, every Friday – Guided tour in English of the Jewish Museum of Berlin. Duration: 60 minutes. Cost: 3 euros, plus the admission at the museum (8 euros).
HUNGARY
Balatonfured, June 27 – In the context of the Museum Night, the city’s cultural office organized a free walking tour of the city’s Jewish heritage sites.
Szeged, July 5 – All-day cultural program at Lipot Baumhorn’s New Synagogue, in the context of the “Rose Day” festival.
ITALY
Bologna, every Tuesday during July and August – The Jewish Museum of Bologna organizes tours and events inside and outside the Museum. Events start at 9 PM, with limited number of participants (9 people). Booking in advance is needed. Cost: €7.
Pesaro, every Thursday – The synagogue in Pesaro can be visited for free from 5 to 8 PM.
Conegliano Veneto, every first Sunday of the month – Free guided tour at the Conegliano Jewish cemetery.
Vercelli, July 12 – Guided tour at the Jewish Museum, hosted in the synagogue’s women’s gallery. Booking in advance is needed.
Ferrara, May 31 – One of the very first guided tour to Jewish sites held in Italy after the easing of the Covid-19 measures.
Livorno, June 28 – Guided visit to the Nievo street Jewish cemetery, organized by tourist operator Amaranta Servizi.
Rovigo, June 28 – In the context of the FAI (Italian National Trust) days, there were guided tours to the city’s Jewish cemetery.
Trieste, June 21 – Visit to the city’s Jewish cemetery in Pace street, in the context of the multicultural festival.
Lecce, every day – The Jewish Museum of Lecce organizes English and Italian daily walking tours in the city’s medieval Jewish quarter. Booking in advance is needed.
LITHUANIA
Vilnius, July 12 and 26 – Free walking tours at the Panerai Holocaust Memorial outside Vilnius organized by the Jewish Museum in Vilnius. Registration required.
POLAND
Muranow district Warsaw, from July to October – The Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN) organizes thematic walking tours dedicated to the Jewish heritage of Muranow, the district of Warsaw that was the site of a major Jewish quarter before WW2 and also of the WW2 warsaw ghetto. Cost per walk: 20/15/1 zloty.
ROMANIA
Timisoara, July 12 – Live virtual tour of Jewish Timisoara broadcast on the Travel to Live.co.il Facebook page.
SWEDEN
Stockholm, every Wednesday and Sunday until September – The Jewish Museum of Sweden organizes walking tours of the Swedish capital. Duration: 60 minutes. Cost: 140/120 Swedish crowns. Pre-booking is compulsory.