Kazimierz is a neighbourhood where history meets everyday life. On a few streets you'll find synagogues, cemeteries, former ritual baths (mikvaot), arcaded courtyards and historic tenement houses, and alongside them cafés, Israeli bistros, bookshops and klezmer concerts.
This guide leads you like a friend through the most important places. You’ll find ready-made routes, pro tips, photo spots and short explanations of Jewish culture so your visit makes sense beyond just pretty pictures.
If you want to go deeper, consider a guided tour with the site’s guide — a live narrative with context is a different experience than any article.
1. Old Synagogue - the oldest preserved synagogue in Poland. A perfect start to learn basic terms: bimah, aron ha-kodesh, sefer Torah.
2. Remuh Synagogue and Old Cemetery - an active prayer house and one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries. Look for small stones on the tombstones and symbols such as hands, jugs and candles.
3. Tempel Synagogue - associated with the Reform tradition, known for beautiful acoustics. Check for concerts and events.
4. Isaac (Izaak) Synagogue - a baroque, monumental building founded by Izaak Jakubowicz.
5. High Synagogue - a rare example of a prayer hall located on the upper floor.
6. Kupa Synagogue - smaller but important for understanding community life and its patrons.
7. Popper Synagogue - an example of merchant patronage and religious schooling.
8. Szeroka Street - the main axis of Jewish Kazimierz. The easiest place to feel the layers of time.
9. Plac Nowy and the Okrąglak - the heart of street food and evening life (try the legendary zapiekanki).
10. Józefa Street - gates, arcades and courtyards. Great for detail shots.
11. Miodowa Street - synagogues, cafés and calm passages between quarters.
12. Jan Karski’s Bench - a spot for reflection and a nice frame for photos.
Shabbat - from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Some places operate differently at that time. It’s a good moment for a quieter walk.
Mikvah - a ritual bath. It reminds us that religious life was also about everyday purity practices.
Synagogue - the bimah is the raised platform for reading the Torah, the aron ha-kodesh is the ark for Torah scrolls, and the ner tamid is the eternal light.
Tombstones and symbols - the kohen hands, the levite jug, candles, lions of Judah and books. These are shorthand for roles and biographies.
Languages - Hebrew, Yiddish and Polish coexisted here for centuries. Pay attention to inscriptions.
90 minutes - Szeroka - Old Synagogue - Remuh and cemetery - Miodowa - Plac Nowy. Minimal, but dense.
2 to 3 hours - add Isaac and the High Synagogue on Józefa, step into gates and courtyards. Stop for a short mezze halfway.
Half day - add a relaxed stroll through courtyards between Józefa and Meiselsa, an hour in a museum, and finish with a klezmer concert and dinner.
Ashkenazi classics - cholent, gefilte fish, kugel, matzah, challah. Flavours of slow cooking and the Sabbath table.
Israeli hits - hummus, falafel, shakshuka, sabich, za’atar, tahini, pickles. Best enjoyed mezze-style for sharing.
Pro tip - order a mezze platter to share. You’ll taste more in less time and avoid culinary misses.
Street food - Plac Nowy is the place for fast options and buzz; for a longer sit-down meal try Szeroka or Miodowa.
Local picks - try Hamsa (Szeroka) for Israeli/mezze plates and the Okrąglak stalls at Plac Nowy for classic zapiekanki.
Szeroka at golden hour - long perspectives and soft light.
Józefa - gates, grilles, textured plaster and old shop signs.
Meiselsa and the courtyards - arcades and intimate architectural details.
Okrąglak and Plac Nowy - neon reflections and street life after dark.
Details - Hebrew letters, synagogue portals, tombstone symbolism.
Dress - in active synagogues dress modestly. Keep a respectful demeanour in prayer spaces.
Photography - don’t photograph during prayer. At cemeteries avoid leaning on tombstones. The sign of memory is a small stone, not flowers.
Noise - bars are loud; synagogues and cemeteries ask for quiet. Match your behaviour to the place.
Order - start at the Old Synagogue to get the vocabulary and symbols in order. Then Remuh, Tempel, Isaac and the High Synagogue.
Timing - enter interiors in the morning. The busiest times are afternoon and evening.
Weather - on hot days stick to the shade on the north side of streets. Leave indoor visits for midday.
Time buffer - add 15 minutes for each interior and for photographing details. That’s what usually stretches the schedule.
Shortcuts - use gates and courtyards to save steps and find the best photo angles.
Was the ghetto in Kazimierz? - No. The ghetto was in Podgórze. Kazimierz was the pre-war centre of Jewish life and today is a space of memory and revival.
How much time to allow? - Minimum 90 minutes for a basic visit; ideally half a day with a meal and possibly a concert.
Do I need a guide? - Not strictly, but a good guide opens doors and stories that you won’t uncover on a solo walk.
If this sketch intrigued you, book a guided walk. Choose a 2- or 3-hour module — synagogues and symbols, food and music, or photography and details. A well-chosen narrative provides the context no short text can replace.
During the walk you can combine interior visits with a short mezze break. It’s a natural rhythm for exploring and the best way to absorb Kazimierz without rushing.
If you’d like a local-led option, the guide associated with this site (Małgorzata Kasprowicz) offers tours tailored to history, food or photography — ask about available modules and times.
Morning - Old Synagogue, Remuh and the cemetery.
Midday - mezze and coffee in a café on Szeroka or Miodowa (for example Hamsa on Szeroka or other local cafés).
Afternoon - Isaac, the High Synagogue, courtyards between Józefa and Meiselsa, photo spots.
Evening - a klezmer concert and dinner, finishing with night shots by the Okrąglak.
