Museo Sefardí
State museum of Hispano-Jewish and Sephardic culture, housed in the Tránsito Synagogue in Toledo's Jewish quarter.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Sefardí was created by Decree 874/1964 of 18 March, which set its seat in the Tránsito Synagogue, also known as the Synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví, in Toledo's Jewish quarter. The museum opened in 1971 with the mission of preserving and publicising the legacy of Hispano-Jewish and Sephardic culture as part of Spain's historical heritage. It occupies the synagogue and the former convent of the Order of Calatrava next to it.
It is a State museum attached to the Ministry of Culture and part of the Red de Museos de España (Spanish Museum Network), created by Royal Decree 1305/2009. The route combines a visit to the building itself with exhibition rooms, courtyards and a Women's Gallery (Galería de Mujeres) devoted to the daily life of Sephardic families, from birth and education to festivals and death.
In the north courtyard, tombstones from Jewish necropolises are displayed, and in the east courtyard there are possible remains of public baths and the floor of the synagogue's east wall, where the Torah ark stood. The Prayer Hall and the east courtyard can host cultural events. In 2024 the museum received 259,211 visitors.
Highlights
- Tránsito Synagogue, also called the Synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví
- Women's Gallery on Sephardic daily life
- Tombstones from Jewish necropolises in the north courtyard
- Possible remains of public baths and the east wall floor in the east courtyard
- Tactile plans, models and a multimedia guide with audio description
Permanent exhibition
- Exposición permanente del Museo Sefardí – A route through the Hispano-Jewish and Sephardic legacy in the Tránsito Synagogue, the courtyards and the Women's Gallery, with archaeological pieces, tombstones and objects of daily and religious life.
- Founded
- 1971
- Operated by
- Ministerio de Cultura
- Visitors per year
- approx. 259,211 (2024)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50Groups of 8 or more people, accredited cultural volunteers and RENFE travellers with a high-speed or long-distance ticket (Museos en Red programme) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for children under 18, with accreditation. |
| Seniors | freeFree admission for people over 65, with accreditation. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and their companion, with accreditation. |
| Students & apprentices | freeFree admission for university students aged 18 to 25 and holders of the Carné Joven, with accreditation. |
| Groups (8+ people) | €1.50 per personGroups of 8 to 30 people with advance online booking; payment is made at the museum. |
| Families | freeFree admission for members of large families, with accreditation. |
| Museos de Toledo pass (Museo Sefardí and Museo del Greco, valid 5 days) | €5Sold only at the museum's ticket office. |
| Annual pass for the Museo Sefardí | €25Sold only at the museum's ticket office. |
| Annual pass for State Museums | €36.06Sold only at the museum's ticket office. |
Free admission: Saturdays from 14:00 and all Sundays; 18 April, 18 May, 12 October and 6 December.
Individual tickets are not booked in advance and are bought at the ticket office. Free admission, with accreditation, also applies to unemployed people and pensioners, teaching staff, official guides and practising journalists, the museum's cultural volunteers, and members of ICOM and other professional associations.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The museum has wheelchairs for visitors and platform lifts in some areas; up to three wheelchair users may be in the exhibition room at the same time. Because of the limitations of the historic building, access by wheelchair or pushchair may be more difficult, especially in the Women's Gallery. There are magnetic induction loops, tactile plans and models, magnifying glasses and Braille texts in some parts of the route. The multimedia guide includes audio description and sign-language videos. For enquiries about the platform lifts, call 925 99 09 83.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | free · Free admission for members of large families, with accreditation. |
Access with a pushchair can be difficult in some areas of the historic building, especially the Women's Gallery.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Toledo's train or bus station, urban lines L5, L511, L61, L62 and L94 reach the Plaza de Zocodover.
From Madrid you can travel by high-speed train (AVE), by bus from the Plaza Elíptica interchange, or by car via the A-42 motorway.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
The museum shop keeps the museum's opening hours (telephone 925 22 37 80). Visitors can connect to the free “MultimediaMuseo” network to use the multimedia guide on their own device.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The Prayer Hall and the east courtyard may host cultural events, subject to availability and provided they are compatible with the museum's aims. Requests are handled by the Communication Department (comunicacion.msto@cultura.gob.es).
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The multimedia guide is free, runs in the browser or in an app for iOS and Android, and includes routes, plans, historical images and details of the most notable pieces. There is a museum plan in Spanish, English and French. The accessible visit “Sentir el museo”, produced with ASOCIDE of Castilla-La Mancha, is offered, along with workshops adapted for children and young people with disabilities. Groups of 8 to 30 people book online. |
