Jewish Heritage Tour to Hungary and Romania

A 10-day Jewish Tour of Hungarian and Romanian Heritage

Come explore the rich Jewish heritage of Hungary and Romania. These lands were once home to thriving communities, magnificent houses of worship, and the birthplaces of several Hasidic dynasties. From Budapest’s majestic Dohány Synagogue to the Hasidic heart of Satu Mare, from Elie Wiesel’s birthplace in Sighetu Marmației to the monumental synagogues of Timisoara and Szeged, we trace stories of faith, creativity, and resilience. Alongside the echoes of history, you will also encounter today’s communities, which continue to preserve and renew Jewish life in this often-overlooked corner of Central and Eastern Europe.

DAY 1 MONDAY ARRIVAL IN BUDAPEST

Arrive in Budapest, once home to one of Europe’s largest and most influential Jewish populations. Before the Shoah, more than 200,000 Jews thrived here, shaping the city’s culture, economy, and intellectual life. From majestic synagogues and vibrant yeshivot to neighborhood Shtiebels, Jewish life pulsed through the city. After transferring to the elegant hotel, settle in and enjoy the atmosphere of a city where Jewish history and memory are woven into every street. Dinner. Kempinski Corvinus Hotel.

DAY 2 TUESDAY BUDAPEST

This morning, explore Pest’s historic Jewish Quarter. Begin at the Rumbach Street Synagogue, a Moorish Revival jewel that has been recently restored, and continue to the Kazinczy Synagogue, the center of Orthodox life. The highlight is the Dohány Street Synagogue, Europe’s largest, whose grandeur reflected the confidence of 19th-century Hungarian Jewry. Within its complex, pause at the silver-leafed Tree of Life Memorial, honoring Holocaust victims, and visit Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park, where the heroism of the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews in 1944 is remembered. Just steps away is the house where Theodor Herzl was born, connecting Budapest to the roots of modern Zionism. Conclude with a visit to the haunting Shoes on the Danube Memorial, honoring the Jews murdered on the riverbank during the war. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Kempinski Corvinus Hotel.

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY BUDAPEST

Drive along stately Andrássy Avenue to Heroes’ Square, then cross the Danube into Buda. Visit the Medieval Synagogue, one of the earliest remains of Jewish presence here, before ascending to the Castle District with its cobbled streets, Matthias Church, and the Fisherman’s Bastion, offering panoramic views of the city below. Descend Castle Hill on the funicular and enjoy free time to wander, shop, or discover Budapest’s cafés and cultural treasures. Kempinski Corvinus Hotel.

DAY 4 THURSDAY MÁD – TOKAJ – DEBRECEN

Depart Budapest for Mád, once a thriving center of Hasidic life and Torah study. Visit the beautifully restored Baroque synagogue and the historic Jewish cemetery, which remains a site of pilgrimage for Hasidim, honoring the graves of revered rabbis. Continue into the Tokaj wine region, where Jewish vintners played a key role in developing the world-renowned sweet wines that were traded across Europe. Lunch and wine tasting before traveling to Debrecen, historically home to 12,000 Jews. Although much smaller today, the community continues to maintain a synagogue, a cultural center, and a kosher restaurant, reflecting both its continuity and resilience. Dinner. Mercure Hotel.

DAY 5 FRIDAY DEBRECEN – SATU MARE – SIGHETU MARMATIEI

This morning, explore the Jewish heritage of Debrecen, once a thriving center of both Orthodox and Neolog life. Visit the Pásti Street Synagogue, the former Jewish school, and the restored Mikveh, reminders of a community that once flourished here. Walk through the old Jewish quarter, once filled with kosher shops, workshops, and cafés, and reflect on the resilience of a community that has endured despite profound loss. Next, depart for Satu Mare, birthplace of the Satmar Hasidic dynasty founded by Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, whose influence endures worldwide, from New York to Jerusalem. Continue to Sighetu Marmatiei, hometown of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel. It was from this town, in 1944, that Elie Wiesel and his family were deported to Auschwitz, a tragedy he later transformed into a voice for Holocaust memory and human dignity. Dinner. Iza Hotel.

DAY 6 SATURDAY SIGHETU MARMATIEI

Today, visit Elie Wiesel’s childhood home, now a museum honoring both his life and the Jewish community of Maramureș, almost entirely destroyed in 1944. Through exhibits and personal artifacts, the museum tells the story of a boy who became the world’s conscience, ensuring that the voices of the victims would never be silenced. Beyond Wiesel’s legacy, discover how this small town on the border to Ukraine was also tied to the early spread of Hasidism, through students of the Baal Shem Tov, the movement’s founder. Later, a visit to the Village Museum will illustrate the traditions of the diverse ethnic and religious groups who lived here side by side. Return to the hotel in the afternoon with time to rest before dinner. Iza Hotel.

DAY 7 SUNDAY SIGHETU MARMATIEI – CLUJ-NAPOCA

Travel south to Cluj-Napoca, once a hub of Jewish cultural and intellectual life, home to Neolog and Orthodox synagogues, printing presses, and theaters. In the afternoon, visit the Neolog Synagogue (Memorial Temple), which commemorates the 16,000 Jews deported from Cluj to Auschwitz in 1944. Here, meet members of today’s Jewish community and hear about efforts to preserve and renew Jewish traditions for future generations. Dinner. Radisson Hotel Cluj.

DAY 8 MONDAY CLUJ-NAPOCA – TIMISOARA – SZEGED

Driving west, arrive in Timișoara, a city with a rich Jewish heritage spanning Neolog, Orthodox, and Sephardic communities. Though smaller today, the Jewish community remains active, maintaining synagogues, schools, and cultural programs. In the afternoon, cross back into Hungary and continue to Szeged, a city shaped by Jewish merchants, artists, and professionals. Walk in the former Jewish quarter surrounding the awe-inspiring Szeged Synagogue, designed by Lipót Baumhorn, whose domed sanctuary and stained-glass windows evoke the Garden of Eden. Art Hotel Szeged.

DAY 9 TUESDAY SZEGED – BUDAPEST

This morning, visit the magnificent Szeged Synagogue, a true masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture. Bathed in the glow of its stained-glass windows and adorned with exquisite details, the sanctuary invites reflection on the confidence and creativity of Hungarian Jewry at the dawn of the 20th century. Later, drive back to Budapest, where the journey began just nine days ago. Check in at the luxurious Kempinski Hotel and enjoy free time to stroll through the lively pedestrian district or to relax along the Danube, taking in the timeless beauty of Buda Hill. Dinner. Kempinski Corvinus Hotel.

DAY 10 WEDNESDAY DEPARTURE FROM BUDAPEST

Transfer to Budapest Airport for your flight home. Depart with memories of a journey through Hungary and Romania—lands of towering synagogues, Hasidic dynasties, Holocaust memorials, and at times, vibrant Jewish renewal. This itinerary has traced the Jewish history from medieval roots to modern revival, revealing the endurance of a people whose faith, culture, and creativity continue to shape Central and Eastern Europe.