Ghetto Museum Terezín

The Ghetto Museum in Terezín stands among the most significant memorial sites in the Czech Republic, telling the story of the Jewish ghetto the Nazis set up in this fortress town on the Ohře river. Housed in a former 19th-century school building, it has been guiding visitors through the wartime fate of Terezín's prisoners since 1991.

What will you see inside?

The core exhibition, titled "Terezín in the So-Called Final Solution of the Jewish Question, 1941–1945," was assembled in close cooperation with people who lived through the ghetto themselves. That collaboration shapes the whole experience: rather than presenting dry historical data, the museum lets visitors see daily life in the ghetto through the eyes of those who endured it.

Among the most moving items on display are drawings and paintings made by children imprisoned in Terezín — a raw record of how the youngest inmates tried to process their surroundings through art. The museum also screens two documentary films built around survivor testimony, while rotating temporary exhibitions explore further facets of the ghetto's tragedy and Terezín's function as a Nazi transit point for Jews deported from across occupied Europe.

How do you get to Terezín?

Terezín sits in northern Bohemia, close to Litoměřice, and is most easily reached by car or bus from Prague — the trip takes roughly an hour. The fortress itself was built between 1780 and 1790 on the order of Emperor Joseph II, who named it after his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. The garrison town never saw a single battle, and its walls and street layout survive almost unchanged today, which alone leaves an impression on visitors before they even step inside the museum.

In November 1941 the Nazis turned Terezín into a ghetto through which tens of thousands of Jews deported from across occupied Europe passed in the following years — for most of them, only a stop on the way to extermination camps further east.

When should you visit, and what does it cost?

The museum is open daily: April through October from 9:00 to 18:00, and November through March from 9:00 to 17:30. A standard adult ticket costs 215 CZK, a reduced ticket for seniors, students, and children costs 165 CZK, and a family ticket costs 425 CZK. Plan for at least an hour inside, though it's worth pairing the visit with the rest of the Terezín Memorial — the Small Fortress and the crematorium among them — for a fuller picture of the site's history.

Given the subject matter, the Ghetto Museum suits anyone interested in 20th-century history, as well as families with teenagers — the exhibition is accessible but emotionally demanding.

Frequently asked questions

Is a visit suitable for children? The exhibition deals with difficult Holocaust-related subjects, so it works better for older children and teenagers than for very young ones.

How much time should I set aside? The Ghetto Museum alone can be seen in about an hour, but if you plan to cover the rest of the Terezín Memorial too, budget half a day.

Does the ticket cover other sites in Terezín? Tickets to the different parts of the Terezín Memorial (Ghetto Museum, Small Fortress) are usually sold separately or as combined passes — worth checking before you go.

Are the exhibits translated for foreign visitors? Yes, the displays and accompanying video materials are prepared with international visitors in mind, with foreign-language versions available.