Terezín Memorial Tour from Prague
- Duration5 hours
- Daily
- Group
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Overview
Travel from Prague to Terezín, a quiet 18th-century fortress town that became one of the most tragic places of the Second World War. On this 5-hour shared tour, a guide leads you through the Terezín Memorial, where the former Gestapo prison of the Small Fortress and the streets of the Theresienstadt ghetto tell the story of the tens of thousands of people imprisoned, deported and killed here. Transport from Prague and back is included. It is a moving, educational visit for adults and older teenagers interested in 20th-century history.
Highlights
- A guided visit to the Terezín Memorial with an experienced guide
- The Small Fortress, used as a Gestapo police prison from 1940
- The former ghetto town, with its barracks, streets and museum exhibits
- The stories of the children of Terezín, their drawings and their music
- Clear historical context of the Holocaust in the Czech lands
- Round-trip transport from central Prague in half a day
Full Description
Terezín, the Fortress Town of Maria Theresa
Terezín was built between 1780 and 1790 by Emperor Joseph II and named after his mother, Empress Maria Theresa. It was designed as a state-of-the-art garrison fortress near the confluence of the Ohře and Elbe rivers, about 60 kilometres north of Prague, with a walled main town, the Large Fortress, and a separate Small Fortress across the river. It was never besieged.
For more than 150 years it was a quiet army town. How to get to Terezín from Prague without a car: buses run from the city, but a guided Terezín tour from Prague saves time and brings a guide who can explain each site in context, which matters in a place where the buildings themselves look ordinary.
The Small Fortress Prison
The Small Fortress had long served as a military prison; Gavrilo Princip, the assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, died here in 1918. From 1940 the Nazi Gestapo turned it into its largest police prison in the Czech lands. Around 32,000 people, most of them Czech resistance members and political prisoners, passed through its gate, and thousands died from hunger, disease, torture and executions.
Today you walk through the entrance gate, the courtyards, the cells and the barracks, the washrooms, and the execution ground. In front of the fortress lies the National Cemetery, created in 1945 for the victims. The Small Fortress is often the most intense part of a Terezín concentration camp tour, and our guide gives time for silence and questions.
The Theresienstadt Ghetto and Its Museum
From November 1941 to May 1945, the Nazis emptied the main town and turned it into the Theresienstadt ghetto. About 140,000 Jews from Bohemia, Moravia, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark and elsewhere were deported here. Some 33,000 died in the overcrowded town itself, and around 88,000 were sent on to extermination camps, mostly Auschwitz. In 1944 the ghetto was temporarily cleaned up to deceive a visiting Red Cross delegation.
The memorial's museum exhibits in the former ghetto, including the Ghetto Museum in an old school building, show the daily life, art and music created under these conditions, including the drawings made by children in secret art lessons and the children's opera Brundibár. Terezín Memorial opening hours differ between summer and winter, which your tour already takes into account.
Itinerary
- Departure from central PragueMeet your guide in the morning and travel north by road, about one hour.
- Small FortressGuided visit of the former Gestapo prison, its gate, courtyards and cells.
- National CemeteryA pause at the cemetery in front of the Small Fortress.
- The former ghetto townWalk through the streets of the Large Fortress with your guide and see the memorial's museum exhibits.
- Return to PragueDrive back to central Prague, arriving about 5 hours after departure.
What's included
- Transport from Prague to Terezín and back
- English-speaking guide
- Guided visit of the Terezín Memorial
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 4–12
- A half-day plan — about 5 hours
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Young children (the subject matter is very distressing)
- Wheelchair users (uneven ground, steps and narrow passages)
Meeting point
The tour starts in the morning from a meeting point in central Prague; the exact location is sent with your booking confirmation. There is no hotel pickup, and the tour returns to central Prague about 5 hours later. The tour may be guided in more than one language.
Important information
- This is a memorial site; please dress modestly and behave respectfully
- Wear comfortable shoes; parts of the visit are outdoors on uneven ground
- Bring weather-appropriate clothing, as much of the Small Fortress is open-air
- Food and drinks are not included
- The guide may present the tour in English and another language
- Some exhibitions have seasonal opening hours, which can change the order of the visit
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Terezín tour from Prague cost?
The price depends on the date. The booking panel on this page shows the current price and the ticket types available.
Is hotel pickup included?
No. The tour starts and ends at a meeting point in central Prague, sent with your booking confirmation.
How long is the Terezín tour?
About 5 hours, including around one hour of driving each way.
Is the memorial visit included?
Yes, a guided visit of the Terezín Memorial is part of the tour. The booking panel lists exactly what your option includes.
Is the tour suitable for children?
The subject is very distressing. We recommend it for adults and teenagers roughly 13 and over who have learned about the Second World War.
What should I wear or bring?
Modest, comfortable clothing, good walking shoes, a jacket or umbrella depending on the weather, and water.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Tomorrow is often possible if seats are left. Select your date in the booking panel.
Was Terezín a concentration camp?
Terezín combined a Jewish ghetto in the main town and a Gestapo police prison in the Small Fortress. For most deportees it was a transit station on the way to extermination camps.
Can I take photos at Terezín?
Photography is generally allowed outdoors for personal use, but please be discreet and respectful, and follow the signs inside the exhibitions.
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