Expert-led walk through Kraków’s Old Jewish Quarter & the wartime ghetto: Remuh Synagogue entry
Discover two worlds of Jewish Kraków: vibrant pre-war Kazimierz with Remuh Synagogue entry, and the tragic ghetto in Podgórze, with Heroes Square, Eagle Pharmacy, and Schindler’s Factory.
Discover both sides of Jewish Kraków on a combined guided walk, led by an expert local guide. Begin in Kazimierz, the pre-war Jewish quarter, at the Old Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in Poland. Continue to the Popper Synagogue courtyard and see the house where Helena Rubinstein was born. The highlight here is entry to the Remuh Synagogue, still an active house of prayer, with an outside view of the historic Jewish cemetery as your guide explains its symbols and traditions. The route continues past the Isaac, Kupa, and Tempel synagogues, with stories of daily life before the war. You also visit lively Nowy Square and Spielberg Passage, known from the film Schindler’s List, before reaching Corpus Christi Basilica and crossing the Vistula River.
On the opposite bank lies Podgórze, site of the wartime ghetto. Stop at Józefińska 14, once the Judenrat headquarters, then continue to Ghetto Heroes Square, marked today by the moving Chair Memorial. Nearby, hear the story of the Under the Eagle Pharmacy, where Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his staff bravely supported the ghetto’s residents. See Józefińska 41, once home to an orphanage, welfare office, and hospital. Visit the remains of the Ghetto Walls, a stark reminder of confinement, before finishing by Schindler’s Factory, where over a thousand lives were saved (no entry inside).
This combined route reveals both the rich pre-war heritage of Kazimierz and the wartime tragedy of the ghetto, blending culture, memory, and resilience in one moving experience.
Meeting point: ul. Szeroka 24, on the steps of the Old Synagogue (click to go to Google Maps)
The guide with the "excursions.city" sign
Endpoint: Plac Bohaterów Getta (click to go to Google Maps)
Length: ~3,5 km
Duration: 3 hours
