Visiting the Terezín Memorial: the Ghetto and the Small Fortress

• Two historic sites: The Small Fortress was a Gestapo police prison from 1940 to 1945; the former ghetto was located within the town’s fortress walls.
• Time needed: The Memorial estimates around 90 minutes for the Small Fortress and about 60 minutes for the Ghetto Museum. Allowing for walking between sites, breaks and another exhibition, it is realistic to set aside most of the day.
• Small Fortress opening hours: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm, April to October; 9 am to 4 pm, November to March.
• Ghetto Museum: Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm through 1 November 2026; closed for renovation from 2 November.
• Admission, as of 11 October 2026: The four-day ticket costs CZK 310 for adults, CZK 240 at the reduced rate and CZK 630 for families with up to two adults and three children. Each site can be visited once with the ticket.
• Without a car: PID bus route 413 connects Praha, Letňany, Terezín and Litoměřice. The additional seasonal weekend services in 2026 ended on 28 September.
• By car: The official car and bus park at the Small Fortress is about 200 metres from the main entrance.

The Small Fortress lies outside the town centre. From 1940 to 1945, the Prague Gestapo used it as a prison for opponents of the Nazi regime. The visitor route passes through courtyards, detention areas and other prison rooms; it also includes a long passage through the fortress complex. The Small Fortress Museum explains political persecution and the fate of the prisoners. If you are primarily interested in understanding the history of Terezín as a fortified town, distinguish this military past from the later memorial sites.

The former ghetto was located in the town. The Ghetto Museum is housed in a former school where Jewish boys lived during the Nazi era. Its exhibition explores the establishment of the ghetto, daily life under coercion and the deportations. A memorial hall is dedicated especially to the children: names, poems and drawings make clear that behind the statistics were individual lives. The museum complements a visit to Czech memorials and cultural sites, but it is no substitute for visiting the Small Fortress.

A third focus is the Museum of Art, in the former Magdeburg Barracks. It shows how people in the ghetto continued to engage in cultural activities despite persecution, including music, visual art, literature and theatre. The building will take on added significance in autumn 2026: according to the Memorial’s announcement, from 2 November it will host a temporary exhibition on the history of the ghetto from 1941 to 1945 while the Ghetto Museum is being renovated. The ticket office is also expected to move there. The latest visitor information from the Terezín Memorial covers changes to the visitor route and the progress of the renovation.

For a first visit, it is worth setting aside a full day rather than making a brief stop. If you want to start by understanding the history of the ghetto, begin at the Ghetto Museum and then visit the Small Fortress; if you would rather focus first on the Gestapo prison, reverse the order. The two sites are separate visitor areas. Allow around four to five hours on site for the visits described, including time to walk between locations and take a break. This is a suggested planning range, not an official minimum. Also give yourself time to read the information at your own pace.

The combined ticket listed on the official price page on 11 October 2026 is valid for four days and includes the Small Fortress and sites in the former ghetto. Adults pay CZK 310; children aged 10 to 18, students up to 26 with an ISIC card, teachers with an ITIC card and seniors aged 65 and over pay CZK 240. The family ticket costs CZK 630 and covers up to two adults and three children. Each included site can be visited once. If you are staying in Terezín for several days, you can spread out your visits; compare accommodation in Terezín.

A guided tour is included in the admission price, but groups of ten or more must book in advance. The Memorial also recommends reservations for smaller groups; a tour without advance booking is not guaranteed on site. Tours are available in Czech, English, German, Spanish and Italian. An audio guide for the Small Fortress and the former ghetto is also available for independent visits. These options help visitors explore the two sites, each with its distinct focus.

The Small Fortress is open daily. During the summer season, April to October, it is open from 9 am to 5 pm; from November to March, from 9 am to 4 pm. Until the announced renovation, the Ghetto Museum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The Museum of Art is also open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The crematorium, columbarium and other memorial sites have different opening days and seasonal hours; do not automatically include them in the same route.

The renovation will change the visitor experience from 2 November 2026: the Ghetto Museum will close for extensive work and preparations for a new permanent exhibition. During this time, a temporary exhibition on the history of the ghetto is planned for the Museum of Art in the former Magdeburg Barracks. The ticket office will move there as well. The announcement does not give a reopening date. If you are travelling after 1 November, plan to visit the announced temporary location and do not expect to visit the closed museum.

For public transport, route 413 provides a direct connection between Praha, Letňany, Terezín and Litoměřice. In June 2026, PID announced additional weekend services, which ran only until 28 September. Do not count on these seasonal extra services if you are travelling later. Departure times for regular services depend on the date. Include the journey in your Czechia travel plans and check the service for the day of your visit rather than relying on an earlier seasonal timetable.

If you are driving, you can use the signposted car park at the Small Fortress; according to the Memorial, it is about 200 metres from the main entrance. This does not mean there is parking directly beside every other memorial site. If your route takes you through the town, check that walking distances fit with the opening hours. You can combine an overnight stay with time in Prague; Terezín itself is better suited to a quieter, history-focused visit than to a tightly packed day of sightseeing.

How much time should I allow for Terezín?

For the Small Fortress and the Ghetto Museum, around four to five hours on site is a useful suggested planning range, including time to move between the sites and take a break. Allow more time if you also visit the Museum of Art or other memorial sites.

What closes on 2 November 2026?

The Ghetto Museum closes for renovation. During the works, a temporary exhibition on the history of the ghetto is planned for the Museum of Art in the former Magdeburg Barracks; according to the announcement, the ticket office will move there too.

Can I spread my visit over two days?

Yes. The combined ticket listed on 11 October 2026 is valid for four days, and each included site can be visited once. This lets you spread visits to the Small Fortress and sites in the former ghetto over several days.

Can I be sure a guided tour will be available on site?

No. The Memorial does not guarantee a tour without advance booking. Groups of ten or more must reserve in advance; reservations are also recommended for smaller groups.