Amsterdam: Portuguese Synagogue Entrance Ticket
Description
Open from 11:00-17:00, except Saturdays. Closing time differs on fridays and Jewish Holidays. Please check the current opening hours at This ticket includes also access to the Jewish Museum. In the heart of the old Jewish neighbourhood stands the Portuguese Synagogue. The biggest synagogue in the world when it was built in the 17th century. Jews still worship here to this day, but whenever this wonderful building isn’t being used for services it’s open for you to visit. Everyone is welcome. Whether you’re Jewish or not. A visit to the Portuguese Synagogue is a breathtaking experience. Everything has been kept just as it was in the 17th century. Instead of electric lights, the synagogue is lit by hundreds of candles.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Jewish Museum is a beautiful, high-profile museum that occupies four monumental synagogue buildings in the middle of the Jewish Cultural Quarter. It provides a unique picture of past and present Dutch Jewish life in all its facets. The museum has an extensive collection of items ranging from paintings to films, and from utensils to 3D presentations. At any one time there are also two temporary exhibitions on display.
At the heart of the Jewish Cultural Quarter stands the majestic Portuguese Synagogue. The building is still used for religious services, but it is also open to the public. It hosts frequent candlelight concerts. Hundreds of candles illuminate the perfectly intact 17th-century interior. Visitors to the smaller buildings in the complex will find treasure chambers containing a unique collection of ceremonial objects made of silver, gold, brocade, and silk. The world’s oldest functioning Jewish library is also here: Ets Haim Livraria Montezinos, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The Jewish Museum junior is a museum created especially for younger visitors inside the Jewish Museum. Here children can get to know something about Jewish life and Jewish tradition in an entertaining way. The museum’s interior is set up like the home of Jewish family. Every day children can bake mini-hallahs (braided bread rolls) in the kosher kitchen, learn a bit of Hebrew in the study, or play tunes together in the music room.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Portuguese Synagogue is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, please check https://jck.nl/en/page/opening-hours
Reviews(50)
If you are history buff you need to see this. Several WW II memorials in the area. It is sad that it is no longer used.
disappointing we were on time to meet the guide never seen and had to discuss for the ticket and no audio guide
Merci d’avoir partagé votre avis. Nous sommes désolés d’apprendre que votre visite n’a pas été à la hauteur de vos attentes. Nous souhaitons toutefois préciser que le billet acheté donne uniquement accès au musée et n’inclut pas de visite guidée. C’est pourquoi nous ne comprenons pas entièrement à quel guide ou présentation vous faites référence. Si vous pouvez nous fournir plus de détails sur ce qui s’est passé, nous serions heureux d’examiner la situation plus en profondeur. Merci encore pour votre retour.
It is an incredible piece of history. The fact that it has survived is impressive. The Judaica that has survived is extraordinary.
What an amazing building. Opened in 1675 and very soon became a major tourist attraction in Amsterdam. Still no heating or electricity! It really is a 'must see' if visiting Amsterdam. Second oldest synagogue in Europe still in use.
Visiting the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam was a truly moving experience. It’s incredibly generous of the Sephardic community to open their Synagogue and facilities to visitors. The building itself is stunning and transports you back to 1675, the year it was built. An absolute must-see.
I was looking forward to our whole day in the Jewish Quarter to get an education about the Jewish history and experience in Amsterdam. We visited this Synagogue, the Jewish Museum, the Dutch Resistance Museum, the Holocaust museum, the Jewish theatre, and the Holocaust memorial. It was a jam packed day. Of all of these, we felt the most impactful experience, most educational, and most interesting was the Dutch Resistance museum and the Holocaust museum. I am not sure why Rick Steves gave the Portuguese Synagogue two triangles (stars) instead of one star. It was okay, as was the audio guide. Maybe a private tour would have increased the experience to make it more interesting but I'm not sure.
What experience? We booked tickets to visit the Portuguese Synagogue on Sunday, September 7, 2025, and paid for the tickets. When we got to the synagogue, we were denied entrance because a special event was happening. Why were we not not advised of this beforehand? Very bad experience.
Dear Elizabeth, Thank you for sharing your feedback. The Portuguese Synagogue is still actively used by the Jewish community, which means that on certain occasions special events take place there. As a result, the opening hours may sometimes differ. For this reason, we always recommend('Additional info') checking our own website in advance for the most up-to-date information. Your ticket on that day did still grant access to the Jewish Museum, though we fully understand how disappointing it must have been not to visit the synagogue as planned. We’re truly sorry for this experience, and we have arranged a full refund for your tickets. We sincerely hope to welcome you again in the future under better circumstances. Kind regards,
We came here with Naomi, our guide with Jewish Amsterdam Tour, and the experience was enlightening and moving. To see that this sacred place was spared in the war, and that it’s still being used today for religious services and milestones, is amazing, and uplifting.
A fascinating destination for Jewish visitors. Not sure how it will resonate with Gentiles. A great window into the history of the Sephardi community in Amsterdam, which is ritually a bit different than most other Jewish communities in the West.
Interesting experience. The ticket gives entrance to both the Portuguese Synagogue and the Jewish museum. If you enjoy history and old buildings, you will appreciate this experience.
