The Dohány Street Synagogue is open Sunday to Friday only, closed every Saturday for Shabbat and on the major Jewish holidays. The compound (synagogue, Hungarian Jewish Museum, Memorial Park, cemetery) all keeps the same hours, so once you’re in you visit everything on one ticket without timed-entry juggling.
What complicates things is the calendar. Closing time changes four times a year, Fridays are always short, and the holiday closures move every year because the Jewish calendar is lunar. This guide covers the schedule, this year’s closure dates, and the best times to go.
Opening hours
The doors open at 10:00 all year. Last entry is one hour before closing and ticket sales stop at the same time.
Spring (1 March to 23 May 2026)
| Monday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10:00-18:00 |
Last entry and ticket office closing at 17:00, and at 15:00 on Fridays. Closed every Saturday and on Jewish holidays, with early closing the day before some of them.
Summer (24 May to 30 September 2026)
| Monday | 10:00-20:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00-20:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-20:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-20:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10:00-20:00 |
Last entry and ticket office closing at 19:00, and at 15:00 on Fridays. Closed every Saturday and on Jewish holidays, with early closing the day before some of them.
Autumn (1 to 31 October 2026)
| Monday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-18:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10:00-18:00 |
Last entry and ticket office closing at 17:00, and at 15:00 on Fridays. Closed every Saturday and on Jewish holidays, with early closing the day before some of them.
Winter (2 November to 28 February)
| Monday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00-16:00 |
| Friday | 10:00-14:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | 10:00-16:00 |
Last entry and ticket office closing at 15:00, and at 13:00 on Fridays. Closed every Saturday and on Jewish holidays, with early closing the day before some of them.
Dohány Synagogue service times
The hours above are shaped by the congregation’s week. The complex empties on Friday afternoon so that Shabbat can begin, and stays closed to sightseers until Sunday.
Best times to visit
Time of day
The first hour after opening is the calmest. Be at the door at 10:00 for the quietest visit.
Late afternoon is the second-best window, especially Sunday to Thursday, once the day-trippers and tour groups have gone. The trade-off is that you’re working against last entry. In summer that is no hardship, because the complex stays open until 20:00 and the last two hours are the coolest of the day in the courtyard.
Day of the week
Mondays and Tuesdays are the calmest. Sunday is the busiest single day, because the complex has been shut since Friday afternoon and weekend visitors have one day to see it.
Friday is the short day. The doors close at 16:00 for most of the year and at 14:00 in winter, with last entry an hour before, so a Friday visit needs to start in the morning.
Season
March to May (spring) gives comfortable weather for the Memorial Park and the cemetery garden, which are open-air, and lower visitor numbers than summer. A strong choice if your dates are flexible, as long as you steer round Pesach. September and October are similar in feel but carry the longest run of holiday closures of the year.
November to February is the quietest period overall, and the shortest days, with closing at 16:00. The indoor museum and main hall keep most of the visit weather-protected, but the guided tour finishes outdoors, so dress warmly. June to August is the busiest season and the one with the longest hours.
How long to spend
We would allow an hour and a half to two hours. The bigger time variable is whether you’re combining the synagogue with the surrounding Jewish Quarter or treating it as a standalone visit.
Guided tour only, 45 minutes
Main synagogue, cemetery garden, Memorial Park with the Tree of Life. No museum.
Tour and museum, 1.5 to 2 hours
All of the above plus the Hungarian Jewish Museum. The default pacing for most visitors.
Thorough visit, 2.5 hours
Adds the ghetto exhibition in the cellar, which is mostly text and rewards careful reading.
Walking tour, 2 or 4 hours
Your own guide for the complex and the Jewish Quarter, with the Kazinczy Street Synagogue on the longer one.
Insider tips
Fridays end early
The Friday hours are 10:00 to 16:00 for most of the year and 10:00 to 14:00 in winter. With last entry an hour before that and a 45-minute tour to fit in, aim to arrive before noon.
Watch the day before a holiday
The closure days are easy to spot. The ones that catch people are the days before them, when the complex shuts at 14:00 and last entry is 13:00.
Last entry is firm
The ticket office stops selling and the gate stops admitting one hour before closing. Even if the queue looks short, you will not be let in after that. Arrive at least an hour before last entry if you want the guided tour and the museum.