"Amazing. Our guide was so knowledgeable and passionate. Love love love her. Truly local and lives in the ghetto. Fantastic historian and great commentary on current life"
Italy · Venice · Rome · Florence · Lecce
Jewish Heritage Tours in Italy: Venice's Ghetto, Rome, Florence and Lecce
The synagogues of the Venice Ghetto, the first in history, Rome's Ghetto and its Great Synagogue, Florence's Tempio Maggiore and the underground museum of Lecce: the tours compared.
From
$55
per person
Free cancellation
- 5.0 / 5 141+ Reviews
- 11 Countries Europe and Morocco
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Venice Synagogue Tour Includes
Shoulders and legs, at least to the knee, must be covered to enter the synagogues.
Highlights
- Two of the Ghetto's historic synagogues, with one of seven guides authorized to lead visits inside
- A licensed local guide through the Ghetto area
- About 1.5 hours, in English
- Synagogue tickets bought at the meeting point, on top of the tour price
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
What's Included
- 1.5-hour tour of the Ghetto area
- Visit of two synagogues
- Licensed local guide
How the Venice Synagogue Tour Works
From the meeting point in the Ghetto to the second synagogue.
Avoid Saturdays
The museum, the synagogues and the cemetery of the Venice Ghetto close on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays.
Buy the Synagogue Tickets at the Start
The tour price covers the guide; the entry tickets to the synagogues are bought at the meeting point, together with the guide.
Two Synagogues with a Guide
Visits inside the Ghetto's synagogues are guided; the tour takes you into two of them.
The Ghetto Itself
The walk ends in the Ghetto area of Cannaregio, close to the station.
Photo Gallery
The Venice Ghetto
The synagogues and the campo, from the guided tour.
Dates and Prices
Check Availability & Prices
Select your preferred date and time. Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Venice Synagogues vs. Rome's Ghetto, Two Ways
Three Jewish heritage tours in Italy, side by side. Prices as of October 2026.
| Feature | BEST RATED Venice Synagogues (Hili) | Rome Museum and Synagogue, Private | Rome Ghetto and Trastevere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | From $55/per person | From $190 | From $34 |
| Rating | 5.0/5 (141 reviews) | 5.0/5 (5 reviews) | 4.9/5 (284 reviews) |
| Length | 1.5 hours | 2.5 to 3 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Inside a Synagogue | Two synagogues | The Great Synagogue | No, from outside |
| Museum | Not included | Jewish Museum of Rome | Not included |
| Guide | Authorized local guide | Official Jewish guide | Storytelling guide |
| Languages | English | English, Hebrew, Spanish | English |
| Free Cancellation | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead | Up to 24 hours ahead |
| Best For | Venice, the interiors | Rome, the interiors | Rome, the neighbourhood |
| Check Availability | View Private Tour | View Walk |
Rome and More of Venice
A walk through Rome's Ghetto, the Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum with an official guide, and the Venice Ghetto with a kosher bakery stop.
Jewish Heritage in Italy
Venice, Rome, Florence and Lecce
Where the tours go, what they open, and what they cost.
Italy has two of Europe’s most important Jewish heritage cities: Venice, whose Ghetto, established in 1516, gave the world the word, and Rome, whose community is among the oldest in Europe and whose Ghetto, created by a papal bull of 1555, lasted until 1870. In both, the synagogues are visited only with a guide. The best-rated tour is Hili’s guided visit to two of the Venice Ghetto’s synagogues, from $55 a person as of October 2026 plus the synagogue tickets, rated 5.0 from 141 reviews.
Check dates for the Venice synagogue tour →
What there is to see
- Venice. The Ghetto in Cannaregio, established in 1516 and enlarged in 1541 and 1633, with its historic synagogues hidden behind house fronts, the Jewish Museum and the old cemetery on the Lido. The synagogues and museum close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
- Rome. The former Ghetto between the Theatre of Marcellus and the Portico d’Ottavia, the Great Synagogue, opened in 1904, with the Jewish Museum of Rome in the same complex, and Tiber Island across the river.
- Florence. The Great Synagogue, the Tempio Maggiore, inaugurated in 1882, and its Jewish Museum.
- Lecce. An underground Jewish Museum in the old Jewish quarter of the baroque city.
The tours compared
| Tour (operator) | From | Rating (reviews) | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venice synagogues with a local guide (Hili) | $55 | 5.0 (141) | 1.5 hours | Two synagogues; tickets extra |
| Venice Ghetto and Cannaregio walk (Beatrice Baumgartner) | $61 | 4.9 (45) | 2 hours | Kosher bakery stop; English or German |
| Venice Ghetto and Cannaregio food and wine (Food Raphael) | $134 | 4.8 (126) | 4 hours | Tastings; not a kosher tour |
| Rome Ghetto and Trastevere (City Stories Tours) | $34 | 4.9 (284) | 2.5 hours | Synagogue from outside |
| Rome Ghetto walk, up to 10 (Roman Vacations) | $53 | 4.7 (290) | 2.5 hours | Kosher gelato or coffee |
| Rome Ghetto, Museum and Synagogue, private (Italy VIP Tours) | $190 | 5.0 (5) | 2.5 to 3 hours | Official Jewish guide; Sunday to Friday mornings |
| Rome Ghetto and Trastevere, tip-based (What About Tours) | $4.49 plus tips | 4.8 (556) | 87 minutes | Guides work for tips |
| Rome Jewish Quarter and Campo de’ Fiori street food (Orange Umbrella) | $44 | 4.7 (84) | 2.5 hours | Five tastings |
| Florence synagogue and Jewish Museum ticket | $10 | 4.5 (316) | Self-paced | Entry ticket |
| Lecce synagogue and Jewish quarter (InfoTab Tours) | $28 | 4.7 (95) | 1 hour | Jewish Museum entry included |
Prices, ratings and review counts as of October 2026. Operators change their prices, so treat them as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Which one suits you
Choose by city, and by whether you want to go inside:
Venice, inside the synagogues
Hili
Two of the Ghetto's synagogues with one of the guides authorized to lead visits inside. Tickets bought on the day.
Check dates →Rome, inside the Great Synagogue
Italy VIP Tours, private
The Ghetto, the Jewish Museum and the Great Synagogue with an official Jewish guide, in English, Hebrew or Spanish.
See this tour →Rome, on foot
City Stories Tours
The Ghetto from the Theatre of Marcellus to Piazza Mattei, then Tiber Island and Trastevere.
See this walk →Figures as of October 2026: the shape of the market, not a quote. Check the price and the conditions on the date you choose.
In Venice, Hili’s visit is the way inside the synagogues; Beatrice Baumgartner’s walk adds Cannaregio, Tintoretto’s house and a sweet from a kosher bakery. jewish-walking-tour.com compares the Venice walks in more detail.
In Rome, the group walks stay outside the synagogue. To go in, take the private tour with an official Jewish guide, or buy the Jewish Museum of Rome’s ticket, which includes the Great Synagogue, from the museum.
In Florence and Lecce, the museum tickets are the way in: $10 for Florence’s synagogue and museum, $28 for Lecce’s guided hour with the underground museum.
Before you go
- Saturdays and holidays. The synagogues and Jewish museums in Venice and Rome close on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays; Rome’s private tour runs Sunday to Friday mornings.
- Dress. Shoulders covered and legs covered at least to the knee for the Venice synagogues; the same applies in churches on the Rome walks.
- Food. The Venice food and wine tour is not kosher, and it is not suitable for vegans or gluten-free diets.
Guest Reviews
What Visitors Say
5.0/5
from 141 verified reviews
"I highly recommend this tour! Our knowledgeable and super friendly guide Elena was just fabulous and the information she gave us was very personal, interesting and moving. I loved her positive energy, the fact that she lives in the Ghetto with her family and knows so so much about Venice, Cannaregio and the Ghetto. A wonderful experience! Thank you again, dear Elena!"
"Fantastic your! Elena was one of the best tour guides we have ever had (and that is saying a lot!). She is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate! So glad we decided to pick this tour over others! You won’t be disappointed!"
"There isn’t a lot to actually see on this tour, but the stories weaved by our delightful tour guide, Elena, were absolutely spellbinding and brought the Jewish Ghetto to life. She is very friendly and keeps an upbeat demeanor despite the fact that the topic and history gets very, very dark. She also lives in the neighborhood! One of the best tour guides EVER."
"Our guide was amazing. She told us about Jewish life in Venice throughout history and today. It's fun to be guided by someone from the community who is a wealth of historical knowledge and so pleasant."
"Our tour guide was amazing and not only did we learn about the history and see the amazing synagogues but we learned about how it feels to live as a Jew in Venice in present day. Deeply moving and very important tour."
"Our guide was so informative and I learnt so much about the history of the Jewish Ghetto, and visiting the Synagogues was a special treat."
"We enjoyed a sensational guided tour with a private feel. Many thanks to our city guide."
Read all 141 verified reviews
See All ReviewsChoose a Date
Most tours on this site cancel free up to 24 hours ahead (checked October 2026). Synagogues and Jewish museums close on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays, so check the date against the venue's calendar before you reserve. Starting from $55 per person.
Check AvailabilityFAQ: Jewish Heritage in Italy
Venice, Rome, Florence and Lecce: the ghettos, the synagogues and the tours, as of October 2026.
Yes, but only with a guide: visits inside the Ghetto's synagogues are guided. Hili's tour takes you into two of them with one of the guides authorized for this role, from $55 as of October 2026; the synagogue tickets are bought at the meeting point. See the Venice synagogue tour.
The word comes from Venice: the area where the city confined its Jews from 1516 had been the site of a foundry, the getto. The Ghetto Vecchio was added in 1541 and the Ghetto Nuovissimo in 1633. Beatrice Baumgartner's Ghetto and Cannaregio walk covers the whole area.
Yes, with the Jewish Museum of Rome's ticket or with an official Jewish guide; the group walks of the Ghetto see it from outside. Italy VIP Tours' private tour includes the museum and the synagogue, Sunday to Friday mornings, from $190 as of October 2026. See the private tour.
Yes: it is the heart of one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe, between the Theatre of Marcellus and the Portico d'Ottavia. The Ghetto was created by a papal bull in 1555 and lasted until 1870. City Stories Tours' Ghetto and Trastevere walk, from $34 as of October 2026, is rated 4.9 from 284 reviews.
Close to it: What About Tours' 87-minute walk costs $4.49 to reserve as of October 2026, and the guides work for tips. The listing suggests a tip of 15 to 50 euros. See the tip-based walk.
Yes in both, though neither is kosher. In Rome, Orange Umbrella's street food walk through the Jewish Quarter and Campo de' Fiori has five tastings, from $44; in Venice, Food Raphael's food and wine tour of the Ghetto and Cannaregio lasts four hours, from $134, as of October 2026. See the Rome street food walk.
On Saturdays and on Jewish holidays. In Venice the museum, the synagogues and the cemetery all close on those days. Plan a weekday for the Venice synagogue tour and check the holiday calendar.
Shoulders covered and legs covered at least to the knee. The Venice tour's listing makes this a condition of entry. A light scarf and long trousers or a skirt cover it, for the synagogues and for the churches on the Rome walks; see the Venice synagogue tour.
Still have questions? Email us at info@jewishtour.tours